 On December 12, 1665, he married his second wife, Elizabeth Tomkins, and they had four children, Samuel, Mary, James II, and Rebecca (Bishop) Thompson.Very interested in politics, Bishop became the secretary of New Haven Colony from 1651 to 1658.He was very involved in the early governments of New Haven and Connecticut colonies, serving at various times as deputy to the legislature, He was a Representative in 1665 and served seven terms until 1668.