Emily Loxton & Emily Nelson - Notable Women Ancestors
Emily Loxton and her daughter, Emily Nelson

Emily Nutter Loxton LockeEmily NUTTER, born 1809 to Timothy and Ann Nutter married Rev. James LOXTON just prior to their leaving England for the South Seas where James was to be a missionary for the London Missionary Society. James died within months of their arriving at Raiatea and was buried there according to native custom. Emily decided to return to England, but had to break her journey at Huahine for the birth of her daughter, Emily LOXTON on 16 September 1834. Mother and daughter arrived back in England in June 1835.

Mrs. Loxton met the Rev John LOCKE in England, shortly before he too was posted as a missionary, this time to South Africa, sailing for Cape Town in May 1837. They moved to Grahamstown in 1838. Emily was widowed again in 1848, and died in Grahamstown at the age of 80 years in December 1889, having outlived her daughter Emily by ten years. I do not know whether there were any more children from her second marriage.

Emily Loxton NelsonEmily LOXTON is believed to be the first European child born in the South Sea Islands. Her early life would have been taken up with the long sea voyages from the South Seas to England, and again on a three month voyage from England to Cape Town in 1837, with another sea voyage or possibly overland trek by ox wagon to Grahamstown in 1838.

Emily married Charles Horatio NELSON in December 1852 in Grahamstown. Charles became virtually blind in 1860 and the family decided he should go to England for medical care to try and restore his sight. He travelled alone to England, Emily being busy caring for five young children in Grahamstown. Operations only partially restored Charles sight, and they decided that the family should settle in Crediton, Devon. Emily and the children joined him there and a further eight children were born in England, three died young. One son, James, fell severely ill while studying to become an ordained minister. On her way to visit James in London, Emily was run over by a horse and carriage and was buried in Abney Park Cemetery in 1879.

Remarkable people, or simply ordinary folk doing their best?

Bible page

Family Bible page of Emily's oldest child, Charles Edward NELSON.

References:

  • Nelson, D.R. 1991. Thomas Nelson; A brief history of an 1820 Settler and His Descendants. ISBN 0-620-15715-1. Includes extracts of notes about the two Emilys written by Alex Minto NELSON, grandson and son.

  • The Christian Keepsake and Missionary Annual, 1837. Fisher, Son & Co. Includes a vignette to Rev James Loxton and an engraving of his grave on Raiatea. The copy in my possession is inscribed by Charles Horatio Nelson to his daughter Nellie in 1895.

If you have any information on this family or recognize any surnames,
please e-mail Warrick Nelson

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