Gov. John WINTHROP

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 12 Jan 1587/8

Notes:

Name:
Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor. He was instrumental in leading the first large wave of colonists from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after the Plymouth Colony. He was born at Edwardstone, Suffolk, England, to a wealthy landowning and merchant family. In December 1602, he was admitted to Trinity College but soon left and married his first wife, Mary Forth, in April 1605. During this time, he became deeply religious in the Puritan faith. In 1613, he received the family holdings in Groton, and became Lord of the Manor there. He soon followed his father's path as a lawyer in London, having been enrolled at Gray's Inn to study law. In 1624, Charles I ascended the English throne and was opposed to all religious groups who did not ascribe to the doctrine of the Church of England. In March 1629, Charles I dissolved the English Parliament and his continued religious intolerance and crackdown on the Puritans resulted in a decision for the some of the leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Company (who were mostly Puritans) to emigrate to New England. Winthrop was chosen as governor and on April 8, 1630, he sailed from the Isle of Wight with four ships that were part of a larger fleet of 11 ships, carrying 700 people to New England, arriving at Salem in June. They chose to settle at the present-day city of Boston, near the Charles River. In the early months the colony struggled with disease, losing about 200 people, including his son, Henry. He served as governor of the colony for 12 of its first 20 years of existence, being elected on four different occasions. He was generally civil and diplomatic towards the Native American population. However, cultural differences and trade issues, along with land ownership rights of the colonists that conflicted with the hunter-gatherer rights of the natives eventually evolved into a war with the Pequot tribe in 1637, which ended with the destruction of the tribe, whose survivors were sold as slaves to the West Indies or became enslaved by the colonists themselves. During his life, he continuously wrote accounts of historical events and religious manifestations. His major contributions to the literary world were "A Modell of Christian Charity" (1630) and "The History of New England" (1630-1649; also known as "The History of John Winthrop"), which remained unpublished until the late 18th century. He was married four times and had 16 children, his first three wives preceding him in death. He died of natural causes. (bio by: William Bjornstad)

John married Mary FORTH on 16 Apr 1605 in Edwardstone, Suffolk, England. Mary was born on 1 Jan 1590 in Great Stambridge, Essex, England; died on 26 Jun 1615 in Groton, Suffolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. The Younger Gov John WINTHROP was born on 12 Feb 1606 in Groton, co Suffolk, England; died on 6 Apr 1676 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts; was buried in Kings Chapel Burying Ground, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.
2. Henry WINTHROP was born on 10 Jan 1607 in Groton Manor, co Suffolk, England; was christened on 19 Jan 1607/8 in Groton, Suffolk, England; died on 2 Jul 1630 in Drowned Salem, Massachusetts; was buried in Body Lost At Sea .
3. Mary WINTHROP was born on 30 Dec 1609 in Groton, co Suffolk, England; died on 12 Apr 1643 in Salisbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts; was buried in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts.

John married Margaret TYNDAL on 28 Apr 1618. Margaret (daughter of Sir John TYNDAL, Knt. and Anna EGERTON) was born about 1591; died on 14 Jun 1647 in Boston, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Col. Stephen WINTHROP was born on 24 Mar 1619; died in 1658.
2. Adam WINTHROP was born on 7 Apr 1620; died in 1652.
3. Deane WINTHROP was born in 1623; was christened on 23 Mar 1622/3 in Groton, Suffolk, England; died on 16 Mar 1703/4.
4. Capt Samuel WINTHROP was born in 1627; died in 1674.

John married Thomasine CLOPTON on 6 Dec 1615. Thomasine (daughter of William CLOPTON, Esq. and Margaret WALDEGRAVE) was christened on 18 Feb 1583 in Groton; was buried on 11 Dec 1616 in Buried Groton with her infant child. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Adam married Anne BROWNE. Anne was born on 13 Jan 1544 in Edwardstone, Suffolk, England; died on 19 Apr 1629 in Groton, Suffolk, England; was buried in St. Bartholomew Churchyard, Groton, Babergh District, Suffolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Henry and Agnes Browne