Thomas Nelson

Walter E. Pidgeon, Illustration from The Eureka Stockade by Raffaello Carboni, Sunnybrook Press, 1942, offset print.
Art Gallery of Ballarat, purchased 1994.

Background

Nelson arrived in Australia prior to August 1853.

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

Thomas Nelson was a member of the Independent California Rangers. A carpenter from America, he was a leader of the Drilling Corps within the Eureka Stockade, being made Captain of the First Rifles. Nelson was described as"a fine built man, full of energy and life, who had a corps under him composed of the very best". With James McGill, Nelson was outside the stockade when it was stormed. Raffaello Carboni states that Nelson and Captain Charles Ross had gone out to intercept the expected troop attack and seize their arms and ammunition.

Post 1854 Experiences

Nelson is recorded on electoral roll for Ballarat as a miner.

See also

Independent Californian Rangers Revolver Brigade

Further Reading

Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.

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