Background
She was born in 1810 and baptised in Jurby on 6 June. She was the daughter of John Nelson, a vicar in three Manx parish churches: Jurby (1803–1818), Santon (1818–1830) and Bride (1830–1847).
She was born in 1810 and baptised in Jurby on 6 June. She was the daughter of John Nelson, a vicar in three Manx parish churches: Jurby (1803–1818), Santon (1818–1830) and Bride (1830–1847).
In 1838 she lived in Douglas but had returned to the family home at the rectory at Bride by the following year, when she wrote the dedication of her book of poems, Island Minstrelsy at the age of 29: "To her island home, the authoress affectionately dedicates the first and simple effusions of an island heart." In 1841 Nelson took a trip to Paris, apparently for health reasons, but she returned to the Isle of Manitoba where she died of tuberculosis on Tuesday 21 March 1843, at the age of 33, in her family home at the rectory at Bride. Nelson was a well-respected poet during her lifetime, often writing under the pen names "The Island Minstrel" or "Hadassah", the latter of which was given to her by G. H. Wood, a gentleman poet notable for having helped guard Napoleon on Saint Helena. Nelson’s work continued to be highly regarded after her death, most notably by the Manx national poet, T. East. Brown, who wrote that:
Isle of my heart,
Mona! the lone! the wild! the unforgot! My home! thou art
The star, the idol of a wayward lot --
Earth cannot bring
One dearer vision to me than thy face,
Time cannot bring
Forgetfulness! affection mocks at space.