A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Winthrop Family Papers

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

232
Anne Fones to John Winthrop1
Fones, Anne Winthrop, John

1619

 Before 1619. good brother

I doe most ioyfullie and desirdly intertaine your kind and christian letters most hartelie thancking you for them but indeed I must confesse my backwardnesse to this dutie might giue you iust cause to suspect my loue both in regard of the naturall and spirituall band if you shall iudge according to the outward appearance which I trust you will not for the truth is I am so vnfit for it that it doth much discourage mee in it and it doth much trouble mee to thincke of the long time great meanes etc. and the litle increase that comes of it and further, I know the fault is in my selfe for god is faithfull in all his promises there is no want in him eyther of will to giue or power to performe he hath left vs so easie and so excellent a way to come to him by prayer euen the same which our lord in the daies of his flesh vsed and therfore good brother as I know I am behoulding to you for this benifit so I pray let me bee still and euen in this that it would please him to make the meanes effectuall for my grouth in grace that as the seed is sowne soe the deuw coming from heauen may fall vpon it to make it fruitfull I pray comend my kind loue to my sister with thanckes for hir token whose loue I know not how to requite with thanckes to you both for my husbands kind intertainment which I would be very glad to repay to you both heere at London if it might be but I trust it shall heerafter though not now your euer louing sister

Anne Fones 1.

W. Au. 43.
Extract from Sir John Brond’s Extent, 16191
Brond, John

1619-02-20

Valor sive Extentus Annui valoris omnium et singulorum mesuagiorum terrarum tenementorum et ceterorum hereditamentorum quorumcumque que nuper fuerunt Johannis Brond2 nuper de Boxford etc.

the office was founde3 at Bury St. Edmunds 19 martij 8 Ja: and the heire Sir John Brond4 knight sued out his ouster le maine5 the 20th of Feb: 16 Ja:

Com: Suff:

intered in q: I: C. fol: 272.

233

Vnum mesuagium sive tenementum cum pertinentibus in Polsted in Comitatu predicto ac diverse pecie terre prati pascuae et Boscorum cum pertinentibus eidem mesuagio spectantes in Polsted predicto nuper perquisita de Oliverio Dixon et aliis modo in tenura Annanie Todd. Tenentur de Johanne Domino Hunsden6 vt de honore suo de Raleigh7 per servicium mili-tare et valent per annum iij li.

Manerium Capitale mesuagium sive tenementum vocatum Nusted Hall8 cum pertinentibus in Polsted et Boxford ac diverse pecie terre prati pascuae et Bosci eidem spectantes cum pertinentibus in B, et P: predictis et Assington in dicto Comitatu nuper perquisita de Johanne Gage9 modo in tenura Willelmi Gage. Tenentur de Dicto domino Rege vt de Hundredo suo de Babergh in libero socagio per fidelitatem scilicet ad Hundredum predictum ac Reditum vnius oboli vocati warde siluer10 per annum et valent per annum iij li.

This is taken out of Sir John Brondes extent and testified to be a true copie by John Potter and Ralfe Freston.

Indorsed by Thomas Fones: “The tenure of my Land taken by my Brother Winthrop.”

 1.

W. 7A. 4. In the hand of John Winthrop.

 2.

John Brond, clothier, died May 18, 1610. Supra, p. 105.

 3.

On the inquisition of office see Blackstone, Commentaries (1769), III. 258–259.

 4.

See infra, p. 260, with note.

 5.

“When the male heir arrived to the age of twenty one, or the heir-female to that of sixteen, they might sue out their livery or ousterlemain; that is, the delivery of their lands out of their guardian’s hands.” Blackstone, Commentaries, II. 68.

 6.

John Carey, third Baron Hunsdon, who succeeded to the barony in 1603 and died in 1617. Thomas Wright, History of Essex, II. 596; Collins, Peerage of England, ed. Brydges, IX. 419.

 7.

On the manor and honor of Raleigh or Rayleigh, co. Essex, see Wright, History of Essex, II. 595–596.

 8.

On Newstead Hall Manor see W. A. Copinger, The Manors of Suffolk, I. 182. From Sir John Brond the manor passed to Thomas Fones, and on his death in 1629 to his son and heir Samuel Fones. See inquisition on the death of Thomas Fones: Muskett, 83–84.

 9.

Cf. Copinger, loc. cit., note 4. John Gage of Polsted was assessed at four pounds in lands for the subsidy of 1568. S. H. A. Hervey, Suffolk in 1568 (Suffolk Green Books, XII), 7.

 10.

“Ward-silver, a payment to the lord in commutation of military service.” N. E. D. The obolus equalled two farthings.