Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Samuel Neilson

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 15, 2022

1. Samuel Neilson Marker

Inscription.

Sacred to the memory of
Samuel Neilson
An Irish patriot of 1798
One of the founders of the
United Irishmen
who sacrificed his fortune and his life
in the cause of his country
Born in County Down, Ireland, Sept 1761.
Died in Poughkeepsie New York
August 29, 1803

Erected August 29, 1905

Erected 1905 by Ancient Order of Hibernians Division No. 2, Poughkeepsie New York.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Patriots & Patriotism • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical date for this entry is August 29, 1803.

Location. 41° 41.074′ N, 73° 55.876′ W. Marker is in Poughkeepsie, New York, in Dutchess County. Monument is in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery Section A. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 342 South Avenue, Poughkeepsie NY 12601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Trolley Waiting Shelter (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Anandabai Joshee M.D. (about 500 feet away); Poughkeepsie Volunteer Fire Department World War I Memorial (about 600 feet away); Elijah Hedding D.D. (approx. 0.2 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

away); Brev't. Maj. Louis McLane Hamilton (approx. 0.2 miles away); Spanish-American War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Uppuqui-ipis-ing (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Poughkeepsie.

Regarding Samuel Neilson. From the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery Walking Tour brochure:

Samuel Neilson is considered among Irish nationals to be one of the first Irish patriots in the country's history. He was born in Ballroney, County Down Ireland in 1761. There he founded the controversial newspaper The Northern Star, whose editorial policies included separation from England and political equality for all Irish people. The motto over the office door read, "Civil and Religious Liberty to all Mankind." For his treasonous and subversive opinions, Samuel Neilson was sentenced to several prison terms and ultimately exiled to the United States.

Once in America, he founded an organization called United Irishmen which continued the efforts of a late 1700's movement to unite Protestants and Catholics in Ireland. In addition to advocating the union of the Irish nation under an independent self-rule, it rallied for the reform of English Parliament

Samuel Neilson Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 15, 2022

2. Samuel Neilson Monument

to end the suppression of all Catholics in Ireland. In Poughkeepsie he died of Yellow Fever, or possibly Apoplexy, just before implementing his plans to start a new evening newspaper in this town. Since his death, he has been moved to three different cemeteries before he finally came to rest in the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery in 1880.

Also see . . .
1. Samuel Neilson, the forgotten hero of 1798 (The Irish Times). (Submitted on November 17, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. (Submitted on November 17, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 15, 2022

3. Samuel Neilson Monument

Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 105 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 17, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.