A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3

John Winthrop, Jr., to John Winthrop1
Winthrop, John, Jr. Wintrhop, John

1631-04-30

To the right worshipfull my much honoured father John Winthrop Esqr. Governour of the Massachusett deliver in New-England
London Aprill 30, 1631 Sir,

My humble duty remembred vnto you, may you please to vnderstand that mr. Peirce with all his company arrived heere in health and safety yesterday being the 29th of this present, by whome I received the Joyfull and welcome newes of your health, and welfare to my great Comfort. your letters were the sesonabler to give satisfaction to many, that they were of soe fresh date, and brought relation of a winter wholy passed. my vncle Downing is very well satisfied with your reasons you give him for the Country we had once made an agreement with some merchantes and Captaine Cleyborne2 for to deliver 100 tunnes of Indian wheat from Virginia to you, which they had covenanted to deliver before or soone after harvest, the Copy of which agreement I thinke mr. Humfries sent over by mr. Allerton, which was intended but hath not yet beene sealed by vs. my vncle Downing mr. Humfry and my selfe were the vndertakers in it, but now the ship having delaied her setting forth so long so as we could not see it possible to be delivered so soone, we have broken of that covenant, and my vncle Downing and my selfe doe covenant with them for fourty tunne, wherof 20 is for your selfe the other 20 is for my vncle Downings owne accompt which if it be delivered vnto you he desires you to keepe his 20 tunne safe till you heare further from him. mr. humfry will likewise send twenty tunne and mr. Cottington 20, likewise mr. Cradock 20, and others, but we shall wright you particularly therof by the 32ship that bringeth it, which is the Affrica, wherof Capt: Cleyborne is Commander. he and the merchantes that set him out offer vs to bring what corne we will for fish, and for this would take fish of you if you could provide it for them this Corne we vnderstand they buy of the Natives there for trucke. there is great store all alongst the coast, from a little to the sothward of you to florida and beyond etc. and to be had for toyes, beads, Copper, tooles, knives, glasses and such like.

Concerning your land I can add little to that I wrote about a fourtnight since, which I suppose will come to your hands with these by mr. Hatherly. we expect all the Feoffees in towne together this weeke, then I thinke we shall make a full Conclusion, with mr. Warren, or breake of: our occasions requiring monies for the satisfying of such monies as are owing and the want of full power in the Feoffees for the giving of assurance in the whole, and the vncertaintie of the tyme of the returne of the fine from you, puts vs vpon much disadvantage in the sale. mr. Peirse is very earnest to have vs goe over this summer, and we are all as earnest, and desirous to goe, but I feare it wilbe so long ere the fine I sent to you doe returne, that it wilbe too late in the yeare.

my mother, brothers and sisters, and the rest of our freinds at groton are well we heard from them this weeke, they have yet scarce the letters from you. I sent them away yesterday as soone as I received them. my wife hath beene heere with me awhile but is now going downe againe having acknowledged satisfaction to the Court of Aldermen for her portion. she remembreth her duty to you. I should be larger and write of other things but I feare the ship may be gone, or my letter otherwise miscarry before it commeth to mr. Hatherly, for day is past which they apointed to be gon, but I would howsoever adventure these that you might vnderstand of the receipt of yours, and those other particulars. Thus with my duty againe remembred desiring your praiers and blessing I commend you to Gods protection and rest your obedient Sonne

John Winthrop

my vncle Downing desireth you to buy 6 goats for mr. Sewell and three sowes: the goats he hath agreed for at 40s apeice and the sowes at 30 shillings apeice, and to deliver them all to goodman Perkins for mr. Seawell.

For Cowes my vncle Downing doth referre it to you, whether you thinke he shall need have any more. for mr. Allerton is to deliver him six etc. he and my aunt remember their loves to you she is not yet ridd of hir ague, but on her well dayes goeth abroad, having 2 daies well and one sicke, etc.

the bill which you sent from mr. John Dillingham of 9li will not be paid for 33his kinsman to whom he sent it refuseth to pay it, and tells me he knoweth not what is become of his brother.

Postscript for those goats and sowes which my vncle Downing desires you to buy for him to be delivered to Goodman Perkins for mr. Seawell, he desires you not to give above the prises before written for soe he giveth to mr. Allerton for those he is to deliver him, and thinketh you may have them so at Plymouth.

1.

W. 1. 85; L. and L. , II. 73–75; 5 Collections , VIII. 30–33.

2.

Captain William Clayborne of Northampton County, Virginia. 2 Proceedings , III. 4–5.