Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2

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.

William Peirce to John Winthrop, Jr.1

Peirce, William Winthrop, John, Jr.

1630-11-18

To the Worshipfull his louing freind Mr. John Winthrop, Jur. lying at Mr. Downings at Peterbory Courte neare the Conduit In fleet street dlr.

Sir,

I haue Receyved from you two letters, the last datted the 6th of this present also a small boxe, the gardner hath brought to towne your trees they be put vp in 2 Chestes. I haue byn euer since you wer with me in much perplexety, to obteyne provissions for your father and the rest our freindes2 and now hauing obtyned some quantity my ship is so full that I cannott take in what I would and should; but mr. allertown hath a ship to depart from barnstable very shortly, vnto the which we send away what I cannot take in. I wish with al my heart you were here at present to healp in the Busines I am ouer chardged with, to my leisure. if the lord did not greatly sustayn me I should be ouer whelmed with it. I do now with al my strength endeuor to be gon to sea: the guifte the french ship3 that mr. goffe sett forth after the fleet, is here arrived at Bristoll, the masters name John Brock, who hath letters from your father and other Frendes but hath Brok them oppen. it were good that some Course wer procecuted against him, he will neuer leaue his old macheveolan Course. here are divers passengers that came here with him, will giue you further to vnderstand 318his doinges, thus in hast with much perplexity of mynd I rest etc. Your Louing Freind

William Peirse. Bristoll this 18th of Nouember 1630. 1.

W. 4. 70; 5 Collections , I. 196. For Captain William Peirce, see Journal for June 12, note.

See John Winthrop's letter to his son of July 23; “we are forced to send to Bristowe for supplye of provisions, by mr. Peirce, and mr. Allerton.” John Revell, one of the undertakers, accompanied them. The Lion sailed from Bristol on December 1 and reached Nantasket February 5 (also printed in D.J.W. ), to the joy of the hungry colonists.

The Gift was a prize ship, taken by the Swan in 1629 during the war with France. Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1629–1631, 94, 153.