Rev Dr. Increase MATHER

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Minister of the North Church of Boston, Mass., and President of Harvard University

Notes:

Name:
Rev. Increase Mather, so named from "the never-to-be-forgotton increase of every sort wherewith God favored the country about the time of his nativity," the youngest and by far the most distinguished brother of timothy, was born in Dorchester, June 21, 1639, and died in Boston, August 23, 1723, in the eighty-fifth year of his age, having been a preacher for sixty-six years, sixty-two of which were spent in the ministry in Boston. He graduated at Harvard in 1656, and being invited by his brother to Dublin, remained abroad four years studying and preaching. In 1664 he was ordained pastor of the North Church in Boston, and continued such until his death. He was President of Harvard College from 1685 to 1701, and enjoyed the distinction of having received from the college the first degree of Doctor of Divinity ever conferred in British America. In April 1688, he was sent to England as agent of the Provinces, to lay their grievances before King James himself. he had five interviews with the King in about six months, and at his request prepared and presented a memorial and petition, but all ended in good words and fair speeches. After the accession of William and Mary in November of that year, his efforts were rewarded with better success, for although he was unable to obtain a restoration of the Old Charter, he procured a grant of the New Charter of Massachusetts, and to him was entrusted the nomination of Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and the Board of Council, who were to be appointed by the King. In the spring of 1692, after an absence of four years, he returned to Boston, accompanied by the new Governor, Sir William Phipps, and the new government, under the new charter, was quickly put in operation.

Increase married Maria COTTON on 16 Mar 1661/2. Maria (daughter of Rev. John COTTON and Sarah HAWKREDD) was born on 16 Feb 1640/1 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; died on 04 Apr 1714 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Rev. Cotton MATHER was born on 12 Feb 1662/3 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; died on 13 Feb 1727/8 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
2. Rev Samuel MATHER was born in 1674 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts; died in Witney, Oxfordshire, England.

Increase married Anne LAKE on 30 May 1715 in Brookline, Massachusetts. Anne was born on 12 Oct 1663 in Hampton, New Hampshire; died on 29 Mar 1736/7 in Brookline, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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