On 27 November 1742, twenty-eight year old Elizabeth Day (daughter of Thomas Day and the great grand daughter of Robert Day of Ipswich) published intentions of marriage to Nathaniel Lord. The two continued to reside in Ipswich, where they died and were laid to eternal rest in the Old Burying Ground.

Nathaniel died 16 January 1800; however, he was likely in ill health for some time, as his will, dated 8 August 1796, was written nearly four years previous to his passing. Included in the will was provision for the education of his grandson and namesake, Nathaniel Lord. He wrote:

I bequeath to my Grand son Nathaniel Lord son of my son Isaac Lord a sum of money which [shall] be sufficient to pay the expenses & complete his Education at Harvard College to be paid by my said Executors at such Times as the Expenses and cost of his Education shall become due.

The younger Nathaniel, born 25 September 1780, was 16 at the time his grandfather was putting his affairs in order, and was likely already enrolled at Harvard; he graduated in 1798, and began a brief career in teaching before his appointment as the Register of Probate.

From the History of Essex County, Massachusetts we learn:

Too much praise can scarcely be awarded to Nathaniel Lord for the fidelity, thoroughness and courtesy with which he performed the duties of register during his incumbency of thirty-six years. Very many now living have cause to remember his kindness of heart, his timely counsel and his honorable deportment, both in business and social life, and the admirable method and system of the office under its present management is largely due to the high standard which he set up, while it was occupied by him.

Nathaniel Lord is buried with his grandfather in the Old Burying Ground, where his gravestone reads: NATHANIEL son of ISAAC and SUSANNA LORD Born 1780 September 25, A graduate of Harvard College 1798. Died 1852 October 16 For more than thirty [illegible] years Register of Probate for the County of Essex Always faithful and conscientious in the discharge of all his duties as a Christian and a Patriot. A kind and devoted father, this stone is raised by the gratitude and [illegible] of his children While Nathaniel was beloved by his family and was respected for his work as Register of Probate, his success also served another purpose; it provided the means for the portrait shown above, likely one of the earliest portraits to found of a descendant of our progenitor, Robert Day.