A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3

Bond of Ferdinando Adams1
Winthrop, John Adams, Ferdinando

1637-07-05

Noverint universi per presentes me Ferdinandam Adams nuper de Gibvico in Comitatu Suffolk shoemaker teneri et firmiter obligari Johanni Winthrop 440de Boston in Massachusetts in Nova Anglia armigero in ducentis libris legalis monete Anglie Soluendis eidem Johanni vel suo Certo Atturnato executoribus vel Assignatis suis Ad quam quidem solutionem bene et fideliter faciendam obligo me heredes Executores et Administratores meos firmiter per presentes Sigillo meo sigillatas datas 5to die Julij Anno regno domini nostri Caroli Anglie etc. decimo tertio.

The Condition of this Obligation is such that whereas the said Adams is reported at his departure out of England to have been vnder question in some of his majesties Courts for matter of Contempt or misdemeanor, for which some engagement may lye vpon others there, for his departure, or some displeasure or damage may arise to the magistrates or others heere for receivinge of him: If therefore the said Ferdinando Adams shall take suche order whereby all and everye of his friends in Englande shall from tyme to tyme be sufficiently saved harmeless from all damage that may arise to them by occasion of his departure thence, and whereby the magistrates and others heere may be likewise saved harmeless from all trouble or damage that may come to them, for his receiving heere: and shalbe likewise be readye at all tymes to make his personall appearance in any of his majesties Courts if he shalbe so required, there to answeare to suche matter as shalbe obiected against him, then this present obligation to be voyde, otherwise to remaine in full force and effecte.

Ferdinando Adam Seald and delivered in the presence of Jo: Underhill Stephen Winthrop
1.

W. 1. 141. The body of the document is in the handwriting of Governor Winthrop. Ferdinando Adams, who settled in Dedham in 1637, has been described as “a person of factious and schismatical disposition.” He was formerly a shoemaker of Ipswich, Suffolk, where he was churchwarden of St. Mary at the Tower. He and his fellow warden were excommunicated because “they had not according to order removed certain seats from the east wall of the chancel of that church, and placed the Lord’s table next the said wall; and also, that they had not removed from the said church an inscription from Mark XI. 17, and put up in its place certain words from Deuteronomy 1. 17.” Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1635–1636, 565.