Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

Deed of John Winthrop to John Newgate1

JW Newgate, John

1639-12-18

Knowe All men by these presents that I John Winthrop Esqr. Governour of the Jurisdiction of the Mattachusetts Bay in New England for fower score pounds of lawfull money of England to me in hand payd by John Newgate of Boston in New England Feltmaker Doe hereby graunt bargain and sell unto the said John Newgate All that my Lott of upland lying neare Rumney marsh in New England conteyning One hundred and Fifty acres be it more 162or lesse,2 abutting upon the highway there leading to Divers mens lotts on the East, and upon the lands perteyning to Charlestowne towards the west, and the Lands now of Nicholas Parker sometimes Mr. Vanes towards the south, and partly upon the lands of James Pen and partly upon the lands of the said John Newgate on the north parte, with the appurtenances. To have and to hold the said Lott with all the appurtenances unto the said John Newgate his heires and Assignes for ever. In witnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the Eightteenth Day of the tenth moneth in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred thirty and nyne and in the Fifteenth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles now King of England etca.

Jo: Winthop Signed sealed and Delivered in the presence of: Stephen Winthrop et mei Tho: Lechford scriptoris hujus 1.

Original not located; facsimile in Winthrop Deeds, 30; 2 Proceedings , VII. 139. For Thomas Lechford's record of this transaction, see Lechford's Notebook, 232.

Cf. Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, 11 (Boston, 1881), 27.

Nathaniel Ward to John Winthrop1

Ward, Nathaniel JW

1639-12-22

To our much honored Gouernor att Boston

Sir,

I thanke you very much for your loue and liberality by Mr. Rawson you sent me more then I desired I haue 2 more earnest requests to yow, 1 That yow would please to advise throughly with the counsell whether it will not be of ill consequence to send the Court busines to the common consideration of the freemen.2 I feare it will too much exauctorate the power of that Court to prostrate matters in that manner. I suspect both Commonwealth and Churches haue disended to lowe already. I see the spirits of people runne high and what they gett they hould: they may not be denyed their proper and lawfull liberties, but I question whether it be of God to interest the inferiour sort in that which should be reserued inter optimates penes quos est sancire leges. Yf Mr. Lachford haue writt them out I would be glad to peruse one of his copies if I may receiue them.3

The other is that yow would not passe your promise nor giue any incour163agment concerning any plantation att Quichichacke or penticatt,4 till my self and some others either speake or write to yow about it which shalbe done so soone as our counsilles and contrivalls are ripened: In too much hast I comitt yow and your affaires to the guidance of God, in whome I rest Your Worships in all Christian service

Nath. Warde Ms 10i 22° 1639

There is a necessity that the Couenant if it be agreed vpon should be considered and celebrated by the seuerall Congregacions and Townes and happily the illegible but I dare not determyne concerning the latter. I meane of putting it to the Suffrage of the people.

W. Au. 93; 4 Collections , VII. 26–27. For Ward, see 4 Collections , VII. 23n.; Samuel E. Morison, “Nathaniel Ward, Lawmaker and Wit,” Builders of the Bay Colony (Boston, 1930), 217–243.

Ward's reference is to the Body of Liberties adopted in November, 1641, which was now in draft form and had been ordered by the General Court to be sent around to the several towns for the criticism of the elders and other freemen. Records of Massachusetts, I. 279.

Cf. 3 Collections , III. 88.

Andover and Haverhill.