Thomas Nelson Sr. emigrated from England and acquired by purchase the land along this road both east and west of here. On his death, the land was divided among his two sons and daughter: Thomas Jr. lived here, Josiah lived to the west, and Tabitha owned the property she received, though if she married, ownership would have passed to her husband. On the afternoon of April 19, 1775, as British soldiers clashed with Colonists on the return march toward Boston, many local residents fled in fear. When Thomas Nelson Jr.'s family returned, they found a wounded British soldier on their doorstep; they nursed his wounds, but he died the next day.