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From: Martin Willcocks <>
Subject: Re: [DEV] NELSON
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 00:33:14 -0600


Hi Toni:

While I can't claim to be an expert, I have several books in my
collection about Nelson and his only surviving daughter Horatia.
Winifred Gerin wrote the authoritative biography of Horatia, and I have
a very good bio of Nelson by the Howarths, plus one not often seen, that
my father earned as a school prize, by W. Clark Russell in 1893.

It is true that Emma Hamilton had a second daughter, named Emma, and
that Horatio learned about her, but was at sea and never saw her before
she died an infant. He did not have any sons, legitimate or
illegitimate, so far as I know, but there are a number of supposed
"relatives" who claim Nelson as an ancestor, and have baptised him by
proxy at several LDS temples without even knowing the historical details
well enough to get the records biographically correct. Never mind that
he was the son of a C of E priest , Rev. Edmund Nelson, who originally
baptised him in the church of which he was Rector for 47 years and where
he is buried along with his wife, Catherine (nee Suckling), near the
altar. It's a great church to visit - many exhibits of Nelson's life
and some interesting little books about parts of his life that are not
well known. Horatia married Rev. Philip Ward and had nine children (not
named in Ms. Gerin's book), from whom the only real descendants of Lord
Nelson have come. I don't believe Horatia's granddaughter was the
author, but I might be wrong. Horatia did not in her lifetime
acknowledge Nelson as her father, but vehemently denied this even though
presented with the facts, and refused to believe them.

Thomas Bolton, who married Susannah Nelson, Horatio's sister, became the
father of Thomas Bolton, who changed his name to Nelson on becoming the
second Earl Nelson. The first Earl was Rev. William Nelson, Horatio's
older brother (1757-1835). Thomas and his wife Frances Eyre had a son
named Horatio Nelson, later the Third Earl (1823-1913). It is possible
that some of the "relatives" are descended through this line, but I
haven't traced it. The Nelson family tree is online at:
http://www.daliatrevino.com/Nelson&TheRoyalNavy.htm
and also published in another biography I've read.

If you want further information, you can contact me off list and I'll be
happy to look up information in the several books I have.

Regards
Martin Willcocks
Taylorsville, UT, USA.

Toni wrote:
----- Original Message ----- From: "Barry Carlson"
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 5:42 PM
Subject: [DEV] NELSON

> It is rather sad from a genealogy point of view that Lady Frances
> NELSON (Frances Herbert WOOLWARD, also NISBET by a previous marriage)
> is often only "mentioned" in passing, whereas her erstwhile competitor
> to Horatio NELSON's affections, Lady Emma HAMILTON, gains the
> limelight probably because of peoples intrigue with the double life
> she lead and the fact that she did bear him a son - even though
> illegitimate.


Are you sure Lady HAMILTON bore NELSON a son? It was my understanding
she bore him a daughter, who NELSON supposedly named himself ...
apparently in honour of himself, plus ensuring everyone would know she
was his own ~ he claimed her as his own. Brave move for the times!
Her name was Horatia Horatio/a (double barrelled) or something akin to
that, with the surname NELSON included. Believe Horatia's grandaughter
actually wrote a book about her and Lady HAMILTON. I read it many years
ago, so am not entirely certain she herself had written or authorised
its' contents. NELSON also provided for his daughter, in his will,
from what I remember the book citing.

Are there any NELSON memorbilia collectors/experts on this list? If so,
I'd like to ask a question of you ~ off list of course!

Cheers ... Toni ~ Ontario
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