Thomas Bolton (1752-1834), was Lord Nelson's brother-in-law having married the Admiral's slightly older sister Susanna in 1780. He was a prosperous businessman trading in corn, malt and coal and he and Susanna lived at Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. One of their six children, also named Thomas, had not only been chosen to act as Nelson's esquire at his installation as a Knight of the Bath at Westminster Abbey in May 1803 -- in the event, Nelson had to return to sea unexpectedly and the ceremony went ahead by proxy -- but, more importantly, eventually inherited the title of 2^nd Earl Nelson, Nelson's own brother William having become the 1^st Earl upon the death of the Admiral at Trafalgar.

Whilst it has not been confirmed, it is most likely that it was Thomas Bolton, Senior, Nelson's brother-in-law, who travelled up-river with the Admiral's funeral cortège even though it is possible that his nineteen year old son may also have been amongst the family representatives on the journey.