Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

Note on the Diary

In the British Museum is a manuscript, Additional MS. 37,419, accompanied by the following letter explanatory of its passage into that institution:

To Dr. WARNER, Keeper of the MSS., British Museum.

11 Talbot Road, South Tottenham. LONDON, 3d October, 1906. Dear Sir,

—The late Mr. Robert C. Winthrop, Junr., of Boston, Massachusetts, a distinguished American, took a great interest in my work, “Suffolk Manorial Families,” and in the course of its publication entrusted me with the MS. Diary of his ancestor, Adam Winthrop of Groton, 1595–1610, to be printed, annotated, and edited by myself.

This annotation took a much longer time than either of us had anticipated. Searches had to be made at the Record Office, etc., for further materials, and I was much hindered by other engagements.

This being the case, Mr. Winthrop, thinking he might not live to see the Diary in print, and knowing that his son took no interest in these matters, wrote to me directing that if he died before I had done with the MS. it was to be given to the British Museum. . . .

The Diary is of great antiquarian interest. Numerous extracts have been printed at the end of the first volume of the “Life and Letters of John Winthrop, Governor of Massachusetts.” Wills and pedigrees of many of the persons named in it are given in the first volume of “Suffolk Manorial Families,” edited by myself. The earlier portion-of this volume was issued separately in America with a special preface by Mr. Winthrop, under the title of “Winthrop and Allied Families.” … Yours faithfully,

J. J. Muskett.

This volume reached the Museum in December, 1906, but without notes, memoranda, or additional material collected by Mr. Muskett. It may reasonably be concluded that he never found opportunity to begin editing the manuscript for publication, as intended by Mr. Winthrop, and no transcript even accompanied the volume. It is not known when the volume was sent to Mr. Muskett, but he certainly had it in his care for more than ten years. Mr. Muskett died on December 30, 1910, having made no progress in preparing the record for publication.

A full transcript was made at the instance of the Massachusetts Historical Society by Miss Lilian J. Redstone, well known for her knowledge of English records, for her skill in deciphering them, and for her specal interest in what pertains to Suffolk families and history. Her father, Mr. Vincent Burrough Redstone, equally well known for his services in discovering and making available Suffolk historical material, placed at the service of the Society his knowledge and the fruit of his researches, much of which is as yet unpublished. Nearly all the manuscript material utilized in the annotation of the Diary is from the collections of the Redstones. Where specific references are not given, it should be understood that the notes are based upon Mr. Redstone’s copy of the Groton Parish Register and his transcripts from the registers of the neighboring parishes. The Society takes pleasure in thus acknowledging its indebtedness to its English collaborators.

The volume contains fo. 1, vellum cover; fos. 2–69, the original book; fo. 70, vellum back cover of the same; fos. 71–78, loose sheets, which at some time have been folded to go into the book. As Miss Redstone points out, it probably at first belonged to Henry Browne, of Edwardstone, co. Suffolk, the father-in-law of Adam Winthrop. On the second folio is his signed reference to the Earthquake of 1580 and the writing—a Gothic hand—resembles that of the scriptural texts and religious or ethical reflections placed at the head of certain pages, which are plainly the first entries made in the book. These texts and reflections have been omitted as not by Adam Winthrop. Some of the Latin quotations are in an Italian hand similar to that used by Adam Winthrop. “While it is just possible that all the entries in Italian hand are Adam Winthrop’s, it seems more probable that Henry Browne also followed the custom of the day, in writing Latin quotations in such a hand.” The Diary entries are, however, Adam Winthrop’s, and he used two hands besides the Italian. “Most of the accounts and entries relating to local events are in a small current hand; many of his legal memoranda are in a bolder, Gothic hand (distinct, however, from Father Browne’s); and the two styles of writing sometimes run into one another.” A part of the memoranda on the loose sheets, including those relating to the estate of Thomas Fones and the provision for Margaret Winthrop, are in the hand of John Winthrop (1588–1649). It has not been thought expedient to attempt to indicate the different writings. A few partial entries on the covers, with no order in time or subject, have been omitted. Whatever may have a personal or a place value has been retained.

Many diarial items written by Adam Winthrop in Almanacs of 1603, 1614, 1617, 1620, and 1621 have been preserved and are printed at the appropriate places later in this volume. The long and exceedingly valuable accounts of the executions of Mary Queen 41of Scots and Sir Walter Raleigh which he copied into his commonplace book, apparently from contemporary manuscript sources, were printed in M. H. S., Proc. , XII. 285–287; XIII. 94–98.