The 1805 Club uses cookies to ensure you have the best possible online experience. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy.
Press release: Thursday 18th October 2018
The parish register containing the entry recording the marriage of Admiral Lord Nelson has been brought to the UK from its home in the Caribbean for urgent conservation work.
The 190-page register is held in the parish church of St John Figtree on the island of Nevis, where the then Captain Horatio Nelson married Mrs Fanny Nisbet, the widow of an island physician, who later became Viscountess Nelson. The marriage took place in the parish on 11th March 1787 at Montpelier House, the residence of the President of the island.
At that time, Captain Nelson was commanding the British warship, HMS Boreas, protecting British interests in the north east Caribbean and especially enforcing the Navigation Act recently passed by the Parliament in the UK.
Early in 2016, The 1805 Club, a UK-based charity, which conserves and maintains monuments, graves and artefacts of the sailing Royal Navy of the Georgian era, was made aware that due to long exposure to the humidity and high temperatures in the Caribbean, the condition of the register had deteriorated badly and was in urgent need of conservation.
The church in Nevis is within the Diocese of the North East Caribbean and Aruba, and permission having been granted by the diocesan Bishop and his Chancellor, the Club announced it would bring the register to the United Kingdom for conservation.
The work is being carried out by the world-renowned Borthwick Institute, part of the University of York and the repository for the archives of the Archbishopric of York. This Institute has long experience in conserving church documents, including church records up to 800 years old.
Bill White, Vice-Chairman of The 1805 Club, said: “We are very grateful to the Bishop of the North East Caribbean and Aruba for giving us permission for this vital work to be carried out. The parish register is very much part of the Royal Navy story and gives a unique insight into the social history of one of its most illustrious figures.”
Chris Webb, Keeper of Archives at the Borthwick Institute, said: “It’s a great privilege to be part of this exciting and important work, which will conserve for everyone, now and in the future, not only a part of the Royal Navy’s history, but also a key record in the history of the
island of Nevis.”
It is expected that it will take the Institute at least 18 months to complete the conservation work on the parish register.
This is one of six major commemorative and educational projects relating to the Georgian sailing Royal Navy and Admiral Lord Nelson on which the Club is currently working. Progress on these projects has been made possible through a grant totalling £455,000 made by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2017 out of the fund derived from the LIBOR fines of over £100 million. This fund was set up by the Chancellor to support Armed Forces charities, and other related good causes.
The other projects are:
For further information about the Parish Register conservation project, please contact:
Press release: Thursday 18th October 2018
Press release: Saturday 13th October 2018
Press release: Monday 13th November 2017
Press release: Monday 5th July 2010
Press release: Wednesday 3rd September 2008
Press release: Tuesday 20th March 2007
Press release: Sunday 1st October 2006
Press release: Saturday 3rd June 2006
Press release: Monday 1st May 2006
Press release: Wednesday 1st March 2006
Press release: Thursday 5th January 2006
Press release: Monday 12th December 2005
Press release: Thursday 1st December 2005
Press release: Tuesday 9th August 2005
Regular updates from The 1805 Club’s Chairman. See the archive.
To find out more and to become a Topman, please click here.
See why others have joined our international membership. Join today! A Membership Leaflet is available for you to print out.
Visit Admiral Lord Nelson's own blog www.admiralnelson.org.