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Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

Allestree’s Almanack, 1621.1
Winthrop, Adam (1548-1623)

1621

January 2. We dined at Groton hall.

4. The thursday sermon ceased at Boxforde.

7. A communion at Groton.

12. Mr. Gurdon2fel out of his coache in Boxforde streete.

15. The quarter sessions at Bury.

19. Job Grimwade3was hurt with a fal of his horse.

30. The parlement began.4

February 5. Rafe Candishe died, hauing 5 Jan: cutte his owne throte.5

7. Mr. Tindal and his wife came to Groton.

10. G. Winterfloud sen: died.

11. John Baker of Edwardstone died.

12. Mr. Wilmot came to Groton.

17. John Wallis died.6

19. 2 sunnes seene betwene 3 and 4. in the after noone.

March 1. We dined at goodman Coles.

4. Mris. Clopton and Eliz. her daughter 7 dined with vs.

5. Tho: Johnsons wife died.

12. We dined at Thomas Gostlins.

15. The assises at burye. Where Porter a minister was condemned for Sodomie.

18. Bluets, and Newtons daughters were babtised.

The Kings majesty wrote a most gracious letter to the Justice of this assise, in the behalfe of Mr. Faweather, for the punishinge of his false accusers.8

April 3. It rayned sore at night, and thundred.

11. Sir Robert Crane came to Groton.

14. my daughter Luce was here.

15. The Quarter Sessions at Bury. John Winthrop abijt.

18. Mr. Coe9 was arrested, and caried to prison.

258

25. The widowe Carter died.

28. Mr. Brag of Stratf ord dined with vs.

May 4. my son rode to London. barbam scidi.

6. Holdens son was baptised.

7. Adam Winthrop was weaned.

15. Mris. Warren deliuered of her 8. sonne.

24. Sir Henry Mildemay and his lady dined here.

28. John Bondes son babtised.

31. The Court Baron at Groton hal.

June 4. The Quarter Sessions at Bury.

5. The Parliament proroged til October.10

6. my son and his wife rode to Shrublande hall.11

7. Mr. Warrens son was babtised.

11. Mr. Bachelour the preacher dined with vs.

21. my son and his wife went to Stambrige in Essex.12

24. Mr. Dan: Rogers preached 2 sermons in Groton.

28. Richard Munning13 was maried at Hadley.

July 1. A communion at Groton.

18. Th’ assises at Burye. John Winthrop redijt.

20. John Coe retourned home.

21. I brused my shin.

22. W. Badcocke married Justine Stockin.

23. Mr. Sands fel of his horse.

24. Mr. Tindal and his wife were here.

25. Elias Prig and Jane Betts were married.

26. Mr. Stansby preached for Mr. Sands.

27. Mr. Knewstub14 was here.

29. Mr. Wilmot preched 2 Sermons.

30. my son rode to Shrubland hall.

31. Sir John Deane sent vs venison.

August 10. Dies natalis mei Adam Winthrop sen: 1548. aet. 73.

11. Roger Janinges was arrested.

14. My cosin Duke and his wife15 came to vs.

16. They of Castleins dined here.

20. Robert Goldstons daughter was borne.

21. John Miller and Susan Rawlin were maried.

22. Mr. Tindal sent a hanche of venison.

24. my hed was poled.

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259

26. my wife was sicke of the stone.

28. my son Fones16 was married at London.

29. my son and his wife rode to Maplested.

30. Mr. Egerton and his wife came to vs.

31. my Daughter Goslin was deliuered of her 4th daughter.17

The 20 of Aug: Eliz. Martins 2 Sheepe were put to pasture with John Rawlin. Then she came to dwel with vs.

September 2. There was seene in the skie a fearful sight.

4. Mr. Tindal and his wife were here.

6. John Goslin18 was married.

9. Mary Goslin was babtised.

14. my son and his wife ryd to Colchester. and Steuen fel into the fire and had no hurt.

18. L: Kedbyes19 wife was deliuered of a sonne.

19. my nevieu Carue Mild may 20 was here.

21. Joseph Kedby was babtised.

28. my son Fones and wife came to Groton.

30. Mr. Dan: Rogers preached at the Communion.

October 5. We dined at Mr. Sands.

6. Thomas Gale died of the smale pockes.

8. The quarter sessions at Bury.

10. Samuel Fones21 rid with his father to London, in raynie weather.

17. my wife had 2 of her great teeth pulled out.

25. my son rode towards London, but retourned.

27. My sunnes wife rode to Maplested.

28. We dined at the goodman Coles.

30. William Ponde22 was married to the Widowe Hauens.

November 1. Mr. Thomas Clopton23 preached in Groton.

260

11. The bote was finished.

12. my sonnes nurse being 76 yeres olde came to Groton, vnto him.

14. Mr. Parkhurst came thether.

15. Brampton Gurdon24 the third soonne of Mr. Brampton Gurdon died at London.

18. Beniamin Bronde25 the brother of Sir John Bronde died of the smale pockes.

20. The parlament began againe.

26. Rafe Aggas the creple died.

29. John Bluet and Joane Kinge were married.

December 3. I dreamed that Carew Mildmay was dead.

4. My sonne rode to Shrubland hal.

13. Mr. Paul Powle charged a chimny sweeper, with stealing of a siluer cup.

20. Thomas Goslins chymny flamed out.

21. Catherine26 the first daughter of Mr. William Clopton was borne in Linsey.

Astrologos inter si quis jam Laude meretur, Allestre est certe, vel puto nullus erat.27
1.

This almanac, like Pond’s for 1603, was given to Robert C. Winthrop by George Livermore. It contains the bookplate of Robert C. Winthrop, and his autograph with the date “1855.” Through the kindness of the present owner, Miss Clara B. Winthrop, it has been deposited in the Library of the Massachusetts Historical Society since 1924. The entries are by Adam Winthrop. Extracts have been printed in L. and L. , I. 438–439.

2.

Probably Brampton Gurdon. Cf. supra, p. 237.

3.

Brother-in-law to John Plumbe. H. F. Waters, Genealogical Gleanings, II. 1413.

4.

It had been summoned to meet at Westminster January 16, 1620–21, and was dissolved February 8, 1621–22. Parliamentary Papers, 1878, LXII, pt. 1, 450.

5.

Of the older branch of the Cavendish family, from whose younger branch comes the ducal line of Devonshire. “In the register of Cavendish co. Suffolk there is this notice: ’William Cavendish, son of Ralph Cavendish, gentleman, baptized 1612.’” Thomas Ruggles, “Notices of the Manor of Cavendish and of the Cavendish Family,” Archaeologia, XI. 60 (1808). Cf. Francis Bickley, The Cavendish Family (London, 1911), 10.

6.

Probably the man who came to live with Adam Winthrop and left in 1604. Supra, p. 87.

7.

Margery (Waldegrave) Clopton and Elizabeth, who married George Cocke, of Ipswich, co. Suffolk. Muskett, 144.

8.

Entered at the foot of the page, but must refer to the 15th and following days.

9.

Probably John Coe of Tomblyns. Supra, pp. 79, 80.

10.

It was dissolved February 8, 1621–22, and two years passed before a new Parliament assembled. Parliamentary Papers, 1878, LXII, pt. 1, 450, 456.

11.

The seat of the Bacon family in Barham, a parish in the hundred of Bosmere and Claydon, co. Suffolk. The holder at this time was Nicholas Bacon (1589–1658), a grandson of Sir Nicholas Bacon (1509–79), Lord Keeper. Venn, A. C. , I. 65.

12.

The residence of the Forths.

13.

Son of Rev. Humphrey Munning, and grand-nephew of Adam Winthrop. Muskett, 107.

14.

John Knewstub. Supra, p. 67, note 12 note 19 .

15.

John and Anne (Snelling) Duke. Muskett, 82.

16.

His first wife, Anne Winthrop, died May 16, 1619, and he took for a second wife Priscilla, daughter of John Burgess, the Puritan clergyman, rector of Sutton Coldfield, co. Warwick. D. N. B. , VII. 310–312. In that authority three daughters of Burgess are mentioned, but without names. One married Rev. William Ames, a second, William Hill, and the third “a certain Mr. Sherman, of whom nothing is known.” This third daughter, Priscilla, was widow of Bezaleel Sherman of Ipswich (d. 1618), and her daughter, Ursula Sherman, was later betrothed to Forth Winthrop. P. C. C., 125 Meade; Muskett, 87.

17.

Mary Gostlin, who died before 1649. Muskett, 95.

18.

Son of Philip and Alice Gostlin, baptized April 2, 1592. Muskett, 95. The name of his wife is not given.

19.

Lewis Kedby, son of Lewis and Jane Kedbie, married Susan Doggett of Groton before 1619. Muskett, 339, 344. She was daughter of John Doggett of Groton, clothier, and cousin of Susan Doggett, named on p. 218, supra, who was daughter of William Doggett of Boxford, gent.

20.

Son of William and Margaret (Harvey) Mildmay, of Moulsham, co. Essex. He was born 1596, admitted at the Inner Temple in 1616, and was a member of Parliament 1654–58. He died 1676. Venn, A. C. , III. 187.

21.

Son of Thomas and Anne (Winthrop) Fones, born in 1616–17. Supra, p. 216.

22.

Judith, his first wife, had been dead just over a year. Supra, p. 246.

23.

(1593–1663). Son of William Clopton and rector of Ramsden Bellhouse, co. Essex, 1616–63, in which year he died. Venn, A. C. , I. 357.

24.

He was eleven years old in the visitation of 1612. W. C. Metcalfe, Visitations of Suffolk, 142.

25.

Baptized June 7, 1582, son of John and Anne (Bromwell) Brond of Boxford. Boxford Register; Visitation of Suffolk, 1664–1668 (H. S., Pub. , LXI), 164; 3 Collections , X. 154–155. He married Elizabeth Cutler at Ipswich, September 30, 1606. Supra, p. 93; Visitation of Suffolk, 163. He was lord of the manor of Edwardstone. Supra, pp. 82, 99; Barker, West Suffolk, 129. For his coat of arms, confirmed March 10, 1612–13, see Miscellaneous Grants of Arms, I (H. S., Pub. , LXXVI), 40–41.

26.

Not mentioned in the Clopton pedigree by name, but may be the daughter who married—Wakeman of Garboldsham, co. Norfolk, clerk. Muskett, 144.

27.

Entered on the title of the “Prognostication.”

John Winthrop to Margaret Winthrop1
Winthrop, John Winthrop, Margaret

1620-01-23

To my verye lovinge wife Mrs. Winthrop at Groton in Suffolk dd
My truely beloved and deare wife,

I salute thee heartylye, givinge thankes to God who bestowed thee vpon me, and hath continued thee vnto me, the cheifest of all Comfortes vnder the hope of Salvation, which hope cannot be valued: I pray God that these earthly blessinges of mariage, healthe freindshipe etc may increase our estimation of our better and onely ever duringe happinesse in heaven, and may quicken vp our appetite therevnto accordinge to the worth thereof: O my sweet Wife, let vs rather hearken to the Advise of our lovinge Lord who calles vpon vs, first to seeke the kingdom of God, and tells vs, that one thinge is needfull, and so as without it the gaine of the whole world is nothinge: rather then to looke 261at the frothye wisdome of this worlde and the foolishnesse of suche examples as propounde outwarde prosperitye for true felicitye, God keepe vs that we never swallowe this baite of Sathan: but let us looke vnto the worde of God and cleave fast vnto it, and so shall we be safe.

I knowe you have heard before this of my comming to London: I thank God, we had a prosperous iournye, and found all well where we came: I doubt not but thy desire wilbe now to heare of my returne, which (to deale truely with thee) I feare will not be vntill the middest of next weeke: for the Parliament is putt off for a weeke; and I have many freindes to visit in a shorte tyme: but my heart is allready with thee and thy little lambes, so as I will hasten home with what convenient speed I may: In the meane tyme, I will not be vnmindfull of you all: but commend you dayly to the blessinge and protection of our heavenly father.

The newes from Bohemia is very badd, as that there is a generall defection from the Kinge of Bohemia etc: Secretary Nanton2 is commanded to keepe his howse: The Kinge is gone to Theoballs and many wilbe Idle vntill he returne.

Remember my dutye to my father and mother, my love to Mr. Sandes and all the rest of my true freindes that shall ask of me, and my blessing to our children; and so giving thee commission to conceive more of my Love then I can write, I rest, Thy faythfull husband

John Winthrop. my brother salutes you all. Jan: 23: 1620–21.

My brother Tindall and my sister wilbe at Groton before Lente (if God will) there would be some fowles provided and some Ale etc.

1.

W. 1. 3; L. and L. , I. 159–160; Twichell, 43–45.

2.

Sir Robert Naunton (1563–1635) was suspended from his office of Secretary of State and confined to his chamber about January 19, 1621. “His misfortune rises from his delivering to the King a letter from Baron Achatius de Dona ambassador of the King of Bohemia, which displeased his Majesty.” He was restored to office, but resigned in January, 1623, only to be appointed, in July of that year, to the lucrative office of Master of the Court of Wards. D. N. B. , XL. 126–129; Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1619–1623, 215, 218.