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

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Nathaniel Palmer, Sir (c. 1661 - 1718)

Military officer (Colonel) and parliamentarian. George Hicks describes him in 1700 as "that worthy and honourable Gentleman Sir Nathaniel Palmer, of Fairfeild [sic] in Somersetshire, which Country he hath the honour to represent in this present parliament" (Phil. Trans. vol. 22, no. 260, pp. 464). Son of Peregrine Plamer of Fairfield and Anna née Stephens, Palmer served as tory member of parliament for the constituencies of Minehead, Somerset, and Bridgwater between 1685 and 1715. In 1718, he donated the Alfred Jewel to Ashmolean Museum. The jewel was transmitted by his son, Thomas, presumably after his father's death in that same year (MacGregor, 1, 11 n.1). Other biography: https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/member/palmer-nathaniel-1660-1718 Relevant locations: Lived at or near Fairfield, Somerset
 Relationships: Nathaniel Palmer was a donor to Ashmolean Museum (1683-)
Nathaniel Palmer was a donor to Thomas Palmer (1685?-1735)
Nathaniel Palmer was a father of Thomas Palmer (1685?-1735)

 Linked print sources: as Mentioned or referenced by - A letter from Dr George Hickes, dated May the 22d, 1700, to Dr Sloane, concerning the saxon antiquity, mentioned N. 247. of these transactions. With an account of his book now in the press at Oxford.
as Mentioned or referenced by - Ashmolean Museum Oxford: Manuscript Catalogues of the Early Museum Collections, 1683-1886 (Part I).
 References in Documents:
MS Book of Benefactors (MacGregor, ed.)

Thomas Palmer The Alfred Jewel, to which this entry refers, was presented to the Museum by Colonel Nathaniel Palmer; his son, Thomas Palmer, merely transmitted it to the Museum (although it had been intended for the Bodleian Library). of Fairfield in Somerset, a learned man and renowned throughout the county for his virtue, sent to this Museum a picture of an old man (possibly St. Cuthbert) set in a gold and crystal frame. Palmer, military commander in the same district, bequeathed this most ancient object, once a possession of King Alfred, to the University of Oxford.

MS Book of Benefactors (MacGregor, ed.) Thomas Palmer The Alfred Jewel, to which this entry refers, was presented to the Museum by Colonel Nathaniel Palmer; his son, Thomas Palmer, merely transmitted it to the Museum (although it had been intended for the Bodleian Library). of Fairfield in Somerset, a learned man and renowned throughout the county for his virtue, sent to this Museum a picture of an old man (possibly St. Cuthbert) set in a gold and crystal frame. Palmer, military commander in the same district, bequeathed this most ancient object, once a possession of King Alfred, to the University of Oxford.
Consolidated catalogue of 1695: The Book of the Junior Proctor (MacGregor, ed.) [Addendum 5] Transcript of the Paper about the ancient Picture given to the University by Thos: Palmer Esqr. Memdun Nov.br 16. 1718 Thos. Palmer Esqr. of Fairfield in Somersetshire put this ancient picture of St. Cuthbert, made by order of King Alfred, into my hands, to be convey'd to the Bodleian Library in Oxford where his Father Natl. Palmer Esqr. Lately dead, desir'd it might be placed & preserv'd. Geo: Clarke. Vide Philosophical Transactions &c. Dr. Hicks's Thesaurus, where an account is given of this Picture & the finding of it. Found at Athelney in Somersetshire 441 Lowthorps Abridgment.