In 1662, he obtained the charter in England which united the colonies of Connecticut and New Haven. He was also one of the commissioners of the United Colonies of New England in 1675. While in England, he was elected as a Fellow of the newly organized Royal Society, and he contributed two papers to their Philosophical Transactions: "Some Natural Curiosities from New England" and "Description, Culture and Use of Maize". His correspondence with the Royal Society was published in series I, vol. xvi of the Massachusetts Historical Society's Proceedings. Personal life Winthrop married his cousin Mary Fones, the daughter of Thomas Fones II and Anne (née Winthrop) on February 8, 1630/1. She and their infant daughter died in Agawam (Ipswich) in 1634. Winthrop's second wife was Elizabeth Reade (1615–1672), the daughter of Col. Edmund Reade and Elizabeth (née Cooke). They had nine children, including: Elizabeth Winthrop (1636–1716), who married Rev. Antipas Newman and Dr. Zerubbabel Endecott, son of Gov. John Endecott Fitz-John Winthrop (1638–1707), who served as major-general in the army, an agent in London for Connecticut (1683–1687), and governor of Connecticut from 1696 until his death in 1707 Lucy Winthrop (1640–1676), who married Maj. Edward Palmes Waitstill Winthrop (1642–1717), who married Mary Browne (1656–1690) Mary "Mercy" Winthrop (1644–1740), who married the Rev. John Culver III Sara Winthrop (1644–1704), who married the Rev. John Culver III Margaret Winthrop (–1711), who married John Corwin Martha Winthrop (1648–1712), who married Richard Wharton Anne Winthrop (–1704), who married John Richards (son of accused witch Wealthean (née Loring) Richards) Winthrop died in Boston on April 6, 1676 where he had gone to attend a meeting of the commissioners of the United Colonies of New England. Descendants Paul Dudley Sargent was a descendant of Winthrop, a Patriot colonel in the American War of Independence. Another descendant was John Sargent, who was a Loyalist during that war. Another descendant was Dudley Saltonstall (1738–1796), a Revolutionary War naval commander most notable for his involvement in the ill-fated Penobscot Expedition. References External links Biographical sketch of Winthrop at State Library Web site 1606 births 1676 deaths People of colonial Connecticut English emigrants Colonial governors of Connecticut Lieutenant Governors of Connecticut Original Fellows of the Royal Society People educated at King Edward VI School, Bury St Edmunds Magistrates of the Connecticut General Court (1636–1662) American ironmasters Winthrop family