Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Niehls P. "Nelson" Holm

Male 1774 - 1865  (90 years)


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  • Name Niehls P. "Nelson" Holm 
    Born 19 Oct 1774  Copenhagen, , Københavns Amt, Denmark Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Rsrch. Note
    • Holm's Mill
      (a.k.a. Krib's, Cole's and A. J. Shants' Mill)
      From A History of Vaughan Township by G. Elmore Reaman
      Neihls Peterson Holm was a Dunkard and a sailor. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark in Oct.19, 1774, he came to Canada ( Waterloo County ) with the Mennonites from Pennsylvania. He was a sailor in his younger days, and when Admiral Parker, assisted by Nelson, bombarded Copenhagen in 1801, had a narrow escape with his life. After the fall of Copenhagen, he and others like him, took to the open seas, where, for a few years, they led a piratical life. Having eventually landed on the east coast of America, and wishing to avoid punishment for his crimes, Neihls made his escape to Little York (Toronto) under the cover of night. He there married Anna Catharine Phillips of Hamburg, Germany. The couple resided in Markham Township, York County where their children were born.
      Although the Eby book states that they came to Puslinch in 1839, it is recorded by others that they were here 10 years prior, when the first small dam was constructed( lot 1- 3rd concession ), on the outlet from Puslinch Lake, used to power a small saw mill . In 1850, a new dam powered the larger saw mill erected at the same time. No longer able to tolerate his land legs, and having built a suitable vessel, Neihls first sailed the waters of Puslinch Lake in 1845. What a joyous occasion that must have been, for Neihls and for all the "sailors" since!
      Early assessment rolls of Waterloo County indicate that among his neighbours there, were the Pannabeckers Clemens, Baer, Bergey and Ellis families, other surnames common to Puslinch history.
      By 1856 a grist mill had been added which was operated by his son Peter Niles Holm ( born March 16, 1811). His wife, Susannah Cober, ( born June 4, 1813 ) was the daughter of Nicholas Cober of Vaughan Township. Peter's son Daniel married Esther Pannabecker and Anna Pannabecker, and farmed lot 6 in the 3rd concession. At about age 35 Peter was ordained as a minister of the River Brethren church, and it is said that his friends and admirers were of all denominations and that possibly when Peter died on Dec.13,1880, he did so without a single enemy.
      1851 Puslinch Census
    Eby ID Number 00056-3823 
    Died 12 Jan 1865  Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Person ID I10013  Generations
    Last Modified 12 May 2024 

    Family Anna Catharine Philips,   b. 7 Nov 1785, Hamburg, , Hamburg, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Oct 1858  (Age 72 years) 
    Married Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Children 
     1. Philip John Holm,   b. 20 May 1804, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Jan 1878, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years)
     2. Henry Paul Holm,   b. 13 Jun 1806, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Sep 1879, , Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years)
     3. Rev. Peter Niles Holm,   b. 25 Sep 1808, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Apr 1883, East Of Hespeler, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
     4. Rev. Neils Peter Holm,   b. 16 Mar 1811, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Dec 1880, Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years)
     5. Nancy Holm,   b. 4 Nov 1813, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Apr 1878, , Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 64 years)
     6. Daniel Holm,   b. 31 Mar 1816, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1841  (Age 24 years)
     7. Elizabeth Holm,   b. 8 Jun 1818, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Aug 1821  (Age 3 years)
     8. Rev. John P. Holm,   b. 16 Feb 1821, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Nov 1873, , Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 52 years)
     9. Mollie Holm,   b. 8 May 1823, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Jan 1909, Listowel, Wallace Twp., Perth County, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 85 years)
     10. Jacob Holm,   b. 30 Sep 1825, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 13 May 2024 
    Family ID F2897  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Niehls P. Holm, "was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, October 19th, 1774. He was a sailor in his younger days, and when Admiral Parker, assisted by Nelson, bombarded Copenhagen in 1801, young Holm was present and had a very narrow escape of his life. After the fall of his native city he, in company with other sailors, boarded a vessel and struck for the open sea where they led a piratical life for a few years. When once landing at one of the Atlantic ports on the American coast, he, not wishing to meet the fate of pirates, made his escape under the cover of night. Shortly thereafter he arrived at Little York (Toronto) where he was married to Anna Catharine Philips who was born in the Free City of Hamburg, Germany, November 7th, 1785, and died October 11th, 1858. They resided in Markham Township, York County, where their family was born and raised. About the year 1839 they moved to Puslinch Township, Wellington County, near Hespeler, where he died January 12th, 1865. Their family consisted of ten children"


      Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

  • Sources 
    1. [S3] Book - Vol I A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin..., 805.

    2. [S3] Book - Vol I A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin...

    3. [S3] Book - Vol I A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin..., 806.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 19 Oct 1774 - Copenhagen, , Københavns Amt, Denmark Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 12 Jan 1865 - Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth