Individual Details

He was born while Elizabeth I was Queen, and a boy during the reign of James I, he went to Magdelen College, Oxford University, in 1615, but did not graduate. He wed and had all his children in Northamptonshire. He was a protestant preacher in a time when the harassed clergy were obliged to disguise themselves and to use assumed names.

The whole family came to the Colonies in 1635 aboard the "Truelove" from
London. On March 3, 1639/40, in New Plymouth, at a General Court, Wm.
Bradford, Governor, Thomas Prence, Miles Standish.... assistants Mr. John
Mayo of Barnstable, Mass., and Job Cole admitted Freemen in this court
and Sworn, (the term Freemen connotes men of peaceable conversation,
orthodox in the fundamentals of religion).

He was a "pious and learned minister." He was steady, reasonable and patient. He served the congregation at Nausett (Eastham) as a "teaching elder" and moved there from Barnstable in 1646.

In 1654, they moved again, to Boston, so that he could become the first
pastor of the 2nd Church of Boston, "transplanted from the smallest town
on Cape Cod to the largest in the Bay, the 'Metropolis of America'. Was
he not quite a person? He was, humanly speaking, one who has done the
impossible!"

He was an overseer at Harvard College, and he attended the graduation of
the son of a fellow overseer, Increase Mather, who became Pastor after
John. He was paid 65 Lbs. as his salary. He resigned his pastorate
April 15, 1672/73, after 33 years in the pulpit. The North Church
pensioned him, not because he was needy, but for all the good he had
done. He was a sincere 17th century religionist. He was a resourceful
man whose mentality was far above average. He helped to found two towns
and three churches. He "never lost a friend except by death." "I have
always supposed that Mayo was quite a person. I dare say he has not had his justice from the historians, quiet people who mind their own business seldom do."

Birth	4 Feb 1598	Cattistock, Greater Middleton, Northamptonshire, England
Christen	2 Apr 1598	Middleton Cheney, Northamptonshire, England
Education	1615	Magdelen College, Oxford University, but did not graduate
Marriage	1619	Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands - Tamesin BRIKE
Emigration	1635	London England
Ordination	15 Apr 1640	protestant preacher in a .time when the harrassed clery were obliged to disguise themselves and to use assumed names,
Residence	1646	Eastham. Later to Boston for 20 years. While in Boston he lived on Middle, now Hanover Street., Yarmouth
Death	3 May 1676	Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Burial	7 May 1676	Candle Bishop, Dorsetshire, England
Will	7 Jun 1676	Will inventory 1 June 1676, probated 7 June 1676, settled 15 June 1676,

Spouse	Tamesin BRIKE (1605 - 1682)
Child	Samuel MAYO (1620 - 1664)

Father	Rev. John MAYO II (1565 - 1630)
Mother	Elizabeth POOLE (1575 - 1645)

Notes