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

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John Winthrop (1606 - 1676)

Governor of Connecticut and the Royal Society's first colonial member. In 1670 he sent a parcel of forty-one curiosities to the Society (Tinniswood, 107). Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/29779?docPos=4 Other biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Winthrop_the_Younger Relevant locations: Workplace or place of business Connecticut, United States
 Relationships: John Winthrop was a member of Royal Society (-)

Adam Winthrop (-) was a nephew of John Winthrop
Linked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - A further Accompt of the Stellar Fish; formerly described in Numb. 57. p. 1153; with the Addition of some other Curiosities.
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - An extract of letter, written by John Winthrop Esq; Governour of Connecticut in New England, to the Publisher, concerning some natural curiosities of those parts, especially a very strange and very curiously contrived fish, sent for the repository of the R. Society.
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - The description, culture and use of maiz. communicated by Mr. Winthorp.
as Mentions or references - The Collector's Voice: Critical Readings in the Practice of Collecting. Volume 2. Early Voices.
as Mentions or references - The Royal Society and the Invention of Modern Science.
 References in Documents:
Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

THeThe DWARF-OAK. The Leaves shaped like those of the Ilex, but not prickly. It differs not in the hardness of the Wood or Boughs, from the common Oak; nor in the shape of the Acorns it bears; some whereof are also here preserved. Yet is it not above a yard in height. Sent hither by Mr. Winthrop, not long since Governour of Connecticut. In the Inland Parts of New England grow whole Forrests of this Oak.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

Several SPIKES or Heads of MAYZ or Indian-Wheat; with the Grains, as is not unusual, of three or four colours. The Description of the Plant, with a large Account of its Culture, and Use, were communicated by Mr. Winthrop sometime since Governour of Connecticut in New England: and by me lately published, in a succinct but full Relation, (b) (b) Phil. Trans. N. 142. with some alteration of the Method. The Plant grows to the height of six or eight feet; and is joynted like a Cane. 'Tis also full of a sweet juyce like that of the Sugar-Cane. On the Spike grow several strong thick Husks, which, before it is ripe, shut it close up round about. Thereby defending it, not only from all Weathers, but also the Ravine of Birds, to which, the Corn, while tender, is a sweet and enticing food.

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.
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669)
An Extract of a Letter, Written by John Winthrop Esq: Governour of Connecticut in New England, to the Publisher, concerning some Natural Curiosities of those parts, especially a very strange and very curiously contrived Fish, sent for the Repository of the R. Society.

I KnowI know not, whether I may recommend some of the productions of this Wilderness as rarities or novelties, but they are such as this place affords.

(1152)

There is, besides, in a large round Box, a strange kind of Fish, which was taken by a Fisherman, when he was fishing for Codfish in that Sea, which is without Massachuset Bay in N. England. It was living, when it was taken, which was done, I think, by an hook. The name of it I know not, nor can I write more particularly of it, because I could not yet speak with the Fisherman, who brought it from Sea. I have not seen the like. The Mouth is in the middle; and they say, that all the Arms, you see round about, were in motion, when it was first taken.

We omit the other particulars here, that we may reflect a little See Fig. I. upon this elaborate piece of Nature, the Fish, which,(1153) since it is yet nameless, we may call Piscis Echino-stellaris Visciformis; its Body (as was noted by M. Hook) resembling an Echinus or Egg-fish, the main Branches, a Star, and the dividing of the branches, the Plant Missel-toe. This Fish spreads itself from a Pentagonal Root, which incompasseth the Mouth (being in the middle at a) into 5 main Limbs or branches, each of which, Just at the issuing out from the Body sub-divides it self into two (as at I.) and each of those 10 branches do again (at 2.) divide into two parts, making 20. lesser branches: Each of which again, (at 3.) divide into 2. smaller branches, making in all, 40. These again (at 4.) into 80; and those (at 5.) into 160; and they (at 6.) into 320: they (at 7.) into 640; at 8, into 1280; at 9, into 2560; at 10, into 5120; at 11, into 10240; at 12, into 20480; at 13, into 40960; at 14, into 81920: beyond which, the farther expanding of the Fish could not be certainly trac'd, though possibly each of those 81920 small sprouts or threds, in which the branches of this Fish seem'd to terminate, might, if it could have been examined when living, have been found to subdivide yet farther. The Branches between the Joynts were not equally of a length, though for the most part pretty near: But those branches, which were on that side of the Joynt, on which the preceeding Joynt was placed, were always about a 4th or 5th part longer than those on the other side. Every of these branchings seemed to have, from the very mouth to the smallest twiggs or threds, in which it ended, a double chain or rank of pores, as appears by the Figure. The Body of the Fish was on the other side; and seemed to have been protuberant, much like an Echinus (Egg-Fish or Button-Fish) and, like that, divided into 5. ribbs or ridges, and each of these seemed to be kept out by two small bony ribbs.

In the Figure is represented fully and at length but one of the main branches, whence 'tis easy to imagine the rest, cut off at the 4th sub-dividing Branch, which was done to avoyd Confusion as well as too much labour and expence of time in the Engraving.

The Figure, well viewed and considered will be more instructive, than a larger Discourse thereon; though other particularities might have been mention'd, if the dryness, perplexedness and brittleness of the Fish had not hindred it.

Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669)
A further Accompt of the Stellar Fish; formerly described in Numb. 57. p. 1153; with the Addition of some other Curiosities.

THis AccomptThis accompt was communicated by the same Gentleman, that imparted the former, in a Letter written from Boston in New England Oct. 26.1670. as followeth: (2222) — Since my former, I found out the Fisher man, who brought that Stellar Fish from Sea. I asked all the questions I could think needful concerning it. I understood from him, that he never saw nor heard of any but those few, that were taken by himself, which were not above six or seven in all, and those at several times, not far from the Shoals of Nantucket (which is an Island upon the Coast of New England,) when he was fishing for Cod, and such like Marchantable fish. This Stellar Fish, when it was alive, and first pull'd out of the water, was like a basket, and had gathered it self round like a Wicker-basket, having taken fast hold upon that bait on the hook, which he had sunk down to the bottom to catch other Fish, and having held that within the surrounding brachia, would not let it go, though drawn up into the Vessel; until by lying a while on the Deck, it felt the want of its natural Element, and then voluntarily it extended it self into the flat round form, in which it appear'd when presented to your view.

What motion these fishes had in the water, could not be known to him, for the water was deep, & they could not be seen in any other form than so gather'd up together to hold fast the bait. The only use that could be discern'd of all that curious composure wherewith Nature had adorned it, seems to be, to make it as a pursenet to catch some other fish or any other thing fit for its food, and as a basket of store to keep some of it for future supply, or as a receptacle to preserve and defend the young ones of the same kind from fish of prey; if not to feed on them also (which appears probable the one or the other;) for that sometimes there were found pieces of Mackerel within that concave: And he told me, that once he caught one, which had within the hollow of its embracements a very small fish of the same kind, together with some piece or pieces of an other fish, which was judged to be of a Mackerel. And that small one ('tis like) was kept either for its preservation or for food to the greater; but being alive, it seems most likely it was there lodged for safety, except it were accidentally drawn within the net, toge (2223) ther with that piece of fish, upon which it might be then feeding.

He told me further, that every one of those smallest parts* *See the Figure of this Fish in Numb. 57.had motion when it was alive, and a tenacious strength; but after it was dead and extended to a flat round, it was so britle that it could not be handled without breaking some parts of it; but by careful laying of it to dry, it was thereby somewhat hardened.

He added, that he had taken one of this kind of fish the latter end of this Summer, but had left it with a friend at another port where he had been. Mean time he promised to procure it for me when he should fail thither again, if it were not then broken or defaces. I hope I shall engage him for the future to take better notice of what may be remarkable about it. Upon occasion I have inquired of divers other Fishermen and Mariners, but can meet with none other that ever have taken any of these fishes. This fisherman could not tell me of any name it hath, and 'tis in all likelihood yet nameless, being not commonly known as other Fish are. But, until a fitter English name be found for it, why may it not be called (in regard of what hath been before mentioned of it) a Basket-Fish, or a Net Fish, or a Purs-net-Fish?

I send you withal a litle Box, with a Curiosity in it, which perhaps will be counted a trifle, yet 'tis rarely to be met with even here. It is the curiously contrived Nest of a Humming-Bird** Of which see a notable Description in the History of the Antiles l.I. c.15. art.17. where it hath the name of Colibry., so call from the humming noise it maketh whil'st it flies. 'Tis an exceeding litle Bird, and only seen in Summer, and mostly in Gardens, flying from flower to flower, sucking Hony out of the flowers as a Bee doth; as it flieth not lighting on the * These Eggs were so small, that being weighed by the Publisher, the one weighed but about 5 grains, the other 3½: And the whole Nest weighed no more then 24 grains. flower, but hovering over it, sucking with its long Bill a sweet substance. There are in the same Nest two of that Birds Eggs*? Whether they use to have more at once, I know not. I never saw but one of those Nests before; and that (2224) was sent over formerly, with some other Rarities, but the Vessel miscarrying you received them not.

Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713) Several Spikes, or Heads of Mayz or Indian Wheat, most are about a Span long, and consist of 8 Rows, in each of which are usually above 30 Grains (i)(i) Id. N° 142. by Governour Winthorp. : But here is one that hath 47 in a Row yet remaining, but by the Sockets it appears to have had above 50.