Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

John Winthrop, Jr., to John Winthrop1

Winthrop, John, Jr. Winthrop, John

1627-01-15

To the Worshipfull his very loving father Mr. Winthrop at his house in Groton these deliver swift:

Most loving father,

my duty remembred to your selfe my mother and Grandmother with my love to my brothers and the rest of our freindes. The occation of my sending thus hastily is this, that wheras Mr. Lattimer one of the Atturnies of the Court of Wardes is yesterday dead so as now that place is void my vncle Downing willed me to give you speedy notice of it and desire you to come vp with all speed you can to London for the master is now out of towne and doth not returne till Saterday nexte and he would have you be here before his comming home that you might ride some way out of towne to meete him because he feareth that if it be not granted presently at his comming home, or before, the Kinges or Dukes letter may be a meanes to make it be disposed of some other way. therefore if you have a mind to it my vncle thinkes it will be your best course to be heare vpon friday at furthest and he will vse all the meanes he can to obteyne it for you and in the meane tyme if he can by any meanes he will write into the country to the master about it.2 Thus hoping to see you soone at London I desire your prayers and blessing and so rest Your Obedient Sonne

John Winthrop London Jan: 15º. 1626-27.

The Bearer hath promised to be with you by tomorrow at night. I agreed with him for 5 s. for the whole iournie whereof I have given him 2 already but if he performeth his promise I pray give him 5 or 6 more for it wilbe cheaper then I could have had any other

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Since the writing of my letter my vncle Downing himselfe hath writte

we are all well save little George3 who hath hadd one sore fitt of an ague

I think there is noe great hast of sending vp my Cozen Jeames4 so he be from Ipswich therfore I thinke it would be good to keepe him at Groton still this cold wether.

W. 1. 19; L. and L. , I. 214–215; 5 Collections , VIII. 3–4.

Haste was particularly important, because the next term, Hilary, began on January 22.

Afterwards Sir George Downing. See John Beresford, The Godfather of Downing Street (London, 1925).

James Downing, the son of Emmanuel Downing by his first wife, Anne Ware, and named after his grandfather, Sir James Ware of Dublin. He came to New England in 1640. Muskett, 99.

Margaret Winthrop to John Winthrop1

Winthrop, Margaret Winthrop, John

1627-02-13

To my very louinge Husband John Winthrope Esquire, these dd.

Most deare husband,

I did thinke to haue ritten no more to you, hopeinge to see you shortly, and yet I am so much indetted to you for your louinge and longe letters, that I must nedes rite a word or to to show my thankfullnesse and kind exceptance of them, allthoughe I can doe nothinge to equall them or to requit your loue, and so I thinke I had better doe a littell then not at all: that I may shew my willingnesse to doe it thouhe I am ashamed I can doe no better, and now I shall longe for that happy our when I shall see you and inioy my sweet and deare husband the lord send vs a comfortable meeteinge I am sory the wether is so bad I pray be as carefull as you can of takeinge colde. I send vp by John a pece of plate, and a turkey for my brother fones. I pray remember my loue to my brothers and sisters and my sonne John and thus with my dearest and best affections to my beloued husband desireinge the lord to send you a safe and prosperous iourney I commit you to the protection of almyty god who is onely able to keepe you. Your louinge and obedient wife

Margaret Winthrope February 13 1626–27.

I pray if you doe not think this peece of plate which I haue sent vp good enufe that you would make choyce of a better your selfe when you come home you shall haue it with a very good will.

W. Au. 25; L. and L. , I. 226–227; Twichell, 62–63; facsimile in Alice Morse Earle’s Margaret Winthrop.

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