The Preston-Morley Buckinghamshire Collection: Tokens

17th Century, Newport Pagnell, John Thornton, Farthing, thorn bush, 0.59g/12h (Berry & Morley 137; SCBI Norweb 325, same dies; BW. 105A). Only fair but detail clear, very rare (£60-80)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Preston-Morley Buckinghamshire Collection: Tokens.

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Provenance:
Bt Spink February 1977.

John Thornton (†November 1680), merchant of small wares, also Quaker; his first wife’s name was Elizabeth (†December 1662); he married secondly Susanna Arnott, April 1664 (†October 1691). Thornton was imprisoned at Aylesbury gaol twice for his religious beliefs, firstly for 15 weeks in 1660 and then for three months in 1664. Sold with a copy of the article ‘John Thornton of Newport – A Proposed Re-Attribution,’ by Peter Morley (SCMB September-October 1974), which includes much further background information