[Page 41 - Excerpts from the bio of JOHN PETER NELSON b. July 29, 1810 in the house now occupied by his widow (his second wife Miss Cornelia Mandeville Nelson - his first wife Julia Ann Keese d. May 23, 1841), at the corner of Cannon and Liberty streets, Poughkeepsie. After reaching majority he became a commission merchant, and owned several vessels which plied between New Orleans and England. Had a plantation of 1,400 acres in Louisana and owned 900 slaves which were freed after the Emancipation Proclamation. At one time prior to the war, he was the richest planter in the State of Louisana. He died 26 March 1878]

[verbatim transcript from DCCBR regarding the FORT Connection]

Col. Nelson [referring here to Col. Joseph Nelson b. April 1, 1786 at Clinton, Dutchess County] married HANNAH FORT a daughter of ABRAHAM FORT, who fought in the Revolutionary War, and was well-known in his day. To Col. and Mrs. NELSON were born the following children: Jane Ann, who married Henry F. GRANGER, son of Judge GRANGER, of Grangerville; John Peter, our subject; and James Fort [Nelson]. Maj. Abram FORT was the father of the following children;

Col. John A. FORT, who was one of Gen. Jackson's aides in the war of 1812;

Peter FORT, also an aide on Gen. Jackson's staff, who each year, on January 8, hoisted the stars and stripes in honor of the battle of New Orleans;

James FORT; [son of Maj. Abraham Fort - original documentary evidence reveals that James Fort served as Supervisor of the town for several annual terms - among them for the years 1827, 1828, 1829, 1831, 1832 - In 1831 he won election over Henry Alexander Livingston ["Col. Harry"] by a 139 vote margin. In 1832 he won the election by a 94 vote margin over "Col. Harry" Livingston who later served as State Senator from 1838-1841.]

Mrs. PIERSON;

Mrs. Abram THOMPSON;
Alida,
Sarah,
Catherine;
Mrs. Susan HAVILAND;
Mrs. Maria GRANGER, and
Mrs. Hannah NELSON.
[end of this verbatim excerpt]