He was born in 1835/36 (6 (26 in 1862), 7 (26 in 1862), 9 (59 in 1877), 11 (70 in 1900), 14 (59 in 1877), 15 (63 in 1880)). He was born in Yorkshire, England (6, 7, 9, 11, 14, 15).
He immigrated to the United States in 1853 (11). He was naturalized by 1900 (11).
When he enlisted, he was a laborer (6, 7).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair (6, 7).
He enlisted on 4 or 6 August 1862 (6 [6 Aug], 7 [4 Aug], 19 [19 Aug], 16 [Jun 62]). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [sic], by Captain [Major?] Lentz (6 [Harrisburg], 7 [Philadelphia]). He was mustered into service on 4 August 1862 (1). He was a private in company D (1, 14, 17).
In May 1863, he was wounded (12, 13 [leg]).
On 11 December 1863, he returned from hospital for duty (3).
On 30 December 1863, Sinex reported that he was one of 30 men who had more than fifteen months to serve who were willing to reenlist (2). On 2 January 1864, he was transferred to the 155th Pennsylvania Infantry, while those eligible were on veterans' leave (4).
He was wounded on 21 June 1864 (1).
He returned to duty on 1 August 1864 (8).
He was discharged at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 16 May 1865 by general order, Secretary of War (dated 3 May 1865) (1, 5, 7, 10 [18 May], 16). He was charged $46.47 for gun, accoutrements, knapsack, haversack, canteen, and shelter tent (5, 7). He was a private, in company D (17). He had served for thirty-three months (9, 14).
On 24 September 1877, he was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (9, 14). He had a wounded left leg, but was not receiving a pension (9).
In 1880, he was living on Maine Avenue, in the Central Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, in Montgomery County, Ohio (15). He was a laborer (15). He was widowed or divorced (15).
In 1882, he was present at the Central Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (9).
On 8 October 1883, he successfully applied for a pension (10).
In 1890, he was living in the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, in Montgomery County, Ohio (16). He had a gunshot wound in the thigh (16).
In 1900, he was living at the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Central Branch, in Jefferson Township, Montgomery County, Ohio (11). He was widowed (11).
On 14 February 1907, he again applied for a pension (10).
On 6 June 1908, he died, apparently at the Central Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (10, 14).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
2 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 30 December 1863
3 consolidated morning report, 11 December 1863 (Pri Nelson)
4 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 2 January 1864 (Nelson)
5 company D, register of men discharged ("reorganization" page) (John Nelson)
6 company D, descriptive roll, entry 21 (James Nelson)
7 company D, second descriptive roll, entry 52 (James Nelson)
8 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 1 August 1864 (Privt Nelson)
9 Annual report of the Board of Managers of the National Soldiers Home, 30 December 1882 [for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1882]. Serial Set volume 2115, session volume 1, 47th Congress, 2nd Session, House Miscellaneous Document 13, page 378 (James Nelson)
10 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (James Nelson)
11 1900 US census, Ohio, Montgomery County, Jefferson Township, Central Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteers, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 9, microfilm series T623, film 1308, page 41 = 41 B handwritten (James Nellson [sic])
12 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (James Nelson)
13 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 (James Nelson)
14 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1908. Letter from the President of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the annual report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1908. Serial Set volume 5528, Session volume 118, 60th Congress, 2nd Session, House Document 1106. Page 413. (Jas Nelson)
15 1880 US census, Ohio, Montgomery County, National Military Home, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 169, microfilm series T9, film 1052, page 614 = 60 D handwritten (James Nelson)
16 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Ohio, Montgomery County, National Military Home, 2nd division, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district special, page 67 (James Nelson)
17 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Nelson)
line | 29 |
street name | Maine Avenue |
house number | [26] |
dwelling visit # | [26] |
family visit # | [26] |
name | Nelson James |
color | W |
sex | M |
age | 63 |
month born if born in year | |
relationship | Disabled Soldiers Beneficiaries Natl Home for D.V.S. |
single | |
married | |
widowed/divorced | 1 |
married during year | |
occupation | Laborer |
months unemployed | |
currently ill? | |
blind | |
deaf/dumb | |
idiotic | |
insane | |
disabled | 1 |
school this year | |
can't read | 1 |
can't write | 1 |
birthplace | England |
father's birthplace | England |
mother's birthplace | England |
line | 94 |
street | Ohio Avenue |
house number | |
dwelling number | |
family number | |
name | Nellson [sic] James |
relationship | inmate |
color | W |
sex | M |
birth date | Jan 1830 |
age | 70 |
married? | Wd |
# years married | |
mother of how many children? | |
# of children living | |
birthplace | England |
father's birthplace | England |
mother's birthplace | England |
immigration year | 1853 |
# years in USA | 47 |
naturalized citizen? | Na |
occupation | |
# months not employed | |
# months in school | |
can read | no |
can write | no |
speaks English | yes |
owned/rented | |
free or mortgaged | |
farm/house | |
# of farm schedule |