Nathaniel Bacon Sr. was baptized August 29, 1620 in England and died in York County, Virginia March 16, 1692. He was first cousin once removed of Nathaniel Bacon Jr. "the Rebel." He graduated from Cambridge and came to Virginia in 1650, where he settled first in Isle of White County, then at "King's Creek," York County, on one of the first tracts of land patented on the York River. He was chosen member of the council in 1657, but held office for only a year. He was a burgess for York County in 1658-1659, and was reappointed to the council in 1660. He received an appointment to auditor general March 12, 1675, resigning in December 1687. He was president of the council, and was acting governor during the absence of Lord Howard in 1684-1690. Colonel Bacon's health was very feeble at this time, and he died March 16, 1692. As he had no children he bequeathed his estate to his niece Abigail Smith, who married Major Lewis Burwell, of Gloucester County, Va.

His tombstone was in this area until the late 1800s when the owner of the property at the time discovered it fallen over in a field. He moved the tombstone from the field to the road which led to the Ringfield plantation house. At the turn of the century, this ancient tombstone was relocated to Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, Va. It remains there on the wall of the church tower. The Virginia Conservation Committee added the present marker to the original location in 1946.

Nathaniel is shown as the father of his sister Martha (Bacon) Smith . As shown above, her daughter Abigail (Smith) Burwell inherited Nathaniel's estate when he died as he had no children. He is shown as Nathaniel Bacon Sr. on the plaque but that was a mistake on the part of the Virginia Conservation Committee. Other source show his as'the elder' to distinguish him from his second cousin, Nathaniel Bacon 1647-1676 who was known as 'The Rebel'.