Robert Nelles (October 6, 1761 – July 27, 1842) was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.
He was born in Stone Arabia, now known as Nelliston, in Tryon County, New York in 1761. His father, Hendrick William Nelles, served in the Indian Department from 1759-1760, during the French and Indian War and his grandfather, William Nelles, arrived in New York in 1710, and enlisted in the colonial forces for the Quebec Expedition in 1711. Robert was made a lieutenant in the department in 1780 and served during the American Revolution, leading around 60 raids into the interior of New York state in 1781.[1] After the war, father and son settled in the Grand River valley as United Empire Loyalists and received several large land grants in the Niagara District. Nelles built mills and a store on the current site of the town of Grimsby. He also built an early Georgian style manor, which was completed in 1798 (now Nelles Manor Museum).
Sign in front of Nelles Manor
In 1797, Robert was appointed Indian agent in the region for a brief time. In 1800, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada in West York, 1st Lincoln & Haldimand and served until 1808. He joined the local militia during the War of 1812, eventually becoming lieutenant-colonel. In 1814, he replaced Joseph Willcocks in the legislative assembly in a by-election for 1st Lincoln and Haldimand, serving until 1820.
There are a number of places named after the Nelles family in Grimsby, namely Nelles Public School, Nelles Beach Park, Nelles Boulevard, Nelles Road (North and South), the Nelles Fitch House, and Nelles Manor.
Robert married Elizabeth Moore in 1788. She was the daughter of John Moore and Dinah Pettit, who were United Empire Loyalists in New Jersey. With Elizabeth, Robert had seven children:
Henry Nelles (December 8, 1789 - July 22, 1841)
Margaret Dinah Nelles (December 12, 1793 - November 22, 1862)
Robert Nelles II (November 13, 1798 - November 2, 1812)
William Robert Nelles (December 19, 1800 - March 13, 1839)
Elizabeth Augusta Nelles (June 11, 1803 - December 9, 1880)
Abraham Nelles (December 25, 1805 - December 20, 1884) great grandfather of Percy W. Nelles
Mary Ann Nelles (April 19, 1808 - April 27, 1886)
George Nelles (December 5, 1810 - April 19, 1883)
Robert's second wife, Maria nee Waddell Bingle (May 9, 1783 - Jan 2, 1848) was a widow. She had two children from her first marriage: Thomas and Catherine Bingle. Together with Robert, Maria had another six children:
Jane Clare Nelles (July 4, 1815 - April 4, 1890)
Frances Matilda Nelles (September 21, 1817 - February 15, 1880)
Charles Lenox Nelles (March 6, 1819 - August 23, 1886)
Sarah Maria Nelles (May 1, 1821 - June 12, 1823)
Emilia Maria Nelles (July 23, 1823 - September 9, 1914)
Robert Waddell Nelles (September 25, 1825 - October 23, 1825)
Further readingedit
Legacy: The Nelles Story by Dorothy Turcotte
Annals of the Forty NO. 1 - 1783 - 1818 by R. Janet Powell
Nellis - Nelles - Immigrants from the Palatinate 1710 - Volume One - The First Eight Generations 1997 - Compiled by Nellis and Nelles Family Associations
From Stone Arabia Volume 1 - by Charles Nelles
Niagara! Volume 2 - by Charles Nelles
Nelles Manor
Referencesedit
^"Dedication held for Engagement of Frankstown Monument".
External linksedit
Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
robert, nelles, october, 1761, july, 1842, businessman, political, figure, upper, canada, born, stone, arabia, known, nelliston, tryon, county, york, 1761, father, hendrick, william, nelles, served, indian, department, from, 1759, 1760, during, french, indian,. Robert Nelles October 6 1761 July 27 1842 was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada He was born in Stone Arabia now known as Nelliston in Tryon County New York in 1761 His father Hendrick William Nelles served in the Indian Department from 1759 1760 during the French and Indian War and his grandfather William Nelles arrived in New York in 1710 and enlisted in the colonial forces for the Quebec Expedition in 1711 Robert was made a lieutenant in the department in 1780 and served during the American Revolution leading around 60 raids into the interior of New York state in 1781 1 After the war father and son settled in the Grand River valley as United Empire Loyalists and received several large land grants in the Niagara District Nelles built mills and a store on the current site of the town of Grimsby He also built an early Georgian style manor which was completed in 1798 now Nelles Manor Museum Sign in front of Nelles Manor In 1797 Robert was appointed Indian agent in the region for a brief time In 1800 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada in West York 1st Lincoln amp Haldimand and served until 1808 He joined the local militia during the War of 1812 eventually becoming lieutenant colonel In 1814 he replaced Joseph Willcocks in the legislative assembly in a by election for 1st Lincoln and Haldimand serving until 1820 There are a number of places named after the Nelles family in Grimsby namely Nelles Public School Nelles Beach Park Nelles Boulevard Nelles Road North and South the Nelles Fitch House and Nelles Manor He died in Grimsby in 1842 Contents 1 Personal life 2 Further reading 3 References 4 External linksPersonal life editRobert married Elizabeth Moore in 1788 She was the daughter of John Moore and Dinah Pettit who were United Empire Loyalists in New Jersey With Elizabeth Robert had seven children Henry Nelles December 8 1789 July 22 1841 Margaret Dinah Nelles December 12 1793 November 22 1862 Robert Nelles II November 13 1798 November 2 1812 William Robert Nelles December 19 1800 March 13 1839 Elizabeth Augusta Nelles June 11 1803 December 9 1880 Abraham Nelles December 25 1805 December 20 1884 great grandfather of Percy W NellesMary Ann Nelles April 19 1808 April 27 1886 George Nelles December 5 1810 April 19 1883 Robert s second wife Maria nee Waddell Bingle May 9 1783 Jan 2 1848 was a widow She had two children from her first marriage Thomas and Catherine Bingle Together with Robert Maria had another six children Jane Clare Nelles July 4 1815 April 4 1890 Frances Matilda Nelles September 21 1817 February 15 1880 Charles Lenox Nelles March 6 1819 August 23 1886 Sarah Maria Nelles May 1 1821 June 12 1823 Emilia Maria Nelles July 23 1823 September 9 1914 Robert Waddell Nelles September 25 1825 October 23 1825 Further reading editLegacy The Nelles Story by Dorothy TurcotteAnnals of the Forty NO 1 1783 1818 by R Janet PowellNellis Nelles Immigrants from the Palatinate 1710 Volume One The First Eight Generations 1997 Compiled by Nellis and Nelles Family AssociationsFrom Stone Arabia Volume 1 by Charles NellesNiagara Volume 2 by Charles Nelles nbsp Nelles ManorReferences edit Dedication held for Engagement of Frankstown Monument External links editBiography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online Robert Nelles at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Nelles amp oldid 1172471944, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
