First, there's the problem of the surname. It is listed as Brassell on documents the family seems to have filled out, but that may be because they got tired of alternate spellings using phonetics by various agencies. We have seen Brazil, Braeszel, Brazel and Brassille on various documents.
Second, is Ellen married an Englishman. A Mariner/Rigger/Sail Maker. So I don't know if that means she was from Northern Ireland, met him in Scotland or England on her way over or met him in New York, where they both settled, in Brooklyn.
She is thought to have traveled to America alone in her teens. The story on her husband, Charles, is that he jumped ship at some point. Don't know if that was a British ship or an American ship later on during a war. I do think that they may have been Protestant initially, as their son Charles Francis Nelson, married an Irish Catholic named Mary Elisabeth Comer and he told them he converted. So that may be a clue that she was from Northern Ireland as well. Also, the only document which listed her parents names as Morris and Ellen, could be an indication of where in Ireland. I have not seen Morris listed anywhere, so is it a Northern Irish name or just an uncommon name and is it supposed to be Maurice?
I have the Brooklyn, New York death certificate for Ellen Brassell Nelson, widow of Charles (Richard) Nelson, mother of Charlotte, George T., Charles F., John J. and Jennie Nelson.
This certificate gives us what I believe to be the correct spelling of her maiden name, at least in America: BRASSELL.
Ellen was born in Ireland, in 1838 according to the 1880 and 1900 census records, but this says she was 63 at time of death and had been in the U.S. 50 yrs., all of it in New York City.
I believe whoever filled out this certificate made a mistake on her age.
This also says her father's name was Morris Brassell and her mother's was Ellen Grassel?
These names may be a mistake. So many mistakes on death certificates back then..
Ellen died on December 19, 1907 at age 63 of rectal cancer.
She is buried with her husband Charles and daughter Charlotte at Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY
The Holy Cross Cemetery Brooklyn, NY Report from Catholic Cemeteries lists Charles Nelson as the owner.
SInce names can be helpful in locations, I'm listing the buried from that grave:
Section: West RG-D GR-101
Charles Nelson (son) age ? Buried 1/2/1867
Mary Ellen Nelson (daughter) age 11 months Buried 12/11/1872
William Nelson (grandson) age 10 months Buried 8/26/1901
Charles Nelson (Sr.) age 66 Buried 9/28/1903
Ellen Brassell Nelson age 63 Buried 6/22/1907
Charlotte E. Nelson (single daughter) age 85 Buried 3/26/1945
Jennie Nelson age (single daughter) 79 Buried 4/26/1955
Genevieve Nelson (granddaughter) age 80 Buried 10/4/1986