Edward Carlton apparently returned to England in late 1640 or 1641 on family
business. Before he could leave he needed money paid back from a loan he had
made to Governor Winthrop. Below is a the letter he wrote:
EDWARD CARLTON TO JOHN WINTHROP
To the Right wor[shi]p[fu]ll Mr. John Winthrope esqr. att Boston giue this
in hast I pray you
RIGHT WOR[SHI]P[FU]LL, my purpose is by reason of some speciall prouidence
for to goe into england by the Sparrow (if the lord will) the time that I
haue to prepare my selfe for that longe and tedious iorney, is not lik to be
aboue 7 dayes, otherways I thought for to haue come my selfe for to haue
reckoned with you: but haueinge soe much to doe at home that I could not
possibly come, therfore I doe much intreat you as my case requires for to
send me by this bearer the remander of what is betwixt vs: first you know
that there was betwixt vs in money 79 pounds: but after there was 5 pounds
to be taken of soe the sume was 73 pounds: of which I haue had 28 pounds in
money: one heifer which at this day will not giue 14 pounds: I thinke if any
would buy hir shee may be sold for 20 markes: as for the Cow and Calfe which
you tent me: I gott one to look vpon hir that day shee came too me: and thei
did thinke that if hir age and pouertye with the price that Cattell then did
beare she and hir Calf would not giue much aboue 20 pounds: I am willing to
sell them now for 22 pounds: soe that if you doe account the Cow and Calfe
to 20 pounds and the heifer too 14 pounds: the money which I haue receiued
beinge 28 pounds: amountinge in all to 621i: then there re maines in that 11
pounds: the quantitye of Corne that was due too me was 150 bushells: of
which I haue receiued 70 bushells: soe there remaines ,80 bushells of which
I am willinge accordinge to your desire for to take after 4 shillings a
bushell for 60 bushells, tho I payed too pownd 6 shillings a bushel; and for
the other 20 bushells I shall giue order to some for to receiue of you: for
the vse of my familye: soe that in all there is 23 pounds due vnto me: there
was a steare calfe which I was to haue had of Luxford with the cowe that I
bought of him: which yit I neuer had: tho I might of had of him a heifer
calfe if that I durst haue taken it but I would not for that he told me it
was his wiues: but if you be pleased I shalbe willinge to cast it in with
your cow price att 20 pounds: yett as I sayd you shall haue her for 22
pounds: and I am confident that she is better like than shee was when she
came be 40 shillings: good Sir I beseech you for to lett me know in what I
am or haue beene [illegible] in. I shall endeuor for to giue you full
satisfaction in it: for truly I haue counted it no small mercy that
prouidence did soe order, if that I fell into the hands of such an one as I
did: but sorry I am for what you haue and doe suffer still in regard of that
cross prouidence towards you: now my comfortable goeinge for my outward man
consists in your sendinge me the moneys that is due too me: which is 23
pounds for I haue not any to help me forward in that iorney: I did not think
for to haue troubled you about it this long time: but now the lord is
pleased to try me sadly by some vnexspected newes: therfore I beseech you
that you would help me: truly I was neuer putt into such a straite in all my
dayes: that I know of. I hope for to see you before I goe: somwhat I haue at
home to discharge and alsoe to buy before I goe thus with my truest seruice
to my selfe I rest Yours to vse in what he may
ED: CARLTON.
I purpose for holland if that you will be pleased to comand of mean seruice.
Sir I doe humbly intreate you for a beagle that will hunt the wouls well:
ether that you lend me one: or that you will giue me one. I desire that you
can doe soe that he might come by this bearer.
From ROWLEY the 7 day of the last weeke [ca. August 29, 1640]
EDWARD CARLTON TO JOHN WINTHROP
To the right Wor[shi]p[ fu]l Mr. John Winthop esqr. att Boston giue these
RIGHT W0R[SHI]P[FU]LL, It is no litle trouble to me that my necessitye is
such in regard of my iorney that I cannot be silent for the want of my
money: I profess vnto you in the simplicitye of my hart if that I could haue
procured moneyes any otherwayes, I would neuer haue beene soe vrgent with
you has I haue beene: I doe bleiue if that you were but fully possossed with
my condition and alsoe with the occasion that moues me to goe into England:
you would very much commiserate my case: few intimate freinds I haue in this
land: as for kindered none: a stranger I was to those of our owne plantation
soe that my desire is that you would help me, and alsoe that you would c not
be offended with what I haue or doe write now vnto you: for as I haue sayd,
soe I say still that if I had any other way to procure it: I should
willingly haue lett it remaine in your hands till that you sent it me
without any demaunding of it: and as I did formerly write unto you, that the
want of the moneyes was one prouidence that did hinder me for goeing in the
Sparrow: but I am to goe (god willinge) with the next ship that goes for
england which wilbee the next weeke: soe that I sent this bearer a purpose
to you thus good Sir I pray you consider of my necessitye: and passe by any
weaknesses; which my necessitye and straite may moue me to fall into Soe
with an Expectation of what I haue and doe now writ for I rest Yours to vse
and command in any thing that he can
ED: CARLTON
(Ca. September, 1640)
Winthrop Papers 1638-1645, Col. IV, Boston: Massachusetts Historical
Society, pp. 279, 280, 283, 284
Ron Carlton
Dallas, Texas