Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

the Established English Church. In later
years he was wont to speak in terms of
regret concerning his ordination, calling
it a "grievous sin." He preached in the
town of Prescott in connection with his
Toxteth church work, and in other par-
ishes of the county. In August, 1633, he
was silenced for non-conformity, but
restored the November following. In
1634 he was again silenced, and his
friends could not have him restored again.
He testified that in the fifteen years he
had been in the ministry he had never
worn a surplice. He decided to go to
New England, and sailed from Bristol on
May 23, 1635, m tne ship "James," arriving
in Boston on August 17 following.
He remained in Boston some time with
his family, and finally settled in Dorchester,
where he was chosen teacher of a new
church, August 23, 1636. On September
20, 1636, he was admitted to the church
with his wife ;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
served as minister until his
death, and for fifty years was able to
attend to his church labors every Sun-
day. In his last years he lost sight of
one of his eyes, and for the last two years
suffered from a distressing malady which
terminated his life, April 22, 1669. He
left a diary with an interesting account
of his journey across the ocean, and also
a brief biography of his life up to his
thirty-ninth year. With Rev. William
Thompson he composed "An Answer to
Mr. Charles Herle," and he was the chief
author of "The Elder's Discourse About
Church Government" in 1639, and the
"Cambridge Platform" in 1647. H' s other
publications were :
"The
Bay Psalm
Book," the first printed in America, 1640;
"A Reply to Rutheford," 1646; "An heart
melting exhortation, together with a cor-
dial of consolation presented in a letter
from New England to his countrymen in
Lancashire," 1650; "A Catechism," 1650;
"A Treatise of Justification," 1652; "A
146
Letter to Mr. Hooker to prove that it was
lawful for a minister to administer the
sacrament to a congregation not particu-
larly under his care ;" "A Plea for the
Churches of New England ;" "An Election
Sermon," 1660; "An Answer to Mr.
Davenport's work against the proposition
of the Synod," 1662; "A Farewell exhortation
of the church and people of Dor-
chester consisting of seven directions."
He prepared for the press others which
were not printed. His grandson, Cotton
Mather, says of him
His way of preaching was very plain, studiously
avoiding obscure and foreign terms, and unneces-
sary incitation of Latin sentences, and aiming to
shoot his arrows, not over the heads but into the
hearts of his hearers. * * * His voice was loud
and big, and uttered with a deliberate vehemency;
it produced unto his ministry an awful and very
taking majesty. * * * But as he judged that a
preacher of the Gospel should be, he was a very
hard student. Yea, so intent was he upon his
beloved studies, that the morning before he died
he importuned his friends that watched with him,
to help him into the room where he thought his
usual works and books expected him. To satisfy
his importunity, they began to lead him thither;
but finding himself unable to get out of his lodging
room, he said: "I see I am not able; I have
not been in my study for several days; and is it
not a lamentable thing that I should lose so much
time?"
His will was dated October 16, 1661.
He married (first) September 29, 1624,
Catherine Holt, who died 1655, daughter
of Edmund Holt, of Bury, England. He
married (second) August 26, 1656, Sarah,
widow of William Story and of Rev. John
Cotton, and daughter of Richard Hankridge,
of Boston, England. She died May
2j, 1676. Children: Rev. Samuel, born
May 13, 1626 ; Timothy, mentioned below ;
Rev. Nathaniel, March 20, 1630; Joseph,
1634, died young; Rev. Eleazer, May 13,
1637; Rev. Dr. Increase, June 21, 1639.
Timothy Mather, second son of Rev.
Richard and Catherine (Holt) Mather,