Edmund Nelson (priest)

[8] Horatio was a sickly child, and Nelson feared he would not live long enough to be baptised at the public ceremony arranged for 15 November.

The last of the Nelson children followed, Ann on 20 September 1760, Edmund on 4 June 1762, Suckling on 5 January 1764, and Catherine on 19 March 1767.

Maurice Suckling, Nelson's brother-in-law, visited the rectory to attend the funerals, and found him heart-broken, and fearing for the future for his children.

He had begun to call in favours with relatives to ensure that educations and positions could be found for them, and Suckling promised to do what he could for one of the boys, using the patronage available to him as a naval captain.

[10] He duly decided to send William and Horatio, or Horace as the boy preferred to be known at this stage in his life, to Norwich School.

He had a modest income provided by his work as a parson, as well as several small investments and the legacy of his daughter Ann, who had died in 1784.

[13] In 1787, Horatio returned to England after serving in the West Indies, bringing with him his new wife, Frances Nisbet, informally known as 'Fanny'.

Him for a day or two I should be glad of, but to introduce a stranger to an infirm and whimsical old man, who can neither eat nor drink, nor talk, nor see, is as well let alone.

[14] Horatio had spent a considerable amount of time attempting to obtain command of another ship, but finally recognised this was unlikely to occur in the near future, and bowed to Fanny's wishes to settle and start a household.

Despite Nelson's initial reluctance to meet them, he found Fanny to be an enduring friend, and Horatio to be a dutiful and caring son.

[15] Nelson continued to make trips to Bath during the cold Norfolk winters, and Fanny often accompanied him while her husband was at sea.

[16] As Horatio's fame grew, Nelson followed his son's exploits, and soon came to be accosted by well-wishers on his walks around Bath.

'[17][18] Nelson however remained dismayed by the breakdown of his son's marriage and wrote to Horatio on occasion to rebuke him for his neglect of Fanny.

Fanny had travelled from London to be at his side, but Horatio remained at Merton Place, writing a letter stating I have no hopes that he can recover.

[22] For a full account of Edmund Nelson's death and funeral see 'From Bladud's Fountains to Burnham Thorpe'.

[23] His large but simple slate ledger stone survives in All Saints' Church, Burnham Thorpe, inscribed: The grave of the Reverend Edmund Nelson Rector of this parish.

The Rev. Edmund Nelson, portrait by William Beechey , dated 1800. National Maritime Museum , Greenwich
Edmund Nelson seated in the garden at Burnham Thorpe Rectory, with his young son Horatio dressed as a sailor, and other family members. Royal Museums, Greenwich
Arms of Nelson of Burnham Thorpe: Or, a cross flory sable a bendlet gules . [ 1 ] As sculpted on the ledger stone of his wife Catherine Suckling in All Saints' Church, Burnham Thorpe. [ 2 ] Admiral Nelson adopted a differenced version of these arms, to which were added augmentations of honour
Catherine Suckling , wife of the Rev. Edmund Nelson
Arms of Suckling: Per pale gules and azure, three bucks trippant or , [ 24 ] as sculpted on the ledger stone of Catherine Suckling in Burnham Thorpe Church [ 25 ]
Ledger stones of the Rev. Edmund Nelson and of his wife Catherine Suckling, Burnham Thorpe Church