A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2

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.

2.

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.

3.

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.

Bill of Captain Peirce1
Peirce, Capt. Winthrop, John Massachusetts-Bay Company

1630

Provissions to be mad at Bristoll for the Worshippfull John Winthropp Gouernor
Wheatt meall 34 hho. containing 8 bush. per ho. at 8 s. 6 d. bush. 115 2 00
Peas 15 hho. containing 7 bush. at 6 s. per bush. 32 2 00
Oattmeall 4 hho. containing 32 bush. at 10 s. per bush. 16 00 00
Beife and porke 4 hho. 24 00 00
Cheese 15 cthwt. at 30 s. per cth. Cask and all 22 10 00
Butter 5 kinderkins at 38 s. 09 10 00
Seuet 6 ferkines 08 00 00
Seed barrly 14 bush. 02 16 00
Seed rye one hho. 01 10 00
Ocom one cthwt. 00 12 00
Pro 20 tunnes of Cask at 14 s. 07 00 00
Pro halling craneing and lyghtering at 2 s. 8 d. 02 13 04
Pro ½ freight 40 00 00
280 11 04
More paid out to the Appotecary for provission for the Caskes 006 06 04
paid out for Samuell Sampson for his passage 003 00 00
paid him more for to bring him vp to London 001 10 00
paid more for him for phisick and dyeat at bristoll 002 10 00
paid for 300 trees 006 00 00
299 17 8
1.

W. 1. 82; Savage (1825), I. 47, note;(1853), I. 57, note.

John Bradinge to John Winthrop1
Bradinge, John Winthrop, John

1630-11-26

Sir,

I haue now at last with the best advice I can get, perfected the deed of revocation and settling of your estate, as is herein mencioned. I desire you would presently write and seale duplicate thereof, whether you come ouer or no: as I trust you will. But if you doe, there is danger in it. For the sealeing of a duplicate, you must seale both parts togither, and lay them one vpon another, and deliuer them both as your deed togither. 319And if you bring one of them in your pocket, it will do well. The reasons of this kinde of conveyance are to provide in these cases. 1. If you liue (which God graunt in mercy), then may your trustees secure by your estate more moneyes then you write you shall need. 2. If you dye, liueing my lady, there wilbe provision out of all but her joynture. 3. If you dye without issue, then it wilbe serued before Mr. Samuells2 estate, and ingage him to pay the debts. 4. If you dye haueing issue, then is there no possible provision to be made, but by the woods, which now you haue power to settle thus, being Fee simple lands. And lastly, if you revoke on any occasion the lease for 99 yeares, then this lease for 21 yeares begins. And the reason why there is a restraynt of power of revocation is that else no man will venture any money vpon torn that is in a therd mans power to revoke. And I hope you will trust no man of whome you are not fully assured he will ioyne with you to alter any thing at your pleasure. These things I write in regard I know not how God may inclyne your hart, to come ouer or not. Its now the last day of the tearme but two, and I am posting to the hall, therfore excuse the hast of Your faithfull affectionate friend,

Jo. bradinge. Temp. 26 Nov. 1630.
1.

Original lost; 4 Collections , VI. 577–578. Bradinge was “evidently a lawyer of the Temple, to whom Gov. Winthrop had intrusted his legal business.” 4 Collections , VI. 577, note. Another letter of his is printed ibid., 578–579.

2.

Samuel Fones.