Ancestors of the Minogue Family of Ontario and the Cassin Family of Quebec

Ethel M. Neilson

(October 1881 - )

Father

Mother

Relationship

2nd cousin 2 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Feb 2, 2005

Birth*

October 1881

Wisconsin, United States

(Witness) Census

12 June 1900

Granville, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, "Cornelius Nelson", white, male, age 64, Head of Household #200, farmer, born Canada in Aug. 1835, father born Canada, mother born Scotland, immigrated in 1860, can read and write English, owns his farm free of mortgage.
Living with him:
"Margaret Neilson", his wife, age 61, born June, 1838, has had 9 children with 7 living, keeping house, born Canada, father born England , mother born Scotland, immigrated in 1860, can read and write English.
Ethel M. Neilson, daughter, born Oct. 1881, age 18, single, born WI.
Albert Sager, boarder, age 17, born Germany, immigrated in 1882, farm laborer., Principal=Cornelius B. Neilson, Principal=WI Milwaukee Co Census 1900

(Witness) Census

20 April 1910

Granville, Wisconsin, United States, "Cornelius Nelson", white, male, age 74, Head of Household #41, farmer, married 53 years, born Canada - Scotch, parents born Canada - Scotch, immigrated in 1860, is naturalized, can read and write English, owns his farm free of mortgage.
Living with him:
"Margaret Neilson", his wife, age 73, married 53 yrs, has had 9 children with 7 living, born Canada, father born England , mother born England, immigrated in 1860, can read and write English.
Ella Neilson, daughter, age 28, single, born WI., Principal=Cornelius B. Neilson, Principal=WI Milwaukee Co Census 1910

Frances Neilson

(13 July 1815 - )

Father

John Neilson b. 17 Jul 1776, d. 1 Feb 1848

Mother

Marie Ursula Hubert b. 21 Oct 1781, d. 20 Jun 1866

Frances Neilson|b. 13 Jul 1815|p143.htm#i6275|John Neilson|b. 17 Jul 1776\nd. 1 Feb 1848|p143.htm#i1662|Marie Ursula Hubert|b. 21 Oct 1781\nd. 20 Jun 1866|p93.htm#i1103|William Neilson|b. s 1740|p143.htm#i5945|Isabel Brown|b. s 1750|p13.htm#i5946|||||||

Last Edited

Sep 7, 2008

Birth*

13 July 1815

Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

19 July 1815

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "John Neilson of Quebec, printer, and his wife, Marie Ursula, had a daughter born on the 13th. day of July and baptised this ninteenth day of July, 1815, named Frances.
Alex Spark, minister
J. Neilson, father
M. Neilson, mother
Samuel Neilson
Isabel Neilson".

George Whittier Neilson

Father

Dr. Walter Hopper Neilson b. 4 Sep 1857

Mother

Clara Thomas

George Whittier Neilson||p143.htm#i3007|Dr. Walter Hopper Neilson|b. 4 Sep 1857|p143.htm#i3002|Clara Thomas||p175.htm#i3006|Cornelius B. Neilson|b. 12 Aug 1835|p142.htm#i710|Margaret Ireland|b. Jun 1838|p95.htm#i3003|||||||

Relationship

3rd cousin 1 time removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Jan 22, 2005

Birth*

Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States

Grace E. Neilson

(1875 - )

Father

Cornelius B. Neilson b. 12 Aug 1835

Mother

Margaret Ireland b. Jun 1838

Relationship

2nd cousin 2 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Feb 2, 2005

Birth*

1875

Wisconsin, United States

(Witness) Census

7 June 1880

Granville, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, "Cornelius Nelson", white, male, age 44, Head of Household #93, farmer, born Canada, parents of foreign birth.
Living with him:
"Margaret Nelson", his wife, age 42, keeping house, born Canada.
Adda, his daughter, age 18 , born Wisconsin.
Ida, his daughter, age 15, born WI.
Maud L., his daughter, age 14, born WI.
W.C., his son, age 10, born in WI.
Grace E., his daughter, age 5, born WI.
Allen S., his son, ae 10 months, born July, 1879.
Herbert Wolf, servant, age 18, born Canada, parents born Canada.
Living close by are his inlaws the Irelands., Principal=Cornelius B. Neilson, Principal=WI Milwaukee Co Census 1880

Hubert William Melvyn Neilson

(28 November 1895 - )

Father

Alfred Norbert Francis Neilson

Mother

Marie Flore Catherine Le Moine

Hubert William Melvyn Neilson|b. 28 Nov 1895|p143.htm#i6555|Alfred Norbert Francis Neilson||p142.htm#i6553|Marie Flore Catherine Le Moine||p108.htm#i6554|John Neilson|b. 27 Jan 1821|p143.htm#i6276|Laura C. Moorhead|b. s 1822|p137.htm#i6501|||||||

Last Edited

May 28, 2009

Baptism

28 November 1895

Notre-Dame-de-Foy, Ste. Foy, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Birth*

28 November 1895

Ste. Foy, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Ida Neilson

(1864 - )

Father

Cornelius B. Neilson b. 12 Aug 1835

Mother

Margaret Ireland b. Jun 1838

Relationship

2nd cousin 2 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Feb 2, 2005

Birth*

1864

Wisconsin, United States

(Witness) Census

30 July 1870

Granville, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, "Carnelius Nelson", white, male, age 35, Head of Household #140, farmer, real estate worth $8000, personal estate $1100, born Canada, parents of foreign birth.
Living with him:
"Marguertie Nelson", his wife, age 32, keeping house, born Canada, parents of foreign birth.
Walter, his son, age 13, born Canada, attended school.
Ada, his daughter, age 8 , born Wisconsin, attended school.
Ida, his daughter, age 6, born WI.
Maud, his daughter, age 4, born WI.
William, age 8 months, born Sept. 1869 in WI.
Living close by are his inlaws the Irelands., Principal=Cornelius B. Neilson, Principal=WI Milwaukee Co Census 1870

(Witness) Census

7 June 1880

Granville, Wisconsin, United States, "Cornelius Nelson", white, male, age 44, Head of Household #93, farmer, born Canada, parents of foreign birth.
Living with him:
"Margaret Nelson", his wife, age 42, keeping house, born Canada.
Adda, his daughter, age 18 , born Wisconsin.
Ida, his daughter, age 15, born WI.
Maud L., his daughter, age 14, born WI.
W.C., his son, age 10, born in WI.
Grace E., his daughter, age 5, born WI.
Allen S., his son, ae 10 months, born July, 1879.
Herbert Wolf, servant, age 18, born Canada, parents born Canada.
Living close by are his inlaws the Irelands., Principal=Cornelius B. Neilson, Principal=WI Milwaukee Co Census 1880

Isabel Neilson

(8 January 1831 - 21 January 1895)

Father

William Neilson b. 2 Dec 1805, d. 7 Jul 1895

Mother

Margaret Cassin b. 31 Oct 1814, d. 22 May 1853

Relationship

1st cousin 3 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Mar 12, 2010

Birth*

8 January 1831

Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

23 January 1831

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "Mr. William Neilson of the settlement of Valcartier and Margaret, his wife, had a daughter born on the eighth instant and baptised on the twenty third of January, 1831 and named Isabel by me James Herkeney, minister.
William Neilson, father
Margaret Neilson, mother
Samuel Clarke."

Cen-Enum*

1851

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, a 21 year old Catholic, born in Canada, and living with her parents, William and Margaret and her eight siblings., Principal=QUE Que Co Valcartier Census 1851, Witness=William Neilson

Married Name

Wolff

Marriage*

5 January 1857

Church of Scotland, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "Charles S. Wolff of Valcartier and Isabel Neilson of same place, spinster, were married by dispensation of license on the fifth day of January, 1857.
David Shanks, minister
William Neilson, father of the bride
A. Wolff, father of the groom.", Principal=Lt. Col. Charles S. Wolff

(Witness) Census

1861

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, "Charles Wolff", farmer, born L. Canada, Anglican, age 31, living in a frame house, neighbor to David McBain and William Perkins. Living with him:
Isabel Neilson, spouse, born L. Canada, Anglican, age 31.
Alice Wolff, daughter, born L. Canada, Anglican, age 4.
Nathaniel Wolff, son, born L. Canada, Anglican, age 1.
Bertha Parker, labourer, born L. Canada, age 14.
Hoper Ward, son, born L. Canada, Anglican, age 6.
Allen Ward, son, born L. Canada, Anglican, age 2.
Richard Ward, father, born Ireland, Anglican, age 73.
Mary Deneau, born L. Canada, RC, age 69.

, Principal=Lt. Col. Charles S. Wolff, Principal=QUE Que Co Valcartier Census 1861

Death*

21 January 1895

Quebec, Canada, Aged 64 years, wife of Charles S. Wolff., Witness=Lt. Col. Charles S. Wolff

Burial*

January 1895

Christ Church Anglican Church, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, Buried with her husband.

Family

Lt. Col. Charles S. Wolff b. 16 Jan 1831, d. 5 May 1909

Marriage*

5 January 1857

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, "Charles S. Wolff of Valcartier and Isabel Neilson of same place, spinster, were married by dispensation of license on the fifth day of January, 1857.
David Shanks, minister
William Neilson, father of the bride
A. Wolff, father of the groom.", Principal=Lt. Col. Charles S. Wolff

Children

Alice Wolff (c 1858 - )
Nathaniel Wolff (c 1859 - )
Carl N. Wolff (c 1860 - 2 Apr 1931)

Isabel Neilson

(8 April 1798 - )

Father

John Neilson b. 17 Jul 1776, d. 1 Feb 1848

Mother

Marie Ursula Hubert b. 21 Oct 1781, d. 20 Jun 1866

Isabel Neilson|b. 8 Apr 1798|p143.htm#i6271|John Neilson|b. 17 Jul 1776\nd. 1 Feb 1848|p143.htm#i1662|Marie Ursula Hubert|b. 21 Oct 1781\nd. 20 Jun 1866|p93.htm#i1103|William Neilson|b. s 1740|p143.htm#i5945|Isabel Brown|b. s 1750|p13.htm#i5946|||||||

Last Edited

Sep 7, 2008

Birth*

8 April 1798

Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

15 April 1798

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Cemetery, Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "John Neilson of Quebec, printer, and his wife, Marie Ursula, had a daughter born on the 8th instant and baptised on the fifteenth day of April, 1798, named Isabel.
Alex Spark, minister
J. Neilson, father
M. Neilson, mother
Baptiste Jacobs
James Brown".

(Witness) Census

1852

Ste. Foy, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "Marie Hubert", independent, born Canada, Catholic, age 70 on her next birthday. Living with her:
Isabel Neilson, female, born Canada, Catholic, single, 53 on her next birthday.
Marguerite Neilson, female, born Canada, Catholic, single, 42 on her next birthday., Principal=Marie Ursula Hubert

Janet Neilson

(9 October 1810 - )

Father

John Neilson b. 17 Jul 1776, d. 1 Feb 1848

Mother

Marie Ursula Hubert b. 21 Oct 1781, d. 20 Jun 1866

Janet Neilson|b. 9 Oct 1810|p143.htm#i6280|John Neilson|b. 17 Jul 1776\nd. 1 Feb 1848|p143.htm#i1662|Marie Ursula Hubert|b. 21 Oct 1781\nd. 20 Jun 1866|p93.htm#i1103|William Neilson|b. s 1740|p143.htm#i5945|Isabel Brown|b. s 1750|p13.htm#i5946|||||||

Last Edited

Oct 2, 2008

Birth*

9 October 1810

Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

22 October 1810

St. Andrew's Church, Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "John Neilson of Quebec, printer, and his wife Maria Ursula had a daughter born on the ninth instant and baptised on the twenty second day of October, 1810 named Janet.
Albert Sparks, minister
J. Neilson, father
M. Neilson, mother
(?). Neilson."

John Neilson

(10 November 1850 - 9 June 1855)

Father

William Neilson b. 2 Dec 1805, d. 7 Jul 1895

Mother

Margaret Cassin b. 31 Oct 1814, d. 22 May 1853

Relationship

1st cousin 3 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Oct 1, 2008

Birth*

10 November 1850

Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

17 December 1850

Church of Scotland, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "William Neilson, Valcartier, Margaret Cassin, his spouse had a son born on the 10th day of November and baptised this seventeenth day of December, 1850 by the name of John before the subscribed witnesses.
David Shanks, minister
William Neilson
Margaret Cassin
Isabel Neilson, wit.
Margaret M. Parker, wit
Cornelius Neilson, wit."

Cen-Enum*

1851

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, a two year old male, Presbyterian, born in Canada, and living with his parents, William and Margaret, and his eight siblings., Principal=QUE Que Co Valcartier Census 1851, Witness=William Neilson

Death*

9 June 1855

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, Witness=William Neilson

Burial*

11 June 1855

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Cemetery, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "John Neilson, son of William Neilson, and Margaret Cassin, his late spouse, Valcartier, died on the ninth and was buried on the eleventh day of June, 1855, aged four years and seven months nearly.
David Shanks, minister
William Neilson, father
John Neilson, witness
Cornelius Neilson, witness."

John Neilson

(17 July 1776 - 1 February 1848)

Father

William Neilson b. s 1740

Mother

Isabel Brown b. s 1750

John Neilson|b. 17 Jul 1776\nd. 1 Feb 1848|p143.htm#i1662|William Neilson|b. s 1740|p143.htm#i5945|Isabel Brown|b. s 1750|p13.htm#i5946|||||||||||||

Last Edited

Oct 2, 2008

Birth*

17 July 1776

Dornal, Balmaghie Parish, Scotland

Marriage*

6 January 1797

Trois-Rivieres, St. Maurice County, Quebec, Canada, "On the sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven, in this Protestant church of Trois-Rivieres, by me the undersigned minister of the said church, John Neilson, of the city of Quebec, printer, whose of age, and Marie Hubert of this parish whose underage, with the consent of Jean Baptiste Rieutard , her grandfather...", Principal=Marie Ursula Hubert

Note*

"NEILSON, JOHN, publisher, printer, bookseller, politician, farmer, and militia officer; b. 17 July 1776 at Dornald, in the parish of Balmaghie, Scotland, son of William Neilson and Isabel Brown; d. 1 Feb. 1848 in Cap-Rouge, Lower Canada.

In 1791 John Neilson joined his elder brother Samuel* at Quebec to help him run the publishing firm of Brown and Gilmore, a legacy of their uncle William Brown*, who had died in 1789. By 1792 Samuel was already expressing his pleasure at the “essential service” John was rendering him. As a result of Samuel’s untimely death on 12 Jan. 1793, John inherited the business but was a ward of the Reverend Alexander Spark* until he attained his majority in 1796. His younger brother William came from Scotland to join him in September 1795 but went back home in 1797 or 1798. In 1794, suddenly and without explanation, John had run off to New York, to the annoyance of Mr Spark, who reproved him. “I have been guilty of a piece of folly,” said Neilson contritely. “You must make allowance for youth.” And he had speedily returned.

On 6 Jan. 1797 at Trois-Rivières, in the presence of Anglican minister David-François de Montmollin* and in all likelihood of a Catholic priest as well, Neilson married Marie-Ursule Hubert, a niece of Jean-François Hubert*, the Catholic bishop of Quebec. They signed a marriage contract that day before Trois-Rivières notary Antoine-Isidore Badeaux. In it they agreed to have community of property, administered according to the Coutume de Paris. When Neilson announced this decision to his mother in August, he explained that he appreciated his wife’s great merits, but, further, he had wished to symbolize his permanent establishment in Canada and to help lessen the baneful prejudices with which Canadians and British immigrants regarded each other. For her part, his mother regularly advised him to persevere himself and raise his children in the religion of his ancestors, Presbyterianism. At least 10 children were born – Isabel, Samuel, Mary, Elizabeth, William, Margaret, Janet, Agnes Janet, Francis, and John.–some of whom died in infancy. The boys were brought up in the Presbyterian faith, the girls in the Catholic. Neilson remained deeply attached to his church, which he served in various capacities at Quebec, and he would be commemorated by a plaque in St Andrew’s Church; but he had a pew in the Catholic parish of Quebec which he paid for on a regular basis.

From his earliest days in business, young John showed sure judgement, tact, and ability. He would use just enough threats or flattery to obtain payment of the numerous debts owed his firm or to gain customers. He had to be unusually zealous in his work: the printing-shop, newspaper, and bookshop were highly profitable, provided he kept a meticulous record of all the little accounts that accumulated and collected them systematically, even if doing so meant regular recourse to the law courts, despite his distaste for this process. His account-books were detailed to an extent seldom seen. He even kept a note of time lost, in hours and minutes.

Neilson was primarily a printer, publisher, and bookseller, “the largest consumer of paper in this country,” according to his rival James Brown of Montreal. In 1800 he secretly purchased a controlling interest in the business of his main Quebec competitor, Pierre-Édouard Desbarats*. The establishment of this near-monopoly was accompanied by efforts to expand his productive capacity. In 1795 he had purchased type in England for printing hymn-books. He took steps to procure a new press in the United States in 1801 and to bring in apprentices from Scotland or the United States – young Canadians apparently would not do.

The income of Neilson’s printing-shop came mainly from government contracts for proclamations, statutes, the assembly journals, and so on, from private contracts for countless forms, posters, business cards, and similar items, and from the publication of the largest weekly newspaper in the two Canadas, the Quebec GazettelLa Gazette de Québec, which had been in existence since 1764. Aside from single copies sold, from the 1790s and until about 1806 there were some 500 subscribers a year. Around 1809–10 there were nearly 900 and in the period 1810–20, more than 1,000; half were French-speaking. From 1800 to 1820 the paper devoted about 54 per cent of its space to advertising, 21 to international news and travel accounts, 8 to military questions affecting the colony, 5 to social problems, 7 to politics, 3 to economic matters, 1 to cultural affairs, and less than 1 to religious concerns. Neilson did publish newspapers of a more literary and entertaining nature, such as Le Magasin de Québec (1792–94), the British American Register (1803), and the Canadian Visitor (1815), but they were unsuccessful. The population proved too small and too ill informed to support publications of this kind. As well, Neilson exchanged newspapers with numerous English, American, and French publishers and acted as their subscription agent.

Besides the printing-shop and the newspaper, Neilson owned the principal bookshop in the Canadas until the 1820s. There, of course, he sold all kinds of office supplies, paper, and notebooks; on occasion he also bound books for his customers. He supplied other printers and booksellers in both Lower and Upper Canada with stock-in-trade that he imported or went in person to get from specialized firms in the United States or Great Britain. He acquired foreign books in the same way and even tried to get works from France, although he at times took advantage of auctions of private libraries. He supplied the major public libraries in the colony, including that of the House of Assembly. Having a large printing-shop, he was able to turn out a good number of volumes himself – basically religious works and textbooks that were not available otherwise in wartime, political pamphlets, and technical books for the local market. At regular intervals he published catalogues of books for sale and he advertised his list in the Quebec Gazette. His shops dominated publishing in Quebec and printed 50 to 60 per cent of the approximately 800 works produced in Lower Canada between 1800 and 1820.

As a printer and publisher specializing in religious works and school texts, Neilson sold catechisms, song-books, alphabet primers, and devotional volumes. Of some 42,120 books in French purchased at his bookshop between 1792 and 1812, 70 per cent dealt with religion, 21 per cent with school subjects. As for books in English, which Neilson could import and consequently did not have to publish, 38 per cent were school texts, 20 per cent religious works. If religious and school books are deducted, the volume of annual sales drops by about 3,000 to 185 titles in English and 205 in French on average. These included writings of the Enlightenment and the thinkers who marked Western society at the time: Montesquieu, Diderot, Voltaire, Condorcet, Pufendorf, Helvétius, Rousseau, Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, Linnaeus, Condillac, Adam Smith, Malthus, Ricardo, Blackstone, Burke, Bentham, Dodsley, among others, not to mention the classical authors such as those of the 17th century. There were also volumes dealing with the practice of law, medicine, surveying, and the notarial profession. Neilson sold more French titles, but carried a broader range of English ones. However, in 1815, after the wars ended, the variety of works in French increased notably. The French-speaking customers, who formed half or a little more than half of his clientele, came from the ranks of the clergy, liberal professions, small businessmen, and seigneurs; the English-speaking purchasers were garrison officers, senior office holders, merchants, members of the liberal professions, and craftsmen.

An educated man whose intellectual horizons were never narrow, Neilson was perfectly at ease in English and French, travelled extensively, and broadened his culture. He maintained a voluminous correspondence with numerous literary and political figures in the colony, among them Joseph Quesnel*, Ross Cuthbert*, Pierre-Stanislas Bédard*, Louis-Joseph Papineau*, and Justin McCarthy. Another correspondent, Abbé Jean-Baptiste Boucher, pardoned Neilson’s printing errors in return for being given bound copies of his own Recueil de cantiques à l’usage des missions, des retraites et des catéchismes (1795).

Having entered the assembly in 1818, Neilson decided on 29 April 1822 to hand his firm over to his eldest son, Samuel, who received a two-thirds interest, and a partner, William Cowan, who received one-third; under the government of Dalhousie [Ramsay] political tensions were increasing, and John did not want to find himself in any conflict of interest or to harm a business he had so firmly established. Nevertheless Dalhousie withdrew the post of king’s printer from Samuel and gave it to John Charlton Fisher in October 1823. John continued to take an interest in the firm, but from a distance. In May 1836 Samuel, who was gravely ill, made the business over to his brother William and in July he gave his father power of attorney to settle his affairs. These seem to have been profitable despite the political difficulties. As late as 1848, when an attempt was made to appraise Samuel’s estate, the stocks in the printing-shop and the bookstore alone were valued at £2,717 7s. 7d.

On occasion Neilson wrote poems, sometimes in French, one of them about death. In 1795 he bought the shares of the Théâtre Canadien. He belonged to the Quebec Library from 1799 to 1824 and the Quebec Exchange and Reading Room in 1822 and 1827, being its president in 1831. In 1842 he was named an associate member of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. He was keenly interested in educational matters. For example, he gave books and money to schoolmasters such as Louis Labadie* at Berthier-en-Haut (Berthierville), Louis Vincent and his Huron school at Jeune-Lorette (Wendake), and Antoine Côté in the parish of Saint-Thomas (at Montmagny). In 1816 he was president of the subscribers to the Quebec Free School [see Thaddeus Osgood*]. When he was in London the following year, he complained to the Foreign School Society of the difficulties that the House of Assembly was encountering in its efforts to develop a school system under the control of churchwardens or ministers and priests of the various churches. In 1821 he was a member of the committee to encourage and promote education in rural parishes. He also took an interest in education for the working classes, particularly with regard to agriculture. Nor was it by chance that he was constantly re-elected president of the Mechanics’ Institute of Quebec, serving for the years 1834–43 and possibly even earlier. In addition he was visitor (inspector) of the colony’s schools in 1831 and trustee of the Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning [see Joseph Langley Mills*] in 1838 and 1839 at least.

Over and above his chief business and his commitment to cultural concerns, Neilson was active in a variety of fields, some remunerative, others humanitarian in nature. For example, from 1816 he settled immigrants at Valcartier. By 1828 he reputedly had attracted 500 people there and a similar number to the adjoining regions, in all some 1,000 Scots and Irish, as well as a number of English and Americans. It is not surprising, then, that he had become a member of the Quebec Emigrants’ Society by 1819. He established immigrants on adjacent properties that he obtained mainly from the Jesuit estates, to the great displeasure of Herman Witsius Ryland, who served on the commission that managed the estates for the crown and who detested his political orientation. In 1816 and 1818 for example, Neilson and Andrew Stuart acquired 54 grants, each 3 arpents by 30. As early as 1802 he had bought land at Cap-Rouge, and he added another property in 1815 consisting of four irregularly shaped lots, purchased for £55, on which he took up permanent residence. Neilson also had a farm there and a sugar bush at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade (La Pérade), which were worked by tenants. In the course of business he bought and sold a large number of holdings, which were mainly located in the Quebec region. In 1832 he owned 39 properties (some rented out) at Valcartier, Cap-Rouge, Cap-Saint-Ignace, and Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, as well as 5 houses, 6 pieces of land in Stanbridge, 1,200 acres in Aston, 1,200 in Barford, and lands worth £700 in Upper Canada. He had also invested capital in a mill at Valcartier. In 1830 he was endeavouring to sell some holdings in Tingwick.

This interest in agriculture and settlement was also attested by his participation in the Agriculture Society in the district of Quebec, of which he was vice-president beginning in 1819, if not sooner, and president from 1826 till at least 1832. He appeared before the assembly committee examining the state of agriculture in the province during the 1823 session and spoke about what he had observed, particularly during his rounds in a great many parishes in the summers of 1819 and 1820. He himself experimented with new farming techniques. In 1818 he received several prizes for inventing a seeder, for ploughing the straightest furrow in a competition, and for having introduced a new plough.

Neilson was a shareholder and client of the Bank of Quebec and a shareholder in the Quebec Baking Society. He also lent money at interest, to consolidate debts or supply cash to various people in need of it. He extended easy credit to his customers and buyers, while, however, setting fixed, regular payment dates. The inventory of the Neilsons’ community of property, made almost 20 years after John’s death, still listed £30,143 6s. 8d. in debts owing to it and £692 in personal estate, against only £25 in liabilities. Credit, along with land holdings, constituted the basis of Neilson’s fortune after he retired from business. There was still considerable landed property in the estate even in 1867: the Hubert fief (2 leagues by 2 leagues), a house, 34 lots, 8 farms in the seigneurial area and 9 in Stoneham, Barford, and Simpson townships.

Gradually Neilson moved into politics, and his first steps in this direction were orthodox. During the troubles in 1794 he signed a declaration of loyalty to the crown, and in 1799 he signed the address of good wishes to Governor Robert Prescott* on his departure. His newspaper rarely published anything audacious. In 1810, when people were being imprisoned under the régime of Governor Sir James Henry Craig*, the Quebec Gazette urged respect for the constitution and loyalty. Even under Dalhousie, Neilson became a lieutenant in the Quebec militia in 1824.

Neilson has been called a moderate liberal or a moderate reformer. His even, patient temperament, untroubled by quick anger, his admiration for British institutions, which was accompanied by a certain attraction to American municipal institutions, his pursuit of a balance of powers: all these naturally drew him towards men such as Pierre-Stanislas Bédard, the leader of the Canadian party until 1811. Neilson was convinced of the need to do away with the abuses that had crept into the application of the 1791 constitution. Sympathetic to French Canadians and their institutions, in particular the seigneurial régime, and critical of the financial irresponsibility displayed by a clique of uncontrolled officials holding too many posts, he was drawn to Louis-Joseph Papineau, who gained ascendancy over the Canadian party in the period 1818–22. The fact was that Papineau himself proclaimed the benefits of monarchy and fought against the abuses of executive authority in the colony.

Neilson was elected for Quebec in 1818 under the banner of the Canadian party. In a way he constituted a moral security essential to this party, which was too closely identified with the French Canadians. He complemented Papineau by exhorting him frequently to have patience and perseverance – qualities Papineau admitted he did not possess. It is not surprising, therefore, that the two were sent as delegates to London early in 1823 with the petitions from Lower Canada against the union bill that had been laid before the House of Commons in 1822. They met the under-secretary of state for the colonies, Robert John Wilmot-Horton, Sir James McIntosh, Lord Bathurst, and others. In his personal notes, which are not dated, Neilson argued that it would not be useful to increase the property qualification for voting and stressed that a change in land tenure, made possible under a statute passed in London in 1822, could not come about unless the consent of the censitaires was secured and their right to take up land at no expense to themselves was assured. In the House of Assembly at the time of the 1823 hearings on the state of agriculture, he spoke in favour of the seigneurial régime and the right of censitaires to obtain land without payment. And around 1825–26 he advised the governor that application of the legislation permitting commutation of seigneurial tenure into freehold, which had been passed by the British parliament in 1822 and 1825, should be accompanied by crown intervention to ensure that the right of the censitaires to land at no cost was upheld.

In the assembly Neilson became involved in everything related to education, agriculture, and township development. Although he at times dissociated himself from Papineau’s position, on the whole he supported the Canadian party, especially on the question of control of supply. In January 1828 he again went to London, with Denis-Benjamin Viger* and Austin Cuvillier, to present the assembly’s complaints against Dalhousie’s administration to the British parliamentarians. Neilson appeared before a House of Commons committee early in June and laid out the matters on which he had strong views. He urged the necessity of handing over to the assembly control of all revenue collected by the province – a recommendation which the committee adopted in part, although it advised permanent appropriation of salaries for the governor, legislative councillors, and judges. As well, Neilson called for an annual vote of supply, item by item, and he denounced the making of expenditures not authorized by the assembly. He condemned the excessively close ties between the Legislative and Executive councils and the governor, which had resulted in the paralysis of the legislature. The behaviour of the Dalhousie administration he characterized as abusive and highhanded. In his view a reasonable agreement between the assembly and London on the question of supply could be reached if the rights of the house were recognized. With regard to land matters, he criticized the imperial parliament’s interference in Lower Canada’s internal affairs – the legislation of 1822 and 1825 permitting the commutation of seigneurial tenure – and he warned there would be a risk of fraud if registry offices were set up since the Canadians were unfamiliar with such institutions. He pointed out the pernicious consequences of having too many absentee landowners in the townships, and he noted the Canadians’ preference for Canadian laws and seigneurial tenure providing easy access to free land, unless the assembly’s measures to correct abuses in the system were blocked by the Legislative Council. Reform of that council was required, he stated, and might best be achieved if the crown appointed persons of means who were independent of the executive. He also defended the Catholic Church.

On 29 March 1830 Papineau thanked Neilson publicly for his services – the report of the commons committee had recognized in part the legitimacy of the complaints of the Patriote party (as the Canadian party had been called since 1826). Neilson drew up a series of proposals conceived in a spirit of conciliation. But times had changed. Already a deep split was developing between him and Papineau, who would soon move from the cordial correspondence of the 1820s to public insults. In a letter to Neilson in August 1832, Papineau let slip the phrase “our detestable constitution.” Neilson, however, set great store by the constitution, by the links with Great Britain and the benefits that the colony derived from them – indeed by a whole series of institutions that could not be accommodated within the increasingly republican line being taken by the party’s radical wing. Neilson, having always preached the righting of abuses, the preservation of institutions, harmony, tolerance, and respect for the colony’s various ethnic backgrounds and religions, was disturbed by an emerging anticlericalism and nationalism in the party which he thought went too far. He railed against the assembly’s failure to take any real advantage of the compromises suggested by London, and he feared the economic consequences that might ensue from the radicalizing of a large group within the Patriote party. He also rejected the idea of an elected legislative council, which was incompatible with the British constitution.

The break, already evident in 1831–32, was consummated in 1834 with the assembly’s adoption of the 92 Resolutions [see Elzéar Bédard], whose violent tone and extreme nature were repugnant to a levelheaded man such as Neilson. Watching helplessly the radicalization that followed the bloody by-election in Montreal in 1832 [see Daniel Tracey*], he asked how a responsible government, as Papineau conceived it, could be demanded when Papineau could not govern himself. In his view the Patriote party stance threatened mercantile and industrial interests, which in turn ensured the prosperity of farmers. Until 1831, he thought, the assembly had been on the defensive. But since the concessions made by the British government it had become “the assailant” and intended to wring from the crown rights that were incompatible with the constitution and monarchical institutions. Blinded by the ambition of a few individuals thirsting for power, who exploited national differences and jealousies, it had blocked supply, threatened rebellion, and neglected the wishes of the people. In March 1833 he stated in the Quebec Gazette that the constitution had first been betrayed by the governor and Legislative Council, and was now being betrayed by the assembly.

Some historians are of the opinion that Neilson lacked flexibility and consequently was unable to gather allies and act as a counterbalance to Papineau. Be that as it may, the radical group called him a traitor, and in the 1834 elections he was defeated in the constituency he had represented for more than 15 years. He then helped found constitutional associations in the colony. In 1835 he was commissioned to go to London, accompanied by William Walker, and express the viewpoint of the moderate English-speaking merchants. What he was again seeking was the righting of abuses, but without sedition or revolt. He vainly tried to avert the rebellions.

Neilson became a member of the Special Council on 2 April 1838 and served on it till 1840, except for the brief period under the administration of Lord Durham [Lambton] when it was reconstituted. Faithful to his convictions, he fought against union of the two Canadas, a stand that earned him popular support and election to the assembly of the united Canadas in 1841. In 1844 the assembly named him speaker, but on 25 November of that year he was given a seat on the Legislative Council, which he retained for the rest of his life.

Along with business and politics, Neilson was active in various associations. For example, he was a member of the Quebec Fire Society from 1797, becoming its president in 1810. In 1809 he was elected vice-president of the Quebec Benevolent Society and then president, an office he held again in 1812 and 1817. In 1837 he was president of the St Andrew’s Society of Quebec. He served as a commissioner to examine the prison system and as a trustee for demolishing the market house in Upper Town Quebec in 1815 and 1821. He was a justice of the peace continuously from 1815 (his mandate was last renewed on 23 Nov. 1838), and in 1845 he was appointed a commissioner of the Beauport asylum. Furthermore, his stature and probity made him an ideal person to be given powers of attorney for fellow merchants or to serve as guardian for minors. As he explained to people who sought his help, “Although my mission simply relates to the political concerns of the country, I shall always be happy to contribute every thing in my power to whatever may appear to be conducive to the general welfare.”

At his death on 1 Feb. 1848 Neilson left a sizeable fortune (20 years later it exceeded £30,000, real estate not included), and a reputation for integrity and good judgement. He had brought his children up with affection but also with discipline – their numerous letters vainly requesting money are proof of that; he did, however, make sure they were established. The arrangements made in his will and that of his wife are indicative of the man. The usufruct of everything in the community of property was left to the survivor and the heirs were forbidden to contest legally the division made, on pain of being disinherited ipso facto. Shortly after his death, his son William paid £145 for a monument to be erected in the cemetery of the Presbyterian church in Valcartier, at the head of the grave.

Intelligence, culture, hard work, perseverance, moderation, firmness, and patience, these were some of the qualities that enabled John Neilson to pursue an uncommon career. Much has been made of his sense of thrift; his generosity, though not always disinterested, has perhaps been forgotten. For example, in 1804 he contributed to a subscription for victims of the Quebec fire and again in 1818 to one for the poor in the district of Quebec. In business or family matters he had extensive dealings with notaries, avoided lawyers and judges if possible, and preferred arbitration, settlement out of court, or a warning. With too many preoccupations, he at times neglected his own civic duties, among them keeping up the roads. In essence, Neilson seems to have been one of the earliest exemplars of the “Canadian” in the modern sense: bilingual, connected with people of various origins, optimistic about the country’s future. His relative failure and his inability to create solid and lasting links for himself in the French Canadian milieu, whether business or political, are proof that the undertaking is difficult in any period.

Sonia Chassé, Rita Girard-Wallot, and Jean-Pierre Wallot

John Neilson’s papers are located at the ANQ-M in P-1000-3-360; at the ANQ-Q in its collections of the Neilson family (P-193) and of the Neilson printing firm (P-192); and at the PAC in MG 24, B1, which covers the period 1764–1850. There are also items in other collections at the ANQ-Q, including those of Ludger Duvernay* (P-68), the Papineau family (P-417), and the Napoléon Bourassa family (P-418)."

(Witness) Death

30 September 1804

Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, Principal=Elizabeth Neilson

Note*

between 1816 and 1817

This photo was taken in August 2002 at the national Museum of Civilization in Hull (Ottawa area). The Honorable John Neilson's dishes that he purchased on March 17, 1817 in London England are stored at this museum. June Johnston is on the left and her mother Alice Raybould is on the right, descendents of John Neilson's son William Neilson and Margaret Cassin. June has documented the voyage that John Neilson made to England in 1816/1817 .

Death*

1 February 1848

Cap-Rouge, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, Aged 71 years and 6 months., Witness=Marie Ursula Hubert

Burial*

4 February 1848

Church of Scotland, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "John Neilson of the City of Quebec, one of the Members of the Legislative Council of this province of Canada, who died at Cap Rouge the first day of February and was buried at Valcartier on the fourth day of the same month, 1848, aged 71 years. David Shanks, minister
John Neilson, son
N. Neilson Ross, nephew
Rob Middleton, witness."

Family

Marie Ursula Hubert b. 21 Oct 1781, d. 20 Jun 1866

Marriage*

6 January 1797

Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada, "On the sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven, in this Protestant church of Trois-Rivieres, by me the undersigned minister of the said church, John Neilson, of the city of Quebec, printer, whose of age, and Marie Hubert of this parish whose underage, with the consent of Jean Baptiste Rieutard , her grandfather...", Principal=Marie Ursula Hubert

Children

Isabel Neilson (8 Apr 1798 - )
Samuel Neilson (8 Feb 1800 - 17 Jun 1837)
Mary Neilson (31 Aug 1802 - )
Elizabeth Neilson (19 Aug 1804 - 30 Sep 1804)
William Neilson+ (2 Dec 1805 - 7 Jul 1895)
Margaret Neilson (17 Apr 1808 - )
Janet Neilson (9 Oct 1810 - )
Agnes Janet Neilson (6 Dec 1812 - )
Frances Neilson (13 Jul 1815 - )
John Neilson+ (27 Jan 1821 - )

John Neilson

(27 January 1821 - )

Father

John Neilson b. 17 Jul 1776, d. 1 Feb 1848

Mother

Marie Ursula Hubert b. 21 Oct 1781, d. 20 Jun 1866

John Neilson|b. 27 Jan 1821|p143.htm#i6276|John Neilson|b. 17 Jul 1776\nd. 1 Feb 1848|p143.htm#i1662|Marie Ursula Hubert|b. 21 Oct 1781\nd. 20 Jun 1866|p93.htm#i1103|William Neilson|b. s 1740|p143.htm#i5945|Isabel Brown|b. s 1750|p13.htm#i5946|||||||

Last Edited

May 28, 2009

Birth*

27 January 1821

Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

5 February 1821

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "John Neilson Esq. printer to His Majesty, and his wife, Mary, had a son born on Saturday, the 27th. day of January and baptised on the fifth day of February, 1821, named John".

Marriage*

3 June 1844

Notre-Dame-de Quebec Catholic Church, Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "...John Neilson, gentleman, son of age of the Honorable John Neilson and Dame Marie Ursula Hubert on the one part; and Laura Caroline Moorhead, daughter of age of the late John Moorehead and Dame Marguerite Duberger on the other part; ...both living in this parish...in the presence of George Barthelmy Faubault, guardian, and Marguerite Duberger, mother of the bride, and Honorable John Neilson, father of the groom, and Alphonse Dubord, friend...and many others who signed..."
, Principal=Laura Caroline Moorhead

Family

Laura Caroline Moorhead b. s 1822

Child

Alfred Norbert Francis Neilson+

Margaret Neilson

(3 May 1842 - 1913)

Father

William Neilson b. 2 Dec 1805, d. 7 Jul 1895

Mother

Margaret Cassin b. 31 Oct 1814, d. 22 May 1853

Relationship

1st cousin 3 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Sep 28, 2008

Married Name

Reynolds

Birth*

3 May 1842

Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

13 May 1842

Church of Scotland, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "William Neilson of Valcartier, Margaret, his wife had a daughter born on the 3rd day of May and baptised this thirteenth day of May, 1842 by the name of Margaret.
James Geggor, minister
William Neilson
Margaret Neilson
Catherine Knox
Bridget Cassin."

Cen-Enum*

1851

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, a 10 year old, Catholic, born in Canada, and living with her parents, William and Margaret, and her eight siblings., Principal=QUE Que Co Valcartier Census 1851, Witness=William Neilson

(Witness) Census

1861

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, "William Neilson", farmer, born L. Canada, Presbyterian, age 55, living in a frame house. Neighbors are Patrick Cosgrove ane John McBain. Living with him:
Margaret Neilson, daughter, born L. Canada, Prebyterian, age 19.
Mary Neilson, daughter, born L. Canada, Prebyterian, age 17.
Elizabeth Neilson, daughter, born L. Canada, Prebyterian, age 15.
Samuel Neilson, farmer, born L. Canada, Prebyterian, age 21.
Elizabeth Brown, daugher-in-law, born L. Canada, Presbyterian, age 20.
Margaret Neilson, granddaughter, Presbyterian, born L. Canada, age 1.
Elizabeth mcAdams, Visitor, born L. Canada, Anglican, age 25, resides Quebec., Principal=William Neilson, Principal=QUE Que Co Valcartier Census 1861

(Witness) Migration

May 1865

Left Quebec for Wisconsin., Principal=John Reynolds

Marriage*

16 May 1865

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, "John Reynolds, farmer, bachelor, of Valcartier, and Margaret Neilson, same place, were married by dispensation of license on the sixteenth day of May, 1865.
David Shanks, minister
Samuel Neilson, witness
Elizabeth Neilson, witness.", Principal=John Reynolds

(Witness) Census

8 June 1870

Mequon, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, "John Reynolds", white, male, age 40, head of household #158, farmer, property worth $6000, personal estate worth $1100, born Canada, parents of foreign birth, living close to John Corrigan and his family.
Living with him:
Margaret Reynolds, age 28, keeping house, born Canada, parents of foreign birth.
Margaret Reynolds, age 4, born WI.
Elizabeth Reynolds, age 2, born WI.
Anna Reynolds, age 15, born WI?.
James Quinn, age 20, farm laborer, born Canada, parents of foreign birth., Principal=John Reynolds, Principal=WI Ozaukee Co Census 1870

(Witness) Census

2 June 1880

Mequon, Wisconsin, United States, "John Reynolds", white, male, age 49, head of household #30, farmer, born Canada, parents born Ireland, living close to James Corrigan and his family.
Living with him:
Margaret Reynolds, wife, age 42, keeping house, born Canada, parents born Canada.
Margaret Reynolds, daughter, age 14, born WI, attending school.
Elizabeth Reynolds, age 12,daughter, born WI, attending school.
William Reynolds, son, age 9 , born WI, attending school.
Henry Gunther, age 20, farm help, born WI, father born Meklenberg, mother Prussia., Principal=John Reynolds, Principal=WI Ozaukee Co Census 1880

Migration*

1892

Nebraska, United States, Principal=John Reynolds

Death*

1913

Family

John Reynolds b. 1830

Marriage*

16 May 1865

Children

Margaret Neilson

(17 June 1860 - )

Father

Samuel Neilson b. 10 Apr 1840

Mother

Elizabeth Brown b. c 1841

Relationship

2nd cousin 2 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Oct 1, 2008

Birth*

17 June 1860

Quebec, Canada

Baptism

28 July 1860

Church of Scotland, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "Samuel Neilson, farmer, Valcartier and Elizabeth Brown, his wife, had a daughter born on the 17th day of June and baptised the twent yeighth day of July, 1860 by the name of Margaret.
David Shanks, minister.
Samuel Neilson,
Margaret Brown,
Cornelius Neilson
Margaret Neilson."

(Witness) Census

1861

Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "William Neilson", farmer, born L. Canada, Presbyterian, age 55, living in a frame house. Neighbors are Patrick Cosgrove ane John McBain. Living with him:
Margaret Neilson, daughter, born L. Canada, Prebyterian, age 19.
Mary Neilson, daughter, born L. Canada, Prebyterian, age 17.
Elizabeth Neilson, daughter, born L. Canada, Prebyterian, age 15.
Samuel Neilson, farmer, born L. Canada, Prebyterian, age 21.
Elizabeth Brown, daugher-in-law, born L. Canada, Presbyterian, age 20.
Margaret Neilson, granddaughter, Presbyterian, born L. Canada, age 1.
Elizabeth mcAdams, Visitor, born L. Canada, Anglican, age 25, resides Quebec., Principal=William Neilson, Principal=QUE Que Co Valcartier Census 1861

Margaret Neilson

(17 April 1808 - )

Father

John Neilson b. 17 Jul 1776, d. 1 Feb 1848

Mother

Marie Ursula Hubert b. 21 Oct 1781, d. 20 Jun 1866

Margaret Neilson|b. 17 Apr 1808|p143.htm#i6273|John Neilson|b. 17 Jul 1776\nd. 1 Feb 1848|p143.htm#i1662|Marie Ursula Hubert|b. 21 Oct 1781\nd. 20 Jun 1866|p93.htm#i1103|William Neilson|b. s 1740|p143.htm#i5945|Isabel Brown|b. s 1750|p13.htm#i5946|||||||

Last Edited

Sep 7, 2008

Birth*

17 April 1808

Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

3 May 1808

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Cemetery, Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "John Neilson of Quebec, printer, and his wife, Marie Ursula, had a daughter born on the 17th. last and baptised this third day of May, 1808, named Margaret.
Alex Spark, minister
J. Neilson, father
M. Neilson, mother
Wm. Cowan
Chas. Roy".

(Witness) Census

1852

Mary Neilson

(31 August 1802 - )

Father

John Neilson b. 17 Jul 1776, d. 1 Feb 1848

Mother

Marie Ursula Hubert b. 21 Oct 1781, d. 20 Jun 1866

Mary Neilson|b. 31 Aug 1802|p143.htm#i6272|John Neilson|b. 17 Jul 1776\nd. 1 Feb 1848|p143.htm#i1662|Marie Ursula Hubert|b. 21 Oct 1781\nd. 20 Jun 1866|p93.htm#i1103|William Neilson|b. s 1740|p143.htm#i5945|Isabel Brown|b. s 1750|p13.htm#i5946|||||||

Last Edited

Sep 7, 2008

Birth*

31 August 1802

Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

11 September 1802

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Cemetery, Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "John Neilson of Quebec, printer, and his wife, Marie Ursula, had a daughter born on the 31st of Aug. last and baptised this elevent day of September, 1802, named Mary.
Alex Spark, minister
J. Neilson, father
M. Neilson, mother
Wm. Rivan
Chas. Roy".

Mary Neilson

(17 February 1860 - )

Father

Cornelius B. Neilson b. 12 Aug 1835

Mother

Margaret Ireland b. Jun 1838

Relationship

2nd cousin 2 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Sep 28, 2008

Birth*

17 February 1860

Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

18 March 1860

Church of Scotland, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "Cornelius Neilson, farmer Valcartier, Margaret Ireland, his wife had a daughter born on the 17th day of February and baptised this eightteenth day of March, 1860 by the name of Mary.
David Shanks, minister
Cornelius Neilson
Margaret Neilson
William Knox, wit.
Francis Ireland, wit."

Mary Ursula Hubert Neilson

(23 May 1844 - 1929)

Father

William Neilson b. 2 Dec 1805, d. 7 Jul 1895

Mother

Margaret Cassin b. 31 Oct 1814, d. 22 May 1853

Relationship

1st cousin 3 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Jan 21, 2009

Birth*

23 May 1844

Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

26 July 1844

St. Gabriel's Catholic Church, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, The godmother was Ann Boyle.

Cen-Enum*

1851

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, an eight year old Catholic, born in Canada, and living with her parents, William and Margaret and her eight siblings., Principal=QUE Que Co Valcartier Census 1851, Witness=William Neilson

(Witness) Census

1861

Married Name

30 June 1863

Ireland

Marriage*

30 June 1863

Church of Scotland, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "Hopper Ireland, farmer, of Valcartier, and Maria Ursula Hubert Neilson, were married by dispensation of license on the thirtieth day of June, 1863.
David Shanks, minister
William Neilson, witness
C.W.L. Wolff, witness.", Principal=Hopper Ireland

Death*

1929

Family

Hopper Ireland b. 26 Mar 1840

Marriage*

30 June 1863

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, "Hopper Ireland, farmer, of Valcartier, and Maria Ursula Hubert Neilson, were married by dispensation of license on the thirtieth day of June, 1863.
David Shanks, minister
William Neilson, witness
C.W.L. Wolff, witness.", Principal=Hopper Ireland

Children

Grant Ireland+ (1 Jul 1864 - 3 Jan 1933)
Margaret Ireland (23 Jan 1866 - )

Maud L. Neilson

(1866 - )

Father

Cornelius B. Neilson b. 12 Aug 1835

Mother

Margaret Ireland b. Jun 1838

Relationship

2nd cousin 2 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Feb 2, 2005

Birth*

1866

Wisconsin, United States

(Witness) Census

30 July 1870

(Witness) Census

7 June 1880

Samuel Neilson

(10 April 1840 - )

Father

William Neilson b. 2 Dec 1805, d. 7 Jul 1895

Mother

Margaret Cassin b. 31 Oct 1814, d. 22 May 1853

Relationship

1st cousin 3 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Oct 1, 2008

Birth*

10 April 1840

Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

10 June 1840

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "Mr. William Neilson of Valcartier and Margaret, his wife, had a son born on the tenth day of April and baptised on the tenth day of June, 1840 named Samuel by me John Cook, minister.
William Neilson, father
Margaret Neilson, mother
? Neilson Ross
H. King"

Cen-Enum*

1851

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, 12 year old Presbyterian, born in Canada, and living with his parents, William and Margaret, and his eight siblings., Principal=QUE Que Co Valcartier Census 1851, Witness=William Neilson

Marriage*

circa 1859

Quebec, Canada, Principal=Elizabeth Brown

(Witness) Census

1861

Family

Elizabeth Brown b. c 1841

Children

Margaret Neilson (17 Jun 1860 - )
William John Neilson (10 Jul 1864 - )

Samuel Neilson

(1771 - 12 January 1793)

Father

William Neilson b. s 1740

Mother

Isabel Brown b. s 1750

Samuel Neilson|b. 1771\nd. 12 Jan 1793|p143.htm#i5948|William Neilson|b. s 1740|p143.htm#i5945|Isabel Brown|b. s 1750|p13.htm#i5946|||||||||||||

Last Edited

Jun 3, 2007

Birth*

1771

Balmaghie, Scotland

Note*

"NEILSON, SAMUEL, printer; b. 1771 at Balmaghie (Dumfries and Galloway), Scotland, son of William Neilson and Isabel Brown; d. unmarried 12 Jan. 1793 in Quebec.

Samuel Neilson came to Quebec in 1785 to learn the compositor’s craft in the printing shop of his uncle William Brown. Brown died on 22 March 1789, and Samuel, who inherited a share of a considerable sum of money, purchased the printing shop and its newspaper the Quebec Gazette/La Gazette de Québec.

This paper, which had been founded on 21 June 1764, enjoyed a privileged status since the government published all its official announcements in it at a yearly contract price. But for some years the number of announcements had been increasing substantially and William Brown had had to claim for supplementary expenses each time work increased. Neilson continued to publish the official announcements, but the cost of printing was set by a list of prices that he established on 10 Oct. 1789. On 25 December his printing shop on Côte de la Montagne was damaged by fire; Neilson was nevertheless able to continue publishing his paper, thanks to William Moore, who owned the Quebec Herald, Miscellany and Advertiser.

Neilson markedly improved the quality of the Quebec Gazette. From 1789 on he devoted more space to news and essays, and he published the opinions of both French and English speaking readers on the proposed constitutional act, which was to be passed by parliament in London in 1791. Leading articles and news from European sources, dealing in particular with the events troubling France at the time, also were given more attention. To his weekly four-page edition Neilson quite regularly added a supplement of from two to six pages.

In the early months of 1792 Neilson announced the forthcoming publication of a bilingual monthly journal, to be called the Quebec Magazine/Le Magasin de Québec and sold for 15 pence a copy or three dollars for a year’s subscription. Neilson made Alexander Spark*, minister of the Presbyterian church in Quebec, its editor. The first issue, a 64-page number scheduled for August, came out on 13 Sept. 1792 and included a print of the city of Quebec done by J. G. Hochstetter; subsequently the magazine carried other prints and thus became the first illustrated periodical published in Quebec. The Quebec Magazine reprinted substantial extracts from works on a wide variety of subjects: astronomy, hygiene, poetry, political institutions, history, agriculture, and meteorology. A column entitled the “Provincial Register” was devoted to news from Lower and Upper Canada. Finally, the magazine carried a register of births, marriages, and deaths, meteorological tables, and lists of consumer prices.

Samuel Neilson died of tuberculosis on 12 Jan. 1793 in Quebec. His magazine did not long outlast him for it ceased publication in May 1794. But, through dynamic management, in less than four years Neilson had expanded his printing shop more than his uncle had in 25 years. His firm went to his 16-year-old brother John*, who for some time acted under the guardianship of Alexander Spark. The latter was editor of the Quebec Gazette until John came of age and took over responsibility.

John E. Hare

ASQ, Polygraphie, XXXV, 6d; Séminaire, 120, no.259. Quebec Gazette, 12 March 1789, 10 Jan. 1793. Quebec Magazine, 1792–94. Tremaine, Bibliography of Canadian imprints. F.-J. Audet, “John Neilson,” RSC Trans., 3rd ser., XXII (1928), sect.i, 81–97; “William Brown (1737–1789), premier imprimeur, journaliste et libraire de Québec; sa vie et ses œuvres,” RSC Trans., 3rd ser., XXVI (1932), sect.i, 97–112."

Death*

12 January 1793

Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, Died from tuberculosis.

Samuel Neilson

(8 February 1800 - 17 June 1837)

Father

John Neilson b. 17 Jul 1776, d. 1 Feb 1848

Mother

Marie Ursula Hubert b. 21 Oct 1781, d. 20 Jun 1866

Samuel Neilson|b. 8 Feb 1800\nd. 17 Jun 1837|p143.htm#i5950|John Neilson|b. 17 Jul 1776\nd. 1 Feb 1848|p143.htm#i1662|Marie Ursula Hubert|b. 21 Oct 1781\nd. 20 Jun 1866|p93.htm#i1103|William Neilson|b. s 1740|p143.htm#i5945|Isabel Brown|b. s 1750|p13.htm#i5946|||||||

Last Edited

Mar 24, 2009

Birth*

8 February 1800

Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

16 February 1800

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "John Neilson of Quebec, printer, and his wife, Marie Ursula, had a son born on the 8th instant and baptised this sixteenth day of February, 1800, named Samuel.
Alex Spark, minister
J. Neilson, father
Maria Neilson, mother
Wm. Cowan
William Rivan".

Note*

"NEILSON, SAMUEL, printer, journalist, and publisher; b. 8 Feb. 1800 at Quebec, eldest son of John Neilson and Marie-Ursule Hubert; m. first 14 June 1831 Margaret McSkimming at Quebec; m. secondly 28 May 1835 Catherine James in New York; d. there 17 June 1837.

Samuel Neilson attended Daniel Wilkie*’s grammar school at Quebec and received a sound education there. His father removed him in order to have him finish his studies in Scotland, and in July 1816 the two sailed for Europe. After a short stay in Paris, Samuel settled in Glasgow, where he registered in a college on Richmond Street run by Dr William Chrystal. He spent three years there, studying Greek, Latin, philosophy, mathematics, and science. In the summer holidays he took special courses in bookkeeping, drawing, architecture, botany, and French. He also passed pleasant weeks at Gatehouse-of-Fleet with his paternal grandmother, his uncle William, and his aunts Isabel and Janet. Upon completing his studies in rhetoric and the two philosophy classes, he was awarded an ma in 1819.

Neilson returned to Quebec that summer and immediately went to work for his father, who was proprietor of the Quebec Gazette and of the biggest shop for printing, bookbinding, books, and office supplies in Lower Canada and who also held the office of king’s printer. He had been elected member of the House of Assembly for Quebec in 1818, and there was some concern that difficulties, if not a conflict of interest, might arise from his holding the two offices at once. To avoid such a situation, he handed his printing enterprise over on 29 April 1822 to a company formed by his son Samuel and William Cowan. The partners received respectively two-thirds and one-third of the business.

The plan to unite Upper and Lower Canada was at the heart of political debate in the summer of 1822, and John Neilson sided wholeheartedly with the Canadian party. Governor Lord Dalhousie [Ramsay] was displeased, and offered John Charlton Fisher the position of publisher of the Quebec Gazette. Because Fisher was unable to come to an agreement with Samuel Neilson, the governor decided to strip Samuel of the commission as king’s printer that he had granted him. On 22 Oct. 1823 he conferred it on Fisher, who also received authorization to bring out the Quebec Gazette, published by authority.

In January 1828 John Neilson went to London with Denis-Benjamin Viger* and Austin Cuvillier to put the Canadian case against Dalhousie’s maladministration. Dalhousie lost all sense of proportion and abused his prerogatives by taking severe measures against some justices of the peace and militia officers, and by arresting journalists for venturing to publish accounts of the mass meetings then being held. As a result Samuel was arrested four times, charged with libel, and released on bail. These difficulties occurred during his father’s absence, but he did not lose his calm and maintained a dignified tone in his articles in the Quebec Gazette. Dalhousie was recalled in 1828, and Sir James Kempt*, who succeeded him, dropped the charges.

Founded in 1764 by William Brown* and Thomas Gilmore*, the Quebec Gazette had always been bilingual and since 1818 had appeared twice a week. In May 1831 Jean-Baptiste Fréchette and Étienne Parent* resumed publication of Le Canadien and a year later they turned it into a thrice-weekly paper. Doubtless spurred by the success of his competitors, Neilson altered his newspaper in April 1832, publishing two editions three times a week, one in English and the other in French. The change amounted to producing a daily paper and imposed an almost superhuman task upon Neilson. Some time later a calamitous cholera epidemic struck the town of Quebec, claiming thousands of victims. Those who could, left for the countryside, and John Neilson retired with his family to their farm at Cap-Rouge. But Samuel remained at the head of the paper, never absent for even a day from the shop on Rue de la Montagne (Côte de la Montagne), imperturbable, and temperate in the pages of the Gazette as well as in the short notes he penned to his father. One can readily imagine how overworked he was during this period.

In 1833 Samuel returned to the British Isles. He spent several months resting in Ireland, went to Scotland, and got as far as London. From there he wrote to tell his father that he intended taking up residence in Europe. He returned to Quebec, however, and did not end his partnership with William Cowan until 30 April 1836. On 31 May he turned the business over to his brother William, and in July he made his father his attorney. He was ill, and after he had consulted Quebec physicians Thomas Fargues and James Douglas*, he left for Europe in July, stopping at Saratoga Springs and New York to seek the opinion of other doctors. In November 1836 he sailed for Madeira and the Mediterranean, where he spent the winter. He was back in New York on 16 June 1837 and died of tuberculosis the following day in the quarantine station of that city.

Samuel Neilson’s destiny was tragic. The favourite son of his father, whose intelligence and good sense he had inherited, he was utterly devoted to his work and was still making plans in the autumn of 1836 for improving the newspaper and printing-shop. A keen observer of men and politics, he was also a talented writer and possessed real aptitude for drawing and painting, as his unpublished accounts of trips to the Saguenay and Madeira demonstrate. He was a reserved man and seems to have been an enigma to his close relatives. For example, none of his family is listed in the entry for his first marriage in the register of St Andrew’s Church. His wife died a year or two later, and his second marriage took place in New York in 1835. Samuel Neilson was one of the most gifted young men of his generation. His untimely death together with his father’s dominating personality kept him from fulfilling his early promise.

Claude Galarneau

Samuel Neilson’s unpublished narratives of his voyages, which he wrote on his return from the Saguenay and from Madeira, are at PAC, MG 24, B1, 19: 4 and 42: 2157–348 respectively. The PAC also holds important materials on Neilson and his family in the same collection: MG 24, B1, 19: 8; 24: 585; 36: 242–572; 38: 1038–45; 40: 1452–87; 42: 1736–2038.

ANQ-Q, CE1-66, 16 févr. 1800, 14 juin 1831; CN1-116, 29 avril 1822; 22 avril, 7, 31 mai, 11 juill. 1836. F.-X. Garneau, Voyage en Angleterre et en France dans les années 1831, 1832 et 1833 (Québec, 1855), 236–37. Le Canadien, juin 1837. La Minerve, juin 1837. Quebec Gazette, April–May 1822, April–September 1832, April–May 1836, June–August 1837. Quebec Mercury, June 1837. Beaulieu et Hamelin, La presse québécoise. F.-J. Audet, “John Neilson,” RSC Trans., 3rd ser., 22 (1928), sect.i: 81–97. Ignotus [Thomas Chapais], “Le monument Wolfe et Montcalm à Québec,” BRH, 5 (1899): 305–9. Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, 21 June 1939."

Marriage*

14 June 1831

St. Andrew's Church, Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "Samuel Neilson, Esquire, printer, of the city of Quebec, now at Montreal, and Margaret McSkimming, lately from Ayr, Scotland, spinster, by license by His Excellency Matthew Lind Alymer were joined in the bands of Holy Matrimony in Quebec on the fourteenth day of June, 1831 by me
James Harkeys, minister
Samuel Neilson
Margaret McSkimming
Phillip Callaghan
Phlora Cameron.", Principal=Margaret McSkimming

(Witness) Death

circa 1833

Principal=Margaret McSkimming

Marriage*

28 May 1835

New York City, Manhattan County, New York, United States, Principal=Catherine James

Death*

17 June 1837

New York City, New York, United States, Died of tuberculosis in the quarantine station on his way back from Europe to Quebec., Witness=Marie Ursula Hubert, Witness=Catherine James

Stanley Neilson

(1903 - )

Father

William C. Neilson b. Sep 1869

Mother

Harriet D. Davis b. 1878

Stanley Neilson|b. 1903|p143.htm#i3163|William C. Neilson|b. Sep 1869|p144.htm#i3154|Harriet D. Davis|b. 1878|p53.htm#i3161|Cornelius B. Neilson|b. 12 Aug 1835|p142.htm#i710|Margaret Ireland|b. Jun 1838|p95.htm#i3003|||||||

Relationship

3rd cousin 1 time removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Feb 5, 2005

Birth*

1903

Wisconsin, United States

(Witness) Census

26 January 1920

Good Hope Road, Granville, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, '''William C. Neilson", head of Farm and Family #221, owns the farm with a mortage, age 50, married, can read and write, born WI, parents born Canada, farmer in general farming.
Living with him:
Harriet, his wife, age 42, born WI, father born Pennsylvania, mother NY, can read and write.
Dorothy M., his daughter, age 21, single, attended school, born WI.
William D., his son, age 18, attended school, born WI.
Stanley, his son, age 17, attended school, born WI., Principal=William C. Neilson, Principal=WI Milwaukee Co Census 1920

Dr. Walter Hopper Neilson

(4 September 1857 - )

Father

Cornelius B. Neilson b. 12 Aug 1835

Mother

Margaret Ireland b. Jun 1838

Relationship

2nd cousin 2 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Sep 28, 2008

Birth*

4 September 1857

Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

11 October 1857

Church of Scotland, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "Cornelius Neilson, farmer Valcartier, Margaret Ireland, his wife had a son born on the 4th day of September and baptised this eleventh day of October, 1857 by the name of Walter Hopper.
David Shanks, minister
Cornelius Neilson
Margaret Neilson
James H. Shanks, wit."

(Witness) Census

30 July 1870

Marriage*

29 December 1881

Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, Principal=Clara Thomas

Note*

NEILSON, Walter Hopper, M. D., a well-known physician, editor of the Milwaukee Medical Journal, and prominent in connection with the founding and conducting of the Trinity hospital of Milwaukee, traces his lineage to an immigrant from Scotland to Quebec in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and to immigrants from France more than a hundred years earlier. His father, Cornelius B. Neilson, was born in Val Cartier, province of Quebec, on the 12th of August, 1835, but came to Granville, Milwaukee county, in November, 1860, settling on a farm which he has occupied ever since, and is now in the enjoyment of the natural results of enterprise and industry. On November 17th, 1856, he was married to Margaret Ireland, and they have eight children, all of whom have been carefully fitted for and are creditably doing the work of life. For thirty-five consecutive years the family name appeared upon the roll of the district school, and the success of its members is testimony to the efficiency of the public school system. Something more than a century ago, John Neilson, a man of literary tastes and business sagacity, came from Scotland, and, settling in Quebec, established the Quebec Gazette, which, under his editorship became a flourishing and influential journal; and, from this and a publishing business which grew up with it, he amassed a considerable fortune. In social and political life he early took a prominent place, became a member of the Canadian cabinet, and was a delegate to the court of St. James in behalf of the colony. He was a friend of the Indians, was noted for his charities, and met his death while ministering to the fever-stricken emigrants from the famine districts of Ireland. He married a French lady of the name of Hubert, whose ancestors came from Paris in 1650, their descendants taking a prominent place in the early clerical and professional history of Quebec. His eldest son, William, married Margaret Cassin, an accomplished woman of Irish parentage, and settled on a concession of land from the [p.177] crown, granted in consideration of valuable service, and there they lived the life of the landed gentry of Great Britain, dispensing a hospitality which made them noted throughout the country. Here eleven children were born, of whom seven reached adult age, the mother dying at the early age of thirty-seven, while the father died in 1894 at the age of eighty-nine. The eldest son of this family was Cornelius, father of the subject of this sketch. His mother, Margaret Ireland, was the daughter of Hopper Ireland and Margaret Watt, a Scotch lady. Mr. Ireland was a native of Yorkshire, England. He came to Canada when a young man, and settled in Val Cartier. There were eleven children in this family, and their descendants are scattered from the St. Lawrence to the Pacific. The parents died in Ontario, a few years ago, at the age of eighty-nine and eighty-seven, respectively. Dr. Neilson was born on the 4th of September, 1857, in Val Cartier, Quebec county, by the side of the Jacques Cartier river, in the shadow of the mountain that shuts in the vale. He attended the district school in Granville during the winter terms, work on the farm occupying the spring and summer months. Some of the teachers were excellent, two of them--Messrs. Shaughnessy and Sullivan--afterward becoming principals of Milwaukee schools. In this primitive school enough education was obtained to enable him to pass an examination for a third-grade teacher's certificate. One winter he spent in teaching a district school, and in this way his first money was earned, excepting three dollars obtained in cutting wood at fifty cents per cord. In 1876 he entered the University of Wisconsin, where he spent two years, which he says were of exceeding interest and profit to him, and where he was a member of the Athenean Literary society. After leaving the university he spent one year in studying medicine in the office of Drs. Marks and Ladd, and in the year 1879 entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which he graduated in 1881, having spent his vacation as intern in the Milwaukee county hospital. Soon after graduation he received the appointment of physician to the construction department of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western railroad. This professional experience he regards of special advantage, as it gave him confidence and self-reliance. This position was resigned after six months, to enter upon the practice of medicine in Milwaukee. The first two years in this work he had the experience of most young physicians--business came slowly, and sickness followed with its disheartening influence; but at length health returned, and with it business rapidly increased. In 1888 Dr. Neilson, in company with Dr. W. H. Earles, purchased the homestead at the corner of Ninth and Wells streets, remodeled and fitted it up for a general hospital; and, September 1st, 1889, the first patient was received. That fall he went to New York for postgraduate study, and three months were spent in clinical work in hospitals of that city. In 1891, he, in conjunction with other physicians, established the Trinity Hospital Training School for Nurses, [p.178] and he was elected president, as he was of the Practitioners' society, formed the following year. In 1893, he, with Dr. Earles, established the Milwaukee Medical Journal, of which he is the editor. He was also active, with others, in establishing the Milwaukee Medical College and School of Dentistry, was elected one of the directors and professor of the principles and practice of medicine and clinical medicine. Dr. Neilson does not claim to have made any discoveries, but to have kept abreast of the best thought and practice of his profession; and he is now in the enjoyment of a fairly lucrative business. Dr. Neilson has generally affiliated with the Republican party, but is in no sense a politician. He is a member of the American Medical association, and of the leading medical societies of the state. He is also a member of the St. Andrew's society, and an attendant at Calvary Presbyterian church. He was married December 29th, 1881, to Miss Clara Thomas of Milwaukee county, a daughter of one of its pioneers. They have two sons, George Whittier and Walter Roland. The doctor and his family live plainly in an old-fashioned house surrounded by native forest trees, and amid these they strive to keep as close to nature as it is possible to do in a great city.

Family

Clara Thomas

Children

Walter Roland Neilson

Father

Dr. Walter Hopper Neilson b. 4 Sep 1857

Mother

Clara Thomas

Walter Roland Neilson||p143.htm#i3008|Dr. Walter Hopper Neilson|b. 4 Sep 1857|p143.htm#i3002|Clara Thomas||p175.htm#i3006|Cornelius B. Neilson|b. 12 Aug 1835|p142.htm#i710|Margaret Ireland|b. Jun 1838|p95.htm#i3003|||||||

Relationship

3rd cousin 1 time removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Jan 22, 2005

Birth*

Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States

William Neilson

(2 December 1805 - 7 July 1895)

Father

John Neilson b. 17 Jul 1776, d. 1 Feb 1848

Mother

Marie Ursula Hubert b. 21 Oct 1781, d. 20 Jun 1866

William Neilson|b. 2 Dec 1805\nd. 7 Jul 1895|p143.htm#i477|John Neilson|b. 17 Jul 1776\nd. 1 Feb 1848|p143.htm#i1662|Marie Ursula Hubert|b. 21 Oct 1781\nd. 20 Jun 1866|p93.htm#i1103|William Neilson|b. s 1740|p143.htm#i5945|Isabel Brown|b. s 1750|p13.htm#i5946|||||||

Last Edited

Mar 13, 2010

Birth*

2 December 1805

Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, Was of Irish descent.

Christening

23 December 1805

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "John Neilson of Quebec, printer, and his wife, Marie Ursula, had a son born on the 2nd instant and baptised this twenty-third day of December, 1805, named William.
Alex Spark, minister
J. Neilson, father
M. Neilson, mother
Chas. Roy
Henry Graham".

Marriage*

15 February 1830

Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Levis, Quebec, Canada, Principal=Margaret Cassin

(Witness) Death

1 August 1834

Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, Principal=William John Neilson

Residence*

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, This is one of two houses that William and Margaret owned. This one is on the north side of the Jacques Cartier River on a road that is now called Rue Lewis. As one can see from the picture, it has fallen into disrepair., Principal=Margaret Cassin

William Neilson & Margaret Cassin House (taken 2008)

Residence*

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, This is one of two houses owned by William Neilson. It is now owned and managed by a religious order of Brothers. It is located just northwest of the St. Gabriel Church.

William Neilson & Margaret Cassin House (taken 2008)

William Neilson & Margaret Cassin Horse Barn (taken 2008)

Cen-Head*

1852

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, a 47 year old farmer, Presbyterian, born in Canada, neigbor to James Robertson and Thomas Berry. He is referred to as Willliam Neilson, Esq. and is living with his wife and 10 children. There are two other people living in the house with them - James Armstrong, an 19 year old labourer, Presbyterian, born in Ireland, and Elizabeth Cassin an 18 year old, Catholic, born in Canada who is probably a relative of William's wife, Margaret. The children have been baptised Catholic if they were girls and Presbyterian if they were boys., Principal=QUE Que Co Valcartier Census 1851, Witness=Isabel Neilson, Witness=Cornelius B. Neilson, Witness=Agnes Janet Neilson, Witness=Samuel Neilson, Witness=Margaret Neilson, Witness=Mary Ursula Hubert Neilson, Witness=Elizabeth Laura Neilson, Witness=William Neilson, Witness=John Neilson, Witness=Elizabeth Cassin, Witness=Margaret Cassin

(Witness) Death

22 May 1853

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, The tombstone inscription states:
     Contiguous lies the body
      of her affectionate
      Father
      Michael Cassin
      who died
     on the 11th of Oct 1843
          Aged 70 years

     (on the side)
     Underneath this stone
      Lies the body of
      Margaret
The affectionate and Beloved Wife of
      William Neilson
who died on the 22nd day of May 1853
Aged 38 years 6 mons and 22 days
This memorial was erected by her husband
      July 1 1853, Principal=Margaret Cassin

(Witness) Death

9 June 1855

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, Principal=John Neilson

Census*

1861

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, "William Neilson", farmer, born L. Canada, Presbyterian, age 55, living in a frame house. Neighbors are Patrick Cosgrove ane John McBain. Living with him:
Margaret Neilson, daughter, born L. Canada, Prebyterian, age 19.
Mary Neilson, daughter, born L. Canada, Prebyterian, age 17.
Elizabeth Neilson, daughter, born L. Canada, Prebyterian, age 15.
Samuel Neilson, farmer, born L. Canada, Prebyterian, age 21.
Elizabeth Brown, daugher-in-law, born L. Canada, Presbyterian, age 20.
Margaret Neilson, granddaughter, Presbyterian, born L. Canada, age 1.
Elizabeth mcAdams, Visitor, born L. Canada, Anglican, age 25, resides Quebec., Principal=QUE Que Co Valcartier Census 1861, Witness=Margaret Neilson, Witness=Mary Ursula Hubert Neilson, Witness=Elizabeth Laura Neilson, Witness=Samuel Neilson, Witness=Elizabeth Brown, Witness=Margaret Neilson

Marriage*

Principal=Elizabeth MacAdams

Census*

1881

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, "William Neilson, married male, Scottish origin, age 76, born Quebec, Presbyterian. Living with him:
Elisabeth Neilson, married female, Irish origin, age 49, born Ireland, Church of England.
Annie McAdams, female, Irish origin, age 35, born Quebec, Church of England.
Ida Wolff, female, German, age 20, born Quebec, Church of England.
James Kerr, male , Scottish origin, age 64, born Scotland, servant, Presbyterian.
Louis Gros, widowed male, indigenous, age 62, born Quebec, servant, Catholic.
Note: Ida Wolff may be the granddaughter of William Neilson, and Annie McAdams must be a relative of William's wife, Elizaberth., Witness=Elizabeth MacAdams, Witness=Ida Wolff, Witness=Annie McAdams

Will*

10 August 1888

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, From an email from Eric Corrigan: "Hi Pat. I came across this page of information I guess you could call it, about a property of William Neilson, and what became of it, written by a religious brother (Mariste Frere)
In french, I will include a translated version in this e-mail;
William Neilson house
This house that you are living in presently was built in 1860. It belonged to William Neilson born in Canada in 1804. He was originally Irish and married a Margaret Casson, also Irish descent in 1851. The Neilson couple had 9 children whose age varied 21 to 2 years.
William was Presbyterian and Margaret Catholic. Without a doubt for the good family understanding they alternated in the choice of religion for the children. The first baptized in the Catholic Church; the second in the Presbyterian and the following also.
The 10^th of August 1888, William at 84 years made his will. He left to his second wife, Elizabeth Mac’ Adams, $33,000.00, a part of lot 131 and his house. To his children he left a total of $12,986.00 and some parcels of territory. Mr. William Neilson died the 7^th of July 1895. His second wife died the 10^th January 1911.
The house then passed to Cornelius, beloved son of William. He in turn sold it the same year, the lot 131 and the house to his brother (or nephew) Norman.
In 1924, Norman Neilson sold to Constance Neilson Fairchild the lot 131 and the house, for $3,000.00.
Three years later, in 1927, John Hebert Price bought the lot 131 and the house that belonged to William Neilson, also other neighboring properties. He built the Manoir situated on the higher ground in the years 1929-1930. He is bettering the place also in planting between others 20 elms of a large size at $1,000.00 per tree. He also built a chalet (possibly a summer residence) situated near the river.
Around 1933 or 34, The Donacona Company bought the majority of the places of Price Brothers and put up for sale this rich property valued at $400,000.00.
Celestin Simard, a merchant of Quebec, bought this domain in a liquidation sale for $15,000.00 in 1941and sold it the same year November 4^th to Joseph Bastien. He in his turn gave it to furniture Valcartier 26^th of the same month.
The 26^th of January 1945, the Freres (Brothers) Maristes bought the property.
This House now carries the name of Villa St. Leon in Honor of one of the first brothers who lived there in 1945.
Frere Gabriel Bolduc, 04-06 -90
Majela Murphy tells me that they dug the earth from around the perimeter of the trees in the fall let it freeze and during the winter hauled them from the grounds which had been expropriated for the Valcartier camp to the site of the Neilson grounds for planting. Majella is now 83 but has a very good memory, he was born and lived about a mile from this place, so he is a good source of information I am sure he would be glad to share it."

Death*

7 July 1895

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada

Burial*

10 July 1895

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Cemetery, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "William Neilson, of Valcatier, Co. Quebec, gentleman, son of the late John Neilson, aged 90 years, died on the seventh day of July, 1895, and was buried by me on the tenth of July, 1895 by me.
C.E. Dobbs, Minister of St. Andrews
Witnesses: John Neilson, H.I. Neilson."

Family

Margaret Cassin b. 31 Oct 1814, d. 22 May 1853

Marriage*

15 February 1830

Levis, Quebec, Canada, Principal=Margaret Cassin

Children

Isabel Neilson+ (8 Jan 1831 - 21 Jan 1895)
William John Neilson (23 Jul 1833 - 1 Aug 1834)
Cornelius B. Neilson+ (12 Aug 1835 - )
Agnes Janet Neilson+ (26 Feb 1838 - 5 May 1918)
Samuel Neilson+ (10 Apr 1840 - )
Margaret Neilson+ (3 May 1842 - 1913)
Mary Ursula Hubert Neilson+ (23 May 1844 - 1929)
Elizabeth Laura Neilson+ (27 Aug 1846 - 1873)
William Neilson (22 Oct 1848 - )
John Neilson (10 Nov 1850 - 9 Jun 1855)

William Neilson

(22 October 1848 - )

Father

William Neilson b. 2 Dec 1805, d. 7 Jul 1895

Mother

Margaret Cassin b. 31 Oct 1814, d. 22 May 1853

Relationship

1st cousin 3 times removed of Patricia Ann Monogue.

Last Edited

Sep 25, 2008

Birth*

22 October 1848

Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada

Baptism

2 November 1848

Church of Scotland, Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, "William Neilson, Esquire Valcartier and his wife, Margaret Cassin, had a son born on the 22nd day of October and baptised this second day of Novermber, 1848 by the name of William.
David Shanks, minister
William Neilson, father
Margaret Neilson, mother
Isabel Neilson, wit.
Helen Eaglesham, wit".

Cen-Enum*

1851

Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, a four year old male, Presbyterian, living with his parents, Wiliam and Margaret, and his eight siblings., Principal=QUE Que Co Valcartier Census 1851, Witness=William Neilson

William Neilson

Last Edited

Dec 3, 2000

Cen-Head*

1831

Valcartier, Quebec County, Quebec, Canada, head of a family of 6., Principal=QUE Que Co Valcartier Census 1831

William Neilson

(say 1740 - )

Last Edited

Jun 3, 2007

Birth*

say 1740

Scotland

Marriage*

Principal=Isabel Brown

Family

Isabel Brown b. s 1750

Children

Samuel Neilson (1771 - 12 Jan 1793)
John Neilson+ (17 Jul 1776 - 1 Feb 1848)
William Neilson (c 1778 - )

William Neilson

(circa 1778 - )

Father

William Neilson b. s 1740

Mother

Isabel Brown b. s 1750

William Neilson|b. c 1778|p143.htm#i5949|William Neilson|b. s 1740|p143.htm#i5945|Isabel Brown|b. s 1750|p13.htm#i5946|||||||||||||

Last Edited

Jun 3, 2007

Birth*

circa 1778

Balmaghie, Scotland

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