Letter from Thomas Mason (rector of Colsterworth) to John Conduitt, dated 23 March 1726/7 Thomas Mason c. 453 words Newton Project London 2006 Newton Project, Imperial College

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 23 March 1726/7, in English, c. 458 words, 2 pp.

Thomas Mason was, at the time of writing, rector of Colsterworth, the village where Newton had been born. Laments Newton's death and supplies some information about his early years.

 2 pp.

in English

 Keynes Ms. 134, King's College, Cambridge, UK UKCambridgeKing's College Keynes Mss Keynes Ms. 134 SL217

Bought at the Sotheby sale by Maggs Brothers for £9 and sold to Keynes on 4 August 1936 for £15.

17

 23 March 1726/7 English Holograph Biography Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Tagged transcription by Rebekah Higgitt Checked against microfilm by John Young Coding audited and updated to Newton v2.0 DTD by Michael Hawkins Coding reviewed and updated to Newton v2.1 DTD by John Young Updated to Newton V3.0 (TEI P5 Schema) by Michael Hawkins Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins

To

Iohn Conduit EsqꝫEsquire

in Great George Street

Hanover Square

London

These

ꝑpresent

Good Sir!

This morning I rec'dreceived from you yethe Melancholy News of ytthat truly great & good Gentleman's Death Sr.Sir Is:Isaac NNewton: And I have according to yor.your desire made SrSir Isaac's Heir & Representative, who is yethe Bearer of ysthis, acquainted wth.with it, but God knows a poor Representative of so great a man, but ys.this is a case ytthat often happens. —– There are two Families of yethe Newton's in ys.this Parish, both descended from yethe 2'd & 3d Brother's of Sr.Sir Is:Isaac Newton's Father. – the 2'd Brother was Robert Newton from wm.whom yethe Bearer of ys.this Iohn Newton is descended, yethe 3d was Richard from wm.whom descends Robert Newton now living in ys.this Parish, so ytthat wthwithout dispute Iohn Newton yethe Bearer is Heir to yethe estate not devised by will. ——— Sr.Sir Isaac was born in yethe year 1642 as appears by or.our Parish Register. — Isaac yethe son of Isaac & Hannah Newton was baptized Ianu:Ianuary 1st 1642. – but I don't know yethe Day of his Birth. Neither do I exactly know how long yethe Mannour of Woolsthorpe has been in Sr.Sir Is:Isaac Newton's Family, but yethe first Newton ytthat I can find at Woolsthorpe was Robert Newton SrSir Is:Isaacs Grandfather, & him I take to be yethe first Lord thereof, but I may be mistaken. ——— InSrSir Isaac was educated at Grantham School under one Mr. Stokes, & yreforetherefore Dr. Stukely in his Itinerarium is guilty of two mistakes, one in saying ytthat He was born at Colsterworth & was Lord of ytthat Mannour, yethe other ytthat He was brought up under yethe famous Particle Walker who was Rectorour. of Colsterworth & kept here a private Gram̄mmar School, but Sr.Sir Isaac was at least 22 years old wn.when Mr. Walker was made Rectorour, so ytthat in all probability Sr.Sir Isaac was admitted in Trin:Trinity Coll:College before ytthat time. ——– This is all ytthat I at present can think of, but if you have any farther com̄mmands, they shall very readily be obeyed by

Worthy Sir

yor.your most obedient Humle.Humble SvantServant

Tho: Mason.

P.S: Sr.Sir Isaac Newton in yethe Days in yethe days of his Health & Prosperity used to talk pretty much ab'tabout founding & endowing a school in Woolsthorpe for yethe use of yethe Parish, as yethe Neighbors.Neighbours & his Relations inform me. – I my self never knew him but in his declining years, having been but six years Rectorour, but He used to talk wthwith me pretty much upon ytthat subject, tho' his dying wth.without a will leaves no room for any such hopes: —

Colsterworth March 23th. 17267