Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2Note: you've followed an index reference to a note that, due to changes between the print and digital editions, may no longer be on page 214. Please look at all notes at the end of the document or documents on page 214.

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John Winthrop to Margaret Winthrop1

Winthrop, John Winthrop, Margaret

1630-03-02

London March 2. 1629–30 Mine owne deare heart,

I must confesse thou hast ouercome me with thy exceedinge greate loue, and those abundant expressions of it in thy sweet lettres, which sauour of more then an ordinary spirit of loue and pietye: blessed be the Lord our God that giues strength and comfort to thee, to vndergoe this great tryall, which, I must confesse, would be too heauye for thee if the Lord did not put vnder his hande in so gratious a measure. let this experience of his faithfullnesse to thee in this first tryall, be a grounde to establish thy heart to belleue and expect his helpe in all that maye followe. It grieueth me much, that I want tyme and freedome of minde to discourse with thee (my faithfull yoakfellowe) in those thinges which thy sweet lettres offer me so plentifull occasion for: I beseech the Lorde I may haue libertye to supplye it, ere I departe, for I cannot thus leaue thee: our 2: boyes and James Downinge2 John Samford and Mary M: and most of my seruantes, are gone this daye towardes South Hampton: the good Lord be with them and vs all. Goodman Hawes was with me, and verye kindly offers to bringe his wife to Groton about the beginninge of Aprill and so staye till thy selfe and my daughter3 be in bedde so as thou shalt not need take care for a midwife. Ah my most kinde and deare wife, how sweet is thy loue to me! the Lorde blesse thee and thine, with the blessinges from aboue and from beneath,4 of the right hande and the lefte, with plentye of fauour and peace heere and eternall glorye heerafter: All heer are in health (I prayse God) and salute thee: remember my loue and blessinge to our children and my salutations to all as thou knowest. so I kisse and embrace thee and rest thyne euer

Jo: Winthrop. 1.

W. 7 A. 38; Savage (1825), I. 365–366; (1853), I. 439; L. and L. , I. 382–383; Twichell, Puritan Love-Letters , 142–143.

Son of Emmanuel Downing by his first wife, Anne Ware, daughter of Sir James Ware of Dublin. See 5 Collections , I. 18, 21, 28–29, 203.

Elizabeth (Fones) Winthrop, wife of Henry Winthrop, whose child, Martha Johanna, was baptized May 9, 1630. Less than two months later Henry Winthrop was drowned at Salem, his widow and daughter coming over to New England, in 1631, with the Governor's wife, Margaret Winthrop. Elizabeth Winthrop subsequently married Robert Feke, of Watertown, from whom she was separated after their removal to Greenwich, Connecticut, then Dutch territory. Later she became the wife of Feke's agent, William Hallett, who was deputy from Flushing, in 1664, and apparently a person of some importance on Long Island. Martha Johanna Winthrop married Thomas Lyon, of Stamford, Connecticut, by whom she had a daughter, Mary Lyon. See 2 Proceedings , VI. 2–20.

Genesis, xlix. 25.

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