A HISTORIC MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.

Western Star, Issue 2218, 1 July 1898, Page 6

A HISTORIC MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.

In tho marriage register of Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, the village iu which I ord Nelson was born, there is a certificate signed by the great Admiral when he was eleven years of age. Lord Nelson was born at the Burnham Thorpe Rectory on Michaelmas Day, 1758, and his childhood was passed in that sequestered village. His father, the Rev. Edmund Nelson, was the Rector of Ihe parish, and in marrying rural couples he was ofleu at a loss to obtain a witness ef the ceremony. Accordingly young Nelson acted in that capacity, as is testified by the fact that the register is sprinkled with his boy ish signature. Curiously enough, although Burnham 1 horpe is intimately associated with the personal history of the great Admiral and his family there is no local memorial of him. During his naval career he used to write iu touching language of “ dear, dear, Burnham,” and when he lay dying in the cockpit of the “ Victory, his last request to Captain Hardy was : ‘ I wish to be buried by the side of my father and mother.” both of whom sleep in the chancel of the village church. A movement was started some time ago to raise a memorial to the great Admiral ; and, on the suggestion of the Frince of Wales.it was decided to restore the dilapidated church in which Nelson worshipped, and of which his father was the rector, and to erect a village hall healing the name of the hero of a hundred fights, ________________