Story

Henry was born in Birmingham, the son of David and Ann. His father was a sergeant in the 84th Regiment. Henry was baptised at St Mary’s Church, Lancaster on 11th March 1855. His father by then was stationed at Fulwood Barracks. By 1861, David Nelson had been sent to India where most of Henry’s siblings were born, either in Fyzabad, Seetapore or Lucknow Bengal. The family minus Henry were back in Britain by 1871 as David had retired from the army. Henry stayed on in India, training as a civil engineer working for the Irrigation Department, Public Works. On 16th October 1903, Henry married Mary Eleanor Caroline Murray in Bombay. She was known as “Ella”. Their daughter Mary Ella was born on 30th October 1904 in Simla. By 1907, Henry had retired and returned to England with his family. They settled in Worthing, living at “Rayleigh Mount” in Winchester Road. Henry died on 21st March 1927. Probate granted on 13th April 1927 to Mary Ella Caroline Nelson widow. Effects £2362 10s 7d (approx £108K in 2020). Mary died in London in 1952 and Mary Ella died in Lancing in 1977.

Researcher: Carol Sullivan

Date of Death: 21/03/1927

Cause of death: Unknown

Address line 1: "Rayleigh Mount"

Address line 3: Winchester Road

Town: Worthing

County: Sussex

Country: England

Obituary

Worthing Gazette 30th March 1927

“A Viking Ancestry”

The Late Mr Henry Nelson’s Career.

Several local institutions including the District Nursing Association, the Blind Association, the National Citizen’s Union, the University Extension Movement and the British-Israel World Federation have lost a keen supporter and active worker by the death of Mr Henry Nelson of Rayleigh Mount, Winchester Road at the age of 72. Mr Nelson had been living here for the last 20 years and during that time, his unfailing courtesy, broad mindedness and generous outlook came to be widely appreciated. A member of an old North Country family claiming descent from a Viking who came to this country as standard bearer for Canute, Mr Nelson entered Thomason College of Engineering in January 1874 and passed out as a qualified engineer in September 1875, being subsequently appointed Assistant Engineer in the Irrigation Branch of the Public Works Department of the old North West Province of India where he was intimately connected with and in charge of many important irrigation works, notably the construction of the Mat branch extension of the Lower Ganges Canal, which he carried out in record time and for which he received the special thanks of the Government. His success in this particular undertaking was largely due to his wonderful handling of the native workers, of whose lives, customs and religions he had made a special study, and of whose language he had a masterly knowledge. Mr Nelson retired from the post of 1st Trade Executive Engineer in 1907 and it was then that he came to live in Worthing.

Personal Effects

Money left to others: £2362 10 s 7 d

Current value of effects: £108000.00

1901

13 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne

Henry aged 46, engineer, Irrigation Dept. Public Works, India. Staying with his sister Margaret and niece Mary.

1911

Rayleigh Mount, Winchester Road, Worthing.

Henry aged 56, retired public works officer, India. Mary Ella aged 41. Caroline Louisa Murray aged 65, widow, mother-in-law. Mary Ella aged 6.

1921

Rayleigh Mount, Winchester Road, Worthing, Sussex