Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1Note: you've followed an index reference to a note that, due to changes between the print and digital editions, may no longer be on page 357. Please look at all notes at the end of the document or documents on page 357.

Henry Winthrop to Emmanuel Downing 1

Winthrop, Henry Downing, Emmanuel

1627-08-22

Most lovinge Vnkell

after my hartye commendationes remembred to your sellfe and to my Ante and Cussenes, thes are to let you vnderstand of my wellfare when I parted with you you did wishe me to keepe the see and to learne experyence in maryneres affayres, in which affayres I haue implyed my studdye and industrye by which studdey and industery I haue attayned to much vnderstandinge and judgement in that bissynese which knowlige I doe purpose god willinge to keepe by me and not forgit but this 3 yeres I doe not purpose to macke muche vse of for I doe intend god willinge to staye here one this Iland caled the Barbathes2 in the west indyes and here I and my servantes to joine in plantinge of tobaccoe which 3573 yeres I hope wilbe very profitable to me for my Captine does offer me and otheres a 100 li. a yere apeece for our labores besides our seruantes sheres we are to haue the benyfit of them and I doe intend to haue euerye yere sume 2 or 3 servantes over and to haue them bound to me for 3 yerres for so muche a yere sume 5 lbs or 6 lbs a yere and there allwayes to haue a plantatione of servantes for the Iland it is the plesantesste Ilande in all the weste Indyes very strong for any enymye interruptinge us with out any inhabytanse of any other people of other natyones saue Inglishe men saue a matter of 50 slaues of Indyenes and blacks we haue a crop of tobacco on the gronde and I hope with Godes blessinge the nex time I send for Inglyand to send ouer 500 or a Thousand weyght of tobackow. I woold pray you and if my father be not in towne to paye to Roberde Setone and Roberde Dixsone the berers here of the sume of 3 li. 10 for sertane goodes that I reseyued of them in the Indyes I praye bid them wellcom for they are my very good frendes and I haue bene much behoulldinge to them. Time will not suffer me to wright of the Cuntrey now but by my fatheres letteres you shall understand of it. Thus hopeinge that you doe remayne in hellthe you and youres craving your prayres I rest your lovinge Cosene

Henrye Winthrop from the barbathes in the west Indyes this 22 of August 1627

Vnkell I pray pay vnto Robert Dixson 12 s. more thenne the 3 li. 10 s. I pray paye it to them sellues in persone or ellse deliuer it all to mr. Sandes or Anete whoe haues my fatheres letteres

W. 1. 25; 5 Collections , VIII. 179–180. This letter, Henry Winthrop’s subsequent letter of October 15 (infra, p. 361), and his father’s letter to him of January 30, 1628–29, are reprinted by N. Darnell Davis in his book The Cavaliers and Roundheads of Barbados (Georgetown, British Guiana, 1887), 32–36.

On the settlement of Barbados, see the works of Davis and Harlow named above, p. 338, note 2 note 33 . Harlow in his sixth chapter traces in an interesting way the importance of the association of the Winthrop family and New England with the commerce of Barbados and the other islands of the West Indies.

Robert Ryece1 to John Winthrop2

Ryece, Robert Winthrop, John

1627-08-23

To the very Woorshipfull his moche respected good friende Mr. Wynthop geve these at Grotton

Woorshipfull Sir,

I am very lyke, the lorde assistinge, to be with you the nexte lordes daye, to performe in that behalfe what yee haue desyred.3 358I thanke you for your lettres and for your soonnes lettres4 which I heere retorned agayne; I sende you of France suche a mappe as I have The messenger hasteth his retorne which maketh mee breefe And so with remembrance of my beste respecte vnto you and vnto Mres. Wynthrop I take my leave and remayne Yours euer redely to his power

Robert Ryece Preston 23 of Auguste 1627 1.

Robert Ryece, of Preston, co. Suffolk, son of Robert Ryece, a justice of the peace, is said to have been educated for some years in the house of Theodore Beza, of Geneva, and returning to Preston became an antiquary of note. He married Mary (d. 1629), eldest daughter of Thomas Appleton, of Little Waldingfield. and died in 1638. I. A. Jewett, Memorial of Samuel Appleton, 71–72; Reyce, Suffolk in the XVIIth Century: The Breviary of Suffolk, 232. His will, dated February 7, 1637–38, is in Jewett’s Memorial, 73–82.

W. 2. 152; 4 Collections , VI. 391.

Winthrop’s son Samuel was baptized at Groton, 26 August, 1627. Ryece may have been invited to stand godfather.

John Winthrop, Jr., at this time serving in the Duke of Buckingham’s expedition to the Isle of Rhé.