Nelson, Thomas, 1738-1789

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Thomas Nelson Jr. (December 26, 1738 – January 4, 1789) was an American soldier and statesman from Yorktown, Virginia, and is considered one of the U.S. Founding Fathers. In addition to serving in the Virginia General Assembly for many terms, he twice represented Virginia in the Continental Congress. Fellow Virginia legislators elected him to serve as the commonwealth's governor in 1781. He signed the Declaration of Independence as a member of the Virginia delegation and fought in the militia during the siege of Yorktown.

Born in Yorktown, he was sent to England for his education. He attended Newcome's School before entering Christ's College at Cambridge University in 1758. He graduated in 1760 and returned to Virginia the following year. Upon returning to Virginia, Nelson assisted his father in the operation of his several plantations, which depended on the labor of enslaved African Americans. York County voters elected Nelson to the Virginia House of Burgesses as a young man in 1761; he succeeded Robert Carter Nicholas in this part-time position. He was a member of the Virginia provincial convention in 1775, and there he undertook the creation of the Virginia Militia. He then assumed duty as its first Commander. Shortly thereafter he was elected to the Continental Congress, signing the Declaration of Independence. Nelson began suffering health problems in 1777 and thought best to retire to his native state. He resumed his military service, much to the benefit of both Virginia and his health. He was reelected to Congress in 1779 but his health again declined and he returned to Virginia several months later.

Nelson represented York County in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1777 to 1781, relinquishing his legislative seat upon being elected governor of Virginia in June 1781. Nelson was engaged in the final Siege of Yorktown between September and October 1781. He was again elected to the House of Delegates from York County, servoing from 1782 to 1784 and from 1786 to 1788. Nelson died at his son's home in Hanover County, Virginia, and is buried in the Grace Churchyard at Yorktown.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Page, Elizabeth. Letter, 1821 November 27, Shelly, [Gloucester, Virginia] to Thomas Jefferson, n.p. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Brockenbrough, William, fl. 1763,. Papers of the Carter and Wellford family of Sabine Hall, 1650 (1736-1874) 1936. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Signers collection, 1770-1826. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Ledger of Williamsburg, Va., merchant [manuscript], 1784-1789. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Nelson family. Nelson family papers, 1743-1777 (bulk 1775-1860). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Nelson, Thomas, Col., 1738-1789?. Bill for bar iron purchased from William Holt & Co., Providence Forge, New Kent County, Va. [manuscript] 1773-1774. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Henry A. Willard II Collection, 1743-1888, (bulk 1770-1840) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn George Washington papers, 1592-1943 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Weedon, George, 1734-1793. George Weedon letter to Thomas Nelson [manuscript], 1781June 22. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Wood, James, fl. 1750. Papers of James Wood and the Wood family [manuscript] 1736-1892. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834. Marquis de Lafayette letter to Governor Thomas Nelson, 1781 June 28. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Barron, James, 1740-1787,. Virginia Revolutionary war correspondence, 1778-1779. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, Jr., 1738-1789. Autograph signature to letter : Williamsburg, to Governor Thomas Burke, 1781 Sept. 13. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Lee, Thomas Ludwell, 1730-1778. Letter, 1776 May 18, Williamsburg, Va., to Richard Henry Lee, Philadelphia, Pa. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Bassett, Burwell, 1764-1841. Burwell Bassett family papers, 1695-1840. Library of Congress
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, 1738-1789. Facsimile of a letter : Richmond, 1781 Sept. 2. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, 1738-1789. Note of Thomas Nelson, 1758. Library of Congress
referencedIn Burwell family. Papers of the Burwell family, 1761-1845. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Murray, James, fl. 1871-1873. Webb-Prentis family papers, 1735-1942. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Thomas Jefferson papers, 1775-1825, 1775-1825 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Parker, Josiah, 1751-1810. Papers, 1780-1781. Virginia Historical Society Library
referencedIn Roger Jones Family Papers, 1649-1896, (bulk 1724-1810) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Washington, George, 1732-1799. George Washington papers, 1592-1937 (bulk 1748-1799). Library of Congress
creatorOf Argyll, George Douglas Campbell, Duke of, 1823-1900. Papers of the Grinnan and related Bryan and Tucker families of Virginia [manuscript], 1734-1935. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Monroe, James, 1758-1831. Papers of James Monroe, 1771-1818. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, 1739-1789. ALS, 1776 February 13 : Philadelphia, to [John] Page. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter, 1821 December 8, Monticello, [Albemarle County, Virginia] to Elizabeth Page, n.p. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834. LS, in hand of James McHenry, 1781 June 28 : Mr. Tyre's Plantation 20 miles from Williamsburg, to Governor Thomas Nelson of Virginia. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn , 1748-1809 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, 1738-1789. Letter to an unidentified correspondent, 1776 August 14. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolph Gerhard Augustin von Steuben [manuscript], 1781 January 19. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Berkeley, Anne Poe, 1856-1938,. Papers of the Berkeley family [manuscript], 1788-1962 (bulk 1861-1932). University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Brock, R. A. (Robert Alonzo), 1839-1914. Genealogical notes, 1879-1880. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, Jr., 1738-1789. Autograph letter signed : Williamsburg, to Captain Joel, 1781 Feb. 8. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, Jr., 1738-1789. Signature to a letter : Richmond, to Gen. Greene, 1781 Aug. 2. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, 1738-1789. Letter to John Page [manuscript], 1776 January 4. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Nelson, William, 1711-1772. William Nelson ledger and daybook, 1767-1784. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Virginia. Governor's council. Order of Council, 1754 February 10. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794. Correspondence and papers, 1778-1794 (bulk 1779-1781). New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Williamsburg (Va.). Trustees. Deed, 1783 Sep[temb]er 1, to Thomas Nelson. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Francis Jerdone Account Book, 1751-1752. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Fleming, William. William Fleming, papers, 1767-1802. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Tinsley, Thomas. Account book of Thomas Tinsley [manuscript] 1772-1773. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Papers of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, 1778-1851 (bulk 1779-1781) New-York Historical Society
referencedIn A Guide to the Dunmore Proclamations, 1771-1772 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Taylor, John, 1753-1824. Virginia documents, 1776-1791. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, 1738-1789. Letter, 1776 February 13, Philadelphia, [Pa.] to [John?] Page. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn George Weedon military correspondence, 1777-1786, 1777-1786 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, 1738-1789. Thomas Nelson, Jr., et al, deed, to Dr. Alexander Galt for house and land, 1823 February 1. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Anderson, Robert,. Papers of the Burwell family [manuscript], 1761-1845. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, Jr., 1738-1789. Extract of a letter from him : Richmond, to Gov. Burke, 1781 Aug. 10. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Dunmore, John Murray, Earl of, 1732-1809. Proclamations, 1771 October 12-1772 February 8. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Nelson family. Papers of the Nelson family [manuscript], 1743-1789. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Nelson family. Letter book of William and Thomas Nelson [manuscript], 1766-1775. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. ALS, 1791 March 29, Philadelphia, to Thomas Nelson, Jr. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834. LS, 1781 June 13, Headquarters, to Governor Thomas Nelson. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Bardin, Sally Nelson. Sally Nelson Bardin collection [manuscript], 1812-1858. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952,. Signers of the Declaration of Independence autograph collection, 1756-1818. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Weedon, George, 1734-1793. Military correspondence, 1777-1786. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Nelson family. Papers of the Nelson family [manuscript], 1739-1837. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, 1738-1789. Letter to Daniel Morgan, 1781 July 20. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Jerdone, Francis, 1721-1771. Account book, 1751-1752. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn George Washington papers, 1592-1943 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, 1738-1789. Autograph letter signed, 1781 May 9. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, 1738-1789. Autograph receipt signed, 1771 Dec. 23. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, 1738-1789. ALS, 1781 July 30, Richmond, Va., to Col. Davies. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, Jr., 1738-1789. Document signed, 1780 Aug. 21. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Autograph File, N, 1686-1975. Houghton Library
referencedIn Phripp, Matthew, d. 1780. Receipts and accounts, 1778-1798, for the estate of Matthew Phripp, deceased. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn York County (Va.), 1719-1885 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, Jr., 1738-1789. Autograph letter signed : to Colonel Senff, 1780 Oct. 22. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Nelson, Thomas, Jr., 1738-1789. Letter, 1781 September 11. Library of Virginia
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Wright, Porter C.,. Papers [manuscript], 1690-1865. University of Virginia. Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bardin, Sally Nelson. person
correspondedWith Bassett, Burwell, 1764-1841. person
associatedWith Brock, R. A. (Robert Alonzo), 1839-1914. person
associatedWith Burke, Gov., person
associatedWith Burke, Thomas, person
associatedWith Burwell family. family
associatedWith Connolly, John, b. ca. 1750. person
associatedWith Davies, Col. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Dunmore, John Murray, Earl of, 1732-1809. person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Fleming, William. person
associatedWith Galt, Alexander Dickie, 1771-1841. person
associatedWith Gates, Horatio, 1728-1806. person
associatedWith Grasse, François Joseph Paul de Grasse, comte de, 1722-1788. person
associatedWith Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786, person
associatedWith Jameson, David, ca. 1723-1793. person
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. person
associatedWith Jerdone, Francis, 1721-1771. person
associatedWith Joel, Captain, person
correspondedWith Jones family family
associatedWith Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834. person
associatedWith Lee, Thomas Ludwell, 1730-1778. person
associatedWith Meade, Thomasia Nelson. person
associatedWith Meade, William, 1789-1862. person
associatedWith Monroe, James, 1758-1831. person
associatedWith Morgan, Daniel, 1736-1802, person
correspondedWith Nelson family. family
associatedWith Nelson, George Washington. person
associatedWith Nelson, Thomas, Col., 1738-1789? person
associatedWith Nelson, William, 1711-1772. person
associatedWith Page, Elizabeth. person
associatedWith Page, John, 1744-1808 person
associatedWith Parker, Josiah, 1751-1810. person
associatedWith Phripp, Matthew, d. 1780. person
associatedWith Price and Haywood. corporateBody
associatedWith Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952, person
associatedWith Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804. person
associatedWith Senff, person
associatedWith Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794. person
associatedWith Stuart, John Ferdinand Smyth, 1745-1814. person
associatedWith Tinsley, Thomas. person
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Board of Treasury. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Continental Army corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Cambridge. corporateBody
memberOf Virginia. General Assembly. House of Burgesses corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia. Governor (June-November 1781 : Nelson). corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia. Governor's council. corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia. Militia. corporateBody
correspondedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799. person
associatedWith Weedon, George, 1734-1793. person
associatedWith Willard, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1902- person
associatedWith Williamsburg (Va.). Trustees. corporateBody
associatedWith Wood, James, fl. 1750. person
associatedWith Wright, Porter C., person
associatedWith York County (Va.) Circuit Court corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
London ENG GB
Yorktown VA US
Hanover County VA US
Cambridge ENG GB
Subject
Canadian Invasion, 1775-1776
Great Bridge (Va.), Battle of, 1775
Occupation
Army officers
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Governors
Planter
Activity

Person

Birth 1738-12-26

Death 1789-01-04

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Information

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