Papers of the Nelson family [manuscript], 1739-1837.

  1. Resources
  2. View Resource

ArchivalResource

Papers of the Nelson family [manuscript], 1739-1837.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/647836224

This microfilm collection contributed by various libraries and historical societies contains papers of the descendents of Thomas (Scotch Tom) Nelson who emigrated from Penrith, England, to Yorktown, Va., in the 1700s. The papers are mainly those by Thomas's son William (1711-1772) and William's son Thomas (1738-1789), though papers by other Nelson family members are also included. In addition to their duties of running a plantation, both Nelsons served the state of Virginia in many ways, William as president of the council and governor (1770-71) and Thomas as delegate to the Continental Congress (1775) where he signed the Declaration of Independence, commander of troops in the American Revolution, and governor (June-Nov. 1781). The collection reflects these roles, consisting primarily of legal documents (wills, deeds, etc.) and letters concerning business or political affairs. Papers from the Duke University Library include the indenture (1739) of a Thomas Nelson, a deed (1771) and will (1772) of William Nelson, a handwritten biographical sketch (11 p.) about Thomas Nelson (1738-1789) written by his grandson Thomas Jefferson Page, and a revolutionary war letter (1781) of Thomas's. Papers from the New York Public Library include a letter (1752) of William's concerning a financial agreement and a petition (1772) to Virginia Governor Dunmore written by Patrick Henry and co-signed by William and Thomas Nelson. Also included are ten letters (1776-1786) of Thomas's which recount proceedings of the Continental Congress, itemize for the state his travel expenses 1775-1777, ask for a full account of the counties' arms and military stores, and inform various generals about the movement of British troops and the availability of men and supplies. Papers from the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, include Thomas's American Revolution letters (1777-1781) to and from General George Weedon. Papers from the Harvard College Library cover a wide range of topics and include a letter (1791) from Thomas Jefferson which mentions a box of books contributed by William Nelson for "public use," a list (1774) of donations from Virginia for relief of the city of Boston, letters to and from Thomas Nelson (1781, 1788), and correspondence (1837) between the Page family and Samuel Smith regarding payment to Thomas's ancestors for money he loaned the state during the revolution. Papers from the University of Michigan include letters (1771) from William Nelson to an unnamed British army officer in New York concerning Virginia recruitment efforts. Also included are Thomas Nelson's letters (1781) to and from General Nathanael Greene and a letter (1781) congratulating him on his appointment as governor signed by prominent Virginians, including Edmund Randolph. Thomas Nelson's papers from the New York Historical Society include a letter (1776) concerning his appointment to a Board of War and a frantic group of twenty letters (Jan.-Feb. 1781) written to various generals in the midst of a British invasion of Virginia. Also included are letter (June- Aug. 1781) addressed to him as governor from the Marquis de Lafayette concerning provisions for Virginia's troops. Papers from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania include William Nelson's letter (1748) concerning the ethics of a particular financial arrangement and a letter (1771) written while governor concerning a liquor trade agreement with the Indians. Also included are two letters (1777, 1779) of Lt. Col. William Nelson.

1 reel : positive ; 35 mm.

University of Virginia. Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7922100

University of Virginia. Library

Related Entities

There are 15 Entities related to this resource.

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68m82zx (person)

Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette was born at Chavaniac, Auvergne, in 1757, to an old, illustrious family of the provincial and military nobility. He lost both his parents early: his father was killed by the British at the Battle of Minden when Lafayette was two years old (1759), and when he was thirteen and attending the prestigious Collège de Plessis in Paris both his mother and grandfather died (1770). The latter's death left Lafayette with a si...

Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62s4j3v (person)

Edmund Jennings Randolph (August 10, 1753 – September 12, 1813) was an American attorney and politician. He was the 7th Governor of Virginia, and, as a delegate from Virginia, he attended the Constitutional Convention and helped to create the national constitution while serving on its Committee of Detail. He was the first United States Attorney General (1789-1794) and the second Secretary of State (1794-1795) during George Washington's presidency. Born in Williamsburg in the Colony of Virgini...

Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s0045v (person)

Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736 – June 6, 1799) was an American attorney, planter, politician, and orator known for declaring to the Second Virginia Convention (1775): "Give me liberty, or give me death!" A Founding Father, he served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia, from 1776 to 1779 and from 1784 to 1786. Henry was born in Hanover County, Virginia, and was for the most part educated at home. After an unsuccessful venture running a store, and assisting his father-in-law ...

Nelson, Thomas, 1738-1789

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6f874m0 (person)

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 du...

Nelson, William, 1760-1813

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62n66n8 (person)

Great Britain. Army

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p884pf (corporateBody)

Whitmore was govenor of Cape Breton Island and the Island of St. John (Prince Edward Island). From the description of Receipt for wages paid for labor in the Cape Breton colliery : manuscript, 1760. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 612812416 Administrative history unavailable. The University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections has a mandate to acquire military papers. From the description of Great Britain Army collection. [1800-1941]. (University o...

Page, Thomas Jefferson, 1808-1899

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w637840v (person)

U.S. and Confederate naval commander, plantation owner; from Shelley (Gloucester Co.), Va. From the description of Papers, ca. 1875. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 20071786 Naval officer. From the description of Letter of Thomas Jefferson Page, 1853. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79452563 ...

Nelson family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6kt5vb3 (family)

Merchants and landholders in Yorktown, the Nelsons were active in the Politics of colonial Virginia. From the description of Papers of the Nelson family [manuscript], 1739-1837. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647836224 ...

Weedon, George, 1734-1793

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6nc6b38 (person)

George Weedon was born in late 1734 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Weedon was appointed an ensign in the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War and rose to the rank of lieutenant in 1757 and to the rank of captain lieutenant in 1762. After the war, he moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia, and married Catharine Gordon (d. 1797). He operated a tavern in Fredericksburg. Weedon was appointed a lieutenant colonel in the 3rd Virginia Regiment in January 1776 and received a commission in the...

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60r9p3f (person)

Revolutionary War officer. From the description of Papers, 1778-1786. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 19593641 Army officer. From the description of Nathanael Greene papers, 1775-1785. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70979865 Nathanael Greene was a major general in the Continental Army. He was promoted to Quartermaster General in 1778. From the description of Papers, 1778-1780. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat ...

Nelson, William, 1711-1772

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62j6qqb (person)

William Nelson was the son of Thomas Nelson who arrived in Yorktown, Va., from England in 1705. Thomas was a successful merchant whose business concerns passed to his son William upon his death. William operated a sizeable business both retail and wholesale. His main store was located on Main Street in Yorktown. Others were located on the waterfront. In addition to being a successful merchant, William was a prominent leader in Virginia politics. As President of the Governor's Council, Nelson ser...

Smith, Samuel, 1752-1839

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6805g74 (person)

Army officer. From the description of Papers of Samuel Smith, 1777. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71070916 American general and statesman. From the description of Autograph notes. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270664494 From the description of Autograph signature and 7 lines of writing. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270664550 Maryland merchant, soldier, and politician. Served in the Revolution and during the War of 1812 commanded the defense ...

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60d5jrb (person)

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was an American statesman and third president of the United States. From the description of Thomas Jefferson letter, 1809. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367818629 Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was the third president of the United States, born in Goochland (now Albemarle County), Virginia. He was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1769 to 1775, and with R. H. Lee and Patrick Henry initiated the inter-colonial committee of correspond...

Virginia. Governor (1771-1775 : Dunmore)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6nh05j4 (corporateBody)

John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore (1730 – February 25, 1809), was a British peer and colonial governor. Murray succeeded his father in the earldom in 1756 and sat as a Scottish Representative Peer in the House of Lords from 1761 to 1774 and from 1776 to 1790. He was the British governor of the Province of New York from 1770 to 1771 and the Virginia Colony, from September 25, 1771 until his departure to New York on New Years Eve, 1776. During his term as Virginia's colonial governor, he directed a...

Nelson, Thomas, -1745

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61v80q6 (person)