MAYHEW, JONATHAN (1720-66). An Ameri can clergyman, born 011 the island of Martha's Vineyard. Mass. He graduated at Ilarvard in 1744. studied theology. and from 1744 until his death was pastor of the West Church (Congre gationah. Boston. Ile became one of the best known preachers in New England and his influ ence on the politieal views and theories of the colonists in the pre-ltevolutionary period was probably greater than that of any other elerp- maw Dr. Mayhew was all ardent believer in the rights of the Ameriean colonies. and expressed his trews with great boldness from his pulpit. In January, 1750. he preached a sermon on the execution of Charles L. in which he Ilechired that all allegiance was limited be certain inalienable rights lleit eould not be abrogated by the sover eign without giving a corresponding right of abrogation to the subject. Ili. fearlessness led to his being bitterly attacked by the Tories. who charged him. without warrant. milli being the
instigator of the Boston Stamp Act riots that resulted in the sacking of Governor Mitchin son's house. In Slay, 1766, he preached a Thanksgiving sermon fur the repeal of the Stamp Act that was a remarkable plea for civil and religious liberty. Later in the same year and only a short time before his death he wrote to James Otis a letter which probably contains the earliest suggestion of a union of all the colonies. The subsequent institution of committees of corre spondence undoubtedly had its inception in Dr. :Mayhew's plan. Iris sermons were published sep arately in pamphlet form and in collections. Among them were: Sem( Sermons (1749) ; Diss course Concerning Unlimited Submissitm and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers (1750) ; 1Sern(ons (1756) ; and 8ermons to Young .11en (1767). Consult Bradford, .1Iemoir of the Life and Writings of the Bee. -Jonathan Mayhew (Boston. 1838).