Othowell Meverall, M.D., was born in Derbyshire, and descended from an old family long settled in that county [He was the 2nd son of George Meverall of Throwly in Con. Stafford by his wife Constance dr of Ottewell (sic) Allen of Whetstone in Con. Derby. Harveian Soc. Vol.xvii in Visitation of London vol.II, p.98]. His early education was had at home, whence he was transferred to Christ’s college, Cambridge, and whilst there narrowly escaped being buried alive. The facts are stated at length by Hamey in his Bustorum aliquot Reliquiæ, and I append them in a note. (1) Having taken the first degree in arts, he passed over to Leyden, [on the 14th Feb 1613 being then 26 years of age he was entered on the physic line there and proceeded] and there proceeded doctor of medicine, 2nd October, 1613 [(D.M.J de Tabe) a copy of which is in the Middle Temple Library]. He was incorporated at Cambridge on his doctor’s degree 15th March, 1615-16, was admitted a Candidate of the College of Physicians 25th June, 1616, and a Fellow 21st April, 1618. He was Censor in 1624, 1626, 1627, 1632, 1637, 1638, 1639, 1640; was appointed Elect 8th February, 1638-9, Registrar, 1639, 1640; Anatomy Reader, 1628; President, 1641, 1642, 1643, 1644; Treasurer again in 1645; Consiliarius, 1645, 1646, 1647. Dr. Meverall died 13th July, 1648, aged 63, and was buried in the church of St. Lawrence Jewry. He bequeathed to the College, by will, the sum of 40l., and to each of his more intimate friends among the Fellows a gold ring, on which was engraved, “Medici morimur, medicina perennis”. (2)
William Munk
[(1) After recording Dr. Meverall’s death, and burial at St. Lawrence Jewry, he proceeds: “Condito jam excellentissimo viro nihil præter solenne illud ILICET, et postremum illud SALVE et VALE videatur dicendum; restat tamen inter hæc novissima novum quid, et notatu dignum, socio huic nostro, quadraginta minimum annos, a morte (ut credebatur) obitâ sepulturam hodiernam obtigisse. Tot ante lustra Cantabrigiæ, in collegio Christi, de Meverello conclamatum est; ibi grabato suo sublatum est cadaver, stratumque humi suæ paulo post sandapilæ tradendum; ibi pro more loci, ob liberatam ergastulo suo animam, actæ sunt Deo gratiæ, atque inter hos demum ritus, deploratus noster, sub instrata lodicula motare palpitando visus est; perculsis spectatoribus et tantum non exanimatis, qui hunc dudum animam egisse præproperè oficiosi judicaverant. Dixisse externa ope defectum, interna quadam virtute se ipsum suscitasse, in prævium faustumque omen alios olim suscitandi: et corpora cassa, fugitivis spiritibus revocatis, arte sua animandi.”
(2) “Dedit hunc nobis comitatus Darbiensis ubi Meverellorum nomen, multos ante annos, generosè audiit, et per connubia, equestribus familiis non semel innexum est. Noster antem, parentum curâ ac indolis bonitate, domum suum literarum gloriâ cumulavit. Cui rei tot annose, olim Cantabrigiæ; tot Leydæ in Batavis incubuit: undè anno hujus seculi decimo-tertio doctoratûs lauream, reportavit: octavoque supra decimum, perspecta morum probitate et pensitatô scientiô Doctorum Londinensium consultissimo ordini inscriptus est. Cujus ille deinceps decus auxit, columenque exstitit, ac tandem omnibus muneribus functus, summâ mentis æquabilitate desideratissimus reliquit. Et, velut in illo cætu habuit, qui Collegæ sui, quique amici excessum meritissimè dolerent: ita etiam in propria familia, qui avum, socerumque ac patrem, quæque maritum veris lachrymis ultra solennia luctûs imitamenta complorarent. Sic fuit noster Meverellus. Sic illum in recenti jactura quasi diluto lachrymis atramento utcunque adumbravimus.
Verumenimverò tam arctæ et diuturnæ amicitiæ non benè convenit cum tam exili rerum commemoratione. Ejusmodi amicum exprimere oportet, non obiter delineare: ejusmodi virum posteritatis interest nosse: nimirum, quàm sibi semper in rebus sacris constiterit: quàm semper habuerit purum animum insanientis omnis sapientiæ quàm non illi fuerit pro larva Religio, sed ad vitæ usum recte instituendum, et pro fine ipso bonorum sociorum etiam interest meminisse, cum in culpam, tum exemplum, quàm ille more honestum haberet, suas sibi apud ægros servare partes, suasque sacrorum mystis illibatas amandare: quàmque ex pietate, nihil aliud quæreret lucri, præter internnm æternumque. Et, ut requeat Ottevelli benevolentia in abactum Regem, conscio me, et consorte, sine periculo nominari: hic tame præ impietate non debet reticeri. Vos me securum præstabitis dilectissimæ musæi mei latebræ et temporum inclinatione poterit hoc factum olim celebrari: non sine honore defuncti ubi constiterit Collegam nostrum, nullô sacramento, nulloque honorario, vere Regium, succurrendo Regi fuisse medicum, nec sine gloria ipsius Artis ac emolmento Collegii: ubi ut totius nomine nihil hactenus peccatum aut novatum est: sic etiam sperandum, laudi aliquando fore, et lucro, quod cautè pretis direptionis necisque minis, non unus inter nos inventus sit imotæ erga justum Dominum fidelitatis, sub aliorum severè usurpata dominatione. Sic Deum, atque regem, divulso nulla novitate obsequio, coluit Meverellis.” – Bustorum aliquot Reliquiæ authore Baldvino Hamey M.D. ]
[Dr Meverall married Katherine dr of Richard Ironside of London. Vide Visitation ?]
[His will is at Somerset House (127 Epex) In it he mentions his daughter Sarah the wife of Dr. (Sir George) Ent.]