Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

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.

Receipt of the Deacons of the Church in Boston1

Colbrun, William Hill, Valentine Eliot, Jacob

1642-09-20

Boston in N: England (7) 20: 1642

This is to certifie, that we the Deacons of the Church there have received of mr. winthrop our Governor a twenty shillings piece in golde sent from mr. Sparrowe of Ipswich to Nath: Greygoose late a member of our Churche, now deceased, who in the tyme of his sickness was maintaynd at the Churches charge a longe season.

Will Colbron Val: Hill Jacob Eliot

Endorsed by John Winthrop, Jr.: Deacons of Boston: receipt of 20s for N: Graygoose.

W. 1. 149. The body of the document is in the handwriting of Governor Winthrop.

Martha Symonds to John Winthrop, Jr.1

Symonds, Martha Winthrop, John, Jr.

1642-09-27

To my loveing brother John Winthrope Essqr. in England or Elswhere deliver

September 27 1642 louing brother,

I could not but rit thes faue lines vnto you being verey desierus to heare from you it being so I cannot see you heare but I hop it will not be long but you will bee heare wee thinke the time verey long since you wint and wee know it cannot but be verey greues to my sistar to be so long 355absent from you thoth she bares it verey well before company therfore I pray hastin to vs and let not watestill wat any longer2 you know I soppose your sones name is so I must be brefe becas I am vnfit to rit much. I haue laine in and have another lekill girll and haue kept my chambar this nine wekes and haue had a sore brest but the lord hath bin verey good to mee. my husban is well and is at the bay at the court aconsulting what to doe about the Ingines wee are in fare of thim my sistar lake is heare and desiers to be remembared to you this with my loue to you remembard, I commet you to the lord and rest your euer louing sistar

Martha Simons 1.

W. Au. 75; Waters, Sketch of John Winthrop the Younger, 68. Martha Reade Symonds, second wife of Samuel Symonds of Ipswich, was the daughter of Edmund Reade and Elizabeth (Cooke) Reade (who later became the first wife of Hugh Peter). Her first husband had been Daniel Epes. Elizabeth Reade Winthrop, the second wife of John Winthrop, Jr., was her sister.

Wait Still, son of John Winthrop, Jr., and Elizabeth Winthrop, was born February 27, 1641/42.