Thomas "Scotch Tom" Nelson, Sr.

Thomas Nelson

• Birth: Feb 20 1677 - Penrith, Cumberland, England
• Death: Oct 7 1745 - Yorktown, York, Virginia, British Colonial America
• Spouses: Margaret Reade, Frances Courtenay
• Children: Mary Berkeley (born Nelson), Sarah "Sallie" Nicholas (born Nelson), Capt John Nelson

Family

Thomas married twice.

He married 1) to Margaret Reade, daughter of Robert Reade.[1]
He married after 1722, as his 2nd to 2) to Frances (Courtenay) Tucker, widow of Robert Tucker or John Tucker of Norfolk, formerly of Barbados.[1][2]

Children of Thomas and Margaret Reade:[1]

1. Thomas b 1716, d 1784; mar Lucy Armistead, daughter of Henry and Martha (Burwell) Armistead.
2. William, Council member, Acting Governor

Children of Thomas and Frances Tucker: (from the will of their father, not necessarily in the order of birth):[3]

1. Robert
2. John
3. Courtenay
4. Sarah

   ---

Thomas "Scotch Tom" Nelson (1677–1747) was a businessman and politician who immigrated from England to become a merchant at Yorktown in the Colony of Virginia. He was from Penrith, Cumberland.[1] Arriving at the beginning of the 18th century, he was the immigrant ancestor of the Nelsons, one of the First Families of Virginia.

The Nelson lineage includes his son, William Nelson (1711–1772). William inherited the family business and went on to accumulate extensive land holdings throughout the colony. William also became a powerful politician, seving as both president of the Governor's Council and as acting governor.

William Nelson's son, Thomas Nelson, Jr. (1739–1789) (grandson of "Scotch Tom"), was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a Brigadier General during the American Revolutionary War and a governor after statehood. Nelson County, Virginia and Thomas Nelson Community College in the Virginia Peninsula subregion of Hampton Roads are named in honor of Thomas Nelson, Jr.

Scotch Tom's great grandson, Hugh Nelson (1768-1836), would later serve in the U.S. Congress. , Among his other notable descendants were U.S. diplomat and noted authorThomas Nelson Page (1853-1922) and industrialist William Nelson Page (1854-1932), who co-founded the Virginian Railway with financier Henry Huttleston Rogers.

The circa 1730 "Nelson House" built by "Scotch Tom" Nelson in Yorktown, Virginia is a National Historical Landmark maintained by the Colonial National Historical Park of the U.S. National Park Service. The site of the Nelson House had originally been settled after the 1620s by immigrant Nicolas Martiau, another ancestor of many members of Governor Thomas Nelson, Jr.

"Scotch" Tom Nelson

Hic jacet Spe certa resurgendi in Christo Thomas Nelson,Generosus Filis Hugonis et Sariae Nelson de Perith in Comitatu Cumbriae Natus 20th.die Februarii Anno Domini 1677 Vitae bene geste finem implevit 7th.die Octobris 1745-AEtatis suae 68

Here lieth in the certain hope of being raised up in Christ Thomas Nelson, Gentleman Son of Hugh and Sarah Nelson of the County of Cumberland. Born on 20th day of February in the year of our Lord 1677 He completed a well spent life on the 7th of October 1745 Aged 68. http://www.carolshouse.com/cemeteryrecords/grace/

===========================

mother was Sarah _
Wm. & Mary Quarterly

"In _Blounts of Pitt County, North Carolina_ by C. Sylvester Green, 1978, it states:

'The first Thomas Nelson (b. 1677, nicknamed "Old Scotch Tom") came to America, settled in Tidewater Virginia, and married Margaret Reid. They had two children, William born 1711; and Thomas, Junior, born 1716, who married Lucy Armistead and was Secretary of the Council of State for thirty years. Margaret Reid died prior to 1720 and Thomas (Sr.) married Fanny Houston. They had two daughters, Sally and Mary.'" - Bill Leggett (Blegg2248@aol.com) http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mckenzie6...

Thomas "Scotch Tom" Nelson (1677–1747) was an immigrant from England who became a merchant at Yorktown in the Colony of Virginia. He was from Penrith (in present-day Cumbria). Arriving at the beginning of the 18th century, he was the first Virginian of the Nelsons, one of the First Families of Virginia.

The Nelson lineage includes his son, William Nelson (1711–1772). William inherited the family business and went on to accumulate extensive land holdings throughout the colony. William also became a powerful politician, serving as both president of the Governor's Council and as acting governor.

William Nelson's son, Thomas Nelson, Jr. (1739–1789) (grandson of "Scotch Tom"), was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a Brigadier General during the American Revolutionary War and a governor after statehood. Nelson County, Virginia and Thomas Nelson Community College in the Virginia Peninsula subregion of Hampton Roads are named in honor of Thomas Nelson, Jr.

Scotch Tom's great grandson, Hugh Nelson (1768–1836), would later serve in the U.S. Congress. Among his other notable descendants were U.S. diplomat and noted author Thomas Nelson Page (1853–1922) and industrialist William Nelson Page (1854–1932), who co-founded the Virginian Railway with financier Henry Huttleston Rogers.

The circa 1730 "Nelson House" built by "Scotch Tom" Nelson in Yorktown, Virginia is a National Historical Landmark maintained by the Colonial National Historical Park of the U.S. National Park Service. The site of the Nelson House had originally been settled after the 1620s by immigrant Nicolas Martiau, another ancestor of Governor Thomas Nelson, Jr.

____________________________

The epitaph on his tombstone reads:

"Hic jacet, specerta resurgendi in Christo, Thomas Nelson, Generosus; Filius Hugonis et Sariæ Nelson, de Penrith, in comitate Cumbriæ. Natus 20 mo die Februarii, Anno Domini 1677. Vitæ bene gestæ finem implevit 7mo die Octobris, 1745, ætatis suae 68." Which is thus rendered into English: "Here lies, in the certain hope of being raised up in Christ, Thomas Nelson, Gentleman; the son of Hugh and Sarah Nelson, of Penrith, in the county of Cumberland. Born the 20th of February, 1677. He completed a well-spent life on the 7th of October, 1745, in his sixty-eighth year."

Thomas "Scotch Tom" Nelson (1677-1745) was the progenitor of Yorktown, Virginia Nelsons. He was born to Hugh and Sarah Nelson who were cloth merchants in Penrith. _________________________________________________________________ In this Magazine, XVII, 187, 188, was published the will of William Nelson (1670), grandfather of Thomas Nelson, the emigrant to Virginia, in which Hugh Nelson, William's father, is mentioned as living, and XIII, 402, 403, the will of Hugh Nelson, father of the emigrant.

Scotch Tom Nelson's youth and training occurred in England but little is known. At eighteen, he went to Whitehavon Port and made his first voyage to Virginia in 1695, and again in 1698 and 1700. He returns finally in 1705 to Yorktown to stay. His mercantile experience must have been successful, and was working with a power of attorney in the court. In the next few years he had firmly established himself, built building to include a frame house on Lot 52, where the current Nelson House is standing. He built a mercantile business across the street from his home. He married Margaret, daughter to John Reade of York County in 1710. In 1711, the year his first son was born, William, he was sworn in as a justice of the York County Court. In the summer of 1711, he furnished supplies for the fortification of Yorktown. As time went by he purchased more and more Yorktown lots. Between 1711 and 1715 the office of justice was added to his role. He purchased a 215 acre farm near in the spring of 1715 from Benjamin Reade. In January 1716 he operated a ferry with John Roberts, between Yorktown and Tindal's Point. His family continued growing with the birth of Thomas in 1716. In March of 1715 he became of charter member of the Virginia Land Company. In 1716 he was made a trustee of the port and land of Yorktown, which included management and sale of public land. He continues to include purchasing more lots and a 3,270 acre land parcel being the forks of the "Pamunkey River between ye little & Newfound RIvers in New Kent County..." He was also a planter as in one case he acquired 21 indentured servants in Great Britain, possibly from Ireland. By 1719, he was considered one Governor Spottswood's favorites and confidants. Spottswood removal, for obscure reasons, did not help Nelson in trying out politics. Nelson's business success grows and in August, 1719, he and Joseph Walker, purchase Lot 25, where they build "Swan Tavern." As early as 1720, he was involved with the West India trade. In September of 1720, he and John Martin and Thomas Jones fitted out the sloop, "The Martha," load it with pork, Indian corn, and other goods valued at 1200 lbs sterling and sent her to Barbados. In 1722 he sent his son (11), William, to England to complete training. This same year he became sheriff and reappointed the next year. His wife, Margaret dies between 1719 and 1723. He remarries Frances Tucker, wide of Robert Tucker of Norfolk. A daughter, Sarah, is probably born with the next year. He continues to prosper acquiring 600 acres in Charles Parish of York County. In the summer of 1728, he petitioned the Council for permission to build a warehouse and wharf at Yorktown, located directly opposite his Main Street house and store. He also was operating two mills in the county. He broadens his activities again and acquired interest in an iron mine near Fredericksburg along with Governor William Gooch and two others. His son, William, in the spring 1741, was elected to the House of Burgess, representing York County. Son, Thomas Jr, in April, 1743, was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Colony. On August 6, 1745 Thomas Nelson, Sr. filed his will. Two months later on October 7, he died. (Ref: The Nelson: A Biographic Study of a Virginia Family in the Eighteenth Century, by Emory Gibbo Evans, C-1957).

Family links:

Parents:

 Hugh Nelson (1658 - 1708)

 Sarah Jackson Nelson

Spouses:

 Margaret Reade Nelson (1654 - ____)*

 Francis Houston - Tucker Nelson (1682 - 1766)*

Children:

 William Nelson (1711 - 1772)*

 Mary Nelson Berkeley (1713 - ____)*

 Thomas Nelson (1716 - 1782)*

 Sarah Nelson Burwell (1722 - 1754)*

*Calculated relationship

Inscription: Hic jacet Spe certa resurgendi in Christo THOMAS NELSON, Generosus Filius Hugonis et Sarae Nelson de Penrith in Comitatu Cumbriae Natus 20mo die Feruarii Anno Domini 1677 Vitae bene gestai finem implevit 7mo die Octobris 1745. Aetatis suae 68

(Translation) Here lieth, the certain hope of being raised up in Christ, Thomas Nelson, Gentleman. Son of Hugh and Sarah Nelson, of Penrith, in the County of Cumberland. Born the 20th day of February, in the year of our Lord, 1677. He completed a well-spent life on the 7th day of October, 1745. Aged 68.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 15 2021, 7:03:36 UTC
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53774803/thomas-nelson

Thomas Nelson Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1600-1889

Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography; Volume: Vol. IV
Description

Piece Number Range: Vol IV: Lodge - Pickens
Source Information

Penrith, England is about 30 miles from the Scottish border, The Nelson family may have been Scottish hence Thomas' nickname "Scotch Tom" and Appleton's Encyclopedia mistake of stating he was born in Perinth, Scotland instead of the correct Perinth, England as his baptism records correctly recorded.

part 1 of 1
https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000190940265823

Part 2 of 2

https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000190940265827&...