MATHER

See also:

• MATHER BYLES (1706-1788)

BYLES (1706-1788)  , American clergyman, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on the 26th of March 1706, descended, on his mother's side, from John Cotton and Richard Mather . He graduated at Harvard in 1725, and in 1733 became pastor of the Hollis Street church (Congregational), Boston . He held a high rank among the clergy of the province and was noted for his scholarly sermons and his ready wit . At the out-break of the War of Independence he was outspoken in his advocacy of the royal cause, and after the British evacuation of Boston his connexion with his church was dissolved . He remained in Boston, however, and subsequently (1777) was arrested, tried and sentenced to deportation . This sentence was later changed to imprisonment in his own house . He was soon released, but never resumed his pastorate . He died in Boston on the 5th of July 1788 . Besides many sermons he published A Poem on the Death of George I . (1727) and' Miscellaneous Poems (1744) . His son, MATHER BYLES (1735-1814), graduated at Harvard in 1751, and was a Congregational clergyman at New London, Connecticut, until 1768, when he entered the Established Church, and became rector of Christ church, Boston . Sympathizing with the royal cause, he settled, after the War of Independence, in St Johns, New Brunswick, where he was rector of a church until his death .