A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3

109
Henry Paynter to John Winthrop, Jr.1
Paynter, Henry Winthrop, John, Jr.

1633-03-14

To my deere and most respected Sonne Mr. John Winthrop at Boston in Newe England
Deerly respected, and my loving sonne Winthrop,

We receaued from London a letter from my worthy Sister your mother that came well to our hands, and another from your kinde selfe which was soe washed and the writing scoured oute that the greatest parte of it was soe white and cleane with the salte water (as I suppose) where the lynes had bene, as if it had not bene written vpon: but that some few lynes and endes of lines and words in some places appeared whereby we perceiued in parte that you wrote of your good health and your well beinge. It seemeth to come in that ship which was cast away (as we heare) and to beare date in October.2 Neither I nor my wife had time at present to write vnto you and your good mother and our beloued daughters as we desire but I hope shall shortely performe it. We are full of ioy to heare of your health and the goodnes of the Lord our gracious God towards you all, and the good successe of that hopefull plantation. I desire you to take notice of Mr. Cogan and Mr. Hill and Mr. Pinny our pious and louing neighbors and good friends that now come vnto you, and to shew them loue for our sakes. they haue bene kinde vnto vs, and they are worthy of respecte and welcome for theire religion and other good partes and abilityes, whereby you will find them I doubt not very industrious and profitable members of the plantation.

In my letter to your honoured Father is incloased one from a godly gentlewoman and a deere frinde of my wifes, concerning some goods of Captaine Levet her deceased husband due vnto her and her children. And boath my selfe and my wife doe earnestely intreate you to put him in minde therof in meete oportunityes solliciting him to call for Captayne Endicotte and Mr. Conant to examine them aboute it and to doe for her what he can to helpe her to her right. I doubte not but you may alsoe doe her good and further this busines; If you shall write vnto vs what is done herein we shall be very thankefull vnto you. The sooner it is gone aboute the more hope of findinge it out.

This letter commeth vnto you by James Woodyeates and his Wife who boath were sometime our seruantes. Elizabeth Webbe knoweth them well. they can informe you of our affayres. Sam: Fones and John Sherman are like 110to proue good schollers etc. You shall heare from us more hereafter God willinge. How glad should we be to see each others face once agayne in this life, if it might be the will of God. Pray for us, as we doe for you publikely and priuately. Remember our seruice to my worthy sister, and our dearest loue to my good daughters, your beloued and her sister Feake. litle know you how much your and theire louing lines doe glad the heartes of vs boath which are intirely affected towards you all. The Lord our God keepe your heartes vnto himselfe and prosper you, as your soules prosper, and grante you peace all the dayes of your life: and cease not to pray for Your louing father

Henry Paynter Exon. March 14, 1632/33

Endorsed by John Winthrop, Jr.: Father Painter July 27 per Waimouth ship.

1.

W. 4. 46; 5 Collections , I. 117–118.

2.

For the shipwreck of Peirce’s ship, in which Winthrop’s letter to Paynter was dispatched, see Journal, I. 100; also printed in D.J.W. , entry for April 10, 1633 .