Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2
1630-02-26
I blesse God our heauenly father we are all come safe to Maplested, where we finde all in health. I haue nothinge to write to thee, but an expression of my dearest and most faithfull Affection to thee, and my deare children and freindes with thee. Be comfortable and couragious my sweet wife: feare nothinge; I am assured the Lord is with vs, and wilbe with thee, thou shalt finde it in the needfull tyme. Cleaue to thy faithfull Lord and husband Christ Jesus into whose blessed arms I haue putt thee, to whose care I haue and doe commende thee and all thine, once againe I kisse and embrace my sweet wife, farewell. the Lord blesse thee and all thy company. Commend me to all and to all our good freindes and neighbours, and remember munday and frydaye betweene 5. and 6.2 Thy faithfull husband
W. 7 A. 36; Savage (1825), I. 365; (1853), I. 438;
L. and L.
, I. 380–381.
“There is something of poetical beauty, as well as of pious sentiment, in the agreement, which is more than once referred to as having been made between his wife and himself, that they would remember each other every Monday and Friday evening, between the hours of five and six, and 'meet in spirit before the Lord.' Shakspeare, not long before, had put the same thought into the mouth of Imogen."
L. and L.
, I. 377–378.
1630-02-27
I prayse God we are all in health at Chelmsford this morninge: My sonne Fli. and bringe it with him: it is in Golde. send John Hardinge when thou wilt. Comend vs to all our friendes broth: G: and sister mr. Leigh Goodwife Cole, all at Castleins and all that loue vs, we all heer salute you all, you must deuide it at leysure. with my loue and blessinge to all our children and the rest in our familye. farewell my sweet wife, and be of good comfort the Lord is with vs, he hath set his seruantes to blesse vs and we shalbe blessed: Kisse me my sweet wife. farewell Thy faithfull husband,
W. 7 A. 37; Savage (1825), I. 348–349; (1853), I. 417;
L. and L.
, I. 381.
Stephen and Adam. Stephen was nearing his eleventh birthday; Adam was his junior by thirteen months.
1630-02-28
I vnderstand by some of my frendes that you are suddenly to goe into new England, If It be not to laite 213for me, to provide my selfe with Cattel and Shiping, I doe porpose to goe with you and all my Company, If please god to permit vs, life and health, I haue sente to my sonne and to Mathewe Harrison to by for me Six Coues and three mayers and a horse, soe I be seech you giue them directions to take the beste Coures for me that you shall thinke fit for to be done; hoping you will doe the beste that you Can to fordere my Jurny, furder I woulde desire you to giue me directiones what househould I shall take with me and for howe longe we shalbe vittle vs
W. 4. 69; 5
Collections
, I. 194–195. Robert Parke, Savage thinks, accompanied Winthrop to New England, but returned in the same year, “carrying an order by our Governor to his son John in England to pay money.” His eldest son, William, arrived in Boston on the Lion in February, 1631. It was probably in 1639 that Robert settled permanently in New England. He was a freeman at Wethersfield in April, 1640, and represented that town in the General Court of Connecticut in 1642. He removed to New London in 1649, where he served that town as selectman and representative. He died at New London, February 11, 1664–65. Savage, Genealogical Dictionary, III, 347–348; S. W. Adams and H. R. Stiles, The History of Ancient Wethersfield, II. 526–527; F. S. Parks, Genealogy of the Parke Families of Connecticut (Washington, 1906).
MS. repeats “and.”