WINSLOW, wirtz16, Edward. American colonial governor: b. Droitwitch, ‘Vorcester shire, England, 19 Oct 1595; d. at sea, between Santo Domingo and Jamaica, 8 May 1655.
While making a tour of the Continent he be came a member of John Robinson's Leyden congregation. He was one of the passengers in the Mayflower, and in the first conference with Massasoit offered himself as a hostage. and won the attachment of the Indian chief, which he increased in 1623 by curing him of a severe illness. After the death of his wife dur ing the first winter at Plymouth he married Mrs. Susannah White, mother of Peregrine White, her husband having died in that same winter also, and theirs was the first marriage in New England. In 1623-24 he made two voy ages to Europe as agent for the colony, of which he was chosen governor in 1633, 1636 and 1644. While visiting England again in 1635 as agent for the colony, he was im prisoned by Laud in the Fleet prison for 17 weeks on the charges of having taught in the church, although a layman, and of having per formed marriage as a magistrate. Another
voyage was made by him in 1646 to answer charges against the colonists of religious per secution and intolerance. In 1649 he again visited England, was instrumental in the organ ziation of the society for the propagation of the gospel in New England, and was employed in various public affatrs under the Common wealth. In 1655 Cromwell appointed him one of three commissioners to superintend an ex pedition against the Spaniards in the West In dies, and he died before its completion. He was the author of several works, mostly con troversial writings in defense of New England. The principal are 'Good News from New Eng land' (1624); 'Hypocrisie Unmasked' (1646); 'The Danger of Tolerating Levellers in a Civil State' (1649), and 'Glorious Progress of the Gospel' amongst the Indians' (1649). These have been reprinted by the Massachusetts His torical Society.