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

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John Aubrey, F.R.S. (12 Mar 1626 - June 1697)

English antiquary and biographer. Aubrey made a generous gift of books and manuscripts to the Ashmolean Museum, including over 1,000 printed books donated in 1695 (MacGregor, 2). Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/886 Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Aubrey Collector (minor)
 Relationships: John Aubrey was a donor to Ashmolean Museum (1683-)
John Aubrey was a member of Royal Society (-)

Fabian Philips (1601-1690) was a friend of John Aubrey
Francis Potter (1594-1678) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of John Aubrey
Linked manuscript items: as Collector (minor) - "The Book of the Dean of Christ Church (1684-90)," Ashmolean Library AMS 8 (The Book of the Dean of Christ Church), Ashmolean Museum
as Donator of a collection - "The Book of the Dean of Christ Church (1684-90)," Ashmolean Library AMS 8 (The Book of the Dean of Christ Church), Ashmolean Museum
 Linked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - Brief lives, chiefly of contemporaries, set down by John Aubrey, between the years 1669 & 1696.
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - The Natural History and Antiquities of the County of Surrey: Begun in the Year 1673.
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - The natural history of Wiltshire by John Aubrey, F.R. S.: written between 1656 and 1691.
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - The Oxford cabinet, consisting of engravings from original pictures, in the Ashmolean Museum, and other public and private collections; with biographical anecdotes, by John Aubrey, F.R.S. and other celebrated writers.
as Mentions or references - Ashmolean Museum Oxford: Manuscript Catalogues of the Early Museum Collections, 1683-1886 (Part I).
as Mentions or references - London in 1710, from the Travels of Zacharias Conrad von Uffenbach .
as Subject of/in a document - John Aubrey and the Realm of Learning .
as Subject of/in a document - John Aubrey's Collections and the Early Modern Museum .
as Subject of/in a document - The Books Presented to the Royal Society by John Aubrey, F.R.S..
 Linked images:
[Portrait of John Aubrey]

Tradescant family tomb, West view

Tradescant family tomb, North view

Tradescant family tomb, East view

Tradescant family tomb, South view

References in Documents:
MS Book of Benefactors (MacGregor, ed.)

The most distinguished John Aubrey Esq., from Easton Piercy in Wiltshire, formerly a scholar at Trinity College, Oxford, out of regard for Ashmole and his Museum, gave some eighty small books (some of them printed, some in manuscript), and in addition, several portraits of famous men, Roman coins and their clay matrices, and also a fragment of a mosaic or pavement (all of which are carefully listed in the catalogues).

Consolidated catalogue of 1695: The Book of the Vice-Chancellor (MacGregor, ed.) Catalogus Numismatum quibus Cl. Vir Johannes Aubrey Armiger Museum Ashmolean lubens auxit. Ao. 1688. Catalogue of the coins which that distinguished man John Aubrey Esq, willingly added to the Ashmolean Museum, 1688
MS Book of the dean of Christ Church (MacGregor, ed.) 110 [sic] Cultri manubrium dimidiatum &c. Ex dono J. Aubrey Armig. R.S.S. 110a Half a knife-handle etc. Given by J. Aubrey Esq., FRS.
MS Book of the dean of Christ Church (MacGregor, ed.) 212c Alia ejusdem figuræ et magnitudinis ex dono Johs Aubrey Armigeri R.S.S. c Another of the same shape and size given by John Aubrey Esq., FRS.
MS Book of the dean of Christ Church (MacGregor, ed.) 14 Effigies Dñi Joannis Aubrey de Easton-Pierce in agro Wiltoniensi, Armigeri. 72 Portrait of Mr John Aubrey Esq., of Easton Percy in Wiltshire.
MS The Book of the Junior Proctor (MacGregor, ed.) 811 Pyxis nicotianæ ænea, stramineo opere eleganter variegata. Ex dono Joh. Aubrey Armig. e Soc. Regiâ. Bronze tobacco jar elegantly decorated with basketwork. Given by John Aubrey Esq., of the Royal Society.
MS The Book of the Junior Proctor (MacGregor, ed.) 812 Quadrans omni latiduclini inserviens: auctore Francisco Potter. [ ] Id.m D.s Aubrey don.vit. A quadrant that can be used at every latitude, made by Francis Potter. Again given by John Aubrey.
Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

A Bag of a course sort of JASPER Stones, knockt off from those in Wilts-shire near Marleborough, called The Grey-Weathers. Given by John Aubrey Esq;. So hard, that no Tool will touch them. Generally of a light Grey, some almost white, many of a dirty red.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

A piece of RICH IRON ORE, from a Hill of the same in Wiltshire, upon which is scituate a Village called Seen or Send, about nine miles from the Bath. Given by J. Aubrey Esq;. Who saith, It is so good, that the Smith there can make that which he takes up in the street, to melt in his Forge; which that in the Forrest of Dean will not do.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

Several Examples of MORTARS of old Castles and Roman Buildings. Given by John Aubrey Esq; for comparing them with those now in use.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685) A ROMAN MONEY-POT. Given (with the Coin below mention'd) by the same Hand John Aubrey. Found in the Year, 1651. in In Week-Field, in the Parish of Hedington, in Wiltshire; half full of Roman Coin, Silver and Copper, of several Emperors near the time of Constantine. Of the colour of a Crucible, and fashion'd almost like a Pint Jug without a Neck. Closed at the top, and having a Notch on one side, as in a Christmas-Box. In the same place (where anciently was a Roman Colony) and at the same time, were dig'd up the Foundations of several Houses for a Mile together.
Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

II. D. N. Magnentius P. F. Aug. Felicitas Reipublicæ. These from J. Aubrey Esq.

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.
London in 1710, from the travels of Zacharias Conrad von Uffenbach

ROBERT HOOKE, the experimentalist, astronomer, inventor and chemist; F.R.S., 3 June, 1663. He was perpetual Curator of the Royal Society. In 1667 he was appointed surveyor of the City of London. He was an extraordinarily able mechanic. He was Secretary of the Royal Society from October 1677 to November 1682.

John Aubrey wrote: 'He is but of middling stature, something crooked, pale faced, and his face but little belowe, but his head is lardge: his eie full and popping, and not quick; a grey eie.' Aubrey had the highest opinion of Hooke, eccentric as Aubrey's views were.

He was born on 19 July, 1635, according to John Aubrey.

Hooke was a leading inventor of balance-springs for watches. The Posthumous Works of Robert Hooke, by RichardWailerWaller, 1705, should be referred to.