Details are rather sketchy of the early Nelson family however it is thought they were linked to the Parish of Clones from the time of the earliest recordings in the Registers. It is believed James was born in the townland of Longfield parish of Clones, and moved to the townland of Rawdeerpark with his wife Jane and their children.

Henry born c.1799, son of James and Jane, married Elizabeth McConkey in Aghabog, Co. Monaghan, in 1830. Elizabeth was the daughter of George McConkey of Tier, Parish of Aghabog, and granddaughter of John and Margaret McConkey (nee Richardson) of Tullyard, Parish of Killeevan. Known children of Henry and Elizabeth include:
- Mary Jane
- James married Eliza Stutt in 1855 in Rawdeerpark, Co. Monaghan, IRE
- Alexander married Letitia Hall in 1857 in Rawdeerpark, Co. Monaghan, IRE
- William
- Thomas Henry married 1st Unknown, married 2nd Elizabeth Helena Brady in 1876 in Clunes, VIC, AUST
- Margaret married 1st John Carroll in 1859 in Rawdeerpark, Co. Monaghan IRE, married 2nd John Eager in 1877 in VIC, AUST
- Eliza married James Dunn in 1867 in Clunes, VIC, AUST
- George

Of Henry and Elizabeth's children James, Alexander, Thomas Henry, Margaret and Eliza all immigrated to Australia settling in Victoria in the Clunes area.

The first member of the family we find in Australia is James and his wife Eliza (nee Stutt) who arrived via South Australia accompanied by Eliza's sister Jane. Eliza and Jane were the daughters of John and Ann Stutt (nee Elliot) of Co. Fermanagh, IRE. Jane married John Eager in 1858 in Carisbrook, VIC, by which stage James and Eliza were residing in the Maryborough area of Victoria. By 1864 James and Eliza had settled in Clunes, as had James' brother Alexander and his wife Letitia and their young family. The next family member we find is Eliza Nelson, youngest child of Henry and Elizabeth, who had arrived in Clunes by 1867.

It is not presently known when Thomas Henry first immigrated, however we find him arriving with his mother Elizabeth (nee McConkey) in 1870 - at this point in time we don't know if this was his first trip to Australia. Thomas was certainly in the Clunes area by 1876, his sister Margaret and her husband John Carroll (who was also their cousin) by the late 1870's. Margaret's second husband was John Eager, brother-in-law of Eliza Nelson (nee Stutt) who had been widowed in 1876.

Henry Nelson died in 1864 in Rawdeerpark, Co. Monaghan, IRE. His wife Elizabeth (nee McConkey) died in Clunes in 1875.

I would be grateful to learn of any possible information regarding the Nelson family.

List of names associated with James & Ann's family
Three generations of James & Ann's family

Roz Voullaire

Created 24 Jun 2002 - Updated 7 Feb 2004

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