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Auction: 22106 - Spink Numismatic e-Circular 18 - British and World Coins, Medals and Tokens - e-Auction
Lot: 1650

Cambridgeshire, Burwell, Oliver Harley (Haberdasher), Farthing, undated († 1684), in copper alloy, 6h, m.m. star (m.m.) OLLIVER • HARLIE, haberdasher's arms, rev. (m.m.) IN • BVRWELL, O H M in centre, stars beside (Babington -; Searle 1; Boyne & Williamson, 9; SCBI Norweb I, -; Dickinson, Cambs 9; Wratten [1996], pp. 342-43, and 414), clipped planchet with surface porosity otherwise very fine, very rare, the only known token from this village, and not found in the Norweb collection

Provenance
Purchased Alan Fordham, 1982


Oliver Harley was born in Burwell about the year 1625. It would appear from Church records that he fathered at least six children before his death in late August or early September 1684. He was assessed for three hearths as the rateable tax for 1674. The rural parish of Burwell became infamous some 50 years later when a terrible fire broke out in a barn at a village Puppet show on 8 September 1727 claiming at least 78 lives. Amongst the unfortunate victims were Oliver's probable (great) granddaughters Lydia and Anne Harley.


For further information, see David F. Wratten, 'The Harleys of Burwell and a Local Disaster', Token Corresponding Society Bulletin, Vol. 5, no. 9, September 1996, pp. 342-43, and Vol. 5, no. 11, pp. 414-21

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