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

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Sir William Thornton, Sir ( - fl. 1706)

Alias Guil. Thornton

Knight Visitor
Relevant locations: Residence at Kirk Deighton, Yorkshire
Relationships: Sir William Thornton was a donor to Ralph Thoresby (1658-1725)
Sir William Thornton was a visitor to the collection of Ralph Thoresby (1658-1725)

Linked manuscript items: as Mentioned or referenced by - "[Guest Book to Thoresby's Museum]," Yorkshire Archaeological Society MS27, 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)

A young Saw-Fish, above a Yard long besides the Saw, which is more than a Foot; the Head is very flat, the Saw armed on each Side with 24 Spikes. The Saw or spiked Snout of another, which is above two Foot long, hath 28 Spikes on one Side, and 29 on the other: But the largest was sent me by Sir William Thornton; it is seven Inches above a Yard in Length, and more than half a Foot in Breadth at the Basis; the Fish, to which this Yard belonged, was above five Yards long.

Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

THEThe Broad-lip'd Wilk 13 Inches long, the left Lip so spread and undulated, that it is above half a Yard in Circumference. The Spiked Wilk (Murex Aculeatus) near a Foot long; the Whirl consists of eight Rounds with Spikes gradually less. Another as large from Sir William Thornton, and three of different Sizes (of which one is a Foot and half round) from Mr. Molineux of Dublin. A Wilk with both the Lips deeply wrinkled and furrowed; and the Right Lip so expanded, that it is as broad as long, and in Circumference more than double, viz. 13 Inches: The Turban is compressed and the Body of the Shell so convex, that it is four Inches high though little more than five in Length. The Benefactor last mentioned sent me also a remarkable Wilk, that hath on one Side six large Spikes, or Feet, as they are called in the Murex Carocoides, and one at the End; from whence to the End of the Whirl, which is knobbed above half a Foot, one of the Spikes is an Inch and half long. The Square Wilk or Buccina Romboidea: It is spiked, and hath also a Canale or guttered Horn about an Inch long, which is half the Length of the whole Shell. A very pretty spiked Wilk of seven Rounds, four Inches in Length.

A Catalogue of the Naturall and Artificial Curiositys in my slender Musaeum at Leedes Ano. 1708 the shels of a Tortoise curiously chequerd by Sr. Wm. Thornton Bart.
A Catalogue of the Naturall and Artificial Curiositys in my slender Musaeum at Leedes Ano. 1708 a larg Saw 3 f: 7 inches long (yet but 27 spikes on one side) above ½ foot broad at ye head Sr. Wm. Thornton
A Catalogue of the Naturall and Artificial Curiositys in my slender Musaeum at Leedes Ano. 1708 Oviperous Fishes The Globe-fish or water Hedge-hog, surrounded with sharp spikes Mr Wm. Franceys Aldrm Derby The Sea-Porcupine it wants the head yet is 14 inches long Mrs. [...] of Liverpool a Gurnat, anothr from Sr Wm. Thornton a Scorpion Fish
Ralph Thoresby's guestbook of visitors to his museum (Yorkshire Archaeological Society MS27)
Veni, vidi, mirrormiror.[*] I came, I saw, I was amazed." 27th Sept.b 1706 Will:William Thornton[*] ornamentation at the end of his name Kn.tKnight of Kirk-Deighton