Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2
1630-01-16
In his absence to Mr. Johnson
I purpose to see yow this next weeke att London if God permitt. In the meane tyme I intreate yow to reserue roome and passage in your shipps for 2 families, A carpenter and Bricklayer the most faithfull and dilligent workmen in all our partes, one of them hath putt of a good farme this weeke and sold all, and should be much dammaged and discouraged if he finds no place amongst yow. he transports himselfe att his owne charge. there is a paire of sawyers also specially Laborious, all of them will come to yow vpon monday or tuesday I pray lett them discerne your harty desire of their Company. And so I comitt yow to God. Yours in all Christian affection
W. 3. 10; 4
Collections
, VII. 23. Nathaniel Ward was born at Haverhill, Suffolk, in 1578, son of Reverend John and Susan Ward. He was admitted sizar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, April 15, 1596; B. A., 1599–1600; M. A., 1603. For some years he studied law and travelled on the Continent. He took orders in 1618; was chaplain to the British merchants at Elbing, 1620–24; curate of St. James's, Piccadilly, 1626–28; rector of Stondon Massey in Essex, of which Sir Nathaniel Rich was patron, 1628–33; suspended by Laud on account of his Puritan views in 1633. Emigrating to the Bay Colony, he became pastor of the Ipswich church in 1634. After retiring from his pastorate he drew up for the Colony the famous Massachusetts Body of Liberties, adopted in 1641. Another product of his residence in America was his imperishable satire, The Simple Cobler of Aggawam, published in 1647, after his return to England. He was rector of Shenfield, co. Essex, 1648–52, and died in October of the latter year.
D. N. B.
; John W. Dean, Memoir of Nathaniel Ward (1868); S. E. Morison, Builders of the Bay Colony (Boston, 1930).