Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3

Emmanuel Downing to John Winthrop, Jr.1

Downing, Emmanuel Winthrop, John, Jr.

1635-03-25

To his loving Cosen John Winthrop Esqr. at mr. Gostlins in Groton hall Suffolke deliver

My good Cosen,

mr. Sheapheard was with me yeasterday, to enquire of your estate; whereof I could give him noe account. he prayed me to write vnto you thereof, and desires that you would retorne an answeare thereto this weeke, if you come not your selfe speedyly back. he would know your present estate in possession, and what in future you expect from your father, for this wilbe demaunded of him, before he can conclude any thing for you. And yts good reason you should satisfie him herein, because noe man that 195knowes you not, will parte with his Child till he know how shee shall be provided for to live in the world2

this day my brother Kirby cam to me to tell me that mr. Atwood the leather seller was with him, to give him notice that you should walke waryly and close because there be some that laye wayte to Attach you. Mr. Winsloe lyes still in prison, and is like soe to continew, for I doe not heare when the lords will meete againe for plantation buisines.

I doe heare there will goe at least 20 ships this yeare to the plantation. there is one at the Custome howse apoynted to receive Certificats and give discharges to all such as shall goe to the plantation.3 some that are goeing to N. E. went to him to know what they should doe. he bad them bring him any Certificate from Minister Church wardens or Justice that they were honest men and he would give them theire pass. they asked him what subsedy men should doe. he answeared that he could not tell who were subsedy men, and would dischardge them vpon theire Certificates. soe with my love to yourselfe my brother Gostlyn and his wife I rest Yours whilest I am

Em. Downinge 25 Martij 1635 1.

W. 2. 22; 4 Collections , VI. 42–43.

At some date between Downing’s letter and Winthrop’s sailing for Massachusetts on the Abigail in August, 1635, Winthrop married Elizabeth Reade, daughter of Edmund Reade of Wickford, Essex, and Elizabeth Cook Reade. The latter, after her husband’s death, became the wife of Hugh Peter.

See the order of the Commission for Foreign Plantations to the officers of the Port of London, December 31, 1634 (pages 180–181, above).

Sir John Clotworthy to John Winthrop, Jr.1

Clotworthy, John Winthrop, John, Jr.

1635-04

I will not touch vppon what I writt in my last to you only for the chattle which you soe much want, and wee can soe conueniently spare, I meane our best sorts of sheepe; I dare not continue my former aduice, of sending for any this summer, because ther can nott bee such store sent, as is needfull, and I feare after thers notice taken of any thatt goe from these partes ther will bee restraint after. soe as many as you can prouide shipping for, against the spring, I will soe prepare this next winter, that I hope few or none shall miscary; and those that goe must away together, that before the state cann send to inhibite, wee may haue dispacht a competent number, iff nott all that wee prouide; ass I writt before soe now againe I thinke itt will bee requisite 196to send a man who hath had experience in transporting and is somewhatt skilld in sheepe all healpes will bee little enowgh; iff the Lord please to furnish that blest land with this commodity from this wicked land; I shall almost thinke itt was the chiefe end for which itt was made; I wonder that I heare noe worde from you sythense your departure; my last will geiue you notice what particulers I most desire to heare off; good Sir bee not over-sparing in your relations; I thinke itt will nott be nedfull for mee to write now to Sir Richard Saltingstall presuming that you will impart this to him, and that I shall heare from either off you the resolution off you both; lett me heare whatt is donn with Mr. Winslow, and whither the byshop we heard off and gouernour hold for your nott ass yett polluted land.2 With such trash, God bee your dyrection.

John Clotworthy Ca. April, 1635

Endorsed by John Winthrop, Jr.: Sir John Clotworthy to be read by a casement.

W. 4. 76, 5 Collections , I. 208–209. This letter, like Clotworthy’s letter of March 6, 1634/35 (pages 191–192, above), was written so as to be read through a “casement.”

See Journal, I. 130, 152; Bradford, History of Plymouth, 11. 199; Hutchinson, History of Massachusetts-Bay, 1. 47–48; The Autobiography and Correspondence of Sir Simonds D’Ewes, Bart. (London, 1845), 11. 118; also printed in D.J.W. , entries for July 9, 1634 and June 1635 .