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Twice he thought himself a candidate for the president's chair, and kept days of fasting, that he might be directed how to act upon the occasion; but he was disappointed. Gov. Dudley persuaded his friend Leverett to accept the place in 1707; and when that great man died, in 1726, and the voice of the people cried aloud for Dr. Mather, and it was declared even in the general court that he ought to be president, it was decided otherwise by the members of the corporation. The chair was first offered to Dr. Colman, and Dr. Sewall, and afterwards to Mr. Wadsworth, who accepted it. In a private account of this transaction, Dr. M. says, "this day Dr. Sewall was chosen for his piety." In a publick speech made in the general assembly a member of the Boston seat declared, after Dr. Colman's election, that he was a man of no learning compared with Dr. Mather.*

One of the most elegant compositions of those times, was a funeral sermon upon Dr. Cotton Mather, by this very Dr. Benjamin Colman, who therein declares him to be by far the greatest man he ever was acquainted with.

In the account of the funeral of Dr. Mather, in the newspapers, it seems, that great respect was paid to his remains. After the relatives, proceeded the lieut. governour, Mr. Dummer, his majesty's council, and house of representatives, a large train of ministers, justices, merchants, scholars and other principal inhabitants both of men and women. The streets were crowded with people, and the windows filled with sorrowful spectators all the way to the burying place.

He was a most voluminous writer; his works amount to more than 300 tracts, histories, biographical sketches, &c. besides the Magnalia, a folio volume. The "biblia Americana," in several volumes, ms. is deposited in the historical library.

It would require more pages to give a just view ⚫ Letters and mss. in the cabinet of historical library.

of his writings, than we can allow to an article of our biography. A volume of memoirs was published by his son and successor, Dr. Samuel Mather, which also contains every remarkable occurrence in his life, a minute view of his studies, and of all his publications. His son was called to the office of pastor of the old north church, 1732, and in 1742 a separation took place by mutual agreement. The people who withdrew built another meeting house, where he was fixed till he ended his labours. He was a man of very extensive reading, and the author of several tracts. He received a diploma of doctor of divinity from Harvard College, 1773. He died, June 27, 1785.*

MAVERICK JOHN, one of the fathers of Massachusetts, and first minister of the church in Dorchester, came over with Ludlow, Rossiter, and others, from the counties of Devon, Dorset and Somersetshire. In the beginning of the year 1630, a congregational church was gathered in 'the new hospi tal at Plymouth by those, who intended to come to North America for the purpose of enjoying greater civil and religious privileges. They observed a day of fasting and prayer to seek for the divine approbation and assistance. In the after part of the day they chose and called those godly ministers, rev. John Warham and rev. John Maverick, who lived 40 miles from Exeter, to be their spiritual guides; who expressed their acceptance, and were separated to the especial care of the intended emigrants. Rev. John White of Dorchester, in Dorset, who was an active instrument in promoting the settlement of New England, and had been the means of procuring the charter, being present, preached in the forepart of the day; and, in the latter part, the

The other works of Dr. Samuel Mather are, an essay on gratitude, 1732; artillery election sermon, 1739; convention sermon, 1762; three funeral sermons; dissertation on the Lord's prayer; dissertation on the venerable name of Jehovah, 1760; a poem, the sacred minister, 1772; America known to the ancients, 1774; a reply to a pamphlet entitled, salvation for all men, +780, &c.

new installed pastors performed. They set sail on the 30th March, and arrived at Nantasket, May 30, where the master put them on shore, notwithstanding the engagement was to bring them up Charles river. Here they were left in a forlorn wilderness, destitute of any habitation, and most of the necessaries of life. Mr. Maverick died in Boston, 1636, Feb. 30. A large part of his church had removed to Windsor, Connecticut, and it was his intention to follow them. He was 60 years of age. He was a man "of a very humble spirit, and faithful in fur thering the work of the Lord here, both in the churches and civil state." Winthrop

MAVERICK SAMUEL had planted himself, at Noddle's island, when gov. Winthrop and his company formed the settlement of Boston. "We went

to Massachusetts," says he, "to find out a place for our sitting down. We went up Mystick river about 6 miles. We lay at Mr. Maverick's, and returned home on Saturday.' "" He seemed to have in view trading with the Indians more than any thing else, but was a very hospitable, kind and benevolent man. His name is mentioned by some writers, as one of the west country people, who came over to Dorchester; by other accounts, he was here before, and he certainly was different from that company in his religious principles and prejudices. His habits of life were also different. Josselyn relates several visits he made to him, and, from his account, he was a gentleman; in very independent circumstances, and lived in a very handsome style. He was a

Topographical and chronological account of Dorchester, by the rev. T M. Harris:

† October 2d, 1639, about 9 o'clock in the morning, Mr. Ma verick's negro woman came to my chamber window, and in her own country language and tune sang loud and shrill, going out to her, she used a great deal of respect to me, and willingly would have expressed her grief in English; but I apprehended it by her countenance and deportment, whereupon I repaired to my host, to learn of him the cause, and resolved to intreat him in her be half, for that I understood before, that she had been

queen in

member of the church of England, but was made a freeman before the law was enacted, that every freeman should be a member of a congregational church, but never was chosen into any office. He afterwards complained of the rigid discipline, and oppressive bigotry of the government.

His son, Samuel Maverick, esq. was in 1664 ap. pointed one of the commissioners to inquire into the state of the New England provinces, and settling the peace and security of the country, and discov. ered peculiar enmity to Massachusetts. In the pe tition which the general court sent over to the king, after these commissioners were appointed, they say, that their adversaries had obtained this commission to injure them, and that one of the four was their professed enemy, meaning this Mr. Maverick. In 1666, he delivered from the king a letter to the governour, wherein he required five persons to be sent to England to answer for the conduct of the colony. He could not however overcome the prejudices, or defeat the policy of the New England government. On the other hand, the revolution put them foundation, which was not to be shaken by those, upon a who sought their ruin.

MAYHEW THOMAS, of Watertown, was appointed governour of Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and the adjacent islands. The earl of Sterling claimed all the islands between Cape Cod and Hudson's river, and it is evident that they were not included in the New England government. The grant is made by his lordship to Thomas Mayhew, and his son Thomas, Oct. 10, 1641. And he grant

her own country, and observed a very humble and dutiful garb used towards her by another negro,who was her maid. Mr. M. was desirous to have a breed of negroes, and seeing she would not yield by persuasion to company with a young negro man he had in his house, he commanded him will'd she nill'd she to go to bed to her, which was no sooner done than she kicked him out again, this she took in high, disdain beyond her slavery and this was the cause of her grief.

ed the same powers of government which the Mas sachusetts people enjoyed by their charter. Mr. Hutchinson says, that the grants of the soil of these islands could not vacate the rights of the Indian sachems and proprietors; and supposes most of the inhabitants or proprietors derive their titles from Indian grants posterior to the grants to lord Sterl ing, or to that made by his agent to Mr. Mayhew and son. The worthy governour of these islands bent his mind to the business of instructing the Indians. He had talents to make a figure in the civil line; but the name of Mayhew is mostly known in our ecclesiastical annals. If any of the human race ever enjoyed the luxury of doing good; if any christian ever could declare what it is to have peace, not as the world gives, but which passes the conceptions of those who look not beyond this world, we may believe this was the happiness of the Mayhews.

The first Indian, who gave any good evidence of being a christian, was under the instruction of Mr. Mayhew. It was in the year 1643, at Martha's Vineyard. The name of this pagan was Hiacoomes. He became a preacher to his own people. The worthy magistrates made further exertions, and "converted many from the error of their ways." The younger Mr. Mayhew became himself a preach. er, and this good work has been carried on by one and another of the name and family from that day to this. In 1657, many hundreds were added to the christian societies in that part of the country of such as might be said, were "holy in their conversation," and that did not need to be taught "the first principles of knowledge," besides many others, who were superficial professors.

MAYHEW JOHN, had under his care, in the year 1689, the Indian church, and they consisted of a hundred communicants, walking according to the rules of the gospel.

MAYHEW EXPERIENCE, son of John, was a gentleman of such superior endowments, according to