Birthplace Of Horatio Nelson and his family Graves.

As we walk up to St Mary's Church here we may see the same as any other church, we might not notice any difference, but let's take a closer look at the flag on top of the church. So this flag is called the ensign flag and it is the US Navy's flag. It is usually worn by the war vessels. The Royal Navy has three flags, red, white or blue, with the Union Jack on. Until 1864 ships of the Royal Navy were divided in three squadrons and they flew the red, white or blue ensign to indicate the squadron to which they were assigned. So this white one has a St George cross on it and it was reserved for the use of the Royal Navy and by the Royal Yacht Squadron. So what is a Navy flag meant for Navy vessels doing on top of this church? As you've probably already gathered this is not any ordinary church, but the family home of this man. Service Admiral Horatio Nelson was an English sea captain and one of Britain's greatest naval heroes. He commanded the British fleet during the Napoleonic Wars and he fought against the French and Spanish, securing a series of decisive naval victories. Nelson was shot and his death overshadowed the triumph the great victory of the Battle of Trafalgar. Ordinary seamen broke down and cried when the news spread through the fleet and when the news went reached Britain, the nation went into mourning. Nelson was famous for his loss of his eye and the loss of his arm. He lost his eye at the Battle of Calvey and he would later lose his right arm at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1797. So that answers the flag question, but why are we here at St Mary's at Burnham Thorpe? Well this is Horatio Nelson's family church. His mother, father, sisters they're buried here. His father was the priest here or vicar here I think it is. So let's look at some of their graves. Maurice Nelson, eldest son of Reginald Edmund Nelson, rector of this parish and brother of Horatio Viscount Lang Nelson, who died April the 24th 1801, aged 48 years. Thomas Bolton of Burnham Westgate Esquire, died 17th of October 1834, aged 81 years. Hannah Bolton, the wife of Thomas Bolton Esquire and sister of Horatio Viscount Nelson, died 13th July 1813, aged 58. Richard Barnes, Edward Ward, William Mason, William Johnson, William Fletcher, Peter Balderstone. Their love and memories of Alvaro Herreras, died 4th November 1946, aged 55 years. Also of his wife, Ruth Ellen Herreras, died 30th August, aged 82. George Larris Holland, another memory of John William Howard, 1855 to 1912. Georgina Howard, 1858 to 1925. Margaret Howard, 1883 to 1943. Sacred to the memory, James Stimson, who died January 1st, 27th of 1924, aged 74, 24 years. Peace, perfect peace. Also Eliza, his wife, who died February 11th, 1927, aged 33. Memoriam. Sarah Loved, wife of Edward Huggins, passed home after 77 years of pilgrimage. March 11th, 1913. Death doth hide but not divide, thou art not but on Christ, on side thou art with Christ, and Christ with therefore together still are we. Also of Edward Huggins, died March 26th, 1916, aged 82 years. There we go, another one, Stimson's. James Stimson died 11th June, so that's what that says. June 11th, 1927. Peace, perfect peace. Also James Stimson, died November 29th, 1932, reunited. Memory of William James Nicholas Stimson. Son of, daughter, son of, I, Emma, 10 November 1890, January 1982. So my reading's not perfect, these are really hard to read. In loving memory of Elizabeth Annie Stimson, who passed away May 5th, 1920, aged 69 years. Thy will not mine, O Lord. Also of Benjamin Stimson, who died December 18th, 1920, aged 81. Oh my goodness, I'm so proud of him, he did such an amazing job. The filming was steadier than mine, the narration was better than me. Oh, he's hired. We'll venture into the church now and go visit the graves of Horatio's parents, but we will come back and conclude the tour with Asha around the graveyard. As we enter the church here, we are greeted by the font. This is where Horatio was baptised, baptised, baptised. The Nelsons lived at the old rectory and his father, Edmund, was the rector of Burnham Thorpe from 1755 to 1803. So Horatio Nelson lived with his family at the old parsonage, but that was pulled down in 1803. He was born here and this is where he spent his childhood. He did return to Burnham Thorpe, but only occasionally during his leave ashore in England. He lived here from 1788 till 1793, whilst he was being held in reserve on half pay. He then returned to the sea when given command of HMS Agamemnon. Yeah, I'm a bit unsure about the pronunciation of that word. So Nelson used to frequent the pub at Burnham Thorpe. It was known as the Plough and then in 1798 it was renamed the Lord Nelson in honour of the victory of the Battle of Nile. Nelson held a dinner here for the men of the village prior to his departure to join HMS Agamemnon. The pub survives to this day. On the second day of editing I have come down with a lovely cold, so you'll have to excuse me. In the next picture we are going to see the ship's crest that was carried in HMS Nelson in World War II. It was given to this church by the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty on the 21st of October 1955 on the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. So this church dates to the 13th century, but it was rebuilt in the 1840s and completely restored in the 1905 to commemorate the centenary of Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. So this coming up reads, Reverend Edmund Nelson, rector of this parish for six years, father of Horatio, Vice-Viscount Nelson of the Nile. He was Duke of Bronte who died April 26th 1802, aged 79. The Admiralty donated timbers from Nelson's flagship to help restore this church and the HMS Victory. They were used to build the altar lectern and rood screen. Hanging at the west end of the nave are flags flown by HMS Nelson and one used by HMS O'Domitable at the Battle of Jutland. The church, as we already mentioned right at the beginning, has the unique right, and it is very unique, to fly the white ensign flag from its tower. The white ensign was used prior to 1801. Near this place are the remains of Edmund Nelson, son of Reverend Edmund Nelson and Catherine, his wife, Kate Sucklin, who died December 12th 1789, aged 28. Edmund Nelson met Catherine Sucklin and married her on the 11th May 1749 at Beckels. Catherine was the daughter of another priest, Maurice Suckling, and her grandmother had been the sister of Robert Walpole. They moved to Swatham after their marriage where Catherine bore Nelson three children. Two died in infancy and only one of them survived, called Maurice. They then moved to Spore where on the 12th of June 1755, Catherine gave birth to the couple's first daughter, Susanna. Nelson was offered the position of rector at Burnham Fork and he accepted that and the two settled at the rectory. William was born on the 20th of April 1757 and on the 29th of September Catherine gave birth to Horatio, naming him after Horatio's godparent, Horatio Walpole, the first Earl of Alford. Horatio was a sickly child and Edmund feared he would not live long enough to be baptised at the public ceremony arranged. Horatio was baptised at a private ceremony instead. Catherine died on the 26th of December 1767, aged 42. Edmund buried her four days later at the church in Burnham Thorpe and he never remarried. So Edmund Nelson was one of eight children, three of which died in childbirth and Nelson, like his son Horatio, were of a sickly disposition. His father had a church in Spore so after his bachelor's degree he became a curator there. After he married Catherine, Edmund moved to Swatham and that's where they were had their three children, which two died in infancy and they moved to Spore in 1755 where Susanna, the surviving daughter, was born and then he was offered a place at Burnham Thorpe as the rector and they lived in the rectory there and that's where Horatio and the other children were born and he grew up there. In memory of Mary Jane Smith, the beloved wife of Robert Smith, who ended in the rest, October 19th 1927. Aged 68 years, when by our bed the loved ones weep and death dues of other forgotten hope and vain is help or hope for men, Jesus our Lord, we say us men. Also of Robert Smith, who departed this life August 31st 1938, aged 82. 12 1235 285 Lieutenant Aircraftman J.F. Ellis, Royal Air Force, 17th November 1942, aged 28. Another memory of of Richard Spinks, who died November 10th 1917, aged 76 years. Also of Sarah, his beloved wife, who died October 28th 1926, aged 81 years. Can never take away what to their hearts as their memories sweeten ever and keeps them always near. Another memory of of a beloved wife of Henry and Clara Ward, who died July 25th 1918, aged 23 years. Also of our beloved son Edward William Ward, who died of Bounds in France, October 24th 1918, of war, aged 20 years. Rest in peace. Another memory of George Kim, who died December 15th 1920, aged 73. Father in thy gracious keeping Also Elizabeth King, who died May 4th 1939, in her 93rd year. Peace dear mother by foul rest, Rest in peace.