Today in Johnson City History, Monday, January 12, 2026

John Winthrop's birth, a letter, struck by a car, National Hot Tea Day and more

Tuesday, January 12. 1588: On this day, John Winthrop was born at Edwardstone, Suffolk, England. “Puritan John Winthrop is renowned for his leadership in the migration to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the key role he played in developing its character and its relationship with neighboring colonies and indigenous people. Father of 16 children, most notable son John, who was governor of the Connecticut Colony, Winthrop served 13 annual terms as governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony from his arrival in 1630 to his death on March 26, 1649, at Boston, Massachusetts. While alive he kept a detailed journal, which is now considered the foremost historical record of the era.” (Source: Chase’s 2026 Calendar of Events.)