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

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Philip Packer (1618 - 1686)

Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/21075?docPos=3 Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Packer Relationships: John, the Elder Tradescant (c.1570s-c.15 Apr 1638) was a friend of Philip Packer
Linked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - An Addition to the Instances of Petrification, enumerated in the last of these Papers.
 References in Documents:
Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

A Piece of Oak BARQUE cover'd with a stony Crust. Given by Philip Packer Esq From a Stump above Ground.

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.
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669)
An Addition to the Instances of Petrification, enumerated in the last of these Papers.

This Instance was some while since communicated to the Royal Society by that Ingenious Gentleman Mr. Philip Packer, a worthy Member of that Body, in these words;

ONOn a Bank in a Close of Mr. Purefoy, neer his house, call'd Wadley, a mile from Farrington in Berks, there grows an Elme, which hath now lost the top, and is grown hollow, containing neer a Tun of Timber. From the But of the same Tree, one of the spreading Clawes having been formerly cut off with an Axe; that part of the But, from whence the same was sever'd, being about 1 1/2 foot above ground, and inward within the trunk (330) of the Tree, hath contracted a petrified Crust, about the, thickness of shilling, all over the woody part Within the Bark; the Marks of the Axe also remaining very conspicuous, with this petrified crust upon it. By what means it should thus happen, cannot well be conceived, in regard there is no water neer it; the part, above the ground and out of the weather; the Tree yet growing: unless being cut at some season, when the sap was flowing, the owsing of the sap might become petrified by the Air, and the Tree grow rotten and hollow inward since that time; which how long since, is not known.

A piece of that part cut, was presented, together with this Account, to the said Society, for their Repository.