William Nelson (1711 – November 19, 1772) was an American planter and politician from Yorktown, Virginia. In the interim between the royal governors Norborne Berkeley and Lord Dunmore, he served as the governor of Virginia from 1770 to 1771.[1]
William Nelson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) portrait by Robert Feke | |
| Colonial Governor of Virginia | |
| In office 1770–1771 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | Norborne Berkeley, baron de Botetourt |
| Succeeded by | John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1711 Yorktown, Virginia |
| Died | November 19, 1772 Yorktown, Virginia |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Burwell |
| Children | Thomas Nelson Jr., Reverend Samuel Nelson, Amos Nelson; Mary Nelson, Ebenezer Nelson, Robert Nelson, Dr Nathaniel Nelson, Col. Hugh Nelson, Hon. William Nelson, Jr, Elizabeth Nelson Thompson, James Alexander Nelson and Robert Nelson |
| Parent | Thomas "Scotch Tom" Nelson |
Biography
editNelson was the son of Thomas "Scotch Tom" Nelson, the immigrant ancestor from Cumbria, who built Nelson House at his plantation in about 1730.[2]
After his father died in 1745, William Nelson became a member of the Governor's Council. He also went on to serve in the Virginia General Assembly and as a judge.[3]
In the years leading up to the American Revolution, Nelson was an active supporter of the Patriot cause. Among his children was his son, Thomas Nelson Jr., who was active in revolutionary politics, one of thirteen representatives who drafted the Articles of Confederation, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a future governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the new United States of America.
His children (in order of age) Reverend Samuel Nelson; Amos Nelson; Mary Nelson; Ebenezer Nelson; Gen. Thomas Nelson, signer of the "Declaration of Independence"; Keranhappuch Nelson Biard; Robert Nelson; Dr Nathaniel Nelson; Col. Hugh Nelson; Hon. William Nelson, Jr; Elizabeth Nelson Thompson; James Alexander Nelson and Robert Nelson remained important in aristocratic society after his death.
References
edit- ^ Van Horne, John C., ed. (1975). The Correspondence of William Nelson as Acting Governor of Virginia, 1770-1771. Charlottesville: Published for the Virginia Historical Society [by] the University Press of Virginia. ISBN 0813905850.
- ^ "Nelson House". National Park Service. August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- ^ "The Nelsons of Yorktown". Yorktown Preservation Society. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
"Carter, Charles. "A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, Enjoying Territorial Possessions Or High Official Rank: But Uninvested with Heritable Honours"". Retrieved 2022-11-01. "Carter, Charles. "A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, Enjoying Territorial Possessions Or High Official Rank: But Uninvested with Heritable Honours"". Retrieved 2022-11-01.
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