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

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Christopher Wilkinson, Reverend (1663 (?) - 1729 (?))

Some information on the life of Christopher Wilkinson is found in:
Atkinson, Daniel Hopkin. "Ralph Thoresby, the topographer, his town and times." Walker and Laycock, 1885. Google Books. Page 368

"The Rev. Christopher Wilkinson had succeeded to the curacy at Armley in [1690]. He built a parsonage there, with the aid of subscriptions, in 1704. From two to three months after their inspection of Giant's Hill, Thoresby received through him "a letter, with remarks upon coins, the Idol Thor, &c., from the admirably learned Archdeacon Nicholson." A later letter of the Archdeacon's commences, [--] "A letter I had this morning from your neighbour Wilkinson puts me in mind of the debt I owe to yourself." Footnote

Some information on Christopher Wilkinson is found in:
Wilson, George B. "The descendants of the Rev. Christopher Wilkinson of Queen Anne's County, Maryland." U of Wisconsin, 1973. Google Books. Page 9.
"The Rev. Christopher Wilkinson was licensed to Armley on 10 January 1690..."
Linked manuscript items: as Sender of a letter - "[Letter from Christopher Wilkinson to Ralph Thoresby]," Yorkshire Archaeological Society MS8, Leeds
Linked print sources: as Donator of object(s) - Ducatus Leodiensis; or the topography of the town and parish of Leedes and parts adjacent ...
References in Documents:
Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

Indian Cock-spurs, or Gave-locks of Steel, that for the larger Cock is four Inches long, in a Cane Case above half a Foot round, with Indian Characters. The Present of Mr. Tho. Garway. As also two Indian Cards, with very odd Characters; they are very small, and clear black on the Out-side. The Astronomical Cards, the Geographical, and Armorical; those from Vigo. Jugling Cards, and the Popish Plot. A Knife taken from one of the Mohawks at London, An. 1710. Don. D. Jo. Cookson Lond. Another, being a Spanish Knife with the like Brass Studs in the Haft; upon the Blade is etched, Du Can. en Sevi. Don. D. Tireman Wilkinson Ebor. A Spanish Pen-Knife, the Blade which is near an Inch and half broad, turns (as the former) into the Haft, which is Iron. Don. Rev. Chr. Wilkinson Min. Armle. A Box of curious turn'd Work. Another Japan'd, with the Heads of K. William and Q Mary. Death's Head cut in Wood. An Ivory Chair and Cup both so small that several Dozens of them were included in a Cup made of an hollowed Nutmeg. Two Baskets curiously engraved, each made of a Cherry-stone. Don. D. Sus. Tomlinson. These are very fine, tho' confessedly short of that in the King of Denmark's Cabinet; and that which Dr. Will. Oliver saw in Holland, where upon were 124 Heads of Popes, Emperors, Kings, Cardinals, &c. that cost 300 Pounds English, and was lately at London, there being a Law-suit commenced about it in Chancery. (Phil. Trans. N° 285.)

Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

A Surprizing Representation of the Trinity, wherein the first Person is drawn as an Old Man with a triple Crown; the second with the Cross, and the third as a Dove, with Rays of Glory about each, and these Words inscribed, "In this Picture is represented, that of the Apostle St. Paul, Rom. 16. v. 27. saying, To God the only wife, through Jesus Christ to whom, together with the Holy Ghost, be Honour, Glory for ever and ever Amen. In the old Edition of the Horæ Beatis: Mariæ (a rare Book in this Musæum), the blessed Trinity is represented by three Heads. Upon one Neck of a humane Body, pag. xx, b. and pag. xlii, a. is that of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary described by Bishop Burnet in his Excellent History of the Reformation (Vol. II. p. 60.) as that of the Trinity, but is strictly that of the Assumption of the Virgin, who is represented between the Father (with Triple Crown, &c.) and the Son. Of the Medals relating to her Immaculate Conception, and to other Saints, to the Jubilees, &c. see before. What appertains to this Place are certain Superstitious Pictures, and pretended Relicks: As a Picture of the Virgin Mary surrounded with a Glory, the Moon under her Feet, treading upon the Old Dragon; over her Head the Trinity, as in the first Picture, and below all Marie conceived without Original Sin. Two different Accounts of the Original of this Feast may be seen in the Legenda Aurea Sanctorum of Jac. De Varagine; of which I have a rare Edition printed at Paris, An. 1475. The Picture of our Lady of Loretto, and her Son, painted and gilt upon red Silk, brought for me from Spain, by Mr. Chr. Wilkinson of Armley, Chaplain in a Man of War. The Darkness of her Face, (painted as a Black-moor) and Brightness of her Garments glittering with Gold are both unaccountable. The Figure of the Sole of her Shoe, upon which is written, ┼ This is the just Mea sure of the Foot of the blessed Virgin Mary, cut out by the Shoe which is kept in a Monastery of Monks in Spain. ┼ Pope John the 22d hath granted 700 Years of Indulgence to all those who will kiss the Measure three Times a Day, saying three Ave's ┼. This is just 7 Inches in Length, wanting a Quarter of an Inch of the Spanish Original, as printed by Rivet, and set forth with Licence.

Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

A Penitentiary Discipline from Vigo, An. 1702. It is of Hair with Knots six or eight Inches distant from each other. Don. D. Jo. Cookson Lond. Incence from the same Place. Don. D. E. Aldburgh. A Picture of God the Father, as an old Man in the Clouds, with Justinian Patriarch of Venice, and other Saints below, brought me from Spain by the Reverend Mr. Chr. Wilkinson. The Invention and Exaltation of the Cross, curiously represented in various Figures in Silver upon transparent Horn; upon a Cross surrounded with Cherubs is Hallelujah in large Capitals; upon each of which are Inscriptions in lesser Letters, as Crux æterna Dei, &c. Upon the Head of the Cross Benedictum Lignum.

Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

256. An Account of the Voyage to Spain 1705, and thence to the West-Indies, An. 1706, by the Rev. Mr. Chris. Wilkinson Minister of Armley in the Parish of Leedes.

A Catalogue of the Naturall and Artificial Curiositys in my slender Musaeum at Leedes Ano. 1708 a Spanish Pen knife, the blade near an inch & a half broad. Mr Chr: Wilkinson Chapl: in a Man of War.