John Nelson was an English trader and statesman, active in New England.
Background
John Nelson was born in 1654 in London, England. He was the son of Robert Nelson, a member of Gray's Inn, and of Mary (Temple) Nelson, the daughter of Sir John Temple of Stanton Bury, Buckinghamshire, and the sister of Sir Thomas Temple, proprietor and governor of Nova Scotia, 1656-70. Probably shortly after 1670 when Sir Thomas settled in Boston Nelson came from his home in England to join him.
Career
As early as 1677 Nelson was engaged in the fur trade in the Kennebec country. In the interest of this trade he went to Canada in 1682 where he became acquainted with prominent French officials.
In 1691 the colony sent him on an expedition to Nova Scotia. He was captured by the French and held prisoner in Quebec for a year. The French treated him kindly but feared him, and when his captors learned that he had sent military information to Boston they sent him to France where he was confined in a dungeon of the castle of Angoulême for two years.
In 1694 his importance was sufficiently recognized to secure his transfer to the Bastille. There French officials entered into discussions with him regarding a project for gaining the neutrality of America during the war and Nelson wrote to Blathwayt regarding the proposition. The French king finally offered him a parole to go to London to discuss the matter.
In London Nelson was reprimanded by the Privy Council for entering into negotiations with the French, but the Board of Trade listened to his views. He informed the latter of French designs to establish a colony on the Mississippi and to develop there the fur trade, upon which their power in America depended. He urged that the English encourage the "bush-lopers" to extend their trade, and that plans be formed to unite the colonies under one head to resist the French. Then the conquest of Canada could be accomplished. Blathwayt and apparently the whole Board of Trade were impressed with his arguments and his memorial was discussed by the Board years afterward. England was not then in position to demand the cession of Canada but Nelson's arguments apparently were conclusive in establishing the southern boundary of Acadia at the St. George River instead of at the Kennebec as claimed by the French. After the Peace of Ryswick Nelson was released from parole and returned to Boston.
During the War of the Spanish Succession he continued to address arguments to Blathwayt for the expulsion of the French from America, and especially from the country south of the St. Lawrence. It was due in no small measure to his propaganda that Nova Scotia and Newfoundland were ceded to England at the Peace of Utrecht. After the peace Nelson continued his efforts to have the boundaries of New France restricted by the boundary commission. After his return to Boston he was appointed a commissioner to treat with the Indians.
He resumed his fur trade with the Indians of the northeast and he succeeded in regaining some of the lands his uncle had held in Nova Scotia.
He was a capable business man and died wealthy.
Achievements
Religion
As an Anglican he supported Benjamin Colman in his efforts to liberalize the New England church.
Politics
Nelson was an outspoken opponent of Randolph and Andros, and when news of the overthrow of James II reached Boston in 1689 he joined in demanding the surrender of Andros and led the militia that captured him. Nelson was ignored in the reorganization of the colony. Hutchinson explained that it was because he was an Anglican and "of a gay free temper". Probably a bitter personal and political rivalry existing between himself and William Phips also prevented his receiving recognition.
He opposed the intrigues to supplant Governor Dudley by Sir Charles Hobby.
Connections
In Boston he married Elizabeth, the daughter of William Tailer and the niece of William Stoughton. To them were born two sons and four daughters.