North End in Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

The Mathers

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 14, 2009

1. The Mathers Marker

Inscription. Several generations of great 17th and 18th century New England divines are buried here. Increase (1639-1723), the father; Cotton (1663-1728), the son; and Samuel Mather (1706-1785) the grandson, belonged to a remarkable family of ministers. At a time when the church wielded its own power and religious zeal translated into political influence, the Mathers’ ecclesiastical attainments assured them secular authority.

Increase was the sixth son of Richard, who was first of the Mather dynasty and a minister in Dorchester. Increase graduated from Harvard in 1656 and within a decade began a 60 year ministry to the 2nd Church of Boston. Later, he was named president of Harvard. As a powerful statesman, Increase represented Massachusetts at the British Court and tried to secure a new, beneficial charter for the Colony in the early 1690s. This effort and his role as personal advisor to the new Royal Governor, Sir William Phips, attracted such resentment that he was forced to resign as Harvard president and lose his political power. Increase spent his last days in the North End where he had lived much of his life and had raised his 10 children.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Colonial Era. A significant historical year for this entry is 1656.

Location. 42° 22.048′

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N, 71° 3.329′ W. Marker is in Boston, Massachusetts, in Suffolk County. It is in North End. Marker can be reached from Hull Street, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located along the walking trail in Copp's Hill Burying Ground. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Boston MA 02113, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Unusual Gravestones (within shouting distance of this marker); From Colonial Burying Ground to Victorian Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Seventeenth Century Copp’s Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Copp’s Hill Burying Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Copp's Hill Burying Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); Gravestone Art: Skulls, Wings, and Other Symbols (within shouting distance of this marker); African Americans at Copp’s Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Tombs and Monuments (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boston.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Take a tour of the markers found in Copp’s Hill Burying Ground.

Also see . . . Copp's Hill Burying Ground. Details of the Freedom Trail from the City of Boston website. (Submitted on May 14, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Marker in Copp's Hill Burying Ground image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 14, 2009

2. Marker in Copp's Hill Burying Ground

The Mather Tomb image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 14, 2009

3. The Mather Tomb

Cotton Mather wrote the book Memorable Providences, Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions in 1689, which incited the witch hysteria in Salem.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 954 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 14, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.