A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

John Winthrop, Jr., to Elizabeth Winthrop1
Winthrop, John, Jr. Winthrop, Elizabeth

1641-10-08

To my deare Wife Elizabeth Winthrop at Tenhills neare Charlstowne
Bristol Octob: 8, 1641 My deare Wife,

I wrote to the from Newfoundland concerning our arrivall there, but know not whether my letters that I sent by 2 severall boats, 342to be conveied to a ship bound for new-england, were delivered. therfore concerning our arrivall there I shall breifely mention it againe. we were 14 daies from New-england thither. we staied there thre weekes before we found a ship ready to sett saile for England. from thence we were 20 daies before we arrived in England, having very foule weather, continuall stormes betweene Newfoundland and England and our ship very small about 60 tunnes. but it pleased God to deliver vs out of all those many dangers we were almost every day in: so as we are now at Bristoll in safety (praised be his name) where we arrived the 28 day of September, and meeting with mr. Boole, who is going to Barstable, I leave this letter with him to be sent, if any fishing ships doe goe to New-Engl: before winter that thou mightest vnderstand of my welfare by the first. I shall write more largly to my father. remember me to all my deare freinds brothers sisters cozens, and specially to thy deare selfe with my blessing to my children. God keepe you all. Thy affectionate Husband

John Winthrop

heere is a ship to goe from Bristoll (as we are informed) about a month hence by which God willing I shall write the more, being vncertaine of the conveiance of this. be thankefull to God for vs, for torn he hath delivered from great and often dangers.

Prythe forget not to send my particular salutations and love to my brother and sister Symonds and all my cosens there, my vncle and aunt Downing and all there, mr. Humphries and all his, mr. Endicot and mrs. Endicot, my sister Lake, and Martha. If you se my brother or sister Dudly or send to them my cosen Cookes both and theirs, with mr. Dunstan and his wife mr. Sheapherd, mr. Lines mr. Allen and mr. Nowell and theires also Capt: Sedgwick, mr. Coitmore mr. Norton my cosen Parker Capt. Keine mr. Coggin mr. Tomson mr. Rainsborough mr. Haines cosen George Downing with all at home with you cosen Hanna Lake and the rest. I cannot write to any of them now. Farewell my deare wife it is midnight and time to sleepe. I pray be carefull of your Journies to Cambridge or else where, and remember what I desired you, to stay with the children one part of the day your selfe. Let betty lerne to read by any meanes but keepe hir not too close to it.

1.

W. Au. 74; 5 Collections , VIII. 35–36.