A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2

153
Priscilla Fones to John Winthrop1
Fones, Priscilla Winthrop, John

1629-09

To the right Worshipfull her verie lovinge brother John Winthrop Esq. these be dd at his house in Groton.
My good brother,

I was kindly salluted with a letter from you which cam to my hands that day sennet I cam to Sutton,2 and was not a littel wellcom to me. I would gladly have returned you thankes for it before this time, but that I could not hear of any messenger to send by all the while I was at Sutton, which bred me much grife and troubel of mind in the midst of all my comforts, and more would have done had I not bin well perswaeded that your love would judge the best of me. My absence from you hath bin now much longer then I intended, my father being so loth to part with me; and truly it was no easie thing for me to part with such a father, having not bin with him in ten yeres before; but now throughe Gods goodnes I cam safly to London on Saterday last, whear I thankfuly recaived your loving letter, which did much refrech me after my weary jurny. I had a purpose then to have sene you this weke and did much reioyce in the hope I had of inioying your and my good sisters compeny, with my pore children whom I much long after; but before I could take my fill of these thoughts, that heavi nuse of your going for new England cam to me. How much grife it hath cost me 154I spare to relate at this time, but I see the Lord is about to take away my props that I may wholy rely upon himself. These nuse hath made me now to looke out for a house which I intended not before, and so my comming is defered till the next weke: in the meane time I earnestly crave your prayers, and so with the remembrance of my best love and affections to your selfe, my good sister, all yours and mine, I take my leave of you for this time and rest Your very loving sister

Pris. Fones. London, ca. September, 1629.

I would faine have written to my daughters, but time is very precious with me in London. I pray remember me to them both and to my maid whose care of my pore Mat I shall not forgit.

1.

Original lost; L. and L. , I. 359–360.

2.

Sutton Coldfield, co. Warwick, where John Burgess, father of Priscilla (Burgess | Sherman) Fones, was rector.