Thomas Murfyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Murfyn
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Coat of Arms of Thomas Murfyn:
Or on a chevron sable a mullet argent. A crescent sable in the dexter chief. |
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| Lord Mayor of London | |
| In office 1518–1519 |
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| Monarch | Henry VIII |
| Preceded by | Sir Thomas Exmewe |
| Succeeded by | Sir James Yarford |
| Sheriff of London | |
| In office 1511–1512 |
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| Preceded by | John Rest |
| Succeeded by | John Brydges |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ely, Cambridgeshire |
| Died | September 1523 London, UK |
| Resting place | St Paul's Cathedral, London, UK 51°30′49″N 0°05′53″W / 51.513611°N 0.098056°W |
| Spouses | Alice Marshall Elizabeth Donne |
| Children | Edward George Margaret Mary Frances, and others |
Thomas Murfyn (also known as Mirfyn, Merfyn, or Murphin), who passed away in 1523, was an important leader in London. He served as a Sheriff and later as the Lord Mayor of London.
Contents
Life and Times of Thomas Murfyn
Thomas Murfyn was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire. His father was George Murfyn. Thomas became a member of the Worshipful Company of Skinners, a group of merchants in the City of London.
He first served as a Sheriff of London from 1511 to 1512. Later, he became the Lord Mayor of London, holding this high office from 1518 to 1519.
Was Thomas Murfyn Knighted?
Some historical records refer to Thomas Murfyn as "Sir" Thomas Murfyn. However, there is no clear proof that he was officially made a knight.
After his time as Lord Mayor, it became a common tradition for Lord Mayors of London to receive a knighthood. This might be why later documents called him "Sir." Also, an old term "Dominus," used for important officials, might have been wrongly translated as "Sir."
In his will, written in 1523, Thomas Murfyn simply called himself "Thomas Mirfyn citizen and Alderman of the city of London." His name appears on a memorial at St Paul's Cathedral for graves lost in the Great Fire of London. This memorial also calls him "Sir Thomas Miryfn," which might be continuing the mistake.
Thomas Murfyn's Family Life
Thomas Murfyn was married twice and had many children.
First Marriage and Children
His first wife was Alice Marshall. Together, they had thirteen children:
- Thomas
- John
- George, who became a monk
- Thomas (another one)
- John (another one)
- Frances
- Richard
- John (a third one)
- Robert
- Edward (who passed away in 1528)
- Bartholomew
- Margaret, who married Sir John Champneys, another Lord Mayor of London.
- Mary, who married Sir Andrew Judde, who also became a Lord Mayor of London.
Second Marriage and Children
After 1519, Thomas married his second wife, Elizabeth. She was the only daughter of Sir Angel Donne, an alderman from London.
With Elizabeth, Thomas had one daughter:
- Frances (born around 1520 or 1521, died around 1543). She married Sir Richard Cromwell, who was the nephew of the famous Thomas Cromwell.
After Thomas Murfyn passed away, Elizabeth married Sir Thomas Denys in 1524. They had a son named Sir Robert Denys.
Family Coats of Arms
The Murfyn family had a special design called a coat of arms. It was described as Or on a chevron sable a mullet argent. This means a gold background with a black V-shape, and a silver star on the V-shape.
The Donne family's coat of arms was Azure semée of cross-crosslets or, a unicorn salient argent. This means a blue background with many small gold crosses, and a silver unicorn jumping.
Images for kids
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Coat of Arms of Thomas Murfyn
See also
- List of Sheriffs of the City of London
- List of Lord Mayors of London
