Rev. Samuel MATHER

Notes:

Name:
Rev. Samuel Mather, the elder brother of Timothy, was born in Lancashire, May 13, 1626, and accompanied his father to America. He graduated at Harvard in its second class in 1643, and was appointed the first Fellow of the College. After preaching for a short time in Boston, he returned to England where he became noted as a clergyman. He was Chaplain to the Lord Mayor of London, and afterwards of Magdalen College, Oxford. He preached two years in Leith, Scotland, and then in 1655 went to Ireland where he was made Senior Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin.Though a most liberal non-conformist, he was suspended soon after the Restoration on the charge of sedition. Returning to England he was minister at Burton Wood till ejected by the Bartholomew act in 1662. He afterwards gathered a church at his own house in Dublin, where he died Oct. 26, 1671, in his forty-sixth year. As a preacher he held the first rank and his name was known throughout the kingdom.

He married the sister of Sir John Stevens of Dublin, Ireland.

He had 4 or 5 children; all died young but a daughter.

mr. Mather was born in Much-Woolton, Lancashire, and came to America when nine years of age with his father. He became hopefully pious before he was six years of age, and is represented as an extraordinary instance, not only of early developed intellectual ability, but of "discretion, seriousness, prayerfulness, and watchfulness." He took such a view of life that when asked to play he would decline by saying,"I was not sent into the world for sport." In the year 1643, at the age of 17, he graduated at Harvard College. he was the first Fellow of the college. Those who were under his tuition held him in very great esteem, and it was said by them "such was the love of all the scholars to him, that not only when he read his last philosophy lectures in the college hall, they head him with tears, because of its being his last, but also, when he went away from the college, they put on the tokens of mourning in their very garments for it." When Mr. M. began to preach he assisted the Rev. Ezekiel Rogers in Rowley, and was invited to settle with them, but, owing to his extreme youth, probably, declined. The Second or north Church when it as formed invited Mr. M. to preach for them. He preached for them their first service and through the following winter. After that this church was for a long period, until 1741, under the charge of his brother, rev. Dr. increase, or rev. Dr. Cotton, or rev. Dr.Samuel, the son of the latter, with the exception of a few years when the Rev. M. Mayo and Joshua Gee were settled over the church. In England the Rev. Mr. Mather became quite noted; he was appointed, on his arrival in London, chaplain to the Lord Mayor of London, where he made the acquaintance of eminent ministers in that country. Such was the demand for him that he was overtaxed in work, and came near losing his life. He rested awhile from his labors, and was again restored. He then preached at Gravesend, and then in the city of Exeter in the Cathedral. At one time was chaplain of Magdalen College, Oxford, near by the college, Brazen-Nose, in the same city, where his father studied before settling in Toxteth Park, Liverpool. he made a tour in Scotland with English commissioners, where for two years he preached. In the year 1655 he went with Dr. Harrison, Dr. Winter, and Mr. Charnock, and the lord deputy, Henry Cromwell, into Ireland. He was appointed senior fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, and joint pastor, with Dr. Winter, of the Church of St. Nicholas. An opportunity was now presented for the exercise of charity, and for the display of that true Christian liberality for which he was ever distinguished; for when his patron, the lord deputy, gave him a commission for the displacing of several Episcopal ministers, he refused to do it, saying, "I came into this country to preach the gospel, not to hinder others from preaching.".......

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Thomas, and grandson of John Mather of Lowton, Winwick Parish, Lancashire, England

Richard married Katherine HOLT on 29 Sep 1624 in Bury, Lancashire, England. Katherine died in 1655. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Edmund Hoult/Holt