For many years, Robert Finney was the unnamed father of the early Finneys who settled in Massachusetts. The “known” elder Finney was “Mother Feney,” who died at Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts on 22 April 1640.
In 1994, Clifford L. Stott published The Finney Family of Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England and Plymouth, Massachusetts in The Register 148:315-327, identifying the English origins of the Finney family.
However, in a way, the tables were turned because Robert Finney has been clearly identified, but “Mother Feney” remains a mystery, aside from her date of death.
Robert Finney was born c1568, possibly in Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England, the son of Jeffrey Finney and his second wife, Ellen (probably Smedley).
Robert Finney married Unknown (MNU), referred to as “Mother Feney” in Plymouth death records, c1595.
They were the parents of six children:
- Katherine, born c1596, probably Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England; died between 29 March 1673-5 June 1676, dates her will was written and presented in court; married Gabriel Fallowell, likely in England
- Joyce, baptized 9 April 1599; buried 5 August 1603, both at Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England
- Anne, baptized 14 March 1601/02; buried 17 February 1602/03, both at Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England
- John, baptized 14 March 1603/04, Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England; died after 7 February 1682/83, when he disposed of his house and land to his son, Jonathan; married (1) Christian Patten, 22 November 1636, Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England (2) Abigail (Bishop) Coggin, widow of Henry Coggin, 9 July 1650, Barnstable, Plymouth, Massachusetts (3) Elizabeth Bayley, 26 June 1654, Barnstable, Plymouth, Massachusetts
- Robert, baptized 16 February 1607/08; died 7 January 1687/88, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts; married Phebe Ripley, 1 September 1641, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. They had no children.
- Anne, baptized 4 August 1611, Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England; married Samuel King
Robert apparently died at sea, between July 1637 and December 1638, during the voyage from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts, where his wife and children settled as there is no burial record or probate for him in Lenton nor in Plymouth.