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Rev. Dr. Increase Mather

Rev. Dr. Increase Mather

Male 1639 - 1723  (84 years)

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  • Name Increase Mather 
    Prefix Rev. Dr. 
    Birth 21 Jun 1639  Dorchester, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Color
    Death 23 Aug 1723  Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Increase was admitted to Harvard College at the age of 12 and graduated in 1656. He became the preacher at the North Church of Boston on May 27, 1664, remaining the pastor of this church until his death. His son, Cotton, was a colleague for 39 years with him. In 1684 Mr. Mather was offered the Presidency of Harvard College. He accepted under the condition that he also be allowed to continue preaching at North Church. He, therefore, preached every Sunday in Boston but remained in Cambridge during the week, until 1701.

      INCREASE MATHER (1639-1723): Mather, an influential Boston minister and father of Cotton Mather, is credited with being a force for moderation throughout the Salem witchcraft trials and helping bring them to an end with the circulation of his Cases of Conscience on October 3, 1692. Increase Mather has drawn fire from some historians of the period for his hesitancy to take a firm stand against the trials and executions early in the summer of 1692. However, Mather's unique role as leading minister, President of Harvard College, and confidant of Governor William Phips placed him in the precarious position of contesting the witchcraft trials while supporting the judges. While his actions in 1692 were often self-contradictory, he was, according to Kenneth Murdock regarded as "an ally and leader of those whom we see as the most liberal of his time."

      A codicil to his will reads:
      "I do hereby signify to my Executor, That it is my Mind & Will that my Negro Servant called Spaniard Shall not be sold after my Decease; but I do then give Him his Liberty: Let him then be esteemed a Free Negro. June 4. 1719"

      Increase, Cotton & Samuel Mather are buried in the Mather Tomb at Copps Hill in Boston.

      Also had child:
      Katharine Mather b. 14 Sep 1682, d. 11 Jun 1683 Boston, Suffolk, MA
    Person ID I228  Everyone
    Last Modified 1 May 2016 

    Father Rev. Richard Mather,   b. 1596, Lowton, Winwick Parish, Lancashire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Apr 1669, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 73 years) 
    Mother Katharine Hoult,   b. 1598, Bury, Lancaster, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Mar 1655, Dorchester, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 57 years) 
    Marriage 29 Sep 1624  Bury, Lancaster, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F28  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Maria Cotton,   b. 16 Feb 1641, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Apr 1714, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 73 years) 
    Marriage 6 Jan 1660  Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather,   b. 12 Feb 1663, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Feb 1728, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years)
     2. Maria Mather,   b. 16 Mar 1664, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Nov 1746, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years)
    +3. Elizabeth Mather,   b. 6 Jan 1666, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Aug 1745, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 79 years)
     4. Rev. Nathaniel Mather,   b. 6 Jul 1669, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Oct 1688, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 19 years)
     5. Sarah Mather,   b. 9 Nov 1671, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Nov 1746, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 75 years)
     6. Rev. Samuel Mather,   b. 28 Aug 1674, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Witney, Oxfordshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location
     7. Abigail Mather,   b. 16 Apr 1677, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Dec 1748, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 71 years)
     8. Hannah Mather,   b. 30 May 1680, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Dec 1706, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 26 years)
     9. Jerusha Mather,   b. 16 Apr 1684, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Dec 1710, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 26 years)
    Family ID F87  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 29 Dec 2023 

    Family 2 Anne Lake,   b. 12 Oct 1663, Dorchester, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Mar 1737, Brookline, Norfolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 73 years) 
    Marriage 26 May 1715  Dorchester, Suffolk Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F88  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 29 Dec 2023 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 21 Jun 1639 - Dorchester, Suffolk Co., MA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 6 Jan 1660 - Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 26 May 1715 - Dorchester, Suffolk Co., MA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 23 Aug 1723 - Boston, Suffolk Co., MA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth