James John NEILSON

                   CLIFF NEILSON, 3703 MOSS BROOKE CT., FAIRFAX, VA 22031:
     lists birth as 13 OCT 1811 in vic. Baton Rougue, LA; baptism 19 OCT 1816,
     same place; but notes, "conflicting data exists regarding his birth date.
The 1811 date comes from a copy of the "Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church
Records, Vol. 2 (1804-1819)", p. 661, as does the baptism. Witnesses at the
Baptism were John Luis Gras and Rosalie Gras Folkeil.  For this date to be
correct, the birth would have had to precede his parents marriage date by 10.5
months.  A 2nd date of 13 OCT 1812 is reported by Alice Neilson in "The
Neilsons - The Colvins and Allied Families, an unpublished family history
manuscript.  On p. 25, she reports the date as being in a family bible, but
does not otherwise identify the source.  She also says that the tombstone date
shows 30 NOV 1812.
(*PJ: is it not unusual for a catholic family to postpone a baptism until age 4
or 5 years?)
     After his mother's death in 1822, James John was reared by his grandparents,
James and Elizabeth (Waddell) Neilson.  When his grandfather died in 1829,
Andrew Kleinpeter was appointed guardian.