A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

George Jenney to John Winthrop1
Jenney, George JW

1640-02-18

To my much honored and worshipfull Brother in Law Jhon Winthrop Esqr. at Boston in new England giue this
Right worshipfull and worthy Brother Wintroop,

salutation in the lord giuing thanks vnto our blessed god from the best sinseritie of my harte for the prosperitie and blessed suckses of you and your worthy assosiates in the christian plantation in Newe Enggland wher I vnderstand the word of god grace and the gospel of his deer sonn in the puritie and power of it doe prosperusly flurrish which maketh me much to reiose and draweth from me much thankfullnes vnto god, and am very glad that I put in my poor mite of 25li for furtheranc of that blessed worke. You know that I am a freeman in that plantation and haue as due vnto me a hundered acres of ground to be assighned vnto me2 which in regard of my age I neuer looke to Inioy which I hope my children and posterity hearafter may Inioy if they will. In the meantym I desier your happy further sucses in this blessed worke and that you would ryde on with the spirit of meeknes and power in the vse of the sword of the spirit which is the word of god that the arke of gods truth may 197flourishe amongst you and the dagones of heathenes Idolaters and false worshiper and all aduerse powers may be suppresed to the glory of god and your endles saluation: in the meantyme I would intreate a curtesie of you for a spetiall frind of myn who is a tenant vnto me and in his house I doe lye when I am at London his nam is mr. Robert Downes a good able christian both in knowledge and practis and hath at his own charg breed vp a young man his brother in skooles in the countery and at the Vniversity and ther hath taken his degrees and is now a worthy preacher in London now such as he is being so worthy a member in the church in doing of good it is pitie to hinder now ther is one Robt. Howet3 who cam from Sudbery in Suffolk and as I vnderstand Iiues neer vnto you in the same towne who oweth my frind mr. Downes xli by bond and did very dishonistly depart away without giuing him Satisfacon. now I would Intreat you to doe your best Indeuours to helpe him to his money and I will take it as thankfully as if it were don for my self. and so I abrubtly Conclud commending myself and loue vnto you and to my good Sister your wyf, my Cosen John Wintrop your elder sonne with all the rest of your Children and I pray salut from me reuerent mr. Peeteres, and mr. Phillepes late precher of boxted and mr. Phillepes late preacher of Wrentum and so comending you all to the blessing of our great god in Christ Jesus our blessed sauiour and redemer I had almost forgot your good brother and Sister mr. Downing and his wyf vnto whom I pray Commend my tru loue Your tru louing brother not only Law but also in Jesus Christ

George Jenney from the trinity minores in London without algate to which place If you direct any Leter to me to the house of mr. Robt. Downes he will send it vnto me the 18th of February Anno 1639/40

Endorsed by Governor Winthrop: brother Jenneye respecting mr. R: Howin he saythe the debt was 34li and he hathe paid him all the rest and leave goods in Sudbury with his wife to satisfie him, and will paye so soone as he is able he sent by J. Tinker etc.

1.

W. Au. 72. George Jenney of London married Mary Clopton, sister of Thomasine Clopton, Governor Winthrop's second wife.

2.

The records of the Massachusetts Bay Company make no mention of Jenney's investment in the Company's stock, nor do they refer to him in any other connection. His name, furthermore, does not appear in Samuel F. Haven's list of adventurers in the Company (Transactions of the American Antiquarian Society, III. CXXXIV–CXXXVIII) nor in the list compiled by Frances Rose-Troup (The Massachusetts Bay Company and Its Predecessors, 130–162).

3.

The correct name is “Howen,” or, as Winthrop states in his endorsement, “Howin.”