Born: February 20, 1677 in Penrith, England (near Scotland)
Married: Margaret Read c.1710
Died: October 7, 1745 at Nelson House, Yorktown
Burial:
Will:
Parents:
Children:
William Nelson
Mary Nelson
Thomas Nelson
Thomas Nelson was a sea captain when he immigrated to Virginia in 1696, so he arrived with capital to invest.1
He purchased his first lot in Yorktown (#47) in 1707, built the "Nelson House" on lot #57 in 1730. The bricks may have been brought to Virginia from the Severn River Valley, in England, on one of the ships owned by Thomas "Scotch Tom" Nelson.
He ended up owning more property in the port town than anyone else. He profited from farming, plus operating a ferry, mill, store, waterfront warehouse, and wharf in Yorktown.
As one of the wealthiest colonists, he served on the York County Court and was appointed to the Governor's Council.2