Richard Mather is buried at the Dorchester North Burying Ground in Boston, Massachusetts.
A Historic Resting Place
Richard Mather, a pivotal figure in early colonial America and a prominent Puritan minister, lies interred in one of Boston's most historically significant cemeteries. The Dorchester North Burying Ground, also known as the Dorchester Old Burial Ground, is a testament to the early history of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Name of Cemetery | Dorchester North Burying Ground (also known as Dorchester Old Burial Ground) |
| Location | Stoughton Street, Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Significance | One of Boston's oldest burying grounds, established in 1634. It holds the remains of many early settlers, ministers, and influential figures of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. |
| Notable Burials | Besides Richard Mather, the cemetery is home to the graves of other notable figures such as John Cotton Jr., members of the Stoughton and Humphrey families, and early settlers of the Dorchester community. |
| Historical Context | The cemetery provides a unique glimpse into the lives and deaths of the Puritans who shaped the foundational principles of New England. Its gravestones offer valuable insights into colonial funerary art and beliefs. |
Who Was Richard Mather?
Richard Mather (1596–1669) was an influential English Puritan clergyman who emigrated to New England in 1635. He quickly became a leading minister in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and was instrumental in shaping the religious and intellectual landscape of the nascent colony. He was known for his significant contributions to:
- Church Governance: Mather played a key role in developing the "Cambridge Platform" (1648), which established a framework for Congregational church government in New England.
- The Bay Psalm Book: He was one of the primary compilers of the Bay Psalm Book (1640), the first book printed in British North America, which became widely used in colonial churches.
- The Mather Dynasty: Richard Mather was the patriarch of a distinguished family of Puritan ministers and intellectuals, including his sons Increase Mather and grandson Cotton Mather, who continued to exert immense influence over colonial society for generations. His burial in Dorchester North Burying Ground marks the resting place of the progenitor of this significant lineage.
His long and dedicated service to the Dorchester church and his broader contributions to New England Puritanism underscore the historical importance of his final resting place. The grounds offer a serene and reflective space for visitors to connect with the rich history of early American settlement and the individuals who molded its trajectory.
