Henry Winthrop
Encyclopedia
Henry Winthrop was the second son of John Winthrop
, founder and Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
. In addition to his taking part in his father's Great Migration
to America in 1630, Henry is part of American history for being the first husband of Elizabeth Fones
, who would later be a founding settler of what is now Greenwich
, Connecticut, but also be at the center of scandal in colonial America, as captured in the popular novel, The Winthrop Woman.
As a young man, he was described as "a spritely and hopeful young gentleman." Though well-to-do in his own right through inheritances, Henry tried one major business venture, traveling to live in Barbados to start a tobacco plantation, but he was not successful.
To the dismay of his family, upon return from Barbados in 1629 he entered a whirlwind courtship with his first cousin Elizabeth Fones, daughter of his aunt Anne Winthrop, sister of Henry's father John Winthrop. Elizabeth Fones had been born at Groton Manor on 21 January 1610 to Anne and Thomas Fones, a London apothecary and a staunch Puritan
. Henry and "Bess" were married on 25 April 1629, at the Church of St. Sepulchre at New Gate, London.
-- sailed west to create a "City on a Hill" in what would become the Massachusetts Bay Colony. "From John Winthrop's adult family, only Henry would sail in April 1630." Henry was supposed to be his father's lead ship, the Arbella
, but he missed boarding due to helping to corral a herd of cattle. Henry left a few days later aboard the ship Talbot, leaving his young bride behind in England on account of her pregnancy. Henry's baby, a daughter named Martha Johanna Winthrop, was born on 9 May 1630 at Groton Manor, while Henry was at sea. Because of what would transpire in the new world, Henry would not live to see his daughter.
The Talbot arrived at the Massachusetts Bay Colony on 1 July 1630. On the very next day, Henry was part of group exploring near the Colony when they spied a native canoe on the opposite side of a river. Being the only one in the group who could swim, Henry volunteered to swim across but en route he was "seized with cramps and went down. Those standing on the shore had no means of going to his assistance. So died Henry Winthrop in his twenty-third year." As one historian noted, "The wanderer had found his last resting-place."
An anguished Gov. John Winthrop, in a letter to his wife to report the tragic news, referred to "My son Henry, my son Henry, ah my poor child."
Elizabeth would marry again, to Lt. Robert Feake, and in the early 1640s would move to extensive property they acquired in Connecticut, encompassing what is now called Old Greenwich
. There, daughter Martha would meet and marry Thomas Lyon, whose family home, the Thomas Lyon House
, is on the National Register of Historic Places
. Martha and Thomas Lyon had one child, a daughter, Mary Lyon, born August 1649. Mary married John Willson "of Bedford, afterward of Rye," so their children continued the line of direct descent from Henry Winthrop in the American colonies.
Henry's widow Elizabeth would marry for a third time, to William Hallett, who was Lt. Feake's business manager. As Lt. Feake was still alive, and there was no proof of a divorce, scandal and the threat of legal action encouraged the Halletts to move to the more tolerant colony of New Amsterdam, settling in Queens, N.Y., where Elizabeth (Fones) Winthrop Feake Hallett died ca 1670.
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
, founder and Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
. In addition to his taking part in his father's Great Migration
Great Migration (Puritan)
The Puritan migration to New England was marked in its effects in the two decades from 1620 to 1640, after which it declined sharply for a while. The term Great Migration usually refers to the migration in this period of English settlers, primarily Puritans to Massachusetts and the warm islands of...
to America in 1630, Henry is part of American history for being the first husband of Elizabeth Fones
Elizabeth Fones
Elizabeth Fones Winthrop Feake Hallett was an early settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony where her father-in-law John Winthrop served as Governor...
, who would later be a founding settler of what is now Greenwich
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
, Connecticut, but also be at the center of scandal in colonial America, as captured in the popular novel, The Winthrop Woman.
Early life
Henry was born 10 January 1608 to John Winthrop and his first wife, Mary Forth, at Great Stambridge, England, with the christening 20 January 1630 at the Winthrop home, Groton Manor, in Suffolk. Growing up, Henry split his time between Groton and London.As a young man, he was described as "a spritely and hopeful young gentleman." Though well-to-do in his own right through inheritances, Henry tried one major business venture, traveling to live in Barbados to start a tobacco plantation, but he was not successful.
To the dismay of his family, upon return from Barbados in 1629 he entered a whirlwind courtship with his first cousin Elizabeth Fones, daughter of his aunt Anne Winthrop, sister of Henry's father John Winthrop. Elizabeth Fones had been born at Groton Manor on 21 January 1610 to Anne and Thomas Fones, a London apothecary and a staunch Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
. Henry and "Bess" were married on 25 April 1629, at the Church of St. Sepulchre at New Gate, London.
To the New World
Eleven months after the marriage, Henry's father's flotilla of ships -- the Winthrop FleetWinthrop Fleet
The Winthrop Fleet was a group of eleven sailing ships under the leadership of John Winthrop that carried approximately 700 Puritans plus livestock and provisions from England to New England over the summer of 1630.-Motivation:...
-- sailed west to create a "City on a Hill" in what would become the Massachusetts Bay Colony. "From John Winthrop's adult family, only Henry would sail in April 1630." Henry was supposed to be his father's lead ship, the Arbella
Arbella
The Arbella or Arabella was the flagship of the Winthrop Fleet on which, between April 8 and June 12, 1630, Governor John Winthrop, other members of the Company and Puritan emigrants transported themselves and the Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company from England to Salem, thereby giving legal...
, but he missed boarding due to helping to corral a herd of cattle. Henry left a few days later aboard the ship Talbot, leaving his young bride behind in England on account of her pregnancy. Henry's baby, a daughter named Martha Johanna Winthrop, was born on 9 May 1630 at Groton Manor, while Henry was at sea. Because of what would transpire in the new world, Henry would not live to see his daughter.
The Talbot arrived at the Massachusetts Bay Colony on 1 July 1630. On the very next day, Henry was part of group exploring near the Colony when they spied a native canoe on the opposite side of a river. Being the only one in the group who could swim, Henry volunteered to swim across but en route he was "seized with cramps and went down. Those standing on the shore had no means of going to his assistance. So died Henry Winthrop in his twenty-third year." As one historian noted, "The wanderer had found his last resting-place."
An anguished Gov. John Winthrop, in a letter to his wife to report the tragic news, referred to "My son Henry, my son Henry, ah my poor child."
Family Line
With infant daughter Martha Johanna Winthrop in tow, Henry's widow Elizabeth sailed to the Massachusetts Bay Colony aboard the Lyon, arriving on 2 November 1631. The widow and child were taken under the care of her father-in-law (and uncle), Governor John Winthrop.Elizabeth would marry again, to Lt. Robert Feake, and in the early 1640s would move to extensive property they acquired in Connecticut, encompassing what is now called Old Greenwich
Old Greenwich
Old Greenwich is a neighborhood/section and census-designated place in Greenwich in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 6,611. It was founded in 1641 and has been a long-time beach community...
. There, daughter Martha would meet and marry Thomas Lyon, whose family home, the Thomas Lyon House
Thomas Lyon House
The Thomas Lyon House, at 1 Byram Road, was built ca. 1690-95 and is considered to be the oldest unaltered structure in Greenwich, Connecticut. The restoration of the house, a Colonial saltbox, is the primary project of the Greenwich Preservation Trust, a not-for-profit organization that grew out...
, is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Martha and Thomas Lyon had one child, a daughter, Mary Lyon, born August 1649. Mary married John Willson "of Bedford, afterward of Rye," so their children continued the line of direct descent from Henry Winthrop in the American colonies.
Henry's widow Elizabeth would marry for a third time, to William Hallett, who was Lt. Feake's business manager. As Lt. Feake was still alive, and there was no proof of a divorce, scandal and the threat of legal action encouraged the Halletts to move to the more tolerant colony of New Amsterdam, settling in Queens, N.Y., where Elizabeth (Fones) Winthrop Feake Hallett died ca 1670.