I. Grandfather Adam winthrop
1498 10 9. He was born in Levenham, Suffolk, an important textile center in Britain. He lost his father in his teens and his mother remarried. Adam winthrop, who started as an apprentice, not only gained a firm foothold in London, but also became the leader of the wool industry guild. 1526 In September, Adam was accepted as a member of Forrest Company in London, and he was sworn as a free man of the company and obtained London citizenship. 1528, Forrest merged with another wool spinning company, Hilsman Company, and established a more powerful company, the Woolen Workers Company, which quickly rose to become one of the powerful trading guild companies in London. 153 1, Adam started to recruit apprentices himself; 1537 was elected as one of the directors of the company; 1546 was elected as the main manager of the company; 155 1 year, Adam took the top spot in this company and became a prominent figure in London. Adam mainly engaged in trade with Europe, and foreign trade broadened his horizons and enriched his life experience. /kloc-In the 6th century, the scope of public life and social communication in Britain was narrow, limited to the area around the church, and only went to the nearby rural market or the seat of the county government as far as possible. Adam, winthrop's grandfather, went abroad to communicate with the world outside Britain, which is a great thing. Adam not only engaged in trade with Europe, but also engaged in maritime transportation. He owns at least three quarters of the shares in a merchant ship named Mary Flower and another merchant ship named John. In the 1940s of 16, he was the third richest man in his parish.
Second, Sister Anne winthrop.
John winthrop's mother's name is Anne Brown, and his father, Henry Brown, was the rector of groton parish. Brown is not only a priest, but also a wealthy businessman. He owns many industries in Essex and Suffolk, a dyehouse in Berkshire and part of a ship. Brown left a lot of property to his daughter Anne Brown and her grandson, and the winthrop family's mansion in Edwardston was bequeathed to her daughter by Brown. Besides leaving his children a lot of wealth, it is more valuable to let his descendants receive a good education. Anne was obviously well educated, and her academic level was rare at that time. Volume 1 of winthrop's collected works contains a letter she wrote to her husband Adam. The text is written in English and the postscript is written in proficient French, which proves that Anne is also proficient in French. Besides her mother tongue, English and French, she may be proficient in other languages, which can be proved by several foreign language books she signed. The letters of Anne and her husband Adam that have been passed down to this day prove her good educational background. Anne Brown is a devout Puritan. She consciously abides by Puritan moral standards, and at the same time demands family members and their relatives by this standard. According to Adam's diary, Anne, the wife of Adam's nephew Joshua, visited groton. winthrop's mother criticized her for wearing extravagant clothes and not going to church, which made Anne leave angrily. This example can let people know Anne Brown's attitude and style of life. Childhood is an important period for the formation of a person's world outlook. Mother's influence on the formation of winthrop's childhood personality and world outlook can be confirmed from another aspect. Winthrop's father Adam is not only the housekeeper of groton Manor, but also a lawyer. He used to be an auditor of Trinity College, Cambridge University. When winthrop was a teenager, Adam often went out, and Anne Brown was in charge of family affairs. Winthrop has been with his mother for a long time and is directly influenced by her words and deeds. The religious tendency and elegant style revealed in winthrop's portraits reflect his mother's shadow to some extent.
Third, Father Adam winthrop.
Adam winthrop was born in 1548. He is the youngest son in the family and has two older brothers, William and John. His first wife, Alice Steele, died in childbirth, leaving no heir. His second wife Anne gave birth to four children, and John winthrop was their only son. Adam's two marriages not only brought him wealth, but also improved his social status.
In Elizabethan times, universities were the center of Puritanism. The squire's children were influenced by Puritanism in college and later became staunch Puritans. They further influenced the religious position of family members, which is also an important reason why there are more Puritans among the squires. After studying and living in Cambridge for several years, Adam finally became a Puritan who believed in Puritanism. 16 and 17 century Cambridge University is the birthplace of new ideas and the main battlefield of Puritan reform, and Magdalene College is one of the colleges with the strongest atmosphere of religious reform in Cambridge University. Cambridge University, an academic hall, has cultivated many Puritan thinkers. They preached the idea of religious reform on the university platform, and their students spread these ideas to all parts of Britain, gradually changing the religious beliefs of the British people. The thoughts of these thinkers also deeply influenced Adam. Living and studying in Cambridge not only increased Adam's knowledge, but also greatly changed his world outlook. If the belief in Puritanism was influenced by the family before, Cambridge University, the cradle of Puritanism reform, was immersed in Puritanism theory for many years, which made him gradually immersed in Puritanism theory, and his religious inclination in turn further influenced other members of winthrop family. His son John winthrop's religious belief has something to do with Adam's influence.
The establishment of Adam's world outlook was greatly influenced by the teachers he contacted. University is an important period for young people to form a world outlook and establish life goals, and it is also a good place to make friends. When Adam was studying in Cambridge, he met many radical and outstanding Puritan reformers and formed a deep friendship with them. These mentors of Adam's future life had a profound influence on Adam himself, his son John winthrop and even his family. Adam once copied the book "Christian Doctrine" written in the form of question and answer in his reading notes. According to textual research, this book was used by Sands or written by him. Sands and Newtab kept close contact with Adam, and often went in and out of groton Manor to exchange ideas with Adam. Adam often goes to listen to their sermons and supports and cares about their cause. Seeing Adam's contacts with Puritan reformers and listening to them talk about the development of Puritan cause will inevitably have a direct impact on John winthrop, who is in the formative period of his world outlook.
Fourth, uncle William winthrop.
Winthrop's belief in Puritanism is closely related to family tradition. In the winthrop family, grandfather, father, mother and uncle William winthrop were devout Puritans. Among them, winthrop's uncle William winthrop deserves special mention. He actively supported Puritanism, and his enthusiasm for Puritanism reform not only influenced his younger brother Adam winthrop, but also influenced his son.
Cotton Mather, a famous New England historian, described William in this way: He was an unforgettable Protestant defender in the era of Queen Mary, and it was because of his help that the famous martyr philpott was lucky enough to go down in history. William's enthusiasm and persistence in Puritanism undoubtedly influenced his younger brother Adam winthrop and his nephew John winthrop. Puritanism has become their unchanging belief, and completing the reform of Puritanism has become their lifelong goal. Winthrop scholar Francis J. Bremer spoke highly of William's influence on winthrop and his son. He believes that the example set by William has become a beacon to guide their lives.
Five, two uncles John winthrop.
If winthrop's grandfather, father and uncle William winthrop are the model of his life, then another uncle with the same name, John winthrop, is the negative model of his life.
Winthrop's second uncle John winthrop was born in 1547 and died in 16 13. In his will made in 1562, his father appointed him to inherit groton Manor. If there is no male heir after his death, Adam, his younger brother and winthrop's father, will inherit groton Manor. After his father died, John winthrop inherited groton Manor and became its owner. John winthrop's character is far from the moral standards that Puritans should reach. He divorced his wife in violation of the canon and did not give her living expenses, which made her desperately apply to the judge for relief. In addition, he plundered the small room specially prepared by the parish for bell ringers in the church courtyard, and the church deacon took him to court. John was notorious in his hometown and was forced to leave England and move to Ayr. Winthrop was married four times in his life. 1605, 17 winthrop married 22-year-old Mary FOSS. Mary is the sole heir to John FOSS's fortune. Her grandfather, William Foa, was the sheriff of Suffolk, and became a wealthy squire with several properties by selling the property of the monastery. Winthrop and Mary's marriage brought wealth to the winthrop family. According to winthrop's father's diary,1September, 606, FOSS transferred part of its land property to Mr. and Mrs. winthrop. This was undoubtedly a lucky thing for winthrop, who had no hope of becoming the owner of groton Manor at that time. 16 13, when FOSS died, winthrop and his wife inherited his family business and got a lot of land in Stambuli, Essex. Fox left a legacy to several children in winthrop in his will. Although the marriage with Mary promoted winthrop's economic status, it suspended his college life. In the second year after marriage, his eldest son, John winthrop Jr., was born; 1608, the second son Henry was born; 16 10, and the third son, FOSS, was born; 16 12 years, daughter Mary was born; 16 14 and 16 15 gave birth to two daughters with the same name, but both died unfortunately. 1665438+On June 26th, 2005, Mary Foss, who was only 32 years old, passed away, leaving winthrop with four young children, and her eldest son was only 9 years old.
In the era when winthrop lived, it was a common phenomenon to remarry after losing his husband or wife. In order to take care of the young children who lost their mothers, winthrop married Thomas Hincroton less than six months after Mary's death. The social status of the Copton family was slightly higher than that of the winthrop family, and this marriage also promoted winthrop's social status in Suffolk. Clopton's father, William Clopton, is the owner of Casterly Rock Manor, not far from groton Manor, and his mother, Majerie, was born in the famous Wallergoff family in Essex. 16 16, Tomasin, who had just been married for one year, died in childbirth. Although she lived with winthrop for a short time, she and winthrop were similar in temperament and thought, and she took great care of the children born by winthrop's ex-wife, so her death made him very painful. He specially wrote a long diary to commemorate his dead wife, recorded the whole process of her death, described her character and expressed his grief for her dead wife.
Winthrop's third wife, Margaret Tindal, was born into a noble family in Essex. Margaret Tingdahl 1665438+ married 30-year-old winthrop on April 29th, 2008, and gave birth to eight children for winthrop. Four children died at an early age, and four children, Stephen, Adam, Dean and Samuel, grew up.
The love story between Margaret and winthrop was passed down as a much-told story by later generations. 1630, winthrop left England and immigrated to New England. Because Margaret is pregnant, she can't walk with her husband. The husband and wife agree to miss each other from 5 pm to 6 pm every Monday and Friday. Winthrop mentioned this agreement between them more than once in two books. In the book "Two Places" on September 9, 630,/kloc-0, winthrop wrote: "I feel very sad at the thought of leaving you so soon. Sometimes I am so busy that I often forget our agreement. I feel very sorry for you. I am eager to see you again as soon as possible. " Samuel Eliot Morrison was moved by winthrop's tenderness for his wife and wrote with a sigh: "His letter to' dear wife' Margaret is the most affectionate letter a man has ever written to a woman. John winthrop told his wife all kinds of information, mixed with his feelings about God. At the end of the letter, he wrote, "Give me a loving kiss". Goodbye and always love your husband John winthrop. " These surviving letters bear witness to the love between winthrop and Margaret.
On June 1647, Margaret died of an epidemic. Winthrop, then the governor-general, commented on his wife in his diary: "She is a person with extraordinary moral character, prudent life, modest manners and full of love for God. Because of this, she is especially loved and respected by all British people. " James Savage, editor of winthrop Diary, thinks that winthrop's evaluation of Margaret is not enough, and Margaret is still a "person with concise language and elegant manners".
Winthrop got married for the fourth time two years before his death. His wife is a widow named Martha Raines Bano Timor. John winthrop Jr. (1606 ~ 1676) was a British colonist. Son of winthrop, governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. 1633 was appointed governor of the new colony of Sebrook. /kloc-established new London in 0/646, and served as governor of Connecticut from 1657 to 1676. 1664 realized the union of Connecticut and New Haven colonies.
John winthrop III (1638 ~ 1707), an English colonist, was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Grandson of winthrop, governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. I went to England to join oliver cromwell's army. 1663 returned to the United States to participate in Philippe War (1675 ~ 1676). 1698 was elected governor of Connecticut colony.