It was employed in the Philosophical Transactions by the Dutch astronomer N. Cruquius; ÷ is found in Hübsch and Crusius. It was used very frequently as the symbol for subtraction and ``minus´´ in the Maandelykse Mathematische Liefbebbery, Purmerende (1754-69)
Yes I did, on page 243:
÷ could be a minus sign, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_sign?wprov=sfla1