Mather House Museum

John R. Mather was born on November 20, 1814 in Port Jefferson (called "Drowned Meadow" then). His father, Richard, a shipbuilder, died in an accident while manning the ship Rogers at age 30, when John R. was two. Five years later, his mother, Irene (Willse) remarried to William R. Jones, another shipbuilder. John R. learmed the shipbuilding trade with his uncle in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and later worked in partnership with his stepfather in his shipyard until 1844 before establishing his own business in Port Jefferson. In 1840, John R. also served as Postmaster. John R. married Sarah Jane Wells, the daughter of a Stony Brook shipbuilder, in 1848. The couple's only son, John Titus Mather, was born on June 27th, 1854, and followed his father into the shipbuilding business. They also had two daughters: Irene Willse (borna bout 1850), and Sarah (born ca. 1851; later, the wife of Dr. M.L. Chambers). In 1860, the 37-year old ship carpenter owned real estate worth $3,000 and personal property valued at $1,500. The family shared their home with an African-American servant named Phebe Jones (age 40).

During his career, John R. built many vessels, including the schooners Alfred E. Thorn (built in 1839), Excelsior (1840), Lady Suffolk (1849), John R. Mather (1851), Millard Filmore (1856), Willow Harp (1858), William H. Jones (1861), James Slater (1874), and Bessie Whiting (1883). In the 1860s, John R. was associated with a general store in partnership with Captain Thomas B. Hawkins and F.F. Darling, doing business as F.F. Darling & Company. John R. later was a partner with William Jones (a half-brother?) in a lumber business, Mather & Jones. In 1880, the Mather House was the home of John R. (age 63); his wife, Sarah J. (53); ad their three children Sarah D. (29); Irene W. (28); and John R. (25, a lumber dealer).

John R. retired from shipbuilding in 1885. Sarah Jane Mather died in 1892. After being ill for only a few days, John R. passed away at his home in August 1899. The funeral for the beloved "Boss" Mather took place from the Mather home on Prospect Street. One of his obituaries noted that John R. was "always a staunch Democrat" and was a "warm admirer of Grover Cleveland." The only son, John Titus Mather, never married and died in 1928 while in Cuba. The philanthropist instructed in his will that a non-sectarian charitable hospital be funded by the estate. John T. Mather Hospital opened in the village of Port Jefferson one year later.

The Mather House Museum offers guided tours; a donation is requested. Nineteenth-century furniture and household tools are on display in the home's parlor and kitchen, as well as nautical oil paintings by local artists, vintage shipbuilding tools and instruments, and half hull wooden models used by a local shipyard.

Anonymous. "Death of John R. Mather." Brooklyn Times (Brooklyn, NY) August 5th 1899. Transcribed on Long Island Genealogy website.

Cohen, Lon. This Day in History: John T. Mather is Born in 1854, Patch, Port Jefferson. June 27th 2011. Accessed April 4th 2021. https://patch.com/new-york/portjefferson/this-day-in-history-john-t-mather-is-born-in-1854.

Historical Society of Greater Port Jefferson. The Mather House, Museum Complex. July 1st 2020. Accessed April 9th 2021. http://portjeffhistorical.org/the-mather-house.

Historical Society of Greater Port Jefferson. The Country Store, Museum Complex. July 1st 2020. Accessed April 9th 2021. http://portjeffhistorical.org/new-page-1.

Historical Society of Greater Port Jefferson. Marine Barn & Sail Loft, Museum Complex. July 1st 2020. Accessed April 9th 2021. http://portjeffhistorical.org/marine-barn-sail-loft.

Long Island Genealogy. The Mather family of Long Island, Long Island Genealogy. Accessed April 5th 2021. http://longislandgenealogy.com/Surname_Pages/mather.htm.

U.S. Census. Household of John R. Mather in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, NY, dwelling 443, family 463. Washington, DC. U.S. Census Bureau, 1860.

U.S. Census. Household of John R. Mather in Port Jefferson, Suffolk County, NY, dwelling 545, family 607. Washington, DC. U.S. Census Bureau, 1880.