Oldest Known Ancestor of Winter Family: John Winter

Farmland of Mosstower, from the History of Eckford web page.

This material is taken from Malcolm Winter's Website.

JOHN WINTER  was born 1757 in ?Scotland or 2/20 Chester LeStreet St. Mary, Durham, and died in ? Bovina New York. He married ELISABETH (BETTY) ALLAN May 15, 1785 in Ford, Northumberland, England, daughter of ?WILLIAM ALLON.

John came to America with his 16 year old son Robert in 1822 - had a 9 week voyage and landed in Quebec. From there they came to Bovina to visit the Winters who had come first, intending to then go on to Ohio. Eventually they decided to settle in the New York region - for a time living with a married daughter named Turnbull near the United Presbyterian Church of Bovina. When young Robert became 20 he married Sally Drummond.

Below is a letter from Thomas Winter to John Winter.  I have not corrected the typos since this is the only copy I have seen.


                                                        Mosstower, May 24, 1839
Dear Grandfather,

I have now taken the present opportunity of writing these lines,
hoping you are enjoying good health.
I have taken this opportunity because there is a person by the
name of Robert Henderson going to emigrate to America. I suppose he is
going to settle about the same country where you are. He lives in
Jadburgh at present and he is going away at Whitsunday when he promised
to carry this letter. My father and mother continue in Mosstower, yet
and have given up all thoughts of ever setting out for America, and
what hinders them I know not. Perhaps it is the perils and dangers of
the sea or perhaps the difficulty of parting with their friends here,
for they have more friends here now. My sister and brother (as you
have heard) are both at Lintons and have each a family of their own. My
sister Margaret is married on the farm there and my brother John is
shepherd under them, but he met in with a grievous and lamentable
misfortune. A year and half since when his wife died In child-bed and
1eft two sons. They are now two fine boys, both able to run about.
Margaret has also a boy about 14 months old. My brother Robert is an
apprentice at Ecford where he is serving his time as joiner. Betsey
and Jessie are both at hone under the superintendence of my father. I
shall give you I history of myself but I shall reserve it to the end.
Yet I rejoice under the providence of God to say we are a11 well and
live contented with the station that is assigned us, I think sir, more
than likely that my father and mother will never see you again in this
world. Indeed it is difficult to say what providence is often pleased
to bring about, and I dare say that it wil1 be the case. I have often
heard that I had a grandfather and if I happened to meet you on the
streets of New York I would pass you by and think you was one of the
inhabitants of the city. I hope you are well supplied with ministers
of the Gospel, yet, I believe there are many places destitute of such
excellent positions on account of the inhabitants 1yiny wide and far
between. The best method I can think of to remedy this inconvenience is
that ministers should go from one place to another like the Ranters
among us.
In Northumberland, the other year they were much busied in going
from place to place but I hear no more word about them.
We had frightful accounts of war in America this winter, but I
believe now that it is in the great measure abated, but I saw in the
papers that the U.S. and Canada had a disagreement about the boundary line
between the two aforesaid countries, and whether the dispute is ended I
have not heard. The Chartists in England or what we call the Radicals are
raising such disturbances. They are arming all their followers and minions
and exercising then in the arts of war. There are some petitions sent by
them to the government and if their grievances are not redressed they are
determined to take Parliament and wrest from them at the point of the
sword the object of their wish.
This spirit has infused itself into a great number of the
inhabitants of the great manufacturing towns of England Scotland, and the
clergy here are all so alarmed that they have bills posted up on the
Church doors prohibiting any person to use or exercise in anything that is
employed in war.
We are sorry to hear such bad reports from out friends in America,
and I hope that the means used for the recovery of my cousins will prove
successful. But remember to write the first opportunity that occurs and
send us word how they and all our friends are.
My Uncle James Turnbull and all his family (the last report we heard)
are well.
My Uncle William is down about Northumberland but we have no
communication whatever with him.
I promised to give you an account of myself. I have been et Edinburgh
two winters at College and I just came out to spend two or three weeks at
Mosstower and am just preparing to go back again all summer to attend the
summer classes.
Some persons advise me to follow the ministry but I think that a
teacher in Scotland or in America succeeds very well.
You must remember that I am not a dissenter like my father but a true
and firm adherer of the Church of Scotland I must remain.
As the bounds Or this paper w11 not allow me to go farther,

I am your steady and affectionate grandson,

                                                 Thomas Winter

The foregoing letter is in the possession of Miss Margaret Storie,
Bovina Center, New York and is addressed to,

Mr. John Winter
Bovina, County of Delaware
State of New York
North America