1711 - Nov. 19, 1772
The son of "Scotch Tom" Nelson and Margaret Read Nelson, he had a brother, Thomas, and a sister, Mary. He married Elizabeth Burwell, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Carter Burwell. Their descendents intermarried with the Robinsons, Byrds, Pages, Grymes and Randolphs. He presided over the King's Council for many years.
The elevated monument of William Nelson, while distinctive, was lower and less elaborate than that of his father. Such monuments were elevated for appearance only and not for above-ground interment. The coffins were buried below grade and overlaid with brick arches to support the stonework.
The monument required restoration in the early 1900's. The carved stone side and end panels, structurally damaged, were replaced with the cast concrete base seen today. Nearly undeciperable, the top ledger was overlaid with a smaller stone tablet inscribed with the legible portion of the epitaph. The remainder was added later, thanks to Miss Helen Keller, who read it by touch.
by courtesty of D. W. Conner