Battle of Yorktown

3. Nelson House

Yorktown, VA

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Scotch Tom Nelson, the son of Hugh and Sarah Nelson of Penrith, England, made two trips to Yorktown in 1695 and 1698. He permanently relocated to Yorktown in 1705. Upon his arrival, Scotch Tom quickly accumulated wealth and land. He was sworn in as a justice in the York County court after having been in the colony for just six years. Within ten years he had accumulated significant wealth and held a position of influence within the county. He acquired colonial Lot 52 on August 2, 1706,where he eventually built his stately home. Some records state Scotch Tom first built a wood house.According to family tradition, the construction of his brick mansion began in 1711.He married Margaret Reade in 1710. Margaret was the daughter of John Reade and came from a well-established Virginia family. Tom and Margaret's first son, William, was born in 1711, followed by two more children, Thomas and Mary.Margaret died in 1719.Six years later Scotch Tom married Frances Tucker and had one daughter, Sarah. He lived in his brick home until his death in 1745. His second wife lived in the house until she passed away in 1766. Scotch Tom's son, Thomas Nelson, Jr. inherited the estate after her death. In 1824, the family entertained Lafayette at their home during his stay in Yorktown from the 18th to the 20th of October. The house remained in the Nelson family until 1907, when Joseph Bryan of Richmond bought it and subsequently sold to Captain George Preston Blow of LaSalle, Illinois. The National Park Service purchased the house in 1968. The Colonial National Historic Park (CNHP) began restoring the house in 1974 in preparation for the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration and opened the home to the public. Visitors should check with CNHP first to see which days the Nelson house is open before planning their visit.