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

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William Cole (1635 - 1716)

Physician educated at Gloucester Hall, Oxford. He practiced in Worcester, moving to London around 1692 and elected a fellow of the College of Physicians. Later retired to the country and was buried at Allesley, near Coventry. John Beaumont reported on Cole's collection. Other biography: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/Cole,_William_(1635-1716) Collector (minor)
Relevant locations: Residence at Bristol, Bristol
Relationships: William Cole was a visited by John Beaumont (c.1640-1731)

Linked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - A discourse concerning the spiral, instead of the supposed annular structures of the fibres of the instestins; discover'd and shewn by the learn'd and inquisitive Dr. William Cole to the R. Society .
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - Part of a letter from Mr. William Cole of Bristol to the publisher, about the grains resembling wheat which fell lately in Wilt-shire.
as Subject of/in a document - A Forgotten Naturalist of the Seventeenth Century: William Cole of Bristol and His Collections .
as Subject of/in a document - Establishing the New Science: The Experience of the Early Royal Society.
as Subject of/in a document - Magic and Mental Disorder: Sir Hans Sloane's Memoir of John Beaumont.
References in Documents:
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) A. 50. Erica marina alba frutescens. Frutex marinus Flabelli formis cortice verrucoso obductus Raii Synops. 327. White shrubby Sea=Heath. Part of a very large branch of this Mr. Doody received from Gottenburgh in Denmark; a smaller branch of which I lately saw gathered by Dr. Cole, on the Coast of Cornwal.
Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

A Portion of the INTESTINUM JEJUNUM: wherein the Valvulæ conniventes observed by Rhuysserius, delineated by Kirckringius, are well seen.

It is observed (a) (a) Philosoph. Trans. N. 125. by Dr. William Cole, That not only these Valves, but the Fibers of the inner Muscular Membrane of the Guts are admirably continu'd in a spiral Line, all along from the Stomach to the very Anus.

Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669)
Part of a Letter from Mr. William Cole of Bristol to the Publisher, about the Grains resembling Wheat which fell lately in Wilt-shire.

—This City and Country round about, is filled with Reports of Raining Wheat about Warminster, and other Places within Six or Eight Miles of it, and many believe it; I have procured several Parcels of it, and carefully examined them, and find it to be the seeds of Ivy-Berries, which from Towers and Churches, Chimneys, Walls and high Buildings, were lately by very fierce Tempests of Wind and Hail, driven away from the holes, chinks and other parts where Birds had brought them, especially Sterlings and Choughs: It were to little purpose to tell you the prodigious Stories which have been made of it; among many others, it was confidently affirmed (and backt by several, who affirmed they had seen it) that those Grains were found in the Hail, as Seeds in Comfits: I do here acquaint you with it (upon Notice I had of some who have sent several Parcels of it to your Society, with strange Relations of it) to the end you may inform them of the Truth; For I have by all the ways I can Imagine examined and compared them with the Seeds of Ivy Berries, by the tast, smell, size, and Figure; with the assistance of Magnifying Glasses, viewing them in both the superficial and inward Parts. This perhaps they may have discovered before this comes to their Hands, if they desire farther Satisfaction concerning it, I shall be ready to serve them, &c.

William Cole.

Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669) Part of a Letter from Mr. William Cole of Bristol to the Publisher, about the Grains resembling Wheat which fell lately in Wilt-shire.