Rev. John Robinson

1576 - 1626  (50 years)

• Name	John Robinson
  Birth	Between March 1576 and Sep 1576	Sturton le Steeple, Nottinghamshire, England   [4, 9, 10]
  General Information	According to Murphy (1864) More than any other man of modern times, he is regarded as the Father of Congregationalism. He was distinguished for learning and abilities ; a sound classical scholar, and able theologian: foiling in debate Episcopius, the professor in the Leyden University, the successor of Arminius ; yet a man most devout, humble, gentle and lovely in spirit.  [9]
  Education	1592 (15 years)	Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England Cambridge University, Cambridge,  Cambridgeshire, England   [9, 10]
  He entered Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, 1592. While a member of college, he was brought to the saving knowledge of God and of his Son Jesus Christ, under the faithful ministrations of the Reverend William Perkins, a learned and famous preacher in the University, and a strict Calvinist, who died in the year 1602. In 1596 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree.
  Occupation	1598 (21 years)	Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England Cambridge University, Cambridge,  Cambridgeshire, England   [9]
  He received a fellowship at Corpus Christi College in 1598, which he resigned in 1604.
  Religion	1604 (27 years)	Norwich, Norfolk, England   [9, 10]
  In 1604 he began his ministerial work in and near Norwich, in Norfolk; and while there, he is described by Ainsworth, as "a man worthily reverenced of all the city for the grace of God, which was in him."
  Religion	1606 (29 years)	Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England   [1, 9, 10]
  Puritans who lived in the north of England were, on account of their dispersed state, divided in 1606 into two distinct churches. John Robinson became the teacher; with Richard Clifton, a somewhat older man, who had been rector of Babworth, as pastor.
  Moved To	1608 (31 years)	Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands   [1, 7]
  In the fall of 1607, Mr. Clifton and many of his church, being harassed, removed themselves and families to Holland. In the Spring of 1608, they were followed by Mr. John Robinson.
  Moved To	1609 (32 years)	Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands   [9]
  In 1609 he moved to Leiden, Netherlands.
  Deed	5 May 1611 (35 years)	Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands   [8, 9]
  He purchased on 5 May 1611 for 8,000 Florins, a house and garden situated opposite and to the south of the belfry of the Peter's Church. This house was the place of worship during the pilgrim's time in Leyden.
  Miscellaneous	1620 (43 years)	Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands   [1, 9]
  The Mayflower, which sailed in 1620, was to be only the first group to go to America. John was prevailed upon to stay with those in Leyden. His hope to come to America ended with his death in 1625.
  Residence	1622 (45 years)	Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands   [5]
  In 1622 his family in Leiden consisted of himself, his wife Bridget, children James,! Bridget, Isaac, Mercy, Fear and Jacob, and a maid servant, Mary Hardy.
  Death	1 Mar 1626	Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands   [1, 4, 6, 9]
  His death was recorded old style as 19 March 1625. [6, 9]
  Burial	Aft 1 Mar 1626	Pieterskerk, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands Pieterskerk, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands   [8]
  	Plaque in Leiden Memorializing Rev. John Robinson
  Miscellaneous	24 Jul 1891 (315 years)  [3]
  On 24 July 1891, a tablet was placed in the church reading: IN MEMORY OF REV. JOHN ROBINSON, M.A. PASTOR OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH WORSHIPING OVER AGAINST THIS SPOT, A.D. 1609- 1625, WHENCE AT HIS PROMPTING WENT FORTH THE PILGRIM FATHERS TO SETTLE NEW ENGLAND IN l620. — BURIED UNDER THIS HOUSE OF WORSHIP, 4 MAR. 1625 AET- XLIX YEARS. — IN MEMORIA AETERNA ERIT JUSTUS. — ERECTED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A.D. 1891.
  Person ID, Branch	I4230	Boudreau Line
  Last Modified	26 Jul 2025

  
  

  Spouse / Partner	Bridget White,   b. —, Sturton le Steeple, Nottinghamshire, England d. say 1640, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
  Marriage	15 Feb 1604	Saint Mary's Church, Greasley, Nottinghamshire, England   [10]
  College fellows were prohibited from marrying so Robinson resigned his fellowship to wed Bridget White. [10]
  Age at Marriage	He : 27 years and 11 months - She : ??.
  Children	3 sons and 3 daughters
  1. John Robinson  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] >   2. Bridget Robinson  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] ▻ John Grynwich  m. 26 May 1629 >   3. Isaac Robinson,   b. 1610, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] ▻ Mary Hanford;   Mary +   4. Mary Robinson,   b. 18 Mar 1597, Fairsted, Essex, England d. 24 Mar 1655, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. (Age 58 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] ▻ Thomas Birchard >   5. Fear Robinson  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] ▻ John Jennings  m. 8 Sep 1648     6. Jacob Robinson  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]
  Family ID	F3419	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	18 Aug 2021

  
  

• Pedigree

  ← Click to display 1Rev. John Robinson(1576 – 1626) 2 3

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - Between March 1576 and Sep 1576 - Sturton le Steeple, Nottinghamshire, England Education - 1592 - Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England Occupation - 1598 - Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England Religion - 1604 - Norwich, Norfolk, England Marriage - 15 Feb 1604 - Saint Mary's Church, Greasley, Nottinghamshire, England Religion - 1606 - Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England Moved To - 1608 - Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands Moved To - 1609 - Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands Deed - 5 May 1611 - Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands Miscellaneous - 1620 - Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands Residence - 1622 - Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands Death - 1 Mar 1626 - Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands Burial - Aft 1 Mar 1626 - Pieterskerk, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  The Rev. John Robinson

  
  

• Sources 🟢 Primary Evidence 🟡 Secondary Evidence 🟠 Tertiary Evidence 🔴 Unreliable Evidence

  [S1910] anonymous. "History of the Pilgrim Society, with a Brief Account of the Early Settlement of Plymouth Colony", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume I, 1847). [S1916] Bready, Margaret Margaret Bready Genealogy Collection Volume 17, (Eastham.,Massachusetts: Eastham Historical Society Archives, 1995). [S1915] Dexter, Morton. "The John Robinson Tablet", (Boston: The Mayflower Descendant, Volume 2, 1900). [S241] Griggs, Dan. McNall Genealogy, (manuscript, 2003). [S1913] Murphy, Henry C. "Items from the City Records at Leyden", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume XV, 1861). [S1912] Otis, Amos. "Notes Respecting the Descendants of Isaac Robinson, Son of Rev. John Robinson of Leyden", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume XIV, 1860). [S1909] Shurtleff, Nathaniel Bradstreet. "The Passengers of the May Flower in 1620", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume I, 1847). [S1911] Sumner, George. "Rev. John Robinson, of Leyden", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume XIII, 1859). [S903] Viton, John Adams. The Giles Memorial Genealogical Memoirs, (Boston: Henry W. Dutton & Son, 1864). [S304] Wikipedia, John Robinson (pastor).