John Lyford died in Virginia by 1630, his widow Sarah later remarrying (for her third marriage) in 1634 to Edmund Hobart of Hingham, Massachusetts. TAG, 83:178, says the following about her son (? or possible step-son) Obadiah Lyford:

i. OBADIAH[2] LYFORD, b. say 1611, d. Ireland, by 1 Aug. 1639.

Merely by search "Obadiah Lyford" in FamilySearch, I'm directed to a 1632 administration amongst the records of the Prerogative Court of Armagh (Ireland), which states:

190 Lifford, Obedie / minor / [? illegible number, perhaps an age]

John Bolingbrooke,
the Uncle

1 April 1632

Lechford, p. 144, next item but one to a notarial record discussing Mordecai and Obadiah Lyford's inheritance in Ireland (in which the Edmund Hobarts constitute William Bladen and John Fisher, citizens of Dublin, their attornies in Ireland), Lechford writes: "Three letters one to Mr. Bladen and Mr. Fisher and one to Mr. John Bullingbrooke and the other to Mr. William Peirson."

On Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at 11:43:02 AM UTC-4, Johnny Brananas wrote:
> Lechford, p. 144, next item but one to a notarial record discussing Mordecai and Obadiah Lyford's inheritance in Ireland (in which the Edmund Hobarts constitute William Bladen and John Fisher, citizens of Dublin, their attornies in Ireland), Lechford writes: "Three letters one to Mr. Bladen and Mr.. Fisher and one to Mr. John Bullingbrooke and the other to Mr. William Peirson."

Lyford, Obadiah, born in Warwick, s. John of Virginia, sacerd. NEW INN HALL, matric. 4 Nov. 1631, aged 16 (per _Alumni Oxonienses_).

On Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at 9:43:02 AM UTC-6, Johnny Brananas wrote:
> Lechford, p. 144, next item but one to a notarial record discussing Mordecai and Obadiah Lyford's inheritance in Ireland (in which the Edmund Hobarts constitute William Bladen and John Fisher, citizens of Dublin, their attornies in Ireland), Lechford writes: "Three letters one to Mr. Bladen and Mr.. Fisher and one to Mr. John Bullingbrooke and the other to Mr. William Peirson."

----- BOLINGBROKE -----

Could this be a match to Mr. John Bullingbrooke?

I checked the Lechford entry and it dates to 1639. So, in New England, it was thought that Bolingbroke was still alive in 1639.

On 22 Dec 1642, "Anne Bullinbrooke late of Dungannon in the Countie of Tiron widdow, the Relict of John Bullinbrooke, Master of the Freeschoole of the Countie, deceased" deposed "That her said husband & one child at length dyed through hunger & colde." [more details]

She mentions the "murther of one Mr Mather the minister of Dunnamore."

Quoting: TCD, 1641 Depositions Project, online transcript January 1970
[ http://1641.tcd.ie/deposition.php?depID?=839030r022 ] accessed Monday 25th of September 2017 10:40 AM.

Robert Charles Anderson notes John Lyford had land in Loughgall, a parish on the Armagh side of the county boundary line between counties Armagh and Tyrone (Great Migration Begins [Boston, 1995], 2:1217).

Dungannon and Loughgall are 12 miles apart.

-----MATHER-----

"Mr Mather" was "Mr. John Mather, admitted to the rectory of Donaghmore in April 1635." It was reported that he was "cut to pieces and left unburied."
(Source: James Seaton Reid, History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland [3rd ed., London, 1853], 1:317, 320. https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_the_Presbyterian_Church_in_Ir/EsoCFRK3g-QC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA320 ).

Was the minister a relative of the New England Mathers?

Nathan

On Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 12:53:13 AM UTC-6, Nathan Murphy wrote:
> On 22 Dec 1642, "Anne Bullinbrooke late of Dungannon in the Countie of Tiron widdow, the Relict of John Bullinbrooke, Master of the Freeschoole of the Countie, deceased" deposed "That her said husband & one child at length dyed through hunger & colde." [more details]

"Foundation by the King of a free school in Dungannon, for Tyrone co. the schoolmaster whereof is to be nominated by the archbishop of Armagh, and shall be endowed with the towns and lands of Macherilawchelly, Aghmoylan, Derrilaghan, Landromaugh, Coally, Tomchor otherwise Kemchor, Mullane, Loghoge, Mollin otherwise Mulline, and Trean, containing in all 700s[?] - also, appointment of John Bullinbrooke to be schoolmaster, during good behaviour. - 13 May 13th." [13 May 13 James I, which was 1615]
(Source: Calendar of the Patent Rolls of the Chancery of Ireland [1800], 278 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Calendar_of_the_Patent_Rolls_of_the_Chan/XD5JAAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22John+Bullinbrooke%22+Dungannon&pg=PA278 ).

Nathan

On Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 3:00:47 AM UTC-4, Nathan Murphy wrote:
> On Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 12:53:13 AM UTC-6, Nathan Murphy wrote:
> > On 22 Dec 1642, "Anne Bullinbrooke late of Dungannon in the Countie of Tiron widdow, the Relict of John Bullinbrooke, Master of the Freeschoole of the Countie, deceased" deposed "That her said husband & one child at length dyed through hunger & colde." [more details]
> "Foundation by the King of a free school in Dungannon, for Tyrone co. the schoolmaster whereof is to be nominated by the archbishop of Armagh, and shall be endowed with the towns and lands of Macherilawchelly, Aghmoylan, Derrilaghan, Landromaugh, Coally, Tomchor otherwise Kemchor, Mullane, Loghoge, Mollin otherwise Mulline, and Trean, containing in all 700s[?] - also, appointment of John Bullinbrooke to be schoolmaster, during good behaviour. - 13 May 13th." [13 May 13 James I, which was 1615]
> (Source: Calendar of the Patent Rolls of the Chancery of Ireland [1800], 278 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Calendar_of_the_Patent_Rolls_of_the_Chan/XD5JAAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22John+Bullinbrooke%22+Dungannon&pg=PA278 ).
>
> Nathan

Yep, from a bit of internet searching yesterday, I had noticed the schoolmaster with a similar name and thought it could be a match.

Since Obadiah had just started at Oxford, it makes a certain degree of sense that he would be with a schoolmaster uncle a short time later (although why did he leave Oxford?). John Lyford's will was proved in Ireland about this time, so perhaps that was part of it.

I think Increase Mather did have a brother (? Nathaniel) in Ireland, but I'm unsure about this John Mather.

On Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 7:51:29 AM UTC-6, JBrand wrote:
> Since Obadiah had just started at Oxford, it makes a certain degree of sense that he would be with a schoolmaster uncle a short time later (although why did he leave Oxford?). John Lyford's will was proved in Ireland about this time, so perhaps that was part of it.

Anderson has Obadiah at Trinity College Dublin:

Obadiah Liford, Sch[olar] 1635.

(Source: GMB 2:1215; George Dames Burtchaell and Thomas Ulick Sadler, eds., Alumni Dublinienses ..., new edition, with supplement [Dublin, 1935], p. 501; 1934 ed. on findmypast https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=IRE/IE0004/544/012 ).

The Oxford record is new to me, but almost certainly both scholars are the same young man.

Nathan

On Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 7:40:23 PM UTC-4, Nathan Murphy wrote:
> On Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 7:51:29 AM UTC-6, JBrand wrote:
> > Since Obadiah had just started at Oxford, it makes a certain degree of sense that he would be with a schoolmaster uncle a short time later (although why did he leave Oxford?). John Lyford's will was proved in Ireland about this time, so perhaps that was part of it.
> Anderson has Obadiah at Trinity College Dublin:
>
> Obadiah Liford, Sch[olar] 1635.
>
> (Source: GMB 2:1215; George Dames Burtchaell and Thomas Ulick Sadler, eds.., Alumni Dublinienses ..., new edition, with supplement [Dublin, 1935], p. 501; 1934 ed. on findmypast https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=IRE/IE0004/544/012 ).
>
> The Oxford record is new to me, but almost certainly both scholars are the same young man.
>
> Nathan

I wonder if the year 1635 for Trinity Dublin is wrong. The "Ireland, Diocesan and Prerogative Wills & Administrations Indexes, 1595-1858" database at FamilySearch also shows the year 1632 for the date of Obadiah's administration.

Perhaps the Trinity College Dublin record should read 1632? It clearly must be the same person at both Oxford and Trinity Dublin.

CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE

the 10th day of the 8th month called October 1634 Edmond Hubberd senior, and Sarah Oakeley widow did ioyne in marriage before mee, and others witnes my hand per me

INCREASE NOWELL

(_Winthrop Papers_, vol. 3 (1631-1637), p. 174.)

Has Betham's Genealogical already been cited

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9LW-6CPT?cc=4496119&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A6JXT-3ZMF

John Liford of Shirley Hundred in Virginia
Headlands..... co Tyrone
son Obadian
wife Sarah

On Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 9:47:10 PM UTC-4, Will Johnson wrote:
> Has Betham's Genealogical already been cited
>
> https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9LW-6CPT?cc=4496119&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A6JXT-3ZMF
>
> John Liford of Shirley Hundred in Virginia
> Headlands..... co Tyrone
> son Obadian
> wife Sarah

Interesting.

I saw that the late John D'Anieri, who wrote the TAG article alluded to, also had a short follow-up in TAG a few years later in which he discussed John Lyford as an Oxford student. However, there is no mention therein of the son Obadiah as also attending Oxford, which I found strange.