A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

George Fenwick to John Winthrop1
Fenwick, George JW

1639-10-07

Sir,

I thank yow for your continued offices of loue in your counsaile to my servant while the lord granted him health, and your kindnes and respect to him in his sicknes. as the lord shall offer me opportunitie you shall euer find me reddy to performe the lik or any other fruit of reall affection for yow or yours. The change that his death hath mad in my occasions putts me vpon much new labour that I thought I had done with, and therfor I must be very breife att present. I shall desire that those catle that are in your hands or any others may be continued as they were till next springe, when I shall if the lord grant life take order for them. I wrott to you concerning powder that was left in the bay. the store we had heare grows short, but I hope we shall haue noe nead till next springe, vntill when I leaue it also, only I directed my man that if he saw it were decaying, haueing bene longe keept (though that we haue heare holds yet well) he should sell 8 or 10 Barrells of it. Concerning the last part of your letter I can yett say litle, only thus much that what soeuer tends to mutuall defence and shall conduce to the setling and mentaineing vnfained loue, yow may expect from me and all those who are intrested in this place. for other matters, as they are of greate consequence, and neare concernement to others as well as my self, I can att present say thus much only, that if ther be any thing betwixt yow and the townes aboue, 142about bounds, what soeuer is concluded without us heare I shall account invalid, and must protest against it. I speak not this out of any feare either of wrong or neglect from yow or them, but to tell yow in short (haueing many other busness) what I hold my self bound to doe in that particular, and when ther shalbe a fitt tyme for any thing betwixt vs yow shall find vs in all things to submitt to right and good conscience. I am lastly to thank yow kindly on my wifes behalf for your great dainties. we both desire and delight much in that premitiue imployment of dressing a garden, and the tast of soe good fruits in thes partes giues vs good incouragement we both tender our loues and respects to your self and bedfellow. if there be any thing wherein yow can vse me I am Yours in any real office of loue

Geo. Fenwicke 7 October 1639

This young man came by a providence in the bark that brought me newes of Richards death, and haueing bene versed in bussines while he was an aprentice I hope will ease me of some occasions that I send him ouer to dispatch.

1.

Miscellaneous MSS., Bound, M.H.S.; Hutchinson Papers (1769), 107–108; (1865), I. 120–121.