THE

POLYANTHOS.

JUNE, 1806.

SKETCH OF THE LIFE

OF

JOHN WINTHROP, ESQ.

FIRST GOVERNOUR OF MASSACHUSETTS.

HE worthy subject of the following

THE memoir was descended from a family,

remarkable for its attachment to the reformed religion. His grandfather, Adam Winthrop, was a lawyer and lover of the gospel in the reign of Henry VIII. and brother to a memorable friend of the reformation in the reign of Mary I. His father, Adam Winthrop, was a gentleman of the same profession and character.

JOHN WINTHROP was born at Groton in Suffolk, June 12, 1587, and was bred to the law, though he had a strong inclination to theological studies. At the age of eighteen he was made a justice of the peace, and his virtues became conspicuous. He was exemN... VOL. 2.

plary in his profession as an upright and impartial magistrate, and in his private character as a christian. He had wisdom to discern, and fortitude to do right in the execu tion of his office; and as a gentleman, was remarkable for liberality and hospitality. These qualities rendered him dear to men of sobriety and religion, and fitted him to engage in the great and difficult work of founding a colony.

When the design of settling a colony in New-England was by some eminent persons undertaken, this gentleman was, by the consent of all, chosen for their leader. Having converted a fine estate of six or seven hundred pounds sterling per annum into money, he embarked for New-England in the fortythird year of his age, and arrived at Salem with the Massachusetts charter, June 12, 1630. Within five days, he, with some of the principal persons of the colony, travelled through the woods twenty miles, to look out a convenient situation for a town in some part of the Bay of Massachusetts. Some of them built their huts on the north side of Charles river, (Charlestown) but the governour and most of the assistants settled on the peninsula of Shawmut, which was finally determined upon for the metropolis, and named Boston.

The three following years he was continued by annual election at the head of the government, for which office he was emi

nently qualified, and in which he shone with a lustre that would have done him honour in a larger sphere and a more elevated situation. He was the father as well as governour of an infant plantation. His time, his study, his exertions, his influence, and his interest were all employed in the publick serwice. His wisdom, patience, and magnanimity, were conspicuous in the most severe trials, and his exemplary behaviour as a christian added a splendour to all his rare qualifications. He maintained the dignity of a governour with the obliging condescension of a gentleman, and was so deservedly respected and beloved, that when Archbishop Laud, hearkening to some calumnies raised against the country on account of their puritan principles, summoned one Mr. Cleaves before King Charles I. in hopes of getting some accusation against the governour, he gave such an account of his laudable deportment in his station, and withal of the devotion with which prayers were made, both in private and publick, for the King, that Charles expressed his concern, that so worthy a person as Mr. Winthrop should be no better accommodated than in an American wilderness.

He was an example to the people of that frugality, decency, and temperance, which were necessary in their circumstances, and even denied himself many of the elegancies and superfluities of life, which his rank and

fortune gave him a just title to enjoy, both that he might set them a proper example, and be the better enabled to exercise that liberality in which he delighted, even, in the end, to the actual impoverishment of himself and his family. He would often send his servants on some errand, at meal-times, to the houses of his neighbours, to see how they were provided with food; and if there was a deficiency, would supply them from his own table. The following singular instance of his charity, mixed with humour, will give us an idea of the man. In a very

severe winter, when wood began to be scarce in Boston, he received private information, that a neighbour was wont to help himself from the pile at his door. "Does he," said the governour, "call him to me, and I will take a course with him that shall cure him of stealing." The man appeared, and the governour addressed him thus. « Friend, it is a cold winter, and I hear you are meanly provided with wood; you are welcome to help yourself at my pile till the winter is over." And then merrily asked his friend whether he had not put a stop to the man's stealing?

In the administration of justice he was for tempering the severity of law with the exercise of mercy. He judged that in the infancy of a plantation, justice should be administered with more lenity than in a settled state. But when other gentlemen of learn<