Person Record Title

John Neilson (1775-1857)

Identifier

NJS-PER-01358

Given Name

John

Family Name

Neilson

Birth Date

1775

Death Date

1857

Sex

Male

Occupation

Medical and Funerary

Biographical Description

Doctor John Neilson was the son of Colonel John Neilson (1745-1833) and Catherine Schuyler Voorhees Neilson, and the older brother of James Neilson (1784–1862). He was born in New Brunswick, NJ, into a slaveholding family. His father and brother James were long-time trustees and major donors to Rutgers University (originally Queen's College).

John Neilson moved to New York City by the late 18th century and practiced medicine there for many years. The 1810 U.S. census for New York lists 1 enslaved person in his household at that time. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in New Brunswick.

Keywords

white person

enslaver

Place of Significance

New Brunswick

New York City, NY

Child of

John Neilson (1745-1833)

Sibling of

James Neilson (1784-1862)

Abraham Schuyler Neilson (1792-1861)

Same As

John Neilson, Q97462278 (Wikidata)

John Neilson, ID Neilson-654 (Wikitree)

John Neilson, Memorial ID 30563536 (Find a Grave)

Bibliographic Citation

Barrett, Walter. The Old Merchants of New York City. New York: Thomas R. Knox & Co., 1885. Page 147-149.

Record Contributor

Jesse Bayker