A Puritan's Love on Valentine's Day

John Winthrop (future leader of Massachusetts Bay Colony) worked long stretches in London as his wife remained in Suffolk, and their letters are ideals of Puritan romance. (Those letters are freely available on GoogleBooks by clicking this link.) The following letter from John Winthrop to Margaret is surprising in its reference to Valentine’s Day given Puritan's usual disregard of Catholic or "pagan" traditions. Perhaps Shakespeare's romantic tales, popular in Winthrop’s day, may have influenced him. Winthrop departed for America soon after this letter, while Margaret would join him a year later. 

[NOTE: I’ve carefully modernized this letter for clarity, but you can see the original text just below. DWW]

My sweet wife, 

Since I have a suitable messenger to bring you this letter, and I’ve such deep feelings of affection for you, I take this time to write, though I hope to be with you soon. 

The Lord our God has often brought us together in comfort when we have long been apart, and if it is good for us, he will yet do so. When I was in Ireland, he brought us together again. When I was sick here in London, he restored us together again. How many dangers, even brushes with death, have you experienced, yet the Lord has given me the joy of still having you?

If he was not watching over us, death and misery would not only be waiting for us just overseas but at every step in every journey. And isn’t he the God there at America as well as at home? Aren’t his power and plans the same in New England as they’ve been in Old England? If our lives please him, he can command deliverance and safety in all places and can make the stones and beasts, even raging seas and our very enemies, to be upon our side. But, if we sin against him, he can raise up evil against us out of our own bellies, houses, or estates. 

My good wife, trust in the Lord who has been faithful to you. He will be better to you than any husband and will bring your husband back again with even more blessing. 

But now I must close, with all the warm greetings I have given this awaiting messenger to send so that he will be all the more glad to help. 

I kiss you, my sweet wife, and bless you and our family, and now I rest. 

   Ever yours,
John Winthrop
February 14, 1629

You must be my valentine, for no one has challenged me.*

* This is likely a touch of humor – John is playfully grateful that no one has taken Margaret away from him (i.e., “challenged” him). 

___________________________

Here is John Winthrop's Valentine letter in his original wording and spelling: 

My sweet wife,

The opportunitye of so fitt a messinger, and my deepe engagement of Affection to thee, makes me write at this tyme, though I hope to followe soone after. The Lorde our God hath ofte brought vs togither with comfort, when we haue been longe absent, and if it be good for vs, he will doe so still: when I was in Irelande he brought vs togither againe: when I was sicke heer at London, he restored vs togither againe: how many dangers neer death hast thou been in thy selfe and yet the Lorde hath granted me to inioye thee still: if he did not watch ouer vs, we need not goe ouer sea to seeke death or miserye, we should meet it at euery steppe, in euerye iournye: and is not he a God abroad as well as at home? is not his power and prouidence the same in N E that it hath been in old E if our wayes please him he can commande deliuerance and safetye in all places, and can make the stones of the feild, and the beastes yea, the raginge seas and our verye enemies, to be in league with vs. but if we sinn against him, he can rayse vp euill against vs out of our owne bowells, howses, estates etc. my good wife, trust in the Lorde, whom thou hast found faithfull, he wilbe better to thee then any husband: and will restore thee thy husband with aduantage: but I must ende: with all our salutations with which I haue laden this bearer, that he may be the more kindly wellcome: So I kisse my sweet wife and blesse thee and all ours, and rest.”

Thine ever, 
Jo. Winthrop
February 14, 1629. 

Thou must be my valentine, for none hath challenged me.

*****

“So ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: he that loveth his wife, loveth himself.”

(Ephesians 5:28; 1599 Geneva Bible)

Winthrop family home (Suffolk, England)

The Litigious Life of John Barnes

John Barnes, an English emigrant to Plymouth colony, was no stranger to controversy. Court records reveal a man prone to conflict, crudeness, and inebriation. On February 2, 1657, tensions flared when Barnes accused Edward Holman of luring his young servant away from work duties to go on leisure boat trips to Duxbury. The court fined Holman and promised to double the fine if it happened again. 

The two had a history of conflict. Years earlier both Holman and Barnes were fined for drunkenness on a Sunday, and Barnes, a wealthy businessman, was even sentenced to sit in the stocks. Another time Barnes was ordered to pay Holman compensation for a wrongful land deal. 

Mr. Barnes’ drinking problem continued to be an issue, leading to multiple court appearances, warnings, and even threats to punish both the establishments that served him and the people who drank with him. His "frequent and abominable drunkenness" led to a revocation of his Plymouth citizenship.

Plymouth records show that Barnes was later in court for land disputes, trespassing, harassing his neighbor's children, striking both a neighbor's son and his horse, and was yet again fined for drunkenness.  

The last mention of John Barnes in the Plymouth court records was in 1672 when a jury was called to determine his cause of death. Apparently, the sixty-year-old man was petting his bull when it turned and gored him in the leg with its horn. The wound was "both broad and deep," and he died thirty-two hours later. 

*****

“As the coal maketh burning coals, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife.”

(Proverbs 26:21; 1599 Geneva Bible)