The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-03-26
John Winthrop.

John winthrop.
AT Groton, Suffolk county, England,
once lived a family that finally be-
came of much repute In this country.
Adam Winthrop Sem, the grandfather
of the much reputed Now England
governor, came in possession OF a
manor at the above named place in
the time of Henry VIII. This remain
ed in possession of the family until
after the removal of John Winthrop
to Massachusetts. Finally it was
sold.
The early history of the family is
not very well authenticated. But we
are led to suppose that the grandfather
belonged to neither the lower class
nor the nobility ; but to an intermed-
late class for it was some time before
he wrote "E.gure" after his name.
That he must have been man of
some business habits is shown by his
connection with the workers
company of London. This business
he continued to follow the rest of his
life. But his son, Adam Winthrop
Jr., the father of John Winthrop he
Gov, soon abandoned the business, and
retired to his country farm where he
Iived the life of retired country
gentleman. TIE overseeing of his
manor was not enough to keep him
occupied, 50 he studied law more as a
pa,tlme than for any definite results
John Winthrop was born January
II. 1888. He studied at Trinity Col
lege, Cambridge, but it appears that
he did not graduate. This may have
oeeu on account of his early marriage;
tor he was three times married, FIRST,
(whrn he was but seventeen years old)
IL country lady secondly to lady
IF English nobility; and lastly, to
Sir, John Tyndal's daughter with
whom he passed many happy years.
He early embraced the Puritan be-
ief and followed it strictly during the
rest of his life. Still, he was not out.
spoken, as were some, but was much
noted for his moral and pious life
this being the reason for his being
elected Justice of the Peace when but
eighteen years of age. Neither did
he allow himself to engage in the po-
lltcal strife that was disturbing En-
gland at that time. But by close OBJ
servation and much tore-thought he
came TO the conclusion that there
would soon be trouble among the re.
ligious beliefs. This he wished to
shun. Thus when he was preparing
to escape to the New World he was
chosen governor of Massachusetts
Bay Colony. Being elected, and while
attending to various things from his
family he was compelled to go with
the company consisting of 900 persons
to their new homes. He was not al
lowed time to bid farewell to his wife
and children. But this good man did
not forget the loved ones he was leav-
ing behind as you may find by read
ing this copy of part of his farewell
letter to his wife: "And now, my
sweet soul, l must again take my fare.
we'll of thee in Old England. 1t goelh
very near to my heart to leave thee
| puV L hHoW W Wuoih boNc COiiilllt-
ted thee, even to Him who love.h thee
much better than thy husband can
who hath taken account Of the hairs
on thy head, and who put all thy tears
in His bottles, who can and Gf it l.
HIS glory will bring US together with
peace and comfort Oh, how it re
fresheth my heart Ito think that | shal
yet see thy sweet face in the land o.
the loving that lovely countenance
that l have so much delighted in, anc
beheld with so great content !
Neither can the sea drown thy hus
\ bard, nor enemies destroy, nor an,
adversely deprive thee of thy husoanl
or children. Therefore | will onl,
take thee now and my sweet childrei
in mine arms and kiss and embrac
yop all, and so leave you with God.
Eeighteen months after hi
arrival in the New World his famil,
followed and We're landed on the Bos
ton shore amid the peaIing of guns an,
the welcomings of hundreds of tn
colonists.
His life here was one of simplicit
and honest frugality. Even at time
he labored most earnestly with his ow
hands to show that industry was tn
, wealth and power of the colony. A
times wandering over the wilds, an
even hunting unattended. His hous
was a large wooden building but NEAR
ly furnished with articles from tn
mother country, He was governo
over this colony nearly all the time ii
lG49, when he died at Boston, Marc
PC, L. j.