VOL. X.] THOMAS HUDSON NELSON. 207 



and from far inland. The poorest working lad was welcomed, 

 as indeed everyone was who came for help or information. 

 An old fisherman still tells how in the early days Nelson 

 always slept with a string tied to his foot, the other end of 

 the string hanging out of the window, so that at dawn the 

 fishermen might wake him, when there was " anything 

 particular about " in shore, at the Scars or out at sea. 



The Birds of Yorkshire is more than a monument of 

 industry ; it is scientifically sound, scrupulously honest, has 

 saved much of value which otherwise would have been 

 irretrievably lost and is replete with local history, colour 

 and incident. Only an ornithologist full of local enthusiasm, 

 with an artist's sense and an antiquarian's joy in the dis- 

 covery of any little treasure hidden in old-world places and 

 dialects could have written it. One trait in Nelson's char- 

 acter was very striking ; even when sure of a fact he shrank 

 from being dogmatic, and he would try to find reasons for 

 any discrepancies between the experiences of others and his 

 own. I never knew him show contempt for the ignorance 

 of anyone, he would rather find an excuse for error. A 

 refined nature recoiled from hurting in the slightest degree 

 the feelings of any other man. He was indeed one of the 

 most lovable of men, for there was that in him which called 

 forth at once in any kindred spirit a flood of satisfaction and 

 response. His friends remained his friends ; it could not be 

 otherwise. Nelson took a great interest in the Redcar Lifeboat 

 and crew ; the latter preceded his body to the grave and his 

 funeral was also attended by members of the North Riding 

 Constabulary. As a County Magistrate he brought to the 

 discharge of his duties a judicial mind and an understanding 

 heart. In politics he was an ardent Unionist. He married 

 in 1898 Miss Frances Shaw. Mrs. Nelson survives him. His 

 married life was one of absolute content and perfect happiness. 

 Thomas Hudson Nelson was born on the 12th February, 

 1856, at Bishop Auckland. His father, Ralph Nelson, was 

 born there, and at the age of eighty-five died there greatly 

 honoured in the old town as a leading citizen and magistrate. 

 His mother {nee Hudson) died when Nelson was only ten 

 years old ; he was the second of three sons. Nelson's boyhood 

 seems to have been greatly influenced by a Head Master of 

 King James's Grammar School who in those days was known 

 in Bishop Auckland as " Mr. Edward Keruen Limoclan," 

 but who actually was the French Marquis de Keruen de 

 Limoclan who had been compelled to fly from France during 

 the War of 1870. Of Timoclan, Nelson always spoke with 



