Great is the interest attached to the name of Tradescant, and we believe
few articles in our journal have been perused with greater satisfaction
than those by MR. SINGER and other valued correspondents, which appeared
in our third volume (pp. 119. 286. 353. 391. 393.), illustrative of
their history. In the same volume (p. 469.) a correspondent, C. C. R.,
after quoting the following mutilated MS. note, written in pencil in a
copy of Dr. Ducarel's Tract on the subject, preserved among the books in
the Ashmolean Museum--
"Consult (with certainty of finding information concerning the
Tradescants) the Registers of--apham, Kent,"--
suggested that Meopham was the parish referred to, and that search
should be made there by some correspondent resident in that
neighbourhood. The hint was not, however, taken, and the matter dropped
for a time.
At the close of last year we received a communication from a learned and
much valued friend, now, alas! no more[2], telling us that Meopham _was_
the place referred to, and suggesting that we should get extracts from
the register for the information of our readers. Upon this hint we
acted; but our endeavours, for reasons to which we need not more
particularly refer, failed, and it was not until our attention was
recalled to the subject by the endeavour that is making, and we trust
successfully making, to procure subscriptions for restoring the
Tradescant Monument at Lambeth, that we applied to another friend
resident in the neighbourhood of Meopham for his assistance in the
business. That assistance was (as it has ever been) rendered most
cheerfully and most effectually; and we are now enabled to lay before
our readers and the Committee of the Tradescant Monument Restoration
Fund, the following evidence that John Tradescant the younger was a Man
of Kent. It is extracted from the baptismal register of Meopham.
[Footnote 2: That excellent man and ripe scholar, the Rev.
Lancelot Sharpe, who was one of the first, on the appearance of
"N. & Q.," to convey to us his good opinion of our paper, and to
prove it by giving us his communications. For particulars of his
life and literary labours, the reader is referred to the
_Gentleman's Magazine_ for January, 1852, p. 99.]
"1608 August the iiij daye John the sonne of John Tradescant was
baptised eodem die--"
Although we are not without hopes of receiving further information from
the same source, we could not refrain from bringing this new fact in the
history of the Tradescants at once before our readers.