Of all the families who made names for
themselves in the early days of the colonies, none was more
prominent than the Mathers. It is difficult to say if their
influence was equivalent to that of the Kennedys in the
latter half of the twentieth century, but there is little
doubt that Richard, Increase, and Cotton Mather represent
the height of Puritan accomplishment and intellect, as well
as the depth of their bigotry and
superstition.
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