J. G. N.
In the London Medical Journal, vol. x. for the year 1789, art. vi., "A remarkable case of numerous births, with observations by Maxwell Garthmore, M.D., F.R.S. & S.A.: in a Letter to Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., P.R.S.," Dr. G. mentions an account given formerly in the Journal des Sçavans, by M. Seignette, physician at Rochelle, of a woman of Saintonge who was at one birth delivered of nine well-formed children so far advanced that their sexes could be discovered.
In the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. lii. p. 376., is a curious legend of a woman giving birth to 365 children at once: all the males were baptised and named John, and all the females Elizabeth. The mother and 365 children died the same day.
In the Morning Advertiser for Dec. 1, 1851, is an account of a woman at Ballygunge, near Calcutta, being delivered of twenty-one children at once, all boys.
Nov. 14th, 1736. A woman in Vere Street, of her thirty-fifth child, by one husband. (Gentleman's Magazine, vol. vi. p. 683.)
July 31st, 1781. At Kirton-le-Moor, in Cumberland, a man and his wife, and thirty children, the youngest of whom was between two and three years old, lately walked to church to the christening of the thirty-first child. (Gentleman's Magazine, vol. li. p. 388.)
Died at Grantham, Mrs. Lelly, a widow lady of that town. She was twice mother of twenty-two children. (Gentleman's Magazine, vol. lii. p. 309.)
Eighty-seven children by two wives: sixty-nine by first, eighteen by second. (Gentleman's Magazine, vol. liii. p. 753.)
Seventy-two children by two wives, and a mother of thirty-two children. (Gentleman's Magazine, vol. lix. pp. 733-4.) To which is appended the following note by the editor:
"The following epitaph, commemorating an instance of remarkable fecundity, is inserted by Mr. Pennant in his Journey to Snowdon: 'Here lyeth the body of Nicholas Hookes, of Conway, Gent., who was the forty-first child of his father, William Hookes, Esq., by Alice his wife, and the father of twenty-seven children, who died the 20th day of March, 1637.'"