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Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3

Sir Richard Saltonstall to John Winthrop, Jr.1
Saltonstall, Richard Winthrop, John, Jr.

1636-02-27

For my worthy Good Freind Mr. John Winthropp Gouernour of the Plantations at Conectecott Ryuer in New England these deliver per Francis Styles whom God preserue
Good mr. Winthropp,

Being Credibly informed (as by the inclosed2 may appeare) that there hath beene some abuse and injurie done me by mr. Ludlowe and others of Dorchester3 who would not suffer Frances Styles and his men to Impall grounde where I appointed them att connecticut Although both by patent, which I tooke aboue foure yeares since, and per posession, Dorchester men being then vnsettled, and seekeing vp the Riuer aboue the falls for A place to plant vpon, butt findeing none better to their likeing, they speedily Came backe againe and discharged my worke men, Casteing lotts vpon that place, where he was purposed to begine his worke, Notwithstanding he often tould them what great Charge I had beene att In sending him and so many men, to prepare A house against my Comming, and Enclose grounde for my Cattle, And how the damage would fall heauie vpon those that thus hindered me, whom Francis Styles Conceiued to haue best right to make choyse of any place there. Notwithstanding they resisted hime slighteing me with many vnbeseeming words such as he was vnwilling to Relate to me, but will Justifie vpon his Oath before Authoritie, when he is Called to itt. Therefore wee haueing appointed you to be our Gouernour there; the rest of the Companye being sencible of this Affront to me would haue signified there minde In A generall letter vnto you, but that I tould them sithe itt did Con­230cerne my selfe In particular and might perhaps breed some Jealousies In the people and so distast them with our Gouernementt, wherevpon they Advised me write vnto you to Request you with All speed and diligence to Examine this matter and if (for the substance) you find itt as to vs itt appeares, by this information heerewith sent you that then In A faire and gentile way you giue notice to Dortchester men of this greate wronge they haue donne me etc; (Being the first that to further this designe sent my pinnace thither At my owne great Charge of almost A thousand pounds which now Is cast away by theire detaineing her so long before she could vnlayd and for which Iniustice I may require satisfaction as also for my prouisions which cost aboue fiue hundreth pounds and are now (I heare) almost all spent by this meanes and not any palling as yet sett vp att that place where I appointed them, which had I but Imagined they would haue thus greedily snatched vp all the best grounds vpon that Riuer my pinnace should rather haue sought A pylate At new Plymouth then to haue stayd ten days as she did In the Bay to haue giuen them Such warneing thus to preuent me) and lett them spaire as (I am tould) they may very well forth of that great quantity they haue ingrossed to themselues so much as my proportion Comes too and if they haue built any houses there-vpon I will pay them theire reasonable Charges for the same But I pray you either goe yourselfe with some skillfull men with you or send Sergieant Gardiner and some with hime to sett out my grounds (1600 akers) where It may be most Conueniant betweene Plimouth Trucking house and the falls4 according to my directions giuen both to the maister of my pinace and to Francis Styles which I thinke they will not now denie me vnderstanding what Charge I am att (with others of the Companie) to secure this River mouth for the difence of them all wherin I hope you will negclect no meanes according to our greate trust reposed In you thus beseeching the Lord to prosper the worke begun I Commend you with All our affaires vnder your Charge to the gratious direction and protection of our good God In whome I am Your most assured loveing freind

Ric: Saltonstall Whitefreyers the 27th February 1635/36

pray you commend me After yourselfe to your good wife and Sergieant Gardiner with his fellow Soldier whom I purpose God willing to visitt this summer if he will prouide A house to receiue me and mine att my landing.

1.

W. Au. 87; 4 Collections , VI. 579–581. There are two other originals of this letter: one, without date but endorsed by John Winthrop, Jr., “Sir Richard Saltonstall 1636,” is in the possession of Mrs. R. M. Saltonstall and was printed in 2 Collections , VIII. 42–43; the other, bearing the date March 30, 1636, is in the possession of the Connecticut Historical Society and is printed in N. E. Historical and Genealogical Register, LI. 66–67.

2.

See Bartholomew Greene to Richard Saltonstall, December 30, 1635, pages 217–218, above.

3.

Windsor, Connecticut.

4.

In the margin: “I had Rather haue it towards N: Town becawse I purpose to buyld there and Joyn with mr. Hooker.”