Robert Nelles
Encyclopedia
Robert Nelles was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Tryon County, New York
in 1761. His father served in the Indian Department. Robert was made a lieutenant in the department in 1780 and served during the American Revolution
, leading raids into the interior of New York
state. After the war, father and son settled in the Grand River
valley and received several large land grants in the Niagara District. Nelles built mills and a store on the current site of the town of Grimsby
. In 1797, he was appointed Indian agent in the region for a brief time. In 1800, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
in West York
, 1st Lincoln
& Haldimand
and served until 1808. He joined the local militia during the War of 1812
, eventually becoming lieutenant-colonel. In 1814, he replaced Joseph Willcocks
in the legislative assembly in a by-election for 1st Lincoln and Haldimand, serving until 1820.
He died in Grimsby in 1842.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He was born in Tryon County, New York
Tryon County, New York
Tryon County, New York was a county in the colonial Province of New York in the British American colonies. It was created from Albany County on March 24, 1772. It was named for William Tryon, the last provincial governor of New York. Its boundaries extended far further than any current county...
in 1761. His father served in the Indian Department. Robert was made a lieutenant in the department in 1780 and served during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, leading raids into the interior of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state. After the war, father and son settled in the Grand River
Grand River (Ontario)
The Grand River is a large river in southwestern Ontario, Canada. From its source, it flows south through Grand Valley, Fergus, Elora, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Paris, Brantford, Caledonia, and Cayuga before emptying into the north shore of Lake Erie south of Dunnville at Port Maitland...
valley and received several large land grants in the Niagara District. Nelles built mills and a store on the current site of the town of Grimsby
Grimsby, Ontario
Grimsby is a town on Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. Grimsby is a part of the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. The majority of residents reside in the area bounded by Lake Ontario and the Niagara escarpment...
. In 1797, he was appointed Indian agent in the region for a brief time. In 1800, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
in West York
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
, 1st Lincoln
Lincoln County, Ontario
Lincoln County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.The county was formed in 1792. In 1845, the southern portion of Lincoln County was separated to form Welland County....
& Haldimand
Haldimand County, Ontario
Haldimand is a rural city-status single-tier municipality on the Niagara Peninsula in Southern Ontario, Canada, on the north shore of Lake Erie, and on the Grand River. Municipal offices are located in Cayuga....
and served until 1808. He joined the local militia during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, eventually becoming lieutenant-colonel. In 1814, he replaced Joseph Willcocks
Joseph Willcocks
Joseph Willcocks was a publisher, a political figure and ultimately, a traitor in Upper Canada.He was born in Palmerstown, Ireland in 1773. He came to York at the age of 27, staying initially with his second cousin once removed, William Willcocks...
in the legislative assembly in a by-election for 1st Lincoln and Haldimand, serving until 1820.
He died in Grimsby in 1842.