She was Joshua’s first wife. 362

He sailed to New England with his parents and brother Samuel on 10 April 1634 on the ship Mary and John. He was the first minister of the first church in Portsmouth where he commenced preaching in 1658. He was ordained in 1671. He declined election as the President of Harvard College in 1684.185 He was originally elected to the Presidency of Harvard University as successor of John Rogers but declined the invitation by stating that "he still felt himself bound to his former people and would try the providence of God, if he might not preach near them, and they have liberty to hear him.” So writes the historian John Langdon Sibley in "Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Harvard University in Cambridge Massachusetts, Volume I 1642-1658, page 375. Increase Mather was appointed to the Presidency in his place. 268 He was an assistant minister of the first church of Boston from 23 May 1684 to 1692. He then returned to be the minister at Portsmouth. He died in 4 July 1697 on a visit to Boston.
“JOSHUA, Portsmouth, s. of William. b. in Eng. H. C. 1653, was first min. of the first ch. ord. July 1671, tho. he had preach. there 1658, was call. to preach the Gen. Elect. sermon of Mass. 1675; and by strange tyranny of Gov. Cransfield, he was aft. 3 mos. imprison. driv. to Boston, and was sett. in May 1684 at first ch. The same yr. was offer. the station of Presid. of the Coll. wh. he declined. Of his former service in 1692 at P. but on a visit to Boston, d. 4 July 1697. Allen, in Biog. Dict. says that "his zeal aainst the witchcraft delus. occassion. his dism. from the ch. where he was preach." Sorry should we feel to find the proof of this, however honora. to him. Much detail on this subject is in Essex Insts. Valua. Vol I. His wh. d. bef. Aug. 1674. Se Hutch. Coll. 465. His d. Martha m. a. 1680, Jonathan Russell; and Sarah m. 5 May 1681, Rev. John Pike, and d. 2 Mar. 1686. Of other ch. only Samuel, H. C. 1689; is know”603