Although there is no scientific evidence to support this, I believe that one in every five homes in New England has a Governor Winthrop desk in some form. These are rarely seen today except in historical museums and collections. Governor William Winthrop built the first house in Massachusetts on land he purchased in 1630. Today it is known as the "First House" because it is the oldest surviving home in Boston. Work on another house began but was not completed until after Winthrop's death. This second house is now called the "Second House" because it was built about three years later than its neighbor. Winthrop was an important figure in early Massachusetts history. A graduate of Cambridge University in England, he was chosen by the General Court to be the first governor of the colony. He served from 1629 to 1649 during which time he helped draft the laws that governed Massachusetts for nearly two centuries. After his departure from office, Winthrop lived in the Second House with his family. It was here that he raised his eight children. In 1656, shortly before his death at the age of 50, Winthrop bequeathed all of his property to charitable institutions supporting students who were unable to pay tuition at Harvard College.