Medical Inspector Henry Clay Nelson, a career U.S. Navy medical officer and Civil War veteran, was born on 30 May 1835 in Maryland, probably in Frederick County. He was a son of Miranda (née Pearre) and Burgess Nelson, junior.

"Henry Clay Nelson, Medical Inspector United States Navy, retired, died yesterday at Concord, N. H. He was born in Carroll County, Md., fifty-seven years ago. He entered the United States Navy as Assistant Surgeon, May 9, 1861. He was promoted as Passed Assistant Surgeon on Oct. 26, 1863; to Surgeon on Oct 26, 1864; to Medical Inspector April 20, 1879, and was retired April 24, 1884, on account of ill health. In 1877 he was Fleet Surgeon of the Pacific squadron and for several years had been Assistant Surgeon General. He married the widow of Commander Walter Abbot, United States Navy, in 1877, and she, with a son, Francis A., a student at the St. Paul School, survives him." (The New York Times, 11 Mar 1893, p. 3.)

Henry Clay Nelson and Mrs. Adelaide Margaretta Abbott (née Thompson) were married on 22 March 1877 in Washington, District of Columbia. She had a daughter, Laura, from her prior marriage. The couple had one son, Francis Augustus, born 2 February 1878 in Honolulu, Kingdom of Hawai'i. In 1880, the family was enumerated in New London, Connecticut.

After retirement in 1884, Dr. Nelson spent 14 months touring Germany to study hospitals.

Dr. Nelson died on 10 March 1893, but was not laid to rest until 5 April, twenty-seven days later, so he could be interred beside his father.

Notes

Frederick County's District 8 (Liberty) remained part of Frederick County when Carroll County was organized in 1837 from parts of Frederick and Baltimore Counties.

1840 U.S. Census, District 8, Frederick Co., Maryland; p. 288 (printed).

[9.] Burgess Nelson, Jr.

• Fourteen persons in the household, including one male aged 70 to 80—likely Rev. Burgess Nelson, senior, then aged 76. Also including one slave, female aged 10 to 23.

1850 U.S. Census, Election District 8, Frederick Co., Maryland; dwelling 484, family 490; lines 34-42, p. 442 (printed), 30 Aug 1850.

34. "Jessee" Nelson [head], 55, farmer ($9,000), Maryland.

35. Maranda -----, 46, Maryland.

36. John W. -----, 23, laborer, Maryland.

37. Henry C. -----, 15, Maryland.

38. William B. -----, 12, Maryland.

39. Emeline -----, 11, Maryland.

40. George W. H. -----, 9, Maryland.

41. Charles B. -----, 7, Maryland.

42. Zachariah W. S. -----, 2, Maryland.

• Resided in Unionville. Greenberry R. Sappington, physician, enumerated on same page, known to have lived and practiced there.

Henry C. Nelson was surgeon of the U. S. Steamship Benicia, Asiatic Fleet, as of Jul 1871.

"District of Columbia Marriages, 1811-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLSN-XX3 : 10 March 2018), Henry Clay Nelson and Adelaide Margaretta Abbot, 22 Mar 1877; citing p. 279, Records Office, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 2,107,965.

Henry C. Nelson was Fleet Surgeon of the North Pacific Station as of Aug 1877.

The 1879 promotion from surgeon to medical inspector was comparable to promotion from lieutenant commander to commander.

1880 U.S. Census, E.D. 86, New London, New London Co., Connecticut; dwelling 58, family 77, lines 41-47, p. 4 (printed), p. 7 (written), 2-3 Jun 1880.

41. Nelson, Henry C., 43 [head], Surgeon U.S. Navy; self and parents born in Maryland.

42. ----- Adelaide M., 31, wife, Keeping House; self and parents born in New York.

43. Abbott, Laura W., 9, daughter, at home, born in Connecticut; father in Maryland, mother in New York.

44. Nelson, Francis A., 2, son, at home, born in Sandwich Island [Hawaii]; father in Maryland, mother in New York.

45. Thompson, Thomas O., 16, brother in law, at home; self and parents born in New York.

46. ----- Mary V., 14, sister in law, at home; self and parents born in New York.

47. Whitley, Sarah B., 21, servant, servant, born in Virginia; parents in Dist. Col.

"Washington, April 24.—The following officers of the navy were today placed on the retired list: Medical Inspector Henry C. Nelson [...]" ("Placed on Retired List," The Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, 25 Apr 1884, p. 1, col. 7.)

"The leave of absence of Medical Inspector Henry C. Nelson has been extended for six months with permission to remain abroad." ("Naval Orders," The Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, 22 Apr 1885, p. 1, col. 4.)

"H. C. Nelson, M. D., Medical Inspector, United States Navy, is spending a few days in Westminster with his brother, Mr. John W. Burgess. Dr. Nelson has been in Germany the past fourteen months, inspecting the chief hospitals of that country." ("Personals," The Democratic Advocate, Westminster, Maryland, 29 Aug 1885, p. 3.)

1890 U.S. Veterans Schedule, E.D. 68, Westminster, Carroll Co., Maryland; house 240, family 250, lines 27-28, p. 3.

Henry C. Nelson & Adelaide M., widow of Walter Abbot; enlisted 9 May 1861, still in service; direct comm[ission], to numerous vessels. (Remarks: "Placed on retired list April 26, 1884.")

According to a New Hampshire death record, Henry C. Nelson, a physician, died of hepatitis on 10 Mar 1893 at the Eagle Hotel in Concord. He was aged 57 years, 10 months, and 17 days, and was buried in Maryland.

"Dr. Henry C. Nelson, whose death at Concord, New Hampshire, on Friday of last week, was noted in the Advocate last Saturday, was placed in a vault at Concord on Monday, after appropriate funeral services, and will be brought to Carroll [County] for interment next month beside his father, at Deer Park Chapel at Smallwood." (The Democratic Advocate, Westminster, Maryland, 18 Mar 1893.)

"The remains of Dr. H. C. Nelson were bought here last Wednesday morning and were escorted by Burns Post to Ascension Church, where funeral services were held in the afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Mr. Morris, the rector. The interment was at Deer Park Chapel, at Smallwood, and the pall-bearers were Dr. J. W. Hering, Dr. J. Howell Billingslea, Dr. Charles Billingslea, Francis H. Orendorff and William H Vanderford." (The Democratic Advocate, Westminster, Maryland, 8 Apr 1893.)

Reviewed 20 February 2024.