A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

Margaret Winthrop to John Winthrop1
Winthrop, Margaret Winthrop, John

1627-04-17

Most deare and louinge Husban,

I receued your most kinde and comforttable letters and the things you sent, for which I hartyly thanke you. I prayse god for the continuanc of your helth and all the rest of our frends. I am glad to heare that my sonne Henrys voyage2 is like to be for his good. I pray god goe out with him and send him a safe returne that wee may haue cause to blesse god for him. my good husban I thanke you for putinge me in minde to be chereful and to pvt my trust in my good god who hath neuer fayled me in time of nede. I beshech him to continue his mercy stil to me and grant that my sinnes may not prouoke his anger against me, for he is a gust god and will punnish offenders. the lord giue me grace to make my peace with him in Jesus Christ our lord and onely sauiour who siteth at the right hand of god a mediator for vs. I did send mr. weny the little boxe vppon wensday night but he sayd it came to late he should haue had it in the morning. I haue not yet receued any monye to paye Gage but as soune as i haue I will paye him. Chot was with me for monye and had a little I knewe not his want, and thaught I had better let him haue sume then driue him to steal and offend god. my mother will come vp the next weake if the wether be any thinnge warme or elce not and bringe little Luse and James3 she sayth that she shall vse your horses, and so my brother Jennye4 can not haue any she sayth that John shall nede goe 346no further then witham for ther she will meete Ipswich coch. I pray tell my good sonne John that I thanke him for my Booke and for my boyes tokens, and thus with my mothers and my owne true loue remembred to you all in the best maner we can expresse and so intreating you to be mindfull of me and myne in your prayers I commit you to the lord our good god and rest Your obedient wife all ways

Margaret Winthrope Apuril 17. 1627

heare was with me Thomas axden Archisden and brought a letter from Forth which I send you he did aske me if you sayd nothinge to me about his tutors qarterage and I tolde him I would right to you about it; he came ouer to see Thomas Caleue and is returned back againe.

wee are all heare in helth I prayse god my brother Goslinge and sister remember thear loue to you all he cometh vp with my mother.

1.

W. Au. 28; L. and L. , I. 228–229; Twichell, 64–66.

2.

To Barbados.

3.

Lucy and James Downing.

4.

George Jenney, of London, married Mary (b. 1588), daughter of William and Margery (Waldegrave) Clopton of Groton, and sister of Thomasine (Clopton) Winthrop. Muskett, 144.

William and Elizabeth Leigh to John Winthrop1
Leigh, William Leigh, Elizabeth Winthrop, John

1627-04-24

To the Worshipfull his louing and kind patron, Mr. John Winthropp, giue these, in London.
From Groton Aprill 24. 1627 Good Sir,

it is now come to passe . through . godes . good . Prouidence, and your loue that my little familie is now with you, in your house, well and comfortablie seated, and placed: to our true contentment; aboue what I could haue desired: soe that ther is nothing wanting to vs wee could wish for; but onelie this, that wee maye haue hartes fitted to blesse god for these mercies, and to improue them well, in his seruice, and to our mutuall comfort in this our cohabitation. Wee came to Groton on Thursdaye night last, by the help of your Brother Thomas Goslin, louingly lending vs his Cart, for the Carridg of our stuff, (which wee could not soe sayfelie leaue behind vs att Denston, as I thought wee might haue done), as also his companie together with my Vnckle Newton,2 and goodman Golston for our more comfortable conduct, soe that now wee are here with all that wee haue, 347our things being soe well disposed of, as I hope are not for too great in­cumbrance to your house, but I am sure to great sayftie to that little wee haue, through gods blessing vpon vs. For the which contentment and sayftie to our selues and whole estate, as wee desire aboue all to blesse god as the onelie true procurer of it, so wee also vnder him desire to acknowledge your loue and kindnes (on our partes euerie waye vndeserued) to be a most helpfull furtherance to vs in it, in regard of which loue of yours wee haue nothing to giue, or promiss, saue onelie this, that wee desire to confesse that you haue had a great care of our good and welfare. The Lord himselfe giue you to find the comfort of this your worke of loue vnto vs.

It greiueth me that I haue not as yet sent your letter and token to your son att Cambridge true I was made forgettfull of it by diuersitie of imploymentes but they shalbe deliuered him sayfe as this daye by my brother Newton,3 who is now gone to Cambridge after he had first come with vs to Groton.

Thus with mine owne and my wiues kind remembrance and commendations to your selfe and to mr. John your Son intreating god for his blessing in your imployments and for your healthfull returne vpon your businesses finished wee rest your louing freinds

William, Elizabeth Leigh.
1.

W. 4. 63; 5 Collections , I. 177–179. In this and Leigh’s later letter (printed infra, p. 395) it has not seemed necessary—except in the first line as a sample—to reproduce his semi-inscriptional style of punctuating by placing dots resembling Greek colons after a large proportion of the words.

2.

Charles Newton, who had married Susan Gostlin. Supra, pp. 77, note 9 note 2 , 328.

3.

Charles Newton the younger. Supra, p. 274, note 4 note 14 .