Colonial America
Great-grandson of 1620 Mayflower Pilgrim Leader at Plymouth and Massachusetts Governor Edward Winslow
EDWARD WINSLOW, Sr. (1713-84). Revolutionary War Tory, Brother of Major General John Winslow (French and Indian War) and the Father of the Co-founder (and Governor) of New Brunswick, Canada.
November 11, 1770-Dated, Partially-Printed Document Signed, “Edward Winslow, Sr.,” as Clerk, at Plimouth (Plymouth), MA., Very Fine. This 1 page, 5.5” x 7.75” Document being a Legal Court Order Writ, ordering the sheriff to attach the goods of John Jones of Plymouth, to help ensure that Jones would show at court to answer a legal complaint instituted by Nathaniel Goodwin of Plymouth regarding a debt owed to him. This order is from the Court of Common Pleas, with the Chief Justice at the time being Edward Winslow's own brother, General John Winslow. There is some traces of archival silk and heavy prior glue mounting traces on the reverse right and left side edges. The original red wax Seal is intact, being overall very well printed upon laid watermarked period paper, and is completed in rich brown ink the is easily readable. The signature “Edward Winslow, Sr.,” is particularly nice, being deep bold brown, large and vivid.

Edward Winslow, Sr. (1713-84) was the Great-grandson of 1620 Mayflower Pilgrim Leader at Plymouth, and Massachusetts Governor Edward Winslow. Edward Winslow (October 18, 1595 – May 8, 1655) was an English Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower. He served as the Governor of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644. His testimony in Mourt's Relation is one of only two primary sources of the "First Thanksgiving" in existence.
Edward Winslow Sr., was the great-grandson of Governor Edward Winslow (1595-1654), who came to Plymouth on the ship Mayflower in 1620, and served as an intermediary with the Indians.

Edward's grandfather was Josiah Winslow (1628-1680) who also became Governor and was a Militia leader during King Phillip's War in 1675. Edward's father was Isaac Winslow (1670-1738) a Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas and President of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Edward graduated Harvard in 1736 and during his career served as clerk of the courts, registrar of probate, selectman, and Collector of the Port at Plymouth.

In the early 1770s, he was Deputy Collector of Customs, Registrar of the Court of Probate and, jointly with his son, Edward Winslow Jr., (1746-1815) a Justice of the Peace in Plymouth. He and his son, Edward Jr., (1746-1815) were stripped of their positions in 1775 as the Patriots gained the upper hand in the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence in 1776. His son, Edward Jr., in 1775, was appointed Colonel in the British Army at Boston, and served as a guide for Lord Percy at Lexington where his horse was shot under him during battle. Edward Sr. and his entire family then evacuated to Nova Scotia in 1776. Here, Edward Jr. was appointed Muster-Master-General for North America of the American forces in the service of the crown. Edward Senior died in Halifax in 1784. The rest of the family then headed the petition to the crown to form a new colony (New Brunswick) which was granted. Edward Jr. then became Governor of Province of New Brunswick and Surrrogate-General Judge of the Supreme Court. It is possible that this writ was written and signed (in the text as a witness) by General John Winslow, but I was unable to find a document or signature of the General, so I cannot say for sure. But just in case, here is a bio on him: In 1740 he was a Captain of a company that served in the expedition to Cuba ; in 1752 sent to Fort St. George, Maine, as a commissioner to settle land disputes with the Indians. In 1755 when major-general of militia, and Captain in the British Army, he was ordered to Nova Scotia to remove the Acadians from that province. In 1756 he served as a Major-General against the French, and also in 1758-1759. In 1762 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in Plymouth County. The town of Winslow, Maine is named in his honor.