Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2

John Winthrop to Margaret Winthrop1

Winthrop, John Winthrop, Margaret

1630-01-15

My deare wife,

I haue many thinges to thanke the for this weeke, thy most kinde lettre, fowles, puddinges etc: but I must first thanke our heauenly father, that I heare of thy health, and the welfare of all our familye, for I was in feare, because I lefte thee not well: but thus is the Lorde pleased still to declare his goodnesse and mercye to his vnworthy seruantes: oh that we could learne to trust in him, and to loue him as we ought.

For my care of thee and thine, I will say nothinge, the Lord knowes my heart, that it was one great motiue to drawe me into this course: the Lorde prosper me in it as I desire the prosperity of thee and thine. for this ende I purpose to leaue 1500 li. with thy freindes,2 if I can sell my landes, which I am now about, but as yet haue doone nothinge. I purpose (if God will) to be at home the next weeke, I am forced to keepe John heer for my businesse, which now comes so heavy vpon me, as I can spare no tyme for aught els. 192the Lord in mercye bringe vs well through all our troubles, as I trust he will. thou must beare with my brevity. the Lord blesse and keepe thee and all our children and companye. so I kisse my sweet wife, and rest Thy faithfull husband,

Jo: Winthrop.

my brother and sister salute you all.

Let the Cowe be killed against I come home and let my sonne Henry prouide such pease as will porrige well, or els none.

London, January 15. 1629–30. 1.

W. 7 A. 33; Savage (1825), I. 362–363; (1853), I. 435; L. and L. , I. 366.

See Vol. I. 144–145.

Nathaniel Ward to John Winthrop1

Ward, Nathaniel Winthrop, John

1630-01-16

To the worshipfull and his much respected Freind Mr. Winthrope Gouernour of the new-English Company att Mr. Porters in Soaper Lane. dd. dd. dd. In his absence to Mr. Johnson

Sir,

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

Nathl. Warde. Stondon. Jan. 16°. 1629–30. 1.

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).

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