Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3

John Reading to John Winthrop1

Reading, John Wintrhop, John

1631-05-26

To the right worshipfull John Winthorpe Esqr. Governour, At Charles-Towne in Newe England deliver

Sir,

one Mr. Hueson2 hath bene often with me to write to you. It seemeth Mr. Johnson had some Cowes of his (six as he sayth) of the deliuery of Mr. Endycott, without any authority to sell them. In Michaelmas Tearme last he acquaynted me with his dislike of the Bargen, and euer since he disclaymes it, and tells me he wrote as much to Mr. Johnson, and this morninge he shewes me Capten Endycots letter that he had no authority And the scope 37of all is he desires he may haue his Cattell agayne, to which you are best able to giue answere. I can giue none.

We are at a stand here about Mr. Johnsons executorship. you write he made a will there to conferme this here.3 How can this then be proued as his last? You write you haue sent it over, John Drake sayth he copyed it to that purpose, But none can be heard of. I beseech you Sir let not your great occacions there cause an vtter neglect of the Credit and honour of that worthy gentleman, who liues still in the harts of many worthy Christians here and I doubt not but he doth liue as freshly there in your harts. I pray Sir send ouer his will as soone as you can, And let his engagements be discouered if any were. It would be a great dishonour if his debts should not be payd And who dares meddle till they know all. I wrote lately to Mr. Dudley to the same purpose So I hope hath Mr. Holled.

The lord keepe you and prosper your designes. Your

Jo: Readinge 26 May 1631 1.

W. 2. 185; 4 Collections , VI. 577–578. John Reading was a lawyer of the Inner Temple. Calendar of Inner Temple Records, F. A. Inderwick, Editor, II (London, 1898), 155. He has hitherto not been identified because of the misreading of his signature as “John Bradinge.” Another letter of his, with that signature, is printed in Winthrop Papers, II. 318–319.

Thomas Hewson, a merchant of London and an adventurer in both the Massachusetts Bay Company and its predecessor, the New England Company.

The earliest known will of Isaac Johnson is printed in Winthrop Papers, II. 49–56. For a discussion of Johnson’s later wills, see ibid., 49, n. 2.

John Winthrop, Jr., to Martha Winthrop1

Winthrop, John Winthrop, Martha

1631-05-28

To my loving wife Mrs. Martha Winthrop deliver In Groton

Thine whilst mine owne John Winthrop My deare wife,

I receiued thy louing letters and am uery glad to heare that thou diddest come safe to Groton For those reportes thou wrightest of let them not trouble the Thou maiest maist sic satisfi them that it is al false but I prethe doe not tel any that I doe not meane to pay the fine of fiue marke for I feare it may by the same tatling tonges be spread abroad and come to some of the aldermans ears with additions I hope to see the the beginning of next weeke which I thinke longer then ten time the time when thou art with me Farewel my deare God keepe us and send us a merry meeting.

I send the heerwith a handred and twenty kisses and as many more My loue remembred to my sister Winthrop and Mary I must haue a horse meete me on Monday.

John Winthrop London May 28, 1631 1.

W. Au. 57; Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, L. 83. This letter, with the exception of the superscription and the date line, is in cipher.