Robert Neilson

Tentative identification as Robert Neilson (c. 1805-1887) of Halewood near Liverpool, survivor of loss of packet Amazon, ; 'a mercantile notability' and improving farmer. There is an account of the loss of the Amazon that names Robert Neilson as one of the survivors of the loss of the Amazon en route to British Guiana in James Rodway, 'The Post Office in British Guiana before 1860' (1890). Robert Neilson of Halewood's son was Robert Aston d'Urban Neilson, possibly named after Sir Benjamin D'Urban the first Governor of British Guiana 1831-3; 'Robert Neilson of Liverpool' was identified as one of the executors of John Croal of British Guiana in 1853. Despite the evidence linking Robert Neilson of Halewood to British Guiana, there is no definitive support yet for the identification of the awardee with Robert Neilson of Halewood.

Times 09/01/1852; Samuel Sidney Rides on Railways; http://www.bwisc.org/60_articles/british_guiana/Rodway_PO-in-Br-Guiana-Before-1860.pdf; London Gazette 21466 12/8/1853 p. 2235.