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

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Thomas Braithwait ( - 1684)

Antiquary and a "particularly generous" benefactor of the Ashmolean who "was encouraged in his philanthropy by Sir Daniel Fleming" (MacGregor, 1). Relevant locations: Lived at or near Ambleside, Westmorland
 Relationships: Thomas Braithwait was a donor to Ashmolean Museum (1683-)

Daniel Fleming (1633-1701) was a friend of Thomas Braithwait
Linked print sources: 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.)

A.D. 1684

Thomas Braithwait Esq., of Ambleside in Westmorland, who was a great antiquary, gave this museum at his death more than 300 ancient coins, six of which are of gold, sixty-six of silver, and the rest of bronze, in order to make the Museum unrivalled in one of the areas of its collection.

N.B. The person who first persuaded the noble Mr Braithwait to leave his coins to the Museum, and who then saw to their delivery, was the great and learned Sir Daniel Fleming, from Rydal Hall in Westmorland. He was formerly a commoner of Queen's College, Oxford, and he did these things out of a deep 5 AMS 2: THE BOOK OF BENEFACTORS love for scholarship and singular generosity to this University.

MS Book of Benefactors (MacGregor, ed.)

Thomas Braithwait Esq., of Ambleside in Westmorland, who was a great antiquary, gave this museum at his death more than 300 ancient coins, six of which are of gold, sixty-six of silver, and the rest of bronze, in order to make the Museum unrivalled in one of the areas of its collection.

Consolidated catalogue of 1695: The Book of the Vice-Chancellor (MacGregor, ed.) Catalogus Numismatum Museo Ashmoleano legatorum per Cl. Virũ Thomã Brathwait de Amblesside in Comitatu Westmorlandiae Armigerũ defunct. A oD ñi 1684. Catalogue of coins bequeathed to the Ashmolean Museum by that celebrated man Thomas Braithwait Esq. of Ambleside, in the county of Westmorland, died 1684.
Consolidated catalogue of 1695: The Book of the Vice-Chancellor (MacGregor, ed.) Catalogus Numismatum obscuriorũ ab eodem Cl. Viro Dño Thoma Brathwait legatorum quae tamen (ut opinor) sic interpretari possunt. Catalogue of the rarer coins bequeathed by that same distinguished man, Thomas Braithwait, which may none the less (I believe) be identified.
Consolidated catalogue of 1695: The Book of the Vice-Chancellor (MacGregor, ed.) Praeter Numismata Rom superius explicata Idem Thomas Braithwait de Ambleside Armigeoctoginta septem alia donavit, usque. adeo exesa ac obliterata, ut de ijs vix aliqua probabilis æstimatio assignari possit. As well as the Roman coins listed above, the same Thomas Braithwait of Ambleside, Esq., gave eighty-seven others which are corroded or obliterated to the extent that they can scarcely be identified with any degree of probability.
Consolidated catalogue of 1695: The Book of the Vice-Chancellor (MacGregor, ed.) Idem Thomas Brathwait etiam sequentia contulit. The same Thomas Braithwait also contributed the following sequence.
Consolidated catalogue of 1695: The Book of the Junior Proctor (MacGregor, ed.) [Addendum 21] A Copy of a Letter from the Bishop of Lincoln to the Vice-Chancellor transcribed from the Original in the Cabinet of Coin/e\s at the Ashmolean Repository. Mr Vice-chancellor. This comes with my love & service to tell you, that an ingenious Gentleman in my country, one Mr Brathaite having a collection of ancient Coines, I told him many years since when I was keeper of Bodlies Library (an importunate beggar for that great Magazine of Books (Coines). That he might do well to give his coines to our Library, so they would be preserved nor was it possible that they cou'd anywhere be placed more for his honour & the publique Good. This Gentleman is dead, & by a deed under his hand & seal (which you will find in the Box) left them to me in trust for the University. A worthy Gentleman (Sr Daniel Fleminge a member of the house of Commons) brought them to me & told me that the Box & the Coines he brought me were the very same which were delivered him by the donor of them. I did not question it & have sent them to you unopened as they came to me. Mr Ashmole hearing of them came to me & told me that he had reason to hope that the University wou'd place them amongst his raritys & speakes of a condition or Covenant made between him & the University that what Raritys were given to the University (pro futuro) shou'd be placed amongst his. I doubt not but you will gratify him in this particular he having (which he shew'd me) many MSS & other things of good value which he intends for the University. I have no more to say save that I am Yr Affectionate Friend & Brother Tho: Lincoln.