A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

198
Samuel Fones to John Winthrop1
Fones, Samuel JW

1640-02-21

To the Worshipfull his much respected Vnckle John Winthroppe Esqr. these in Boston New England
Worthy Sir,

I receiued your louinge, and kinde letter, then which I doe assure you I know not any thinge that could haue bin welcomer, except your personall presence. I doe blesse god for you, in as much as hee hath stirred up your heart, too seeke, and wish my good, soe that hee hath not left mee freindeles, although hee hath taken away my parents, and remooued my neerest freindes farthest from me: I doe earnestly desire of him, that my heart may bee affected with his goodnes toward mee: and I beseech you Sir to continue your earnest supplications to the throne of grace for mee, that the lord would bee pleased to direct mee in the good way, that I may in my life and conversation, walke answerable (in some measure) to his goodnes, and mercy soe abundantly manifested unto mee. I am as yet in a doubt what profession to betake my selfe vnto, I am at a stand betweene Divinity, and Physicke. I haue aduised with my father-in-law what course I were best to take. hee did consider of it, and aduised with some godly ministers of his aquaintance about it, but hath not yet determined what will bee my best course. hee hath therefore perswaded mee to study the groundes of boath, a little while, till I can be resolued; Sir I would gladly haue your iudgment likewise; a mans callinge is a thinge of great importance, and not rashly to bee determined of, and beinge entred upon, not with out good groundes to bee altered. You wrote unto me in your letter, that once heeretofore you sent vnto mee, but receiued noe answer. I thinke I did receiue the letter, but was then destitute of meanes of conveighance of an answer: since that time liuinge in Oxford, I became aquainted with mr. Francis Kerby of London, by reason of his sonnes beinge of the same house with mee, soe that by his meanes, I haue opportunityes of sendinge more frequently then heeretofore. If you please to direct your letters to him (in London, at the signe of the three pidgeons in Bishops-gate-street) I shall be sure to receiue them: and if you please by some trusty messenger, to send my fathers ringe to him for mee, I shall bee very thankefull to you for it. I haue much desired it for my fathers sake, and it will be dearer to me now, then if I had first had it, in 199regard of your enioyinge it, and my receiuinge it from you, to weare it in memory of you boath. I cannot determine of my cominge to N:E: I doe confesse I earnestly desire to see you, and the rest of my neare, and deare freindes, (whom it hath pleased god in his good prouidence to place there with you:) but there are soe many hindrances to withstand my resolution, that I feare I shall not breake through them all. howeuer, I am dayly with you in desire, and make dayly mention of you in my prayers, desiringe the lord to blesse and prosper you, in your vndertakinges. I am for the most part resident at Oxford, but am at this present with my father, and mother2 at Exeter whither your letter was sent mee. I was this last summer in Suffolke, where to my great comfort I found my Aunt Gostlin, to whom I was truely welcome: it was a great comfort to mee, to see some of my Freindes: and yet I greiued as much, when I considered what an alteration there was since my last beinge there: the house that I had soe often made my home, looked sadly as if it had mourned for the absence of its master. my father and mother kindely salute you. I thanke god for them, I haue truely found a father, and a mother in theire loue to me, and care for me; I beseech the lord to recompense them in a plentifull maner. I pray remember my duty to my Aunt, my hearty loue to my brother, and to all my cousens: and in your prayers at the throne of grace forget not Your poore nephew vnfaynedly honouringe and reueringe you

Samuell Fones Oxon: Feb: this 21, 1639/40

After my letter was written before I could send it I came to Oxford where I now am. if you send to mr. Kerbyes I shall not fayle of your letters.

1.

W. Au. 73. Samuel Fones was the son of Thomas Fones and Anne Winthrop, sister of the Governor. He took his B.A. degree at Oxford (New Inn Hall) in 1638 and his M.A. in 1641. He married Mary, daughter of Eleazer Dunkon, a draper of Harleston, Norfolk, and became curate of Woodbury, Devon, from which post he was ejected in 1660. He died in 1693. Arnold G. Matthews, Calamy Revised (Oxford, 1934), 204–205.

2.

The Reverend Henry Paynter and his wife, Priscilla, who was Samuel Fones's stepmother.