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 316. Please look at all notes at the end of the document or documents on page 316.

John Cotton to Herbert Pelham1

Cotton, John Pelham, Herbert

1630-10-03

Mr. Pelham; 2

I pray you, let me intreate you, with these 3 pieces of Gold, to buy an Hogshead of Meale, or what else you can most conveniently 316gett, and send it to Mr. William Coddington3 in New England, for the vse I have specifyed in his lettre, and in my lettre to Elizabeth Mason, etc. I take leave, and rest, Your Worships in the Lord

John Cotton. Boston. Oct. 3. 1630. 1.

W. Au. 41; 5 Collections , I. 195.

Herbert Pelham (1600–73) was eldest son of Herbert Pelham and Penelope, a younger daughter of Thomas West, second Lord De la Warr. One uncle, Thomas Pelham, was a member of the Virginia Company; another, the third Baron De la Warr, was the energetic early governor of Virginia. Herbert appears as a member of the Massachusetts Company in 1629, and seemingly intended to sail with Winthrop in the Arbella, but he did not actually come over until later, possibly in 1635. He took part in the settlement of Sudbury, but his chief residence was in Cambridge, where he and his family narrowly escaped being burned to death in their house “in the dead of the night,” December, 1640. He was chosen the first treasurer of Harvard College, December 27, 1643, and was annually elected an Assistant of the Colony, 1645–1649, notwithstanding the fact that in 1647 he returned to England, residing for some years at Bures in Essex, and later in Suffolk, where he died July 1, 1673, leaving property in Lincolnshire, Ireland, and Massachusetts. His first wife, Jemima, daughter of Thomas Waldegrave, died before his emigration. He married in New England, in 1638, Elizabeth, daughter of Godfrey Basseville or Bosvile of Gunthwaite, co. York, widow of Roger Harlakenden. By each marriage he had five children. His daughter Penelope married Josiah Winslow; his sister Penelope married Governor Richard Bellingham. D. N. B. , Savage, Genealogical Dictionary, III. 385. A number of his letters will be printed later in this series.

Coddington came over in the emigration of 1630. He was treasurer of Massachusetts for some years and afterwards governor of Rhode Island. A number of his letters will be printed later in this series.

John Rogers to John Winthrop, Jr.1

Rogers, John Winthrop, John, Jr. Pelham, Herbert

1630-11

To the worshipfull mr. John Winthrop at his lodging at Bristow:2 Or in his absence to one mr. Pellham of Buers geeve these.

Good mr. Winthrop

I hope you haue my letters with certen monyes that I sent to you to entreat you of all loue to provide some litle matter of Butter and meale for such as I named, wherein I earnestly entreat your loving faythfullnes and care to procure it and direct it to them. to Jeffrey Ruggles3 late of Sudbury, he is the cheife. But this day I have received so lamentable a letter from one John Page4 late of Dedham that hath his wife and 2 children there and he certifyes me that vnles god stirring some friends to send him some provision he is like to starue. Now I pity the man much and have sent you twenty shillings entreating you for gods sake to provide such a Barrell of meale as this mony will reach vnto and direct it over to John Page with this my letter enclosed. In which I pray God move your hart to be very carefull, for it stands vpon their lives and it cutts me to the hart to heare that any of our neighbours should be like to famish. If we could possibly help to prevent it I should be glad. So ceasing to trouble you further I commend you and the weighty busines you are about to the blessing of Allmighty God who speed it happily. Your worships in the Lord

John Rogers. November, 1630. 317

I sent a letter to your Father which was directed to mr. Harrwood, I beseech you be a help to the safe sending of it.

Good mr. Pellham5 if in mr. Winthrops absence this letter should come to your hand I beseech you good Sir that you would be so good as fullfill the contents of it and I shalbe much thankfull vnto you.

Endorsed by John Winthrop, Jr.: mr. John Roger of Dedham in England in Essex. it was written when the plantation begun in New England when sic old capt. peirse was sent from Bristoll in the winter with provition.

W. Au. 64; Savage (1825), I. 47, note; (1853), I. 56, note; New England Historical and Genealogical Register, v. 130 (1851). John Rogers (1571?–1636), was a famous Puritan preacher, vicar of Dedham, co. Essex, 1605–36, on whom see Mather, Magnalia, bk. iii, ch. xiv, appendix; and D. N. B.

John Winthrop, Jr., visited Bristol, probably about the end of October, to advise with Captain William Peirce concerning the cargo of the Lion. See the next letter.

Ruggles died before the end of November. Infra, p. 320. His wife, Margaret, was an early member of the First Church. Savage, Genealogical Dictionary, III. 586.

John Page settled at Watertown, where he died in 1676 at the age of ninety. His wife Phebe and two children came with him from England. Ibid., III. 330.

Herbert Pelham.