A leading burgess of Melcombe, who attested the borough elections at least six times and represented his home town in no fewer than four Parliaments, Corfe may also have been bailiff for as many as seven annual terms. His first appearance in the local records showed a less respectable side to his character: he drew a baselard in breach of the peace in 1396, and the bailiffs were amerced for failing to bring the weapon into court. He was among the burgesses who owed suit at Melcombe in May 1397, but made default.
Corfe is not recorded after his last Parliament, which was dissolved in December 1433. John Corfe of Melcombe Regis, alternatively called yeoman or merchant, may have been his son. In 1437 John was pardoned outlawry incurred after he failed to appear in the common pleas to answer a widow from Yeovil in a suit for debt, although he was in trouble again six years later, when sued by Sir John Styward for the substantial sum of 50 marks.