Abraham de la Pryme
Encyclopedia
Abraham de la Pryme was an English
antiquary.
Abraham de la Pryme was born to Huguenot
parents, Matthias de la Pryme and Sarah Smague (or Smagge) at Hatfield in 1671. Despite his father's desire that he should attend the University of Glasgow
and then become a Presbyterian minister, de la Pryme insisted on attending the University of Cambridge
, becoming a pensioner
of St John's College
in 1690. Here de la Pryme devoted much of his time to natural history
, chemistry
, and magic
before receiving his BA
in 1693–1694.
He became curate
of Broughton
but resigned in 1696 with intention of writing a history of Hatfield: In 1698m he was appointed curate of Holy Trinity Church
, Hull
, and in 1701 he was appointed by the Duke of Devonshire
to the position of curate at Thorne. Whilst visiting the sick there he became ill and died in 1704. He was buried at Hatfield.
De la Pryme began keeping a diary—Ephemeris Vitae: A Diary of My Own Life—at the age of twelve and continued it until his death. This diary was published by the Surtees Society
in 1870. Whilst writing his history of Hatfield, de la Pryme began to correspond with Sir Hans Sloane
and the antiquary Thomas Gale
. Whilst at Hull he amassed material for a history of that city. Unfinished at his death, the two volume work was finally published in 1986. In 1701m he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society
, having communicated with the Society on topics as varied as archaeology
, natural history
, and meteorology
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
antiquary.
Abraham de la Pryme was born to Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
parents, Matthias de la Pryme and Sarah Smague (or Smagge) at Hatfield in 1671. Despite his father's desire that he should attend the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and then become a Presbyterian minister, de la Pryme insisted on attending the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, becoming a pensioner
Pensioner
In common parlance, a pensioner is a person who has retired, and now collects a pension. This is a term typically used in the United Kingdom and Australia where someone of pensionable age may also be referred to as an 'old age pensioner', or OAP. In the United States, the term retiree is more...
of St John's College
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
in 1690. Here de la Pryme devoted much of his time to natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
, chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, and magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
before receiving his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1693–1694.
He became curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of Broughton
Broughton, Lincolnshire
Broughton is a small town and civil parish situated on the Roman Ermine Street, in the North Lincolnshire district of Lincolnshire. England. The hamlet of Wressle is part of the parish....
but resigned in 1696 with intention of writing a history of Hatfield: In 1698m he was appointed curate of Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity Church, Hull
Holy Trinity Church is an Anglican parish church in the centre of Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.-History:It is the largest parish church in England when floor area is the measurement for comparison...
, Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, and in 1701 he was appointed by the Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire is a title in the peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the richest and most influential aristocratic families in England since the 16th century, and have been rivalled in political influence perhaps only...
to the position of curate at Thorne. Whilst visiting the sick there he became ill and died in 1704. He was buried at Hatfield.
De la Pryme began keeping a diary—Ephemeris Vitae: A Diary of My Own Life—at the age of twelve and continued it until his death. This diary was published by the Surtees Society
Surtees Society
The Surtees Society is a learned society based at Durham in northern England. The society was established on 27 May 1834 by James Raine, following the death of renowned County Durham antiquarian Robert Surtees...
in 1870. Whilst writing his history of Hatfield, de la Pryme began to correspond with Sir Hans Sloane
Hans Sloane
Sir Hans Sloane, 1st Baronet, PRS was an Ulster-Scot physician and collector, notable for bequeathing his collection to the British nation which became the foundation of the British Museum...
and the antiquary Thomas Gale
Thomas Gale
Thomas Gale was an English classical scholar, antiquarian and cleric.-Life:He was born at Scruton, Yorkshire...
. Whilst at Hull he amassed material for a history of that city. Unfinished at his death, the two volume work was finally published in 1986. In 1701m he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, having communicated with the Society on topics as varied as archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
, natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
, and meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
.
Works by Abraham de la Pryme
- 'A Letter from the Reverend Mr Abraham de la Pryme, to the Very Reverend Dr G. D. of Y. and F. R. S. concerning Some Roman Antiquities in Lincolnshire', Philosophical TransactionsPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal SocietyThe Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society is a scientific journal published by the Royal Society of London. It was established in 1665, making it the first journal in the world exclusively devoted to science, and it has remained in continuous publication ever since, making it the world's...
22 (1700): pp. 561–567
- 'A Letter of the Reverend Mr Abr. de la Pryme to the Publisher, concerning Broughton in Lincolnshire, with His Observations on the Shell-Fish Observed in the Quarries about That Place', Philosophical Transactions 22 (1700): pp. 677–687
- 'Part of a Letter from the Reverend Mr Abraham Dela Pryme to the Publisher, concerning Trees Found Under Ground in Hatfield Chace', Philosophical Transactions 22 (1700): pp. 980–992
- 'Extracts of Two Letters from the Reverend Mr Abraham de la Pryme, F. R. S, to the Publisher, concerning Subterraneous Trees, the Bitings of Mad Dogs, etc.', Philosophical Transactions 23 (1702): pp. 1073–1077
- 'Part of a Letter to the Publisher, from the Reverend Mr. Abr. de la Pryme, Giving an Account of Some Observations He Made concerning Vegetation', Philosophical Transactions 23 (1702): pp. 1214–1216
- 'Part of a Letter from the Reverend Mr Abraham de la Pryme, F. R. S. to the Publisher, concerning a Spout Observed by Him in Yorkshire', Philosophical Transactions 23 (1702): pp. 1243–1248
- 'Part of a Letter from the Reverend Mr Abraham de la Pryme F. R. S. to the Publisher, concerning a Spout Lately Observed by Him in Hatfield', Philosophical Transactions 23 (1702): pp. 1331–1332
- The diary of Abraham de la Pryme, the Yorkshire antiquary, Publications of the Surtees SocietySurtees SocietyThe Surtees Society is a learned society based at Durham in northern England. The society was established on 27 May 1834 by James Raine, following the death of renowned County Durham antiquarian Robert Surtees...
volume 54, Durham: Andrews and Company, 1870.
- A history of Kingston upon Hull. Hull: Kingston upon Hull City Council and Malet Lambert High School, 1986