The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Samuel Colepress ( - d. 1669)

Medical student, collector, and clergyman, whose home was near Plymouth. In a letter to Robert Boyle dated 19 March 1666-7, Colepresse promises a box of minerals for Boyle himself or, perhaps, the Royal Society's Repository:
I hope you have received by this time a box of ores, which by Sir William Strode's order I sent away from Brent, March 1. principally intended for present experiments, not for your mineral repository; for which I am daily solicitous to prepare a box of mine own collection of the diversities of ores, weeds or marchasites, clays, and earths, our mines and country afford, together with a discourse of the art of training, digging, dressing, and blowing of metals, as an addition to what I formerly (though hastily) presented your honour on the like subject. (EE Correspondence. doi.org/10.13051/ee:doc/boylroPC0030301a1c)
Michael Hunter et al. (eds.) note that "Boyle presented a collection of minerals to the Royal Society at his death" (citing Royal Society MS 200). Grew identifies four mineral specimens donated by Colepresse.

Almost a year later, in another letter addressed to Robert Boyle, on on 28 January 1667-8, Oldenburg writes,
We had also the view of 4 or 5 douzen particular sorts of mineral, sent to me for the Society's repository by Mr Colepresse, which pleased very well; among which there was a kind of Earth, pretended to be a Terra sigillata, and an Iron-oar, mix't with another matter, which, though so mixed, was yet sensible enough of the Load-stone. Sir William Strode's son is here, and, I believe, another such collection for you, if you could but come to receive it. (EE Correspondence. https://doi.org/10.13051/ee:doc/boylroPC0040015a1c)
The "Terra sigillata" does not appear in Grew, but the "Iron-oar" might be Grew_16240.
Other biography: www.e-enlightenment.com.cyber.usask.ca/item/boylroPC0030210a1c/nts/001 Relevant locations: Residence at Plymouth, Devon
Relationships: Samuel Colepress was a donor to Royal Society (-)

Linked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - An extract of a letter lately written by Mr. S. Colepresse, from Leiden, to the Publisher, about the making of counterfeited opal, and the recovery of the art of making red-glass.
as Mentions or references - Electronic Enlightenment Scholarly Edition of Correspondence.
References in Documents:
Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

ANOTHER large Piece consisting of hard and sexangular Crystals, and of the same colour with the former. Taken from the Coginnian Silver-Mines. Given by Mr. Colepress.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

A BASTARD-AMIANTHUS. It grows in Veins in a Claiy and Mundick Load, between Beds of a Greenish Earth. The Threads ⅓d or near ½ an inch long, of a glossy black, and brittle. Given by Mr. Colepress, who observ'd it amongst the Cornish Mines.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

ANOTHER like Ore from CORNWALL. Given, with several others, by Sam. Colepress Esq;. It grows together with Mundick and green and yellow Spar.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

A SLAG, remaining in the bottom of the Tin-Floate. Sent by Mr. Colepress. Of a bright colour next to Silver. Yet contains (saith he, mostly) Iron; which he accidentally perceiv'd, by applying the Magnet to it, both quickly uniting. But note, that now, at least, they will not, unless you take small Sparks only, and these will leap up to it. He also saith, That one Dr. Stall a German Chymist, affirmed, the Dutchmen make good spelter of it.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685) A List of those who have Contributed to this Musæum: excepting some Names which are lost. His Highness Prince RUPERT, Count Palatine of the Rhine. THomasThomas Allen M. D. John Aubrey Esq. WILLIAM L. Visc. BROUNCKER. Hon. ROBERT BOYLE, Esq. Dr. Erasmus Bartholine. John Bembde Esq. Sign. Paul Boccone. Mons. Olaus Borrichius. Joseph Bowles Merch. Sir Thomas Brown Edward Brown. M. D. JONH JOHN late Lord B. of CHESTER. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. ROYAL AFRICAN COMPANY. Walter Charleton M. D. Walter Chetwynd Esq. Andrew Clench M. D. Samuel Colepress, Esq. Thomas Cox, Esq. Edward Cotton M. D. Thomas Crispe Esq. Ellis Crispe, Esq. William Crone M. D. John Evelyn Esq. George Ent Esq. Captain Thomas Fissenden. Nehemjah Grew M. D. Hon. CHARLES HOWARD of N. Esq. Theodore Haac Esq. Thomas Henshaw Esq. Abraham Hill Esq. Mr. Hocknel. Luke Hodgson M. D. Robert Hook Geom. Pr. Anthony Horneck B. D. Sir John Hoskins. John Houghton Pharm. L. Edmund King M. D. Mons. Lannoy. Mr. Langerman Mr. Linger. Fath. Hieronim. Lobus. Richard Lower M. D. Martyn Lyster Esq. Mr. John Malling. Sign. Malpighi. Christopher Merret M. D. Sir Thomas Millington. Sir Jonas Moore. Sir Robert Moray. Mr. S. Morgan. HENRY Duke of NORFOLK. Walter Needham M. D. Isaac Newton Math. Prof. Henry Oldenburge Esq. Philip Packer Esq. Dudley Palmer Esq. Sir William Petty. Robert Plot L L. D. Walter Pope M. D. Thomas Povey Esq. SETH Lord B. of SALISBURY. Mr. Scotto Merch. Mr. John Short. Sir Philip Skippon. Francis Slare M. D. George Smith M. D. Mr. John Somner. Sir Robert Southwell. Dr. Swammerdam. Captain Tayler. George Trumbal T. D. Edward Tyson M. D. WILLIAM late L. WILLOUGHBY of Parham. Sir Christopher Wren P. R. S. George Wheeler Esq. Daniel Whistler, M. D. Henry Whistler Esq. Sir Joseph Williamson. Francis Willughby Esq. John Winthrop Esq. Robert Witty M. D.