Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

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John Humfrey to John Winthrop, Jr.

21 July 1642

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Receipt of the Deacons of the Church in Boston

20 September 1642

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.