The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
George Purefoy ( - fl. 1656)
Hearne notes at the end of his Liber Niger Scaccarii that "Mr. Purefoy of Wadley hath a MS of Leland lent to his son Hals of Coventry." Hearne's editor identifies this Purefoy as George and "Hals" as his son Henry (p. 264, n. 2). Relevant locations: Residence at Wadley, FaringdonRelationships: George Purefoy was a father of Henry Purefoy (1656-17 Aug 1686)
Linked print sources: as Mentions or references - Life and Times of Anthony Wood.
References in Documents:
ofPetrification,
enumerated in the last of thesePapers.
This Instance was some while since communicated
to the by that Ingenious Gentleman
a worthy Member of that
Body, in these words;
Purefoy
call'd Wadley, a mile from
Farrington in Berks,
there grows an Elme, which hath now lost the top,
and is grown hollow, containing neer a Tun of
Timber. From the But of the same Tree, one
of the spreading Clawes having been formerly cut off with an
Axe; that part of the But, from whence the same was sever'd,
being about 1 1/2 foot above ground, and inward within the trunk
thickness of shilling, all over the woody part Within the Bark;
the Marks of the Axe also remaining very conspicuous, with this
petrified crust upon it. By what means it should thus happen,
cannot well be conceived, in regard there is no water neer it;
the part, above the ground and out of the weather; the Tree
yet growing: unless being cut at some season, when the sap was
flowing, the owsing of the sap might become petrified by the
Air, and the Tree grow rotten and hollow inward since that
time; which how long since, is not known.
Account, to the said