Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2
1630-11-29
I am sory I can not2 right to thee so cherefully as I should if god had not visited vs with this stroke of my sonnes death,3 the thoughts of him doe so take vp my minde, that I am not fit for other imployment. but it is the lord that hath done it, and we must submit to his will. I did not expect the ende of his dayse had bine so neere, if I had I would haue sent for you, to haue taken your last leaue of him. I thanke the lord he dyed very comfortablely, and was all the time of his sicknes very well affected, and did vse many good speaches to my selfe and others, that gaue vs assurance that he was the child of god, and that god had fitted him for him selfe, he told me the onely cause that he did desyre life for was that he mite gloryfy god, and spend those giufts which god had giuen him to better vse then formerly he had done, with many promyses that if god did spare his life he would neuer folloe the vanytyes of this world. the day before he dyed he sayd that sathan was busy with him to laye some sines to his charge, but the lord gaue him poure against him, so as he told me not many owres before his death, that his fayth was stedfast in god through Jesus Christ for his saluation. I wil not saye any more of him at this tyme, the lord giue vs grace to make good vse of this afflicktion. I receiued thy louing letter by my brother Goslinge and the things you sent this weeke, and I haue nothinge but my thanks to returne to thee. I blesse god for the good nuse from n: e: I send vp mr. Nuttall bond by this bearer. my mother Clopton4 would intreate you that if you sell your brothers land hir cosin Hubbart may helpe you with a chapman for it, or if you let it he desyres to hire some part of it. I thinke longe to heere of my sister Downings recouery. I pray remember my loue to them both, and all my cosins, and thus with my loue and blessinge to thy selfe, desyringe the Lord to keepe thee I rest Your assured louinge mother
this sad time hath made me I haue not spoke with mr. Le but I doe not forgette it but wil at conuenient time know what he will doe.
MS. “non.”
Forth Winthrop, born at Stambridge in Essex December 30, 1609, was buried at Groton November 28, 1630, yet lacking a few weeks of his majority.
Margery (Waldegrave) Clopton, mother of Thomasine Clopton, John Winthrop's second wife.