Edmund Nelson (clergyman) - Early Life and Family

Early Life and Family

Edmund was born in Cambridge on 19 March 1722, one of eight children of the Reverend Edmund Nelson and Mary Bland. The Nelsons were an old Norfolk family and were moderately prosperous. Edmund was baptised on 29 March 1723 at the parish church at East Bradenham. Three of his siblings died in infancy, whilst Edmund himself had 'a weak and sickly constitution'. He was educated at a number of Norfolk schools before attending Caius College, Cambridge. He attained a bachelor's degree, followed by a Master's, after which he left to become curate at his father's church in Sporle. He then worked under Reverend Thomas Page at Beccles, and on his father's death in 1747, Edmund succeeded to the livings of Hilborough and Beccles. During his time at Beccles Edmund met Catherine Suckling, and married her on 11 May 1749 at Bath, Somerset. Catherine was the daughter of Reverend Maurice Suckling, and her grandmother had been the sister of Sir Robert Walpole. The family therefore became distant relations of the powerful Earls of Orford, and Catherine's immediate family, including her brother, Maurice Suckling, provided important influence that would help the Nelsons' children in their early years.

The couple moved to Swaffham after their marriage where Catherine bore Edmund three children. Two died in infancy; a third, Maurice, survived. They then moved to Sporle, where on 12 June 1755 Catherine gave birth to the couple's first daughter, Susanna. Also in 1755 Horace Walpole offered Edmund the position of rector at Burnham Thorpe. Edmund accepted and the two settled at the rectory. William was born on 20 April 1757, and on 29 September 1758, Catherine gave birth to Horatio, naming him after their benefactor and the young Horatio's godparent, Horace Walpole. Horatio was a sickly child, and Edmund feared he would not live long enough to be baptised at the public ceremony arranged for 15 November. Horatio was baptised at a private ceremony on 9 October.

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. Another boy, George, was born in 1765 but died three months later. Edmund's wife, Catherine, died on 26 December 1767, leaving him with eight children. A grief-stricken Edmund buried her four days later in the church at Burnham Thorpe. He never remarried. Catherine's mother, Ann, died shortly afterwards. Maurice Suckling, Edmund's brother-in-law, visited the rectory to attend the funerals, and found Edmund 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. Edmund himself wrote

As it has fallen to my lott to take upon me the care and affectation of double parent, they will hereafter excuse where I have fallen short and the task has been too hard.

The concern that he might fail to do the best for his children remained with him all his life. 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.

Edmund eventually found suitable positions and schooling for all of his children, and when Nelson asked his father to write to Maurice Suckling and request a place for him on his ship, Edmund did so. Despite Maurice's apparent misgivings, he agreed to take Nelson into the service.