A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

Forth Winthrop to John Winthrop, Jr.1
Winthrop, Forth Winthrop, John, Jr.

1626-12

To his louinge Brother Mr. John Winthrop at London giue these with speed.
Louinge Brother,

I will not stand to compliment if I could nether can I if I would: but this I say that howsoeuer you are occupied about serious affaires, and perhapps that is the reson I haue not heard from you of soe longe time, yet I know that as you are sure I doe not seldome remember your exceedinge loue, soe you doe not forgett my wonted affection: the truth is I should haue trobled you with my letters many times, but I knew not at which dore to knock, one while hearinge you weare at London, in which you weare as hard to be found of me as in a Labyrinth, for I doe nether know where my vncle Downinge kepeth, whom I wold haue wrot toe, nether did I remember the Sine of my vncles Foneses house: an other time at Groton whether once by Sir Caly and that latly my letters to you goinge came backe with a non est inventus, but my father writinge to me the place I send you in haste my hart and good wishes, with my loue in 338generall desiringe you to take the greatest branch of it your selfe, and soe distributing it after the manner of Logitians first the great boughes of my service to my vncle and aunt Downinge and all his Family, to my Valintine Mary Downinge, and soe prosedinge in the same manner to my vncles Fones house to my sister and cosens all: I haue noe newes for it is fast kept in prison I thinke in the City. Thus hopinge of your welfare, and to heare if leisure will permitt you from you I commit you to the protection of the Allmighty and rest your or not his owne

Forth Winthrop Cambridge, probably near the end of December, 1626. 2

I would entreat you to send me word of my Brothers Henry’s Iourney to the Indes what place he hath or how and with whome he goeth, for my father wrote to me that he was goinge: Farewell.

1.

W. 1. 19.

2.

The date is suggested by the reference in the postscript to Henry’s departure for the West Indies. The vessel, the William and John, commanded by Captain Henry Powell, sailed near the end of December, and reached Barbados on February 17, 1627, making the first settlement there. N. D. Davis, The Cavaliers and Roundheads of Barbados (Georgetown, British Guiana, 1887), 27–43; V. T. Harlow, A History of Barbados (Oxford, 1926), 1–15.