A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

274
William Hooke to John Winthrop1
Hooke, William JW

1640-08-15

To the Worshipfull John Winthrop Es: in Bostone
Worshipfull Sir,

Mr. Dexter haeth bine at me for a longer tim for the payment of the 436li which is dewe vnto my father from him I am willing to doe him all the good I canne in the thing to writ vnto my father to forbare him some serten time longer I cannot conseue howe he canne paye it moneys being soe scearse in the Countrey without time it make me the redier to helpe him finding him soe willing in doeing what he canne to make payment makeing noe question but my father will harken vnto what I shall desier him in the forbarance of this mony Sir if I maye craue soe much at your hands by letter to giue my father notise of the scarcitie of monyes in the Countrey it will be a greate meanes to preuayle with him the more to harken vnto my letter and likewise that I haue done my Indeuer for the getting in of his moneys ore else my father maye thinke I might haue done more then I haue done.2

Worthy Sir one Courtise more I would desier your worshipp to doe for me if you thinke it conuenient Mr. Godfree haeth informd my father of many false thinges by letter against me in my remoueing from Accomenticus nowe ser you knowe vppon what grounds my remoueing was and what ends I propounded vnto my selfe in regeard of the vnsettellnesse of the Church and state praye Sir satisfie him in your wisdome what you thinke meat good Sir if you shall thinke it fitt send a letter by Mr. Dexter that I may send it to my father with my letters.

I found by my fathers letters which I receued this sommer my father was informed by some that pretended a greadell of loue vnto me that the Church Couenant did deney boeth king and prince and likewise bindeth a man from remoueing vppon any ocation to ould england these are the thinges that makes my father soe vnwilling to my remoueing And soe rest in hast leaueing your worshipp vnto the Allmity Lords protecktion Your seruant euer to command

Willi. Hooke Dated In Lin 15 daye August 1640
1.

W. 3. 52; 4 Collections , VII. 197–198.

2.

On August 20, 1640, Thomas Dexter mortgaged to Humphrey Hooke, alderman of Bristol, and others, as security for payment of £500, his eight-hundred-acre farm in Lynn with all the appurtenances, together with twenty head of cattle and his crops. Suffolk Deeds, I. 15.