Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2

180

William Ames to John Winthrop1

Ames, William Winthrop, John

1629-12-29

To my honorable Friend, Mr. John Wintrop, with his associates for new England.

Honorable Sirs,

My dayly prayers unto God, shall bee for the good successe of the buisines yow have undertaken. And for my self, I longe to bee with yow, though I doe not see how I should satisfie the opinion and exspectation which yow have conceyved of mee.

I purpose therfor (God willing, and sending no hinderance beside what I yet know of) to come into England in sommer, and (upon the news of your safe arrivall, with good hope of prosperitie) to take the first convenient occasion of following after yow. Concerning the directions yow mention, I have nothing to write: as being ignorant of special difficulties; and supposing the general care of safetie, libertie, unitie, with puritie, to bee in all your mindes and desires. If upon further information, any thing come in my minde, I shall bee ready to communicate the same with yow.

Thus with presentation of all offices in my power, I rest Yours, W. Ames. Franek. Dec. 29. 1629 1.

W. 2. 185; 4 Collections , VI. 576–577. The writer was the Reverend William Ames, at this time professor of theology and rector of the University of Franeker in the Netherlands. He died at Rotterdam in 1633. His widow—not Priscilla Fones's sister, but his second wife, Joan (Fletcher)—came to New England in 1637 with her three children, one of whom, William, graduated from Harvard College in 1645. See Vol. I. 96, note 20 97, note 9 , and Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, XIV. 63–66; XXV. 59–83.

Particulars of the Manor of Groton1

Winthrop, John

1629

The manor of Groton

The Capitall mesuage with the Orchyardes dove house2 and certaine parcells of the Glebe land in lease for years containing in all about 125 acres worth per annum 20 li.	400 li
Thirty foure acres of land meadow and pasture occupied with the said mansion house worth per annum 26 li.	460 li.
The Howfeildes containing about 30: acres at 12 li. per annum	220 li.
181
The Hop meadow containing about 8: acres with the pond and a tenement worth per annum x li.	200 li.
A mesuage and about 30: acres in the occupation of John Rawlin worth per annum xvj li.	320 li.
A mesuage and about 28: acres in the occupation of Henry Surge worth per annum 13 li. vj s. 8 d.	300 li.
A mesuage and about 70: acres in the occupation of Robert Goldston worth per annum 30 li	560 li.
Wood land about 88: acres worth per annum 30 li.	600 li.
Groton hall containing about 60: acres worth 40 li.	740 li.
Collins containing about 13: acres out in lease at 3 li. per annum for years—7 li. per annum	100 li.
The water mill and 5: acres per annum—12 li.	200 li.
A parcell of meadow and pasture containing 8: acres—8 li.	160 li.
A mesuage and about 16. acres in the occupation of William Greenwood, and about acres sic adioyning 24 li.	400 li.
6 Cottages with a wood house and tenement—12 li.	190 li.
Copye rentes about 10 li. per annum and the Copihouldes worth about 160 li. per annum 400 li.	190 li.
The gifte of the Advowson of the Church is appurtenant to the manor.	5260 li.
The tymber and wood is worth 500 li.	5760 li.
There belonges to the manor, wayfes strayes felons goodes free warren etc: and the benefite of a Common of 30: acres.

Endorsed: Perticulars of the Manor of Groton.

W. 1. 79. In the hand of John Winthrop, and probably drawn up by him during the winter of 1629–30, perhaps on his visit to Groton in December.

Built in 1606. Vol. I. 91, 92.