Thomas Martin: Scientific commonplace book

Scope and Content

Thomas Martin (1697-1771), antiquary, 'Honest Tom Martin of Palgrave', Suffolk, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and member of Spalding Gentlemen's Society. Financial worries eventually forced him to sell many of his books and some manuscripts to Thomas Payne, 1769. A catalogue of his remaining books was printed in 1771. For the dispersal of his manuscripts, see the DNB. His house at Palgrave was demolished in 1860. S. Wilton Rix, a later owner, observes in the book that it is not in Martin's hand. —1 volume, from front 117 fos., notes on scientific terms, mathematics, natural pheno- mena; from back 51 fos., quotations and aphorisms illustrating words. With letters, W. ALDIS WRIGHT to SAMUEL WILTON RIX, 28 FEB 1861, about whether name on front edge of volume is Sir James Burrough, and RIX to GEORGE ATKINS, 14 DEC 1860, giving him commonplace book from Muskett's collection. Bookplate of William Carr: 'Bought at S.W. Rix's sale at Beccles Oct 9. 1894 — see his note'. Note that book was given to Rix by the executor of Benjamin Muskett of Diss.

Access Information

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Acquisition Information

Purchased 1997

Other Finding Aids

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.