Notes for Robert Murfin and Ann

Some of the notes shown below might concern son Robert Murfin, rather than this Robert Murfin, since they are not distinguished in the documents.

1620 I have no documentation for Robert's birthdate, but it is given often as 1620 or 1625 in Eaton, Nottinghamshire.

1641 Robert Murfin, Sr. began protesting the Church and loyalty to King Charles in 1641, as a Quaker, and was imprisoned for refusing to pay Tithes. Murfyn appears in the 1641/42 Nottinghamshire Protestation Returns in Eaton Parish (all males over 18 were required to pledge loyalty to KingCharles I). He signed his own name. He did not appear in the 64 or 74 Nottinghamshire Hearth Tax Returns. [1]

1658 "Tithes. There are two entries showing that the Court of Quarter Sessions was resorted to for the recovery of tithes: On 20th April, 1658, in the time of the Commonwealth, on complaint by 'John Kirk, Viccar of the parish of Eaton, that one Robt Murfin detaynes from him severall small tythes and dues unto him for diverse yeares last past amounting to ye sum of 16/10,' an order was made for payment of the same." [2]

1660 "Nottinghamshire. In this Year also, Roger Storrs, William Thorp of Gerton, and Robert Morfin [Murfin] of Worksop, were Prisoners for refusing to pay Tithes." [3][4]

1660 "Robert Morfin [Murfin] of Workson [sic] was a Prisoner on Account of Tithes in the 3d Month 1660, having then been there forty Weeks." [5]

1677 Robert Murfin purchased land of George Hutchinson for £6.15. [6]

1678 The Murfin family originated in Eaton, Nothinghamshire, England, and immigrated to Burlington, New Jersey [7], arriving in the winter of 1678 on the ship "Shields of Stockton". [8]

1680 On June 14, Robert Murfin [Mirfin] was named as a freeholder in the County of Burlington. [9]

1680 Robert Murfin registered an earmark for his swine in the County of Burlington. [10]

1680 Robert Murfin, planter of Crosswick Creek, West NJ, purchased 100 acres of Anthony Woodhouse, planter of Mansfield, NJ for 7 pounds. [11]

1680 Nov. 12 Return of survey for Robert Murfin, of 8 acres 40 perches of meadow, between William Wood and the Delaware R. and also for 100 acres on the hill top, along Delaware R., the creek and the lane. On the same day, William Black purchased land adjoining. An agreement was reached between Robert Murfin and Wm. Black, that the lane dividing their resp. lands shall be forever a common highway.

1681 May 10. Return of survey for Robert Murfin (or his son?), of 100 acres, S. W. Crosswick Cr., adjoining John Murfin. [12]

1682 John Hooton sold a lot in Burlington to Robert Murfin for 13 pounds. Witnessed by John Rogers, William Lasswell, and Thomas Revell. [13]

1683 Robert Murfin was constable.

1684 On July 16, William Black and Robert Murfin conveyed to John Horner, late of Burlington, Yeoman, and Mary his wife, two plantations in Mansfield township, two hundred acres lying above Crosswicks Creek. [14]

1684 Robert and John Murfie [Murfin] were on the assessment list for Burlington Co, New Jersey for owning 400 acres.

1685 Robert Murfin was named commissioner for buying land above the Falls.

1688 Robert Murfin was an assessor for the bridge over the river Darriom. [15]

1689 John Murfin (possibly the son of Robert and Ann), basholer (bachelor?) of Bartar Creek, sold a lot in Burlington to Gervas Pharo, basholer of Nottingham Woodhouse, West Jersey. [16]

1692 Thomas and Mary Coleman, tailor of Bucks Co, Pennsylvania sold 100 acres to Robert Murfin, yeoman of Burlington, for 18 pounds...devised by John Wood for his daughter Mary (Coleman), late of Creekhouse, Bucks Co, Pennsylvania. [17]

The remaining notes could be for this Robert and wife Ann, or son Robert and his wife Ann:

1694 On May 8, Robert Murfin, of Nottingham Parish, Burlington Co, New Jersey, perhaps this one but more likely his son, dated his will. Inventory of the estate of (£213.19.6, all personal); made by Thomas Lambert, Mahlon Stacy, Francis Davenport and William Watson. [18]

1694 Sept. 17. Letters of administration on the estate of Robert Murfin of Nottingham, were granted to widow, Anne Murfin and she made bond and filed the inventory. [19][20][21][22] Robert Murfine, date of death: 1669-4[June]-2; Residence Worksopp; Monthly Meeting Mansfield; Burial at Tickhill. [23]

1695 On 25 march, Ann Murfin, perhaps this one or daughter-in-law, was a resident of Nottingham Twp, Burlington Co, New Jersey. [24]

1697 The Nottingham Twp town meeting was held at the house of Ann Murfin. [25]

1698 On April 29, Ann Murfin, of Nottingham, Burlington Co., widow, perhaps Robert's widow or more likely Robert's daughter-in-law Ann (based on children), dated her will. Children: William, Mary Smith, Johanna (under age). Real and personal estate. Executors: son William, brother John Murfin and son-in-law Daniel Smith. Witnesses: Joseph Smith, William Murfin and Francis Davenport. Codicill of June 21, 1701, disposes of 206 acres lately bought of brother John Morfin. Witnesses: Francis Davenport, Rebecca Davenport and Hannah Ouenton (?). Proved June 25, 1701. [26]

1701 June 24, Inventory of the estate of Ann Murfin (£312.3.-, all personal); made by Robart Wilson, Thomas Gilberthorpe, Samuel Bunting and John Bunting. [27]

1699 The town meeting was held at the home of Ann Murfin, perhaps this one, in Nottingham Twp, Burlington Co, New Jersey.

1698 John Murfin [possibly the son of Robert and Ann], husbandman of Crosswicks, transferred 260 acres to sister-in-law widow Ann Murfin. Speculation: This could be a transfer of inherited land to the widow of Robert Murfin. [28]

1698 The will of Ann Murfin, widow, date: 29 Apr 1698, at Nottingham, Burlington Co. named Children--William, Mary Smith, Johanna (under age). Real and personal estate. Executors--son William, brother John Murfin and son-in-law Daniel Smith. Witnesses--Joseph Smith, William Murfin and Francis Davenport. Codicill of June 21, 1701, disposes of 206 acres lately bought of brother John Morfin. Witnesses--Francis Davenport, Rebecca Davenport and Hannah Ouenton (?). Proved June 25, 1701. 

1701 Inventory,June 24, of the estate (£312.3.-, all personal); made by Robart Wilson, Thomas Gilberthorpe, Samuel Bunting and John Bunting. 

1701 Bond, June 25, of the executors, named in the will, William Murfin not signing. Henry Grubb and Joseph Smith, fellow bondsmen. 

Research Notes:

Ann Murfin, listed here as a daughter, was not named in the wills or estate of either Robert or Ann Murfin. Some researchers suggest that Ann was the daughter of Robert Murfin, shown here as a son of Robert and Ann, and Ann Lee.

The parents of Katherine Murfin, listed here as a daughter, are not known, but her husband Mathew Champion could be a son-in-law, since he was brother-in-law to John Murfin. Further research is needed to clarify these relationships.

J. Sansom has written about the name Murfin: "Robert Murfin, or Myrfin, was of an North-of-England family, the son of Robert Myrfin, of Eaton, Notts. I extract, from an old record, the following bit of antique genealogy, to show the singular changes of spelling, in the same family, of this name Myrfin, which may be identical with Merrefield. Mirfin or Murfin was anciently Mirfield; the various ancient spelling of the name, the records of Mirfin, of Thurcroft, shows as follows: 'Hugh Mirfield of Mirfield, married heiress of William de Thurcroft, temp. Edward L. In the same family Esmeus Vesey de Knapton marries very early, Matilda or Maud, daughter of William Myrfin or Mirfin, aleas Myrfold, Knight. Ralph Hatfield, of Laughton en le Merthing, marries Margaret, daughter of Rober Merfield, or Thurcroft. Thomas Lavett, or Melton, marries temp. Eliz., the daught of Myrfin, of Thurcroft, etc."
 

Footnotes
[1] records in Nottingham Public Record Office, (not seen)
[2] Co. of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire County Records of the 17th Century [1915], p. 101
[3] A Collection of the Sufferings of the People Called Quakers, Joseph Besse, London, 1753, vol. 1, p. 553
[4] The Sufferings of the Quakers in Nottinghamshire, 1649-1689, Percy J Cropper, 1892, London, p 46
[5] An Abstract of the Sufferings of the People called Quakers, Sowle, London,1733, Vol 1, p. 193
[6] West Jersey, New Jersey Deed Records, 1676-1721 By John David Davis, p 1
[7] at the time called West Jersey
[8] Townsend Genealogical Database. This database shows an extra generation with another Robert Murfin between Robert and Anne Murfin
[9] John E Stillwell, Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, Vol 2, (1906), 1
[10] John E Stillwell, Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, Vol 2, (1906), 3
[11] West Jersey, New Jersey Deed Records, 1676-1721 By John David Davis, p 64
[12] Revel, Daniel Leed's surveys
[13] West Jersey, New Jersey Deed Records, 1676-1721 By John David Davis, p 3, 6
[14] Philadelphia Colonial Families Vol 1, p 659
[15] Francis Bazley Lee, editor. Genealogical and Personal Memorial of Mercer County New Jersey, Vol 1, (1907), 7
[16] West Jersey, New Jersey Deed Records, 1676-1721 By John David Davis, page 57
[17] West Jersey, New Jersey Deed Records, 1676-1721 By John David Davis, p 63
[18] NJ Archives, 1.23.334
[19] H Clay Reed and George J Miller. The Burlington Court Book. A Record of Quaker Jurisprudence in West New Jersey 1680-1709, (1944), 22
[20] NJ Archives, 1.23.334
[21] John E Stillwell, Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, Vol 2, (1906), 21
[22] Digest of Burial Register of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, 1632-1837
[23] Friends' House, London, microfilm: "Book 365 [page illegible]
[24] Charles R Hutchinson, Nottingham Township, New Jersey Minute Book 1692-1710; 1752-1772, (1876, reprinted by Proceedings from the New Jersey Historical Society, 1940 Issues for the Trenton Historical Society), p. 3
[25] Charles R Hutchinson, Nottingham Township, New Jersey Minute Book 1692-1710; 1752-1772, (1876, reprinted by Proceedings from the New Jersey Historical Society, 1940 Issues for the Trenton Historical Society), p. 6
[26] NJ Archives, 1.23.333
[27] NJ Archives, 1.23.333
[28] West Jersey, New Jersey Deed Records, 1676-1721 By John David Davis, page 157