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.

John Endecott to John Winthrop1
Endecott, John JW

1639-10-10

Dearest Sir,

Vnderstanding by diuers heere That Mr. Eaton2 hath ingaged himselfe to diuers within this Jurisdiccion in great sommes of money as also abused others by his base cariadges and now escaped the hands of such officers as were sent after him; I thought it my dutie to write vnto you onely to demaund whither it be not needfull to send after him where hee is gon: For I ame certainly informed that hee is gon in Neles barke to Virginea. Now If you and the deputie thinck meete to send to the Gouernour and state there to send him back together with one Samuell Eale a man of Mr. Natha: Rogers which Nele hath caryed with him: (though hee was informed whose seruant hee was, as Mr. Nathaniell Rogers tells mee). Mr. Younge his shippe is like to stay theise 2 or 3 dayes yet, who is bound for Virginea. I pray you if you thinck it meete and fitt that you will be pleased to send with what speede you can: I thinck if there be no other effect of it, yet it will satisfie many men of the care this State hath of the welfare of there members. But 143it may doe the partie good to bring him vnder Gods ordinances, and it may be a meanes of procuring parte at least of their estates who haue trusted him. As also prevent him from wronging others where hee may come. But I leaue all to your wise and Christian consideracion: And rest thanckfull vnto yow for your louing tokens. I shall neuer come out of your debt. I must leaue another to repay all into your bosom, our good God, To whose blessed protection I leaue yow, euer remayning Your Worshipps truely while I ame

Jo: Endecott 10 of 8ber 1639
1.

W. 2. 72; 4 Collections , VI. 135–136.

2.

Nathaniel Eaton, first head of Harvard College. For Winthrop's account of Eaton's disastrous career in that position, see Journal, I. 310–315; also printed in D.J.W. .