Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

John Humfrey to John Winthrop, Jr.1

Humfrey, John Winthrop, John, Jr.

1642-07-21

To his worthy deare friend Jo: Winthrop Esqr. these in hast

Dearest and most Desired Sir,

you are a thousand times wellcome home, and should be 1000000000000000 times to mee if you would goe along with mee. I beseech you if you see the wind chops about contrarie, and hold there, come downe, I will beare your charges of the Post, and you shall doe no worse (but as much better as you will and I can helpe it) then I. Indeede I thinke you should have beene with us before. I have laine wind bound here these 5 weekes yet not daring to budge an inch, expecting everie day our ships comming, which have laine in like case this fortnight at Cowes. But this morning the wind springs up faire, and I hope the ships will be suddenly in with us. Good deare loving Sagamore, let us have your companie if possible. If you can be helpefull anie way to my poore familie I know you neede not be intreated. I heare they want monie. I pray speake to my good freind mr. 353Waring (to whome with his my best respects with all thankes for all manner of kindnes) I know hee will not see them in miserie that are cast upon them about sixe pounds a month I suppose will doe their turne sufficiently, the rest I would gladly should goe to the paying of debts except that which you shall neede thereof and by vertue hereof I inable you to take for your (if) emergent necessities. With my love and my love over and over and through and through I rest Your most affectionate foolish faithfull

Jo: Humfrey Waymouth July 21, 42 1.

W. 2. 7; 4 Collections , VI. 18–19.

John Wilson to Thomas Weld and John Eliot1

Wilson, John Eliot, John Weld, Thomas Eliot, John

1642-09

To my reuerend louing brethren mr. Tho: Weld and mr. Jo: Eliott with the rest of the Elders at Roxbury

Brother Weld and Eliot,

My loue in the lord.

Vpon Goodman Comptons2 speach with your selues and the deputy Gouernor, I went to the Gouernor, to desire his fauour to that end that he might be licensed to come with his people into these parts, wherby he might himselfe be the more fully satisfied in case any scruple remayne in the matters betweene him and the Church, which doth make your selues vnsatisfied towardes him. Wherunto the Gouernor is very willinge (and thinkes it would be good for the man) only he conceaues it not fitt to receaue such a ones testimony (as touching your consent or encoragement herin) it being his owne Case, vnles he had brought hither the handes of the Elders (I meane your selues etc. of Roxbury) I as so wishinge and aduising. I tell him I doubt not but yf I had made mention therof it had bene done nor doubt I but that you will now do so much, that the Gouernor and the Deputie may be the more encoraged to make him the grant. your very louing brother

John Wilson Ca. September, 1642 354

On the verso, in the handwriting of Eliot: If in synceryty and vprightnesse he intendeth to listen to, and imbrace the truth of Jesus Christ, we think it will much tend to his comfort and ours to remove hither: But if he have a secret reservation in his breast to hould to mr. Wheelerights opinions more or lesse which we much feare we think otherwise of it:

John Eliot Tho: Welde John Miller Isack Heath 1.

W. Au. 104; 4 Collections , VII. 3–4.

John Compton of Roxbury became a freeman of the colony on September 3, 1634. Because of his adherence to the Wheelwright faction he was included among those who on November 20,1637, were ordered to be disarmed and later (March 12, 1637/38), together with Coddington and others, was “licenced to depart” from Massachusetts. Records of Massachusetts, I. 212, 223. On September 25, 1642, “vpon Lettres of Dismission from our Sister Church of Rocksberry and vpon his open declaring of his Condicion and profession of his Faith in the Publique Assembly,” Compton was admitted to membership in the Boston church. Records of the First Church of Boston, copy in the Society's library.