John Finney was baptized on 14 March 1603/04 at Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England, the son of Robert Finney and Unknown (MNU), called “Mother Feney” in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts death records.

Although John’s family likely emigrated as one unit at the same time, his father, Robert, apparently died on the voyage across the Atlantic.

John and his siblings had already reached adulthood by the time period of July 1637-December 1638 when they left England for a new life in Massachusetts.

John Finney married (1) Christian Patten, 22 November 1636, Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England. She died at Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts on 9 September 1649. (2)Abigail (Bishop) Coggin, widow of Henry Coggin, 9 July 1650, Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts. Abigail was buried on 6 May 1653, Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts. (3) Elizabeth Bayley, 26 June 1654, Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts.

He had children with both Christian and Elizabeth.

Children of John and Christian:

1. Margaret, baptized 20 July 1637, Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England; no further record
2. John, born 24 December 1638, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts; died before 9 March 1718/19, when his estate inventory was recorded; married Mary Rogers, 10 August 1664, Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts. She is the granddaughter of Thomas Rogers of the Mayflower. John is the patriarch of the Barnstable branch of the Phinney family.

Children of John and Elizabeth:

1. Jonathan, born 14 August 1655, Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died November 1728, Swansea, Bristol, Massachusetts; married Joanna Kinnicutt, 18 October 1682, Bristol, Bristol, Massachusetts
2. Robert, born 13 August 1656, Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died before 17 March 1690/91. He described himself as a soldier bound for Canada on 23 July 1690 when he was a soldier in King William’s War.
3. Hannah, born 2 September 1657, Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died before 3 August 1730, the date of her husband’s will; married Ephraim Morton
4. Elizabeth, born 15 March 1658/59, Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died after 23 July 1690 when she is named in her brother Robert’s will; no further record
5. Josiah, born 11 January 1660/61, Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died between 2 January 1723 and 2 January 1726/27, the dates his will was written and proved; married (1) Elizabeth Warren, granddaughter of Richard Warren of the Mayflower (2) Mercy (Ford) Thomas, widow of Samuel Thomas, 14 September 1726, Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts
6. Jeremiah, born 15 August 1662, Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died 18 February 1748, Bristol, Bristol, Massachusetts; married Esther Lewis, 7 January 1684, Bristol, Bristol, Massachusetts
7. Joshua, born 31 December 1665, Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died 7 September 1714, Swansea, Bristol, Massachusetts; married Mercy Watts, 31 May 1688. She is thought to be the daughter of Jeremiah and Elinor (MNU) Watts.

John Finney died after 7 February 1682/83 when he disposed of his house and land to his son Jonathan.

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:

1. 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
2. Joyce, baptized 9 April 1599; buried 5 August 1603, both at Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England
3. Anne, baptized 14 March 1601/02; buried 17 February 1602/03, both at Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England
4. 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
5. 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.
6. 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.