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THE COFFIN FAMILY.

 

THE LIFE

or

‘RISTRAM COFFYN,

OF NANTUCKET, MASS.,
FOUNDER OF THE FAMILY LINE IN AMERICA;

TOGETHER WITIL

EMINISCENCES AND ANECDOTES OF SOME OF HIS NUMER-
OUS DESCENDANTS, AND SOME HISTORICAL IN-
FORMATION CONCERNING THE ANCIENT
FAMILIES NAMED COFFYN.

BY ALLEN COFFIN, LL.B.

NANTUCKET:
PUBLISHED BY HUSSEY & ROBINSON.
1881.
6 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

find that the word cofty ns is used in place of baskets, the verse reading”
thus: “‘ And they token the relyves of broken mete, twelve coffyns full.”
Thus it will be seen that this word originated back, far back, in the gray
morning twilight of Asiatic life, in the nomadic period of man’s ex-
istence, before the Bethlehem shepherds guarded their flocks by night on
Judea’s plains. Moving westward with the march of empire it retained
its significance upon the borders of the English Channel, surviving the.
destructiveness of the Norwegian adventurers of the ninth century;
and, becoming Normanized, it was first used as a sign-name, and then
adopted‘as a surname from the official or business occupation, feudalism
making it hereditary.

William the Conqueror, was born at Fallaise, a town of Normandy,
France, in the department of Calvados, 22 miles S. 8. E. of Caen, on the
river Ante, in the year 1024. It igs now a town of about 15,000 inhabi--
tants, having still in the ruins of its ancient castle one of the finest
towers in France. The town is built upon cliffs commanded by an old
Norman castle and surrounded by a picturesque country. An equestrian
bronze statue of William was erected here in 1851. Within two short
leagues of Fallaise stands the old chateau of Courtiton, once the home
of the Norman Coffins, the family name having now become extinct in
that vicinage. The present owner, Mons. Le Clere, is the grandson of”
the last Miss Coffin, the estate having descended in an unbroken male
line, as is supposed, until her accession. She married, in 1796, from
which time the name of Lé Clere has succeeded to that of Coffin as pos-
sessors of this ancient estate. Admiral Henry E. Coffin, of the English
Navy, a nephew of Admiral Sir Isdac, is the authority for the last state-,
ment. Ina letter to Mr. William E. Coffin, of Richmond, Ind., written
in October, 1880, he thus describes this old Norman chateau which he
had several times visited: ‘‘It stands at the bottom of a hill in front of
a lake. The drive to it is through ornamented wood, a zig-zag road
descending to it. There is only the dining-room, kitchen, and part of
the old house remaining, and the new part “hes two drawing-rooms built
two hundred years ago, but looking nice.”

- It was upon this old estate, perhaps, that the first Norman Coffyn, of
English fame, was born; and, being one of the younger sons, having
no hope of an inheritance, if he rose to distinction in life it must be. by
his own endeavors. Reared within two leagues of Fallaise, he may have:
often sported with the youthful William, and been a favored guest at the
Ducal Palace. When William’s father, Robert, made his pilgrimage to
the Holy Sepulchre, never to return, Coffyn’s father may have shared
in the vicissitudes of that expedition; and, if in the capacity of keeper
of the Duke’s strong box, the name of Coffyn may have dated from the:
return of that mournful retinue as an individualized surname.
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 7

From the time of the Norman Conquest the family of Coffin has been
well known in England, according to Prince’s Worthies of Devon, and
there is some reason for supposing that members of this family came over
before the Conquest and settled in Somerset and Devon and Dorset, for
it isan undisputed fact that many Norman families took up their resi-
dences in England before the landing of William, and that some of them
received favors from Edward the Confessor. When the Conqueror ordered
the ‘‘ Great Survey of all Lands,” completed some twenty years after the
battle of Hastings, the Coffins were entered in Domesday Book as being
possessed of several hides land, as stated by Sir William Pole in his MSS.
of ‘Devon and its Knights, in the reigns of the earlier Kings of England.”
A “hide land” was an uncertain quantity, supposed to be as much arable
Jand as would maintain a family, and was a term used by the Saxons in
measuring land, before the Norman French language was introduced as
the regular language of the courts of. law. In 1086, when Domesday
was compiled, the conquered Saxons found that such of them as opposed.
the Conqueror in any manner had their lands confiscated. And the lands
thus confiscated were granted out by the Conqueror to his faithful fol-
lowers. Thus all the land in the kingdom “ not possessed by the Church
was held by the King in demesne, or of him directly, or of the honors he
had seized and retained, as feuds, by comparatively few individuals.”
The lands granted were not given freely and without price, but were to
be held of the King, subject to the performance of certain military duties
as the condition of their enjoyment.

The most ancient seat of the name and family of Coffin in England,
is now called Portledge, in the parish of Alwington, near Bideford,
County of Devon. If it has been in the family from the settlement of
the estates by Domesday, there can be little doubt that it was granted to
Sir Richard Coffyn, Knight, for valuable services rendered the Con-
queror, in that wonderfully romantic feudal age, when the barons and
knights and esquires and serjeants became proprietors of vast estates,
including castles, abbeys, villages, and even entire towns, throughout
England. The great antiquity of the Coffins is further established,
says Prince, by a boundary deed made near the time of the Con-
quest, and written in Saxon, between Richard Coffin, Lord of the
Manor of Alwington and Cockementon, and the Abbot of Tavistock, in
relation to the Abbey lands of Tavistock in the parish of Abbotsham
near adjoining Alwington. One of the covenants was that ‘‘the Abbot
and Convent of Tavistock should give to the said Richard Coffyn and his
next heir, full fraternity in his Church of Tavistock, to-receive there the
habit of religion whenever (God so inspiring) they would; and that in
the meantime they should have the privilege of one monk there.”

Feudal tenures, or holding of the King, were introduced with other
Norman customs and upheld and interpreted by the Norman lawyers,
8 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

who naturally adhered to the precedents they were used to in their own
country. Of the rule of primogeniture Maine’s Ancient Law says:
“The ideas and social forms which contributed to the formation of the
system were unquestionably barbarian and archaic; but as soon as
courts and lawyers were called in to interpret and define it, the princi-
ples of interpretation which they applied to it were those of the latest
Roman jurisprudence, and were, therefore, excessively refined and
matured. In a patriarchically governed society the eldest son may suc-
ceed to the government of the agnatic groupe and to the absolute dis-
posal of its property. But he is not, therefore, a true proprietor. * *
* * * The contact of the refined and barbarous nation had inevitably
for its effect, the conversion of the eldest son into legal proprietor of the
inheritance. The clerical and secular lawyers so defined his position
from the first; but it was only by insensible degrees that the younger
brother, from participating on equal terms in all the dangers and enjoy-
ments of his kinsman, sank into the priest, the soldier of fortune, or the
hanger-on of the mansion.”

The family multiplied, and very early the younger sons of the first
Coffins domiciled in England, had established branches which appear to
have flourished in divers parts of Devonshire. The elder son always
saicceeding to the estates until, from various causes, the feudal system of
tenures gradually gave way, and upon the restoration of Charles II. was
wholly abolished. Notwithstanding the feudal system of tenures in
England had long since passed into dissuetude, the form has, in some
instances, been preserved; and the Portledge manor, once including the
Parish of Alwington, is one of the very few estates in England which
have been held by the same family for six or seven centuries, the most
reliable historians of Devonshire all conceding that it has been in the’
family for many centuries. I find the name of Coffin and Coffyn largely
identified with the County of Devon from its earliest reliable history.
Most writers upon the family name have considered Portledge, in the
northwestern part of the county, as the earliest home of the Coffins in
England, and, naturally enough, have come to the conclusion that Tris-
tram Coffyn descended from that house. I have not, however, been
forced to any such conclusion. The present proprietor of Portledge,
John Richard Pine Coffin, a magistrate for Devon, and Lord of the
Manors of Alwington, Goldsworthy and Monkleigh, finds nothing in the
records of Portledge leading to such a conclusion. He does not even
find the family names of Tristram and Peter, and barely a Nicholas.
' The earliest record of Portledge proprietors, as I infer from the list given
by the present proprietor, is that of Richard Coffin, A. D. 1254, a deed of
that date being a small charter of Henry III., in Latin, ‘* whereby at the
instance of John de Courtenay, the sovereign grants to Ric. Coffin and
his heirs free warren in all his demesnes and lands of Alwington, in the
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 9

‘County of Devon.” Another deed said to be the oldest among the family
records of Portledge, in the same reign of Henry III., whereby Richard
Cophin grants unto Thomas de Dudderigge certain lands.

Oliver's Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Devon (p. 24) mentions Nicholas

‘Coffin, as vicar of the Church at Chudleigh, in the southeastern part of
Devon, some 40 miles trom Portledge, as early as 1337. Concerning this
vicarage Rev. Mr. Oliver says: ‘‘The Church of Chudleigh forms the
subject of a deed of John, Bishop of Exeter, between the years 1186 and
1191. The Parish Church was dedicated by Bishop Bronescombe, on the
6th of November, 1259.” Among the incumbents, Nicholas (without a
surname) is the first name met with. Ile is believed to be the vicar who
bequeathed, in 1303, to the Fabric of Exeter Cathedral, vis. viiid. John
Fitz Hugh, occurs vicar the 29th of September, 1317. Nicholas Coffin,
instituted the 20th of June, 1337. Thomas de Marston, the 23d of
March, 1348. It is fair to presume that this Nicholas Coftin was vicar of
the Chudleigh Church from the date of his institution, (1337) till the in-
stitution of his successor, in 1348.

The earliest mention of the name Coffin in any Heraldic Visitation
of Devonshire is found in that of 1620, in connection with the family of
le Moyne or Monk, the name changing from le.Moyne to Monk about
1425. Hugh le Moyne, in the 3d year of the reign of Edward I., accord-
ing to his pedigree, was descended from Peter le Moyne, who married
Maude, daughter of Coffin of Beacombe. By allowing 30 years for a
_genetfation, Maude Coftin must have been born about 1140, and her father
about 1110. It was from this family that the celebrated George Monk,
Duke of Albemarle, was descended. He was conspicuous in the resto-
ration of Charles II., the soldiers and populace poised upon his word,
and when he declared for a free Parliament, their enthusiasm was un-
‘bounded. Of him Macauley says: ‘‘As soon as his: declaration was
known, the whole nation was wild with delight. Wherever he appeared .
‘thousands thronged round him shouting and blessing his name. The
bells of England rang joyously ; the gutters ran with ale; and night after |
night the sky five miles round London was reddened by innumerable
bonfires.”

The Coffin family has also been allied by intermarriages with many
-other honorable families, among them, may be found Chudleigh, Carey,
Courtney, Beaumont, Prideaux, Clifford, and even with Royalty, having
married granddaughters and great-granddaughters of William the Con-
-queror, Henry I. and Edward I. :

Of Alphington Church, in the southeastern part of the county, near
Exeter, (pp. 72-74,) Rev. Mr. Oliver says: ‘In front of the gallery is

‘the date of its erection, 1632; and in the pancls are several shields, some,
- J think, incorrectly blazoned. We observed Southcot’s, Tothill’s, Duck’s,
-Oxenham’s; Arms of the See of Exeter impaled with Dr. Hall’s, then
10 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

Bishop of Exeter; Bourchier's, Earl of Bath, then the patron; Courte--
nay’s impaled with Seymour's; Bampfylde’s; Northleigh’s ; Coffin’s, hold-
ers of property at Marsh Barton; Prust’s, Holway’s of Wadeton, Arms of”
the Taylor's Company, Exeter. * * * * * Within the parish was
‘the ancient Cell or Priory, of St. Mary, dependant on Plympton Priory,
and now commonly called Marsh Barton. * * * * * Soon after the
dissolution of Religious Houses, Henry VIII. granted the scite with sev--
eral messuages in. Alphington, St. Thomas, and Newton St. Cyres parish,
on Sept. 9, 1546, to James Coffin and Thomas Godwin. This James Coffin,
on 10 Dec., 1562, sold to John Hoker, the historian, for £27, all the oak,
ash, elm, and other trees standing in the grove, on the south part.
of the Mansion House of Marsh, between the running water on the 8.
and the open pasture adjoining the said Mansion on the N., and the
great pool on the W., and a ditch on the E., together with some other
oaks towards the S. E. part of the Mansion. Hardly a vestige of this-
Priory has been suffered to remain.” —

The parish of Coftin’s Well, also in the southeastern part at Devon,
has a chapel which is a dependant of St. Mary’s Church. Domesday’
proves that St. Mary’s Church, in the reign of Edward the Confessor,
belonged to the Cathedral of Exeter. In St. Mary’s Church is an epitaph
of Margaret, the wife of John Holbrine, esquire, and daughter of William
Fowlett, who died at Coffin’s Well, 11th of May, 1526. In making note of
this family, Mr. Oliver queries ‘‘Did they reside at the Barton near Caffin’s
Well Church?” The chapel at Coffin’s Well he describes as ‘low, and
measures with its tower (which contains four bells three of which are
ancient) 72} feet in length and 26 in breadth. A north aisle is united to-
the Chancel and Nave by four arches; on the south of the Chancel is a .
small Chantry 10 feet by 9. In a window of the north aisle I observed a
figure of the Blessed Virgin with a label Ave Maria, plena gracia, as.

‘also a fragment of the sacred name IHS. The parochial registers begin
with Christmas, 1560.” In a note Mr. Oliver observes ‘‘ This hamlet was.
‘originally called Welles. Several families, the Huretons, the Ferrers,
the Foliots, held property here, which at last came to the Coffins. In fol.
47 of the Cartulary of Tor Abbey (now in Trinity College, Dublin) is an
agreement between Simon, Abbot of Tor, and Robert Coffyn, in relation
to certain tenements in Welles Coffyn, and release confirmatory thereof.”

Westcote’s Devonshire (p. 440) says: ‘There is Coffin’s Well, be-
longing to the Coffin family. Of this family we find Sir Hugo Coffin, of’
Combe-Cottin, or Coffin-Pyne, in the age of Richard I. (1189-1199) ; Sir
Hugh, of* the same, in the time of Henry HI. (1216-1272) ; and Sir Elias,
of this place (Coffin’s Well) ; but presently after, in Edward's reign, Sir
Robert de Scobbahull; in later times, by the heir of Coll, it descendéd
to Prideaux.”
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 1¥

- A recent writer in the Cornhill Magazine, under the title of Lyme:
Regis, describing the red coast of Devonshire, England, makes this.
mention of Combe-Pyne, formerly Combe-Coffin :

‘From Beer and Seaton we may return to Lyme by the high road:
over Axbridge and close to Combe-Pyne—the first half of which is our
old friend combe, a valley, while the second half belongs to the ancient
lords of the manor, the famous Devonshire family of the Pynes. At a
still earlier date Combe was the property of the Coffins, another great
Devonshire house, and then bore the name of Combe-Coftin. Later on,
the two families coalesced, and so gave origin to the ludicrous modern:
surname of Pyne-Coffin, borne by the branch of the old stock now settled
at the Alwington House near Clovelly. Combe-Pyne, as its name sug-
gests, is a pleasant little vale, where a tributary of the Axe has cut
through the layer of chalk and reached the grecnsand below.”

Combe-Pyne is in the extreme eastern part of Devon, bordering.
upon Dorset, and is allowed by Rev. Mr. Oliver to have once belonged to
the Pyne family, and much more anciently to the family of Coffin.:
Henry de Medecrott de Wyke Risingdon being admitted to this Rectory’
of Comb-Coffyn, April 20, 1334.

Combe-Raleigh was occasionally called Combe-Coffin, as stated in a
note, probably for the same reason that it also once belonged to the:
Coffin family. ; ,

Fyom the post-office directory of Devonshire of recent issue a post:
office is noted at the parish of Spreyton, in the central part of the
County called ‘“ Coffins.”

Rey. Mr. Prince, in his Worthies of Devonshire, makes mention of
*‘ Coffin’s Ingarly,” [now probably Inwardleigh,] in the west part of’ the-
Province; in which last place the Mansion House was near the Church,
to which was belonging a fair deer park now wholly demolished.

In Hutching’s History of Dorset (vol. i, p. 468) is the following ac-
count of the parish of Wambrook: ‘This little village, now a distinct
parish, was anciently part of Chadstock, from which it lies about two-
miles north, on the very borders of the county, adjoining Somersetshire.
A family of the Pereceys were its lords. It afterwards came to the-
Filiols, of Woodlands, who held it from the 3d year of the reign of Henry
V. to the 19th year of Henry VHT. In the 22d of Henry VIII., on the-
partition of Sir William Filiol’s property, this manor was assigned to Sir
Edward Kymer; after this it passed to several private persons or owners.
In 1645, Mr. Humphrey Coffin, recusant, had his old rents here, and his
lands, valued in 1641, at £30 per annum, sequestered. In 1645, Mr. John
Coffin’s term here, valued at £45 per annum was sequestered.”

In the war between Charles I. and the Parliament, Dorsetshire sided
with the King, but was too weak to afford effectual aid. Our great
ancestor, Tristram Coffyn, also held estates in Dorsetshire which were-
12 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

.Sequestered, during that same period of uncertain tenures in England.

Of the parish of Alwington and the manor of Alwington, of Alwington
louse, and Portledge, a great deal has been written concerning, “and
much confusion arisen as to the real character of these places. It is
proper to state that Portledge is a seat in the parish of Alwington, near

- the borough of Bideford, in North Devon, bordering upon Barnstaple Bay.
Alwington parish, in 1876, had a population of 353; Bideford, a popula-
tion of 6,969. Bideford is the great business centre of that locality, once
a seaport of some consequence, and the post town, Portledge, lying only
four miles away in a westerly direction. Charles Kingsley, in his
«* Westward Ho!” a romance of the ‘‘ Voyages and Adventures of Sir
Amyas Leigh, Knight of Burrough, in the County of Devon, in the reign
of Queen Elizabeth,” with graphic power of description, thus writes ‘of
this ancient borough: ‘‘ All who have travelled through the delicious

. scenery of North Devon must needs know the little white town of Bide-
ford, which slopes upward from its broad tide-river paved with yellow
. sands and many-arched old bridge where salmon wait for autumn floods,
‘toward the pleasant upland on the west. Above the town the hills close
in, cushioned with deep oak woods, through which juts here and there a
crag of fern-fringed slate; below they lower, and open more and more
in sottly-rounded knolls, and fertile squares of red and green, till they

. sink into the wide expanse of hazy flats, rich salt marshes, and rolling

-Sand-hills, where Torridge joins her sister Taw, and both together flow
quietly toward the broad surges of the bar, and ‘the everlasting thunder

- of the long Atlantic swell. Pleasantly the old town stands there, beneath
its soft Italian sky, fanned day and night by the fresh ocean breeze,
which forbids alike the keen winter frosts, and the fierce thunder heats of
midland ; and pleasantly it has stood there for now, perhaps, 800 years,
since the first Grenville, cousin of the Conqueror, returning from the

-conquest of South Wales, drew round him trusty Saxon serfs, and free
Norse rovers with their golden curls, and dark Silurian Britons from the

- Swansea shore, and all the mingled blood which still gives to the sea-
ward folk of the next county their strength and intellect, and, even in.
these levelling days, their peculiar beauty of face and form.”

In this pleasing romance, Mr. Kingsley has made prominent among
its characters the name of Coftin, as one identified with the gentle folk of
North Devon. Portledge is spoken of as the place where lived that most

_ protestant justice of the peace, Mr. Coffin; and as the place where the
Coffins had lived ever since Noah’s flood. It appears that no one,
whether writing of fact or fiction, discourses long about Devonshire
‘without mentioning the family of Coffin, so thoroughly interwoven is it
with the ancient history of Devon.

Some of these families in ancient times furnished gentlemen with

_gilded spurs, as well as names to localities. Prince mentions Sir Geoffrey

,
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 13-
/

Coffin, of Combe-Coffin, in the days of King Henry III.; and, before that,
Sir Elias Coftin, of Ingarly, (also called Sir Elias Coffin of Argot,) in the
days of King John of England. Of the family at Alwington, from the
time of Henry I. unto the age of Edward II., the period of more than
200 years, the heirs, it is claimed, were always called Richard; and we
note Sir Richard Coftin, of Alwington, Knight, in the reign of Henry IT. ;
Sir Richard Coffin, of Alwington, in the reign of Edward I.; and Sir
Richard Coffin, in the days of Henry IV.; and again, a century after-
ward, Richard Coffin was high sheriff of Devon, in the second year of |
Henry VUI. Perhaps the most eminently distinguished of the family -
name in England at any period was Sir William Coftin, Knight, in the
reign of King Henry VIII. He was born at Portledge, and was a
younger brother of the Richard Coffin, who was high sheriff of Devon
in the second year of Henry VIII., above mentioned. He married Lady
Manors, of Darbyshire, and probably resided with her in Darbyshire,
as he was chosen knight of that shire in the Parliament which began in
the 21st year of the reign of Henry VIII. (1529). Though his elder
brother, Richard, succeeded to the Portledge estate, Sir William became:
possessed of the manor of East Higginton, in the parish of Berrynarbor,.
in North Devon, some fifteen miles in a northerly direction from Port--
ledge, and perhaps other estates in Devon, all of which, upon his death,
dying without issue, he conveyed to his nephew, his eldest brother's son,.
Richard Coffin, of Portledge. Sir William’s reputation was not confined
to Devonshire. His education and accomplishments were such that they
introduced him with advantage to the Court of Henry VIII., where he:
came to be highly preferred, and accompanied the King as one of the
eighteen chosen to assist at the tournament held between him and the-
French King before Guisness, in France, A. D. 1519. This fact shows
that he was a gentleman of courage and expert at feats of arms.

Of these jousts Camden says,—‘‘ They were at first public exercises-
of arms practised by noblemen and gentlemen, .but soon became more-
than mere sports and diversions. They were first introduced A. D. 934,
and were always managed by their own particular laws. A long time
and in all parts their practise was continued, to that degree of madness.
and with so great a slaughter of persons of the best quality, especially
here in England where it was more prominently introduced by Stephen,
that the Church was forced by seven canons to forbid them with the
penalty, ‘that whosoever should happen therein to be slain should be
denied Christian burial,’ and under King Henry III. by the advice of
Parliament if was enacted that the offenders’ estate should be forfeited
and their children disinherited, yet in contempt of that good law this
evil and pernicious practise long prevailed.”

Polwhele’s Devonshire states that Sir William Coffin was Master of
the Horse at the Coronation of Anne Boleyn, in the 25th year of Henry
4 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

VIII. (1534) ; and was afterward honored with knighthood in the 29th
_year of the same reign. He was also one of the gentlemen of the Privy .
Chamber to the same King, a place of great reputation and trust, whose
-office is to wait on the king within doors and without, so long as his
majesty is on foot, and when the king eats in his Privy Chamber, they
wait at table and bring in the meat; they wait also at the reception of am-
-bassadors, and every night two of them lie in the King’s Privy Chamber.
“They are forty-eight in number, all knights or esquires of note, whose
power is great; for a gentleman of the Privy Chamber, by the King’s
command,.only, without any written commission, is sufficient to arrest a
Peer of England. These gentlemen were not at this time chosen to fill
this office because of their political training and abilities alone, but be-
«ause of their fine physical development and noble carriage and expert-
ness in arms.

Another incident in the life of Sir William is related both by Mr.
Prince and Mr. Polwhele, because it led to an act of Parliament which
. limited the power of priests in demanding mortuaries, and gave occasion
for the confirmation of the observation ‘‘ that evil manners are often the
parent of good laws.” On his way to the Parliament, in 1529, from Dar-
byshire, ‘‘Passing by a Church-yard, he saw a multitude of people
standing idle; he inquired into the cause thereof: they replied that they
had brought a corpse thither to be buried, but the priest refused to do
his office, unless they first delivered him the poor man’s cow, the only
-quick goods he left for a mortuary. Sir William sent for the priest, and
required him to do his office to the dead. He peremptorily refused unless
he had his mortuary first. Whereupon he caused the priest to be put
into the poor man’s grave, and earth to be thrown in upon him, and as
he still persisted in his refusal, there was still more earth thrown in,
until the obstinate priest was either altogether, or well nigh suffocated.

‘« Now thus to handle a priest in those days, was a very bold advent-
ure; but Sir William Coftin, with the favor he had at Court, and the in-
terest he had in the House, diverted the storm; and so lively represented
‘the mischievous consequences of priests arbitrarily demanding of mortu-
aries, that the then Parliament, taking it into their serious consideration,
were pleased to bound that matter ever after, by a particular statute ;
the preamble whereof, which runs thus, seems to intimate as much:
‘Forasmuch as question, ambiguity, and doubt, is chanced and risen,
upon the order, manner, and form of demanding, receiving, and claim-

ing of mortuaries, otherwise called corps-presents, as well or the great-
ness and value of the same, which, as hath lately been taken, is thought
over excessive to the poor people, and others of this realm, as also ‘for
that, &c.: Be it therefore enacted, &c.: First—That no mortuary shall
be taken of any moveable goods, under the value of ten marks. Sec-
ondly—That no parson, &¢., shall take of any person that, dying, left in
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 15

moveable goods, clearly above his debts paid, above ten marks and
under thirty pounds, above three shillings and four pence for a mortuary,
in the whole. And fora person dying, or dead, having at the time of his
-death, of the value in moveable goods, of thirty pounds or above, clearly
-above his debts, and under the value of forty pounds, no more shall be
‘taken for a mortuary than six shillings and eight pence, in the whole.
And for any person having at the time of his death, of the value, in
moveable goods, of forty pounds or above, to any sun whatsoever it be,
clearly above his debts paid, there shall be no more taken, paid, or de-
manded, for a mortuary, than ten shillings in the whole.’

‘*What herein is further observable, it was also enacted, that such
mortuaries shall be paid, only in such a place where heretofore mortu-
-aries have been used to be paid; and that those mortuaries be paid only
in the place of the deceased person’s most usual habitation; and that no
parson, &c., shall take more than as limited in this Act, under penalty of
forfeiting every time so much in value, as they shall take above the sum
limited by this Act, &c. So much for the occasion of this statute ; which
confirms the observation, that evil manners are often the parent of soot
laws.”

Sir William was also high steward of the manor and liberties of
-Standon, in the county of Hereford, where he resided at the time of his
death. He bequeathed to his great Master, King Henry VIII., with
whom he had lived in intimate relations and especial grace and favor, his
best horses and a cast of his best hawks. He was buried at Standon, in
‘the parish church, under a flat stone, on which was some time found this
inscription, as mentioned in Weever’s Funeral Monuments, (p. 534) :

“Here lieth William Coffin, Knight, sometime of the Privy Chamber
with his Sovereign Lord, King Henry VIII.; and Master of the Horse
unto Queen Anne, the most lawful Wife unto the aforesaid King Henry
VIII. and High Steward of all the Liberty and Manor of Standon, in the
county of Hereford, which William deceased the 8th day of December,
in the Year of our Lord, 1538, the 30th of the reign of King Henry VIII.”

The most that has hitherto been‘written in America upon the Coffin
family of England, has been based upon the assumption that all of that
name in England descended from ancestors of the Portledge family, and,
consequently, that the American Coffins were also descendants from
Portledge. There is not, however, the slightest evidence that Portledge
is the most ancient seat of the Coffinsin England. That it has descended
in a direct line from a very great antiquity, is true; that it has been the
abode of gentlemen of culture and learning is notorious; for Mr. Prince
‘tells us that the Richard Coffin who possessed the estate at the time of
his writing was a “right worthy and worshipful gentleman of great
piety and virtue,” that he was especially learned in venerable antiquity,
and had a noble library which he knew well how to make use of. And
16 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

in every article upon the Coffins that has fallen under my eye pertaining”
to the antiquity of the family, notwithstanding some of them claim to
Thaye been copies from ancient manuscripts, there are unmistakable
marks of having been made up from Mr. Prince’s history of the Worthies.
of Devon.

The Rev. John Prince wrote his work as other works of that kind.
were written, from material at hand, about A. D. 1690. He refers to Sir
William Pole’s MSS., from which he quotes. He had doubtless examined.
the MSS. of Portledge, and gathered information from the proprietor,.
who was also a gentleman of literary and antiquarian tastes. He makes
the Portledge family prominent, and, at the time of his writing, it was
probably the most important family of the name of Coffin in Devonshire,
as it now is. He says he finds a Sir Richard Coffin, of Alwington,
Knight, as far back as the days of King Henry II., and that the manor of
Alwington hath been in the name of Coftin from the time of the Norman

“Conquest unto this day; but he gives us no evidence of that fact by cit-
ing.any deed or document. And, in a recent publication called ‘‘ The
MSS. of J. R. P. Coffin, Esq., at Portledge, N. D.,” to which the com-
piler’s name is not appended, although he was the guest of the proprie-
tor, no such pretention is made. The earliest date to any deed is that of
‘1254. This writer did not find the Saxon deed mentioned by Prince as |
having been made near the Conquest, although an interpretation of it is.
given. Westcote’s Devonshire (p. 314) says ‘‘ Allington, Alwington,
Alwinton, and, in Domesday Book, Hanitine, for by'all these names it is.
written, was possessed by David de la Bear.” ‘‘Portledge therein was
held by one of the name, by the heir of which race it came to the ancient
and dignous family of .Coffin, which in former times were of great estate,
for in the time of Richard I. (1189-1199) I find Sir Hugo Coffin of Combe
Cottin ; in Henry ILL. (1216-1272) Sir Geoffey Coffin of the same place.”

Now, if Alwington was recorded in Domesday as the property of
David de la Bear, and Portledge held by one of that name, by the heir of
which it subsequently passed into the family of Coftin, the claim that this.
estate has been possessed by the family of Coffin from the Conquest must
fail. The Sir Hugo Coffin and Sir Geoffrey Coffin had nothing to do with
Portledge. It is as probable that the Coffins who first held Portledge
descended from the Coflins of Combe Coffin, as otherwise; and yet, the
earliest family of Coffins may have come over with the Conqueror, or
before that time, as previously stated.

Brixton, where Tristram Coffyn held estates, lies near the southern
coast of Devonshire, some forty miles away from Portledge, which lies
on the northwestern coast; and there is no evidence that the Portledge
Coffins ever held property in Brixton. Combe Coffin lies sixty miles
away on the southeastern coast near Dorsetshire. Coffins Well is about
fifty. miles distant, also on the southeastern coast. Chudleigh, where
THE COFFIN FAMILY. W7

Nicholas Coffin was vicar of the Church in 1887, lies forty miles away.
These distances are insignificant now, but, with the means of transit in
the time of the first William, and all the later kings down to the intro-
duction of steam, they are quite significant.

Polwhele (v1, p. 197) says: ‘From the time of Vortigern to the
Norman Conquest and from the Conquest to Edward the First, (1272-1807)
we haye little to contemplate in the civil and military transactions of
Devonshire, but revolution, massacre, and disorder.” And, from: the
time of Edward I. to Charles I., it cannot be said that England enjoyed
any long period of domestic tranquility, and Devonshire was subject to
many turmoils and conyulsions.. It was upon the southern coast. of
Devonshire that the principal conflicts were waged. It was from this
part of the country that such men as Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter
Raleigh were reared. Portledge stood to the north away from the scenes
ot revolution and pillage, and the fact that its tenures have not been dis-
turbed for six centuries or more, and its records preserved through so
long a period of time, is sufficient for the inferential conclusion that its
favored locality alone saved it to the family, through all the vicissitudes
of the frequently recurring insurrections and invasions that menaced
and devastated the southern parts of Devon.

The civil wars between the houses of York and Lancaster, which for
more than half a century, commencing in the reign of Henry VL.,
deluged England in blood, wrought great changes in the estates of.
Devonshire. And again, during the religious throes which character.
ized the several reigns from Henry VIII. to Charles I., the dissolution of
religious houses, and the spoliation of Abbey lands; together with the
restoration of the old order of things under the Catholics, all wrought
disorder in Devonshire; and, while some of the Coffins—notably those
from Portledge—realized great advantages in the time of Henry VIII.,
it is probable that others suffered persecution and perhaps martyrdom.

While many have searched for the pedigree of our ancestor, Tristram
Coffyn, among the records of Devonshire, no one has yet been able to
trace his pedigree beyond that of his grandfather, Nicholas Coffyn. Ad-

- aniral Sir Isaac Coffin, Bart., in memorializing the College of Arms, in
1804, for the grant of a Coat of Arms, represented that he was by tradi-
tion descended from the family of Coffin of the west of England, but
that he was unable to ascertain his descent. I have faith, however, that
the proper investigation of the matter will sometime reveal to us Tris-
tram’s true pedigree extending much further back; and that what is
now unknown will prove as honorable as that which we now know
with reasonable certainty.

Tristram Coffyn, of Butler's, parish of Brixton, county of Devon,
England, made his will November 16, 1601, which was proved at Tot-

ness, in the same county, in 1602. He left legacies to Joan, Anne, and
Al
18 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

John, children of Nicholas Coffyn; Richard and Joan, children of Lionel
Coffyn; Philip Coffyn and his son Tristram; and appointed Nicholas,
son of Nicholas Coffyn, his executor. He was probably the great uncle
of the first of the race in America.

Nicholas Coffyn, of Brixton (one account says Butler’s Parish), in
Devonshire, in his will, dated. September 12, 1613, and proved November
3, 1613, mentions his wife, Joan, and sons Peter, Nicholas, Tristram,
John, and daughter Anne. He was the grandfather of the emigrant toe
New England.

Peter Coffyn, of Brixton, in his will, dated December 1, 1627, and
proved March 13, 1628, provides that his wife, Joan (Thember) shall
have possession of the land during her life, and then the said property
shall go to his son and heir, Tristram, ‘‘ who is to be provided for ac-
cording to his degree and calling.” His son John is to have certain
property when he becomes 20 years of age. He mentions his daughters
Joan, Deborah, Eunice and Mary, and refers to his tenement in Butler's
Parish called Silferhay. He was the father of the emigrant.

John Coffyn, of Brixton, an uncle of the emigrant, who died without
issue, in his will, dated January 4, 1628, and proved April 3, 1628, ap-
points his nephew, Tristram Coffyn, his executor, and gives legacies to
all of Tristram’s sisters, all under 12 years of age.

Nicholas Coffyn, the grandfather of Tristram, was probably born
about the middle of the sixteenth century, in the reign of Edward VI.
(1550). He lived to the end of the reign of the Tudors, and saw the
reign of: the Stuarts commenced in the person of James VI. of Scotland
and I. of England. . He died in the reign of James I. (1613). His eldest
son, Peter, doubtless succeeded to his estates; and his youngest son,
John, acquired some estate, as he made our Tristan his executor. The
other sons, Nicholas and Tristram, have not been accounted for, neither
has his daughter Anne.

Peter Coffyn, the father of Tristram, must have been born during
the reign of Queen Elizabeth, about the year 1580. He died about the
close of the year 1627 or early in the year 1628. At present we know of
but little more of Tristram’s father than we do of his grandfather, save
that he married Joan Thember (or Thumber) and had two sons and four
daughters, of whom Tristram was the eldest, the other son, John, hav-
ing died in Plymouth Fort, England, after receiving @ mortal wound.

Tristram Coffyn was born at Brixton, near Plymouth, county of
Devon, England, during the reign of James I., in the year 1605, as
previously “stated, He married Dionis Stevens, daughter of Robert
Stevens, Esq., of Brixton, about the year 1630. The particular causes
or circumstances which induced his emigration to America have been a
subject of profound study and mature deliberation. If we look at the
contemporaneous history of England we shall find that the time which
THE COFFIN FAMILY. : 19
covers Tristram’s mature life in England, about fifteen years, marks a
most eventful period—the moment when intellectual freedom was
claimed unconditionally by Englishmen as an inalienable right, and
when ecclesiastical forms were not spared by the revolutions of the time.

James I., whose reign had been adorned by Shakespeare and Bacon,
diced in 1625, when Tristram was 20 years old. Charles I. had been upon
‘the Throne but two years when Tristram’s father died. The Petition of
Right, in 1628, sought to limit the powers of the Crown, and the King
soon after abolished the Parliament and established the Star Chamber.
Puritanism was making rapid strides, and large numbers of Puritans
were leaving England. So great was the exodus that the King prohib-
ited their departure, and Hampden, Pym, and Cromwell were prevented
from leaving. About this time the Duke of Buckingham was’ assassi-
nated. In 1638 the Scotts, to maintain their ecclesiastical rights, took
up arms against the King, having framed the celebrated Solemn League
and Covenant, and sustained the Parliament in its opposition to Charles.
The Earl of Strafford and the Archbishop of Canterbury, as chief ad-
visers of the King, were impeached and beheaded (the former in 1641,
and the latter in 1644). The Presbyterians, who were now a majority in
the Commons, procured the exclusion of the Bishops from the House of
Lords, in 1641, which was followed by an act, in 1643, entirely abolishing
the Episcopacy, so that Charles began to realize that without Bishops
there would be no King. Under these circumstances the Long Parlia-
ment convened. ;

The irrepressible conflict between Charles I. and the, Parliament
came to a crisis in 1642, and in August of that year the royal standard
was raised at Nottingham. The King was generally supported by the
nobility, the landed gentry, the High Church party, and the Catholics;
and the Parliament was sustained by the mercantile and middle classes
and the lower order of the great towns.

Tristram Coffyn was of the landed gentry. Most probably he was a
Churchman after the order of Elizabeth’s time. Conformably to his
father’s will he was to be provided for ‘‘according to his degree and .
calling.” He must, therefore, have had a.calling—a profession. He may
have taken holy orders or practiced at Exeter nisi prius, (although there
appears but little in his life at Nantucket to warrant the belief that he
ever pretended to anything more than plain Mister Tristram Coffyn).
Yet it does appear that the very year of the appeal to arms, 1642, after
the conflict had been waged, Tristram Coffyn, at the age of 37, left all of
his comfortable estates in Old England and embarked for America,
bringing with him his wife and five small children, his mother, then
aged 58 years, and two unmarried sisters, and none of them ever re-
‘turned.
20 THE COFFIN FAMILY.
s

The question will occur again and again to the minds of the thought-
ful, Why did Tristram Coffyn leave England at this particular time, and
in what ship did he embark? Upon these subjects he has left no record
and the oracles are silent. It is difficult to conceive how a man of his
positive character could have lived in South Devon, during the stormy
times of Charles I., and not have taken some part in the fierce conflicts
which ensued. He must have had convictions, and he probably did not
concealthem. If he was of the Parliament ‘party it would be hard to
divine the motive that prompted his emigration just at the time when
that party was successful and gaining strength and power. And if of
the King’s party, why he should have abandoned a failing cause, with
his tenacity of opinion. There are several versions of the cause of his
emigration. One is to the effect that Colonel Tristram Coffyn was Gov-
ernor of Plymouth, and in command of Plymouth Fort, after it fell into
the possession of the Parliament party; and, upon the restoration of
Charles JJ., expecting nothing but persecution from that monarch, he
resigned command of the Citadel and embarked for America. This
statement cannot be true in any particular, because he arrived in
America in 1642, and Charles II. did not return to England till 1660.
Another version is that, being Governor of Plymouth, and in command
of the Fort, upon finding he could not longer hold the Citadel against the
Parliament forces, prepared a vessel and embarked for America with his
family. This last statement although more probable, is equally un-
founded in fact; for there would have remained some history of the fact
if he had ever been Governor of Plymouth, or commanded the Fort.

It must be borne in mind that Plymouth fell into the power of the
Parliament at the very commencement of the civil war, and, though lone
besieged and blockaded by the King’s forces, was never reduced to his
control. It must also be remembered that Tristram’s only brother, John
Coffyn, was mortally wounded at Plymouth Fort, and died eight days
thereafter. Upon which side John Coffyn was enlisted we have no certain
evidence, and the exact date of his death is not known. I assume that,
being a younger son, he entered the military service of his country and
accepted duty at Plymouth Fort, under Charles I. In what capacity it
is not material, but most probably in a subordinate one; for, if he had
been Governor of Plymouth, or in command of the Fort, that fact would
have survived the historic demolition of that eventful period. John
Coffyn most likely fell in defense of the royal standard, and, if so, he
died at the commencement of the civil war.

Tristram Coffyn, as heir of his father’s estates at Brixton, within
about five miles of Plymouth, found himself established among the
Janded gentry, whose interests and sympathies were generally with the
royal party. I assume, therefore, that Tristram was a royalist, without
dissimulation. The family characteristics could no more be disguised in
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 21

s

him in England than in Nantucket. He stood for what he was; and,
when Plymouth, in 1642, fell under the control of the Parliament party,
to stand for the royal cause at Brixton, almost within range of the
cannon at Plymouth Fort, required courage, particularly after his only
brother had fallen in detense of that cause. Yet he stood faithful to his
convictions of right and loyal to the King. He was at this time in the
prime of early manhood, just the proper age to have become enamored
of the knightly bearings of the Cavaliers. But, while he adhered to the
royal cause with fidelity and zeal, and was unquestionably a Cavalier, in
contradistinction from the Roundheads, I cannot conclude, estimating
him by his life in Nantucket, that he ever took any delight in horse
soldiers or their decorations, although every inch a knight in the truest
and most chivalric sense.

Considering the eventful period of his life immediately following the
death of his father, which probably occurred early in 1628, when he had
but attained his twenty-third year, it is easy to perceive how the per-
plexing complications of the King and the Parliament, gave him little
peace of mind or enjoyment of his estate. The whole kingdom, in 1642,
exhibited a most melancholy spectacle. Each county, town, and hamlet,
was divided into factions seeking the ruin of each other. The two great
armies plundered wherever they cafhe, and their example was faithfully
copied by smaller bodies of armed men. Every person was compelled
to contribute after a certain rate to the support of that cause which
obtained the superiority in his neighborhood. While the royalists
triumphed in the northern counties, on the southern coast the superiority
of the Parliament party was equally decisive.

It will be asked How could Tristram Coffyn, a royalist, leave Brix-
ton, at a time when Plymouth and the whole southern coast was con-
trolled by Parliament forces? And, if there had not been a pacific feel-
ing among neighbors and an interruption of hostilities in Devon at this
time, it could not have happened. But Lingard, in his History of Eng-
land (v. 10, p. 120), states that there were four counties, ‘‘ those of York,
Chester, Devon, and Cornwall, in which the leaders had already learned
to abhor the evils of civil dissention. They met on both sides and
entered into engagements to suspend their political animosities, to aid
each other in putting down the disturbers of the public peace, and to
oppose the introduction of any armed force, without the joint consent of
both the King and the Parliament.” This period of pacific intercourse
which subsequently became associated in other counties, took place in
Devon, in 1642; and, under its operation, emigration to America offered
& proper sojution of the problems that had perplexed the mature life of
Tristram Coffyn in England. What to him were lands and tenements,
rents and revenues,—under the tyranny of a King which in levying ship-
money made all estates insecure, or under the sway of a Parliament
92 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

which exacted a contribution of one-twentieth part of the estate for the-
support of an army, where human life was always insecure, no matter
which party succeeded,—to the unconditional liberty of body and soul
which the wilderness of America offered. Saddened by the early decease
of an only brother in a cause, which, if successful, offered nothing but
oppression; sickened of the continual revolution and anarchy which
surrounded his early home, he quietly quitted his otherwise ample and
comfortable estates in the Old World, and sought a home midst the hardy
Pilgrim settlers of the New. It was his utter want of faith in the insti-
tutions of England that sent him across the ocean with a wife and five
small children, a widowed mother and two unmarried dependant sisters,
to found a new home among the barren hills of New England. While
he could not bring his landed estates, he doubtless did not come penni-
jess.

Admiral Henry E. Coffin, R. N., in his correspondence with Mr.
William E. Coffin, of Richmond, Ind., states that Tristram Coffyn’s estate
at Brixton, upon the Restoration, was given by Charles II. to his bastard
son who was called Batard, and that the property has been held in that
family to this day. He also mentions the property at Butler's, as having
recently been sold.

Now, in what ship did Tristrant Coffyn come to America? Of the
identity of the ship there is certainly much doubt. But it is generally
conceded that he came in the ship with Robert Clement, who settled in
Haverhill, and that Tristram first went to Salisbury. A descendant of”
Robert Clement, as I am informed by letter of Robert Coffin, of Hoboken,
. N.J., to William E, Coffin, of Richmond, Ind., states that the ships which
arrived in 1642, owned by Robert Clement, in which he might have come,
were the “ Hector,” “ Griffin,” “ Job Clement,” and ‘* Margaret Clement.”
And so, if Robert Clement arrived in one of these ships, the same must
be true of Tristram Coffyn.

It appears that he did not affect a permanent settlement at Salisbury,
but removed the same year to the new settlement of Pentucket, soon
afterward called Haverhill. This settlement was commenced in 1640,
Christopher Hussey being among the first settlers, but no deed from the
Indians was obtained until 1642, when the name of Tristram Coffyn ap--
pears as one of the witnesses thereto. It was first recorded in the county
records of Norfolk, (lib. 2, p. 209); and, in 1832, the ‘original deed was
said to be in the possession of Charles White, Esq. As it is the first
appearance of the name of Tristram. Coffyn upon any document in
America, I make a copy of it from the History of Haverhill by B. L.
Mirick. The marks made by the Indian sachems were representations.
of the bow and arrow: !

‘‘ Know all men by these presents, that wee Passaquo and Saggallew wth
ye consent of Passaconaway; have sold unto ye inhabitants of Pentuckett.
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 23
&

all ye lands wee have in Pentuckett; that is eyght myles in length from
ye little Rivver in Pentuckett Westward: Six myles in length frome ye afore-
said Rivver northward: ‘And six myles in length frem ye foresaid Rivver
Eastward, wth ye Tleand and y® rivver that ye ileand stand in as farinlength
as y® land lyes by as formerly expressed: that is, fourteene myles in length:
And wee y¢ said Passaquo and SaggaHew wtk ye consent of Passaconnaway,
have Sold unto y® said inhabitants all ye right that wee or any of us have in
ye said ground and Ileand and Rivver: And wee warrant it against all or
any other Indeans whatsoever unto ye said Inhabitants of Pentuckett, and to
their heires and assignes forever Dated ye fifteenth day of november Ann
Dom 1642.

Witnes our hands and seales to this bargayne of sale ye day and year
above written (in y® presents of us.) we ye said Passaquo & SaggaHew have
received in hand, for & in consideration of ye same three pounds & ten
shillings :

John Ward , ye marke of
’ Robert Clements Passaquo X [SEAL.]
Tristram Coffyn

Hugh Sherratt

William White
ye signe of (1) ye marke of
So

Thomas Davis
SAGGAHEW. X [SEAL]

‘Tristram Coffyn settled in Haverhill near Robert Clement, and tradi-
tion says he was the first person who ploughed land in that town, con-
structing his own plough. The following year he settled at the Rocks,
so called. He resided in Haverhill several years, when he removed to
Newbury (1648-9), and thence to Salisbury (1654-5), where he organized
the company for the purchase and settlement of Nantucket.

From the History of Newbury, by Joshua Coffin, Esq., the following
extracts are made:

1644—“ Tristram Coffyn is allowed to keep an ordinary, sell wine, and

keep a ferry on Newbury side, and George Carr on Salisbury side of Carr’s
Island.” (p. 43.)

“ Dec. 26, 1647—Tristram Coffin (sen) is allowed to keep an ordinary
and retayle wine, paying according to order, and also granted liberty to keep
a ferry at Newbury side. This ferry crossed the Merrimack River at Carr’s
Island, George Carr keeping the Salisbury side.and Tristram Coffin, sen, the
Newbury side.” (p. 49.)

‘«1653.. September—Tristram Coffyn’s wife, Dionis, was presented for
selling beer at his ordinary, in Newbury, for three pence.a quart. Having
proved, upon the testimony of Samuel Mooers, that she put six bushels of
malt into the hogshead she was discharged.” (p. 57.)
24 oe COFFIN FAMILY.

The law which she was supposed to have violated was passed in 1645,
and is as follows:

‘« Every person licensed to keep an ordinary, shall always be provided
with good wholesome beer of four bushels of malt to the hogshead, which
he shall not sell above two pence the ale quart, on penalty of forty shillings
the first offence and for the second offence shall lose his license.”

It must be remembered that this presentment was during the
same period that women were presented for wearing silk hoods and
scarfs and other trifling matters of dress, which were in violation of the
abortive attempt to regulate the fashions of the people. Dionis doubt-
less intended to make a better beer than was afforded at other ordinaries ;
and as three pence per quart bore the same relation to six bushels of
malt, as two pence per quart did to four bushels, she could see no reason
-why her beer should not sell for three pence per quart notwithstanding —
the law. Proof of this fact secured her discharge, and there can be
little doubt that her beer gained a good reputation from this proceeding,
and Coffyn’s ordinary became distinguished as the place where the best
beer was sold. It will be thus noticed that Goodwife Coffyn had to bear
her share of the public as well as the domestic burdens of her time.
And this fact alone is sutlicient to show that she was a faithful helpmeet, |
fitted for the maternity of an honorable race. For we cannot contem-
plate, the dignity and moral grandeur attained by every one of the chil-
dren she bore, which grew to the estate of maturity, nor consider the
high places of distinction most of them were called to fill, nor the
wreathes of honor which in their lifetimes, environed them, without be-
coming sensibly impressed with the truth that most great personages
have rejoiced in good mothers. Although her name was not, like that
of her daughter's, Mary Starbuck, associated with the public affairs of
Nantucket, she was undoubtedly a woman of good judgment, and coun-
selled with her husband in the discharge of the duties that devolved
upon him in the various positions of trust which he filled. The time of
her birth is not known, neither is the period of her death definitely
fixed, but she survived her husband, as the probate records show.

The name Dionis is the diminutive of Dionysia, and was often writ-
ten Dionys, although I cannot find that she was ever known or called in
America by any other name than Dionis. It so appears in the records of
Newbury and Haverhill; and in every deed of conveyance recorded in
Nantucket, in which she joined her husband, it is the same. Also in.the
probate proceedings after the death of her husband she is there named
as Dionis. It is quite remarkable that, while the name of Tristram has
been perpetuated through all the generations, and in genealogical re-
searches becomes a source of confusion it occurs so often, the name of
Dionis is repeated but once in all the generations down to the present
time. One grandchild only, the eldest daughter of Stephen Coftin,
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 25

youngest child of Tristram and Dionis, was christened Dionis, but when
-she came to be married to Jacob Norton, the name appears as Dinah.
It may be also stated that James Cottin had a daughter Dinah who mar-
ried Nathaniel Starbuck, Jr.

So it may be said that the wife of Tristram Coffyn possessed a name
that disappeared with her life, and has remained obsolete for two centu-
ries. Yet it shall live again. In contemplating this fact I am reminded
of the beautiful legend of Saint Humbert: After that good saint had
been dead just a hundred years, as the story goes, his sarcophagus was
opened and a sprig of laurel that had lain in burial with him during the
whole century was taken from his ashes in as perfect green as if newly
plucked, and fresh as if wet with the morning’s dew. When the maternal
progenitor of Clan Coftin was laid away to mingle with the cold clods of
the valley, her laurels may have been buried with her. But as sure as

- eternal justice will triumph in the end—as sure as the white rose will
bloom anew with every returning season, so surely will the hand of im-
partial history penetrate the dark portals of the tomb and lift her laurels
to a glorious resurrection to bloom again green and perennial before the
world, ere another century shall have been numbered with the two pre-
ceding ones of indifference and oblivion. If her name and memory be
not immortalized by a figure of bronze, her life and character shall grow
in the righteous estimation of her numerous descendants, till no marble
or alabaster shall be found pure and white enough on which to inscribe
her name.

After Tristram returned to Salisbury from Newbury he signed his
name to some documents as commissioner of Salisbury. It was while 2
citizen of Salisbury that the plan for purchasing the island of Nantucket
was conceived, and carried into practical operation.

It has been generally believed that Tristram Coffyn and his associ-~
ates removed to Nantucket to escape religious persecution; and that
‘Thomas Macy, who first removed his family hither, fled from the officers
of the law, sacrificing his property and his home, rather than submit to
the tyranny which punished a man for being hospitable to strangers in a
rain storm, even though the strangers were Quakers. Our gifted poet
Whittier has made this story almost immortal by his fine rendering of
the supposed flight in a truly beautiful poem. But I must say that while
his version of the affair is poetically sublime, it is historically. untrue.
Obed Macy’s History of Nantucket indulges in this same erroncous state-
ment, drawing conclusions therefrom, which, of course, are, equally
unfounded.

Thomas Mayhew was a resident of Watertown, before removing to
Martha’s Vineyard, and was a deputy of the General Court from that
place. Thomas Macy was a deputy to the General Court from Salisbury
in 1654. Mayhew’s deed of the island of Nantucket from James
26 . THE COFFIN FAMILY. -

Fforrett, was obtained in 1641, but he did not remove to Martha’s Vine~
yard for several years afterward. It is probable that an acquaintance -
was formed between Mayhew and Macy, and Tristram Coffyn (although
I nowhere find that Tristram Coffyn was ever a member of the General
Court from either of the towns in which he previously resided), and that
Mayhew, desirous of settling the island and improving it, offered it for
sale upon such terms, as will be seen by the consideration mentioned in
the deed (£30 and two beaver hats), as seemed to offer opportunities for
agriculture and stock raising not possible to obtain among the small
settlements upon the continent, fencing being then as now a necessary
expense in pursuing either occupation, and very scarce. And the very
plan adopted on the island of Nantucket, of dividing and apportioning
the land into commons of pasture and tillage was attempted at Newbury,
in 1642, as the historian of Newbury, Joshua Coffin, states, from evidence
found in Tristram Coffyn’s ‘manuscript. In his correspondence with
Governor Lovelace, Thomas Macy makes allusion to Mr. Mayhew as his
honored cousin. ate
The deed of Mayhew to the first. purchasers bears date July 2, 1659,
which was then the 5th month according to the old style, and the pur--
chase was actually made as carly as February of the same year, while
the letter or answer of Thomas Macy to the Court respecting the offence
with which he was charged of harboring Quakers, bears date 27th of 8th
month, 1659, long after the purchase of the island had been consum-
mated and the deed passed. And the said letter of Mr. Macy proves.
that he had never seen the men before, except one; that he did not in-
quire their names; and, perceiving they were Quakers, desired them to:
pass on, lest he might give offence by entertaining them; and assuring
the Court that he had not willingly offended. Then, again, while the
penalty for entertaining one of the people called Quakers, was a fine of
£5 for every hour during which the Quaker was so entertained, the
Court, considering the letter of Mr. Macy as a plea of guilty, imposed a
_nominal fine of only 30 shillings, showing that the Court did not con-
sider the law but technically violated. It is also a matter of record that
Thomas Macy went back to Salisbury and resided there in 1664, as the
following extracts of a letter to a gentleman in Nantucket, written by
Joshua Coffin, Esq., the historian, in 1831, will abundantly show :

“Thomas Macy was a merchant, an enlightened man, and much too wise
fo apprehend any danger to his person or property from any person or per-
Sons, cither legally or illegally. The utmost the law could do was to fine:
him £4, and this sum could be mitigated according to circumstances. This
was actually the case with all those who were fined for ‘entertaining Quak--
ers,’ at the time Thomas Macy was fined. He stands the lowest on the list
as you will find by examining the Colony records. It is there stated, Thomas.
Macy is fined 10s. for, &c. The idea that his property was forfeited, is not
correct. It will, perhaps, be new to some people, to know that Thomas--
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 27

Macy went back from Nantucket and lived in Salisbury again, and sold his
land, house, &c. The record says, ‘Thomas Macy sold unto Anthony Colby,
the house in which he, Thomas Macy, droelleth at the present, together with
barne and so much land as the garden conteyneth on a straight line to the
eastermost corner of Roger Eastman’s barne, &c.—See Registry of Deeds
1664, for in that year he lived in Salisbury. Thomas Macy never had 1000
acres of land in Salisbury. The Salisbury records state that every man
worth £50 or less, shall have 4 acres of planting ground; 8 acres for £100,
and so on, 4 acres for every £50. With the planting land, each settler had
about double the quantity of Salt Marsh, &c. * * * ™* Macy was cer-
tainly a man of fortitude, courage, good sense, and education. .

‘* James Coffin was one of the first settlers on the island in ’59 or ’60, but
he was in Dover in 1668, and’ was a member of that church in 1671, and after
that went back to Nantucket.”

These facts are introduced for the purpose of disabusing the minds
of people familiar with the general history of Nantucket and its early
settlers, becausc it has gone into history and been generally accepted as
truc that the early settlers came to Nantucket because of religious per-
secution. And as this impression is entirely erroneous, it is important
that the descendants of Tristram Coffyn, as well as the descendants of
each of the other early settlers of Nantucket, should know that the first
emigrations hither were purely and simply in the interest of improved
homes, upon an agricultural and stock-raising basis. Neither was the
island during its earliest ycars of white occupation that elysium which
has been represented. The fathers of Nantucket did not ‘all dwell
together in unity and peace. There were local dissensions which in-
creased with the increase of numbers, ‘and disturbed the quietude of
many homes. But, compared with the difficulties which afflicted many
parts of New England, the oppressive spirit of the laws, the intolerance
of religious views, the prohibitions of dress, and the Indian wartares,,
Nantucket was indeed blessed with ‘‘plenty’s golden smile,” and ‘‘a
refuge of the free.”

Early in 1659, according to Benjamin Franklin Folger, the most. re-
liable genealogist of Nantucket,- Tristram Coffyn proceeded upon a
voyage of inquiry and observation, first to Martha's Vineyard, where he
took Peter Folger, the grandfather of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, as an in-
terpreter of the Indian language, and thence to Nantucket, his object ,
being to ascertain the temper and disposition of the Indians, and the
capabilities of the island, that he might report to the citizens of Salis-
bury what inducements for emigration thither were offered. I have dis-
covered no evidence of the names of the others who accompanicd him
from Salisbury, but it is certain that he had others to assist in managing
the boat, and very probably some of his sons, as it is a tradition, if
nothing better, that James Coffin, then about 19 years old, accompanied
Thomas Macy-and family, Edward Starbuck, and Isaac Coleman, later
in the same year, when they took up their residences upon the island.
28 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

Tristram’s intercourse with the Indians was frank and kind, and they
extended to him a warm welcome. His relations with the Indians ever
thereafter inspired them with confidence in his dealings as chief magis-
trate, and very little difficulty ever existed between the whites and the
natives, a fact which was largely owing to the infusion of his liberal,
high-minded and christian character into the practical concerns of life
among the Indians, for it is recorded that there were some three thou-
sand Indians upon the island when the white settlers made their abode
among them, although I think that number an exaggeration. ;

At Martha’s Vineyard he entered into preliminary negotiations with
Thomas Mayhew for the purchase of the island, before visiting it, and
after his visit to the island, he made additional arrangements for its
purchase, and returned to Salisbury, where his report upon the condi-
tion of the island, the character of the Indians, and the advantages of a
change of residence thither, was duly laid before his friends and associ-
ates. A company was organized for the immediate purchase of the
whole island, allowing Thomas Mayhew to retain a one-tenth portion
thereof, with some other reservations. Several meetings of the pur-
chagers appear to have been held at Salisbury, in the summer of 1659,
and general rules and regulations, for the government of the island were
adopted, as the following extracts from the records made at Salisbury
will show:

July 2d, 1659.—These people after mentioned did buy all right and enter-
est of the Island of Nantucket that did belong to Sr Ferdinando George and
the Lord Sterling, Mr. Richard Vinet, Steward, Gentleman to Sir Ferdinando
George, and Mr. James Ferrett, Steward to Lord Sterling, which was by
them sold unto Mr. Thomas Mayhew, of Marthers Vineyard; these after
mentioned did purchas of Mr. Thomas Mayhew these Rights: namely, the
pattent Right belonging to the Gentleman aforesaid; and also the piece of
Land which Mr. Mayhew did purchass of the Indians at the west end of the
Island of Nantucket as by their grant or bill of sale, will largely appear with
all the privileges and appurtenances thereof; the aforementioned Purchasers
are Tristram Coffin, Senyr, Thomas Macy, Richard Swain, Thomas Barnard,
Peter Coffin, Christopher Hussey, Stephen Greenleaf, John Swain, William
Pile; ,the said Mr. Thomas Mayhew himself also becom a Twentieth part
purshaser so that they, vizt: Mr. Thomas Mayhew, Tristram Coffin, Sinr.,
Thomas Macy, Richard Swain, Thomas Barnard, Peter Coffin,. Christopher
Hussey, Stephen Greenleaf, John Swain, William Pile had the whole and
Sole Interest, Disposell, power, and privilege of said Island and appurte-
nances thereof.

At Salysbury, February, 1659.—At a meeting of the purchasers or the
major part of them appeared alowed by the rest together with some others
that was owned for Ass’iates as will hereafter appear—it was agreed and De-
termined and approvd as follows, vizt: that the ten owners will admitt of Ten
-more partners who shall have equall power and Interest with themselves, and
that either of the purchasers aforementioned shall have liberty to take a
partner whome he pleases not being mostly excepted against by the rest.
.At that meeting Robert Pike was owned partner with Christopher Hussey,
Robert Barnard was owned partner with Thomas Barnard, Edwed Starbuck
‘was oned tobe Thomas Macy’s partner, and Tristram Coffin, jur., partner with
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 29
*

Stephen Greenleaf, James Coffin partner with Peter Coffin—at the same meet-
ing it was mutually and unanimously agreed upon, determined and concluded,
that no man whatsoever shall purchase any land of any of the Indians upon
the said iland for his own private or particular use; but whatsoever purchas
shall be made, shall be for the general account of the Twenty owners or pur-
chasers and whatsoever person shall purchas any Land upon any other ac-
count, it shall be utterly void and null, except what is don by Leve from the
said Owners or purchasers: at the same meeting it was ordered and De-
termined that there shall be ten other Inhabitants admitted into the Planta-
tion who shall have such accomodation as the Owners or purchasers shall
judge meet—as namely necessary tradesman and Seaman.

At a meeting of these owners of the Island of Nantucket at Salisbury it
was Debatted, and after debatted, determed and concluded, that as there had
ben a former meeting in Salisbury at the House of Benjamin Cambell, in
February, 1659, in which meeting orders was made for Probibiting of any
Person from the purchasing any land from any of the Indians upon the Island
of Nantucket except for the use of the Twenty owners or purchasers, the
Order shall stand Inviolable unalterable as that which also as that which is °
likely necessary to the continuance of the well being of the place and the
Conturary, that which tends to the confusion and Ruine of the whole and the
Suverting of the rules and orders allready agreed upon and the depriveing of
the said owners of there Just rights and Interest. Also it was ordered at
the same meeting that all the Land that ts fit for areable land convenient for
House lot shall be forthwith measured, that the quantity thereof may be
known, which being done, shall be divided by equel preportions, that is to’say
Four Fifths parts to the owners or purchasers; and the other Fifth unto the
Ten other Inhabitants; whereof John Bishop shall have two parts or shares,
that is to say of that Fifth part belonging to the Ten Inhabitant. Also at
the same meeting it was ordered that Tristram Coffin, Thomas Macy, Ed-
ward Starbuck, Thomas Barnard, Peter Folger of Mathers Vineyard, shall
have power to measure and lay out said Land according to the above said
awder, and whatsoever shall be done and concluded in the said Case by or
any three of them, Peter Folger being one, shall be accounted Legall and valid.

May the 10th, 1661.—At a meeting at Salisbury it was ordered and con-
cluded that the aforementioned parties, vizt: Tristram Coftin, seny., Thomas
Macy, Edward Starbuck, Thomas Barnard, Peter Folger, shall also measure
and lay out all the rest of the Land, both meadows, Woods and upland, that is
convenant to be appropriated within the bounds of the first Plantation; also
it is determined that the above mentioned persons, together with Mr. May-
hew, Richard Swain, John Bishop, or whatever others of the owners or pur-
chases that are present, shall have power to Determing what land is con-
venient to be improved and Laid out, and what should be common or Remain
Common, and also, to Lay out the bounds of the Town and record it, pro-
vided always that the land being measured, they shall first lay out a conve-
nant quantity of Land with suitable accomodations of all sorts which shall be
Particularly reserved for the public use of the Town. Also it was ordered
at the same meeting that an authentick Record shall be kept of-all that is don
about the proseeding and actions about the said Island, both the Island and
on the main, untill farther orders be taken. At the same meeting it was
ordered, that for the particuler appointing which Lot every man shall have tt
shall be don by casting Lots excepting ouly those persons that have already
taken there Lots, namly, Thomas Macy, Tristram Coffin, Seny., Edward Star-
buck and Richard Swain.

At the same the same meeting Robert Pike was appointed to keep the
Records concerning the Island of Nantucket at Salisbury, and Thomas Macy
30 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

«

to keep the Records at the Island, as in the above said orders expressed at
present until farther orders be taken by the owners or purchasers.

Late in the season of 1659, the first of the settlers arrived, consist-
ing of Thomas Macy and his family, Edward Starbuck, Isaac Coleman,
and James Coffin. They found the natives hospitable and kind, and
disposed to make them welcome. It has been often stated, and, of
course, become a matter of belief, that the town was first built at Mada-
ket, and early events are sometimes mentioned as having happened when
the town was at Madaket, &c. I wish therefore to state that the towm
never was at Madaket, nor was there ever any considerable number
of residences there. Probably there are more people living there now
than at any previous time in the island’s history. Macy’s History of
Nantucket says that Thomas Macy ‘‘ chose a spot for settlement on the
southeast side of Madaket harbor, where he found a rich soil and an ex-
cellent spring of water.” I know not the authority for such statement,
but certain it is that Tristram Coffyn first made a home near the Capaum
Pond, where he resided until his death, as I shall show by quoting from
the first book of records; and I also find that Thomas Macy had his
house-lot laid out to the eastward of Tristram Coffyn’s, near the Wana-
comet Pond, in 1661. To the south and east of Capaum Pond, grew up
the first village, and many of the cellar indentations where the houses
stood are yet visible, as well as other evidences of human habitations.

At a meeting held at Nantucket, July 15, 1661, of the owners or
purchasers residing there, it was agreed that each man have liberty to
choose his house-lot within the limits not previously occupied, and that
each house-lot shall contain sixty rods square to a whole share. Tris-
tram Coffyn appears to have been allowed to make the first selection
which is recorded as follows, together with the other lots:

[FROM FIRST BOOK OF NANTUCKET RECORDS. ]

Tristram Coffin, Sen., had his house lot layed out at Cappammet, by the
aforesaid Lot layers, at Cappamet Harbour head, sixty rods squar, or there-
abouts, the east side line part of it bounded by the highway; the south side
bounded by a rock southward of the pond; the north by the harbour head;
the west side bounded by the lot of Tristram Coffin, Jr., more or less, as it
is layd out. ‘

Peter Coffin had his house lot layd out by the aforesaid lot layers on the
East side of Cappammet harbour, the Nake [neck] of Land lying between
the said harbour and the pond commonly called the whale pond, bounded by
a rock at the southwest corner; and from thence on a straight line to the
east side of the aforesaid pond; the bound is the end of the neck so far as
the upland goes, more or less. ; ‘

Tristram Coffin, Junior, had his house lot layd out by the aforesaid Lot
layers at Coppammet, sixty rods squar, or thereabouts, on the east side by the
lot of his father, Tristram Coffin; on the south side by the common; on the
west by the lot of William Pile, more or less, as it is layed out. :
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 31

James Coffin had his house lot layed out by the aforesaid lot layers, sixty
‘rods squar, or thereabouts, bounded on the south by the lot of Nathaniel
Starbuck; the West side bounded by the common; on the East by the land
of Stephen Greenleaf, more or less.

The one half of the accomodation to Tristram Coffin, sen., being
assigned to Mary Starbuck and Nathaniel Starbuck, Tristram also being
present at the place commonly called the Parliament House, Sixty rod
square, bounded with the land of Thos. Mayhew on the south; and with the
land of James Coffin on the north; and on the east with the land of Stephen
Greenleaf; on the west by the common—Same land allowed at the east end
with reference to rubbage land, more or less.

Tristram Coffin, sen., had an acre of meadow lay out by Edw’d Starbuck,
Thos. Macy, himself being present, and Peter Folger agreeing thereto, on
the nack commonly called Nanna hamak Neck, at the south end of the wood-
Jand. At the sametime Tristram Coffin, junior, had an acre lot laid out at
the same place. At the same time Peter Coffin had a lot layed out, one acre,
bounded with the lot of Tristram Coffin, Jr., on the southwest, and with
the lot of Tristram Coffin on the northwest.

Tristram Coffin, Sen., had a twenty acre lot; being a Second Division
answerable to the lot laid out in the tive pound purchases, thirty rod in
breadth, lying a Long from the north side of the house lot of the said Tris-
tram Coffin lot, by Cuppammet head to the sea, more or less.

Tristram Coffin, Jr., had twenty acre lot layed out by Tristram Coffin,
Edward Starbuck & Peter Folger, answerable to the twenty acres on the five
pound purches. :

‘Tristram Coffyn was thirty-seven years of age upon his removal to
America, and fifty-five years of age at the time of his removal to Nan-
tucket, having spent eighteen years in America previous to his coming
to the island to reside. It does not appear that his mother, Joan Coffyn,
ever resided in Nantucket; and it does appear that she died in Boston,
in May, 1661, at the age of 77 years; the Rev. Mr. Wilson, who preached
the funeral sermon, spoke of her as a woman of extraordinary character.
Mirick’s History of Haverhill, quoting from Sewall’s Diary, which re-
corded the fact of Joan Coffyn’s death, says he ‘‘ embalmed her memory.”
Of bis two sisters who came with him to America, Eunice married
William Butler, and Mary married Alexander Adams, whose history
cannot here be further followed up. And of his two sisters, Joan and
Deborah, who were married in England before his departure for America,

. nothing has ever been detinitely ascertained.

Three of his children, viz., Peter, Tristram, Jr., and Elizabeth, were
married at the time of his removal to Nantucket. Elizabeth married
Stephen Greenleat, November 13, 1651, while they were living at New-
bury, the first grandchild being Stephen Greenleaf, Jr., born August
15, 1652. This grandchild well remembered his great-grandmother,
Joan Coffyn, and lived to see his own great-grandchildren. I do not
find that Stephen Greenleaf or Tristram Coffin, Jr., ever removed
their families to or became residents of Nantucket, although they were
32 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

of the original purchasers. Peter Coffin, however, became a resident of”
the island. Tristram, senior, did not remove his entire family until
1662.

From the early historical and traditional accounts Tristram Coffyn
was the leading spirit among the islanders at the commencement of the
settlement, and the interests which he and his sons and sons-in-law rep--
resented (for he frequently signed his name in matters of proprietor-
ship for himself and five others), gave him power to control in a great
degree the enterprises of the island. During the first years of his resi-.
dence upon the island he was the richest proprietor, except his son,
Peter, who was reputed to be possessed of preat estate. It is not to be’
found, however, that he ever exercised his power unduly for his own
advantage. He sought to have his associates purchase jointly with him
the island of Tuckernuck. Failing to enlist them in his further enter-
prise, he, with his three eldest sons, made a purchase of it in their own
right. When the man to whom certain rights had been granted upon
condition that he maintain a mill for grinding the grain produced by the.
islanders failed to construct the same, it was Tristram Coffyn that
assumed the contract and built and maintained the mill. In all the In-
dian troubles (for the aboriginees were simply North American Indians),
our common ancestor held them in subjection in such manner as com-
manded their respect. He employed large numbers of them in his farm-
ing operations, and built them improved wigwams upon his land. Our
late most valued historian, Benjamin Franklin Folger, “speaking of his
relation to the Indians says: ‘‘ The christian character which he exhib-
ited and which he practically illustrated in all the varied circumstances
and conditions of that infant colony, is analogous to that which subse-
quently distinguished the founder of Pennsylvania, so that the spirit of
the one seemed to be but the counterpart of the other.”

The Indians were divided into bands and. sometimes had quarrels
among themselves and sometimes were at variance with the whites.
‘Whether the white man was always the aggressor, as has been asserted
quite confidently by the philanthropic friends of the Indian in. later
times, cannot be decided; but one thing may be stated without fear of
contradiction, that the Indians became troublesome only after they had
learned to drink rum, and rum was introduced among them by the
whites. The early court records are mainly devoted to trials, convic-
tions, and sentences of Indians to be whipped for getting drunk and for
petty larcenies; and of fines imposed upon white men and women for
selling rum to Indians. Strong drink was the bane of the Nantucket.
Indians, and, so marked were its demoralizing influences, that the first
General Court for Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, composed of Tris-
tram Coffyn, first chief magistrate of Nantucket, and Thomas: Mayhew,
first. chief magistrate of Martha’s Vineyard, and two associates from.
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 33

each island, enacted a law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating drinks to
Indians. It is probably the first prohibitory liquor law on record. The
evil of rum drinking among the Indians became a serious matter, and
the prohibitory measures had a restraining influence; . yet for the love of
_ gain, white men then, as now, violated the law and sold rum to the In-
dians. The law was occasionally enforced, however, and John Gardner,
whose gravestone alone marks the spot where our ancestors were first
interred, complained to Governor Lovelace, at New York, under date of
March 15, 1676, that a half barrel of rum had been taken from him by
Thomas Macy, then chief magistrate. Mr. Gardner also represented
that the Indian Sachems said-they would fight if the laws against them —
were enforced.

Without entering into the consideration of all the causes which led to
the personal and partisan difficulties between the white settlers at this
time, it is clear that rum-drinking among the Indians was one great
cause; and the letter of Thomas Macy to Governor Lovelace, bearing
date of May 9, 1676, amply shows the fear he entertained of the Indians
if strong drink was allowed to be sold them. And he asks the Governor

to make | an order prohibiting any vessel that shall come into the harbor
from selling strong drink to Indians, believing that an order from the
Governor at New York would have more force ‘than laws enacted by the.
magistrates. He uses this strong language: ‘‘Sir, concerning the Peace
we “hitherto enjoy, I cannot imagine it could have bin if strong Liquor
had bin among the Indians, as formerly: for my owne yt I have been to
ye utmost an opposed of the Trade these 38 yeares, and I verily | be-
lieve (respecting the Indians) tis the only Ground of the miserable
p’sent Ruine to both Nations; for tis that hath kept. them from Civility,
they have been the drunken Trade kept all the while like wild Beares
and Wolves in the Wildernesse.”

It also appears that the Court on one occasion took possession of all
the liquor upon the island and disposed of it in small quantities as the
owners and English neighbors had need of.

The appointment of Tristram Coffyn as the first chief magistrate of
Nantucket, was about the same time that Thomag Mayltew was appointed
the first chief magistrate of Martha’s Vineyard. The. commission bears
date .29th-of June, 1671. The two chiefs, together with two assistants
from each island, were to constitute a General Court with appellate jur ‘is-
diction over both islands. It appears that Governor Lovelace desired
the inhabitants to recommend two suitable persons for chief magistrate,
for him to make & selection from. They named Tristram Coffyn. and
Thomas Macy, and he made choice of the former.

The town voted to have a ‘harrow for the use of the inhabitants; and

they farther voted that Mr. Tristram Coffyn provide the harrow, and that
Ag
Ba THE COFFIN FAMILY.

he and Mr. Thomas Macy be empowered to see that every man sowed
seed ‘‘ according to order.”

The first commission of Mr. Tristram Coffyn to be chief magistrate,
is copied verbatim from the third book of Deeds, page 62, in the Secre-
tary’s Office at Albany, by Mr. F. B. Hough, and is as follows:

Commission granted to Mr. Tristram Coffin, Senr., to be Chief Magistrate in
and over the Islands of Nantuckett and Tuckanuckett.

[Deeds iii, 62, Secretary’s Office. ]

Francis Lovelace, Esq., &c.: Whereas upon address made unto mee by
Mr. Tristram Coffin and Mr. Thomas Macy on-ye behalfe of themselves and
ye rest of ye inhabitants of Nantuckett Island concerning ye Mannor and
Method of Government to be used amongst themselves, and having by ye ad-
vice of my councell pitcht upon a way for them; That is to say, That they
be governed by a person as Chiefe Magistrate, and two Assistants, ye former
to be nominated by myselfe, ye other to be chosen and confirmed by ye inhab-
itants as in ye instructions sent unto them is more particularly sett forth.
And having conceived a good opinion of ye fitness und capacity of Mr.
Tristram Coffin to be ye present Chiefe Magistrate to manage affayres with
ye Ayd and good advice of ye Assistants in ye Islands of Nantuckett and
Tuckanuckett, I have thought fit to nominate, constitute, and appoint, and
by these presents doe hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Mr. Tristram
Coffin to be Chief Magistrate of ye said Islands of Nantuckett and Tucka-
nuckett. In ye management of which said employment hee is to use his best
skill and endeavour to preserve his Maties Peace and to Keep ye Inhabitants
in good Order. And all Persons are hereby required to give ye said Mr.
Tristram Coffin such respect and obedience as belongs to a Person invested
by commission from authority of his Royall Highness in ye place and em-

ployment of a Chiefe Magistrate in ye Islands aforesaid. And hee is duly to

observe the Orders and Instructions which are already given forth for
ye well governing of ye Place; or such others as from time to time shall
hereafter bee given by mee: And for whatsoever ye said Mr. Tristram Coffin
shall lawfully Act or Doe in Prosecution of ye Premises, This my Commis-
sion which is to bee of fforce until ye 13th day of October, which shall bee
in ye yeare of our Lord, 1672, when a new Magistrate is to enter into the
employment shall be his sufficient Warrant and Discharge.

Given under my Hand and Seale at fforte James, in New Yorke, this 29th
day of June, in ye 22d yeare of his Maties Reigne, Annoq Dni. 1671.

FRAN. LOVELACE.

There existed a feud in 1675-6, between Thomas Macy, chief magis-
trate, and Willian! Worth, his son-in-law, of one party, and John Gard-
ner and Peter Folger and others, of the other party. The commission of
Mr. Macy had run out, and, no successor being appointed, Mr. Macy
continued to act. Peter Coffin had returned to the island from Boston,
and was chosen an associate magistrate. The method of choosing was
by ballot of corn and beans. All in favor of. electing Peter Coffin were
to vote corn, and those opposed were to vote beans. There must have
been considerable electioneering in those days about the Old Parliament
House, for one enthusiastic advocate of Peter Coftin’s election exclaimed
«Corn Peter Coffin! If he don’t serve we will get his fine.” It was ob-
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 35

jected that Peter Cottin already held a commission in Boston and was
Deputy of the General Court of Massachusetts and could not legally
serve; but, notwithstanding all objections, he was chosen. His election
seemed to have been a triumph of the young men over the older ones.
For Peter Folger, in his letter of complaint to Governor Andross, at New
York, speaks rather contemptuously of “our new young magistrates.”
Peter Folger was the clerk of the Court, and refused to perform the

. functions required of him by the chief magistrate. Whereupon he was
put under arrest. Thomas Macy issued the following summons, signing
it himself:

“‘Tis the order of the Court that the Constable be sent to Peter
Ftoulger for the Court Booke, and all the Records of that: Nature, and
this is to impower the Constable herein to bring them to ye Court forth-
with, and Peter Ffoulger is hereby required to deliver them.

-Prme, Tuo: Macy, Mag.”

Mr. Folger came to the Court, but he answered not. William Worth
was chosen clerk of the Court, and the following indictment was found
against Peter Folger for contempt :

Ata Court of Ajurment held in the Towne of Sherburne, 14th Febu-
rary, 1676 Petter Foulger, Inditted for Contempt of his Magis Athority, in
not appearing before the Court according to fumons ferued on him and being
Aprehended by Specall Warrant being braoft to the Court to Anfwer for his
Contentious Carage, And being demanded why he did fo act gaue no Anfwer:
Th’o the Court waited on hem a While and vrged him to fpeak, The Sentence
of the Court is to Remite the Caufe to the Court of Afize at New York as the
law derects and to giue twenty Pound Bond for his appearance, and to abide.
the Order of the Court and to ftand committed ti’l Bond be given.

, A true Copy By the Court
WILLIAM Wortu, Cl.

Mr. Folger not finding bondsmen was placed in prison. He describes
it as ‘A place where never any Englishman was put, and where the
Neighbors Hoge had layd but the Night before, and in a bitter cold Frost
and deep Snow. They had only thrown out most of the Durt, Hoge
Dung and Snow. The Rest the Constable told me I might ly upon if I
would, that is upon the Boards in that Case, and without Victuals or
Fire. Indeed I nerswaded him to fetch a little Hay, and he did so, and
some Friend did presently bring in some Beding and Victuals.”

The people generally took sides upon the matters in controversy,
and a bitter feeling was engendered. The admission of new partners
into the arrangements for settling and utilizing the island introduced an
element of discord; and, the Province of New York claiming and hold-
ing jurisdiction of the island, there grew up a feeling in favor of accept-
ing the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Province. Under this high
state of feeling, upon a representation of the affairs at New York, Gov-
ernor Andross, who had succeeded Governor Lovelace, called Tristram
36 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

Coffyn again to the chief magistracy. While Tristram was the senior of
Thomas Macy by only three years, yet, by virtue of his numerous family,
he appears to have been regarded as the patriarch of the island; and
when this great dissention among the settlers had assumed proportions
alarming to the better angels of their nature, they instinctively turned
to Tristram Coffyn as the one man who could administer justice to the
islanders with impartiality. Yet he did not altogether succeed, as we
shall subsequently see. The second commission as chief magistrate is -
copied from the Nantucket Records, and is as follows:

Second Commission of Tristram Coffin to be Chief Magistrate.

[1st book Nantucket Records, page 101.] .

Edmund Andros, Esqr., seigneur of’ Sausmarez, Lieut. & Governour General
under his Royall Highnesse James, Duke of Yorke and Albany, &c., of all
his Territories in America:

Whereas an undue or illegall returne of the Chief Magistrate of Nan-
tuckett hath been made two yeares successively from thence, the one being
by law wholly incapable thereof: Therefore by advice of my Counsell, ,by
vertue of his Majesties Letters Pattents, & authority from his Royall High-
nesse, I doe hereby in his Majesty’s name, nominate, constitute, and author-
ize Mr. Tristram Coffin, senr., to be Chiefe Magistrate of the said Island of
Nantucket and dependencyes for the ensuing yeare, or further order, in the
place and stead of Mr. Thomas Macy, late Chiefe Magistrate, and being
thereunto sworn by him, or next in place, to act as Chiefe Magistrate accord-
ing to Law and lawfull custome and practice, requiring all persons whom it
may concern, to conform themselves thereunto accordingly. ;

‘ Given under my hand and seale of the Province in New Yorke, this six-

teenth day of September 1677.

E. ANDROSs.

In another book, the text evidently written by Peter Coffin, before
whom it was acknowledged, is the following oath of office taken by
Tristram Coffyn, to which his autograph is annexed. It is the only trace
of his own hand found upon any of the records: :

[Book 2—in Register of Deeds Office, N antucket.]

Whereas I, Tristram Coffin, senior, have Received a Com’n baring
date the 16 of September, 1677, Investinge me with power to be chefe |
magistrate one the I’'’'d of Nantucket and dependances, for this ye one
yeare ensuinge, or til further order, I, Tristram Coffin, above said, doe
engage my selfe, under the penalty of perjury, to doe Justise in all
causes that come before me, according to law and endeavor to my best
understanding and heareunto I have subscribed pad

Tristram Corryn, chefe magstrat.

Myr. Tristram Coftin, senior, acknowledge is ripti
to be his Act and deed Before me i Ae i

Peter Cormm, Assistant.
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 37

Soon atter the marriage of Mary Coffin, the youngest daughter of
Tristram, with Nathaniel Starbuck, the old gentleman concluded t to make
his son-in-law a landed proprietor; and, with as “auch care for the con-
tingencies of the future as kind parents exercise in the present age, and
with equal nicety in the choice of language as may be found in modern
conveyances, executed the following ‘dood to his daughter and her hus-
band. It will be seen that it was made some years betore it was acknowl-
edged, and acknowledged some years before it was recorded :

‘Tristram conveys to daughter Mary Starbuck and her husband Nathaniel 1-2
of all estates.
(Nantucket Records, Ist Book, Page 97.]

Know all Men by these Presents, that I, Tristram Coffin, of Nantucket,
do for divers good considerations, as Also in regard of my Fatherly affec-
tions, do give Punto my daughter, Mary Starbuck, the one half of my accom-
odation of my purchase, on 1 Nantucket Island, namely, the half of my tenth
part which I bought with the other nine first purchasers of Mr. Thomas
Mayhew, in Patten right, and of the Shachems Indians right, as by there
grant in the Deed will at large appeare: I doas aforesaid give and grant unto
my daughter, Mary Starbuck, all the one half of my accomodation of Patten
Right, and all my Right of the half of all lands, Meadows, marshes, com-
mons, ‘Tember, wood, aud all appurtenances Thereunto belonging, as fully as
myself or any of the other Tweuty part shares have or ought to have, in
manner and form following: the one half to her own and her Husband’s Dis-
posal, namely, her Husband, Nathaniel Starbuck, to them and their heirs and
assigns, forever, the other half to my aforesaid Daughter, Mary Starbuck,
and Nathaniel Starbuck, her Husband, during their Lives, and when they Dy,
then it shall be for the use of my Daughter, “Mary Starbuck’s child, or chil-
dren, to him, her, or them, and their “heirs, forever; but, if my Daughter ‘
Mary Starbuck, have no child or children Living when she Dyeth, Then it
shall be in the power of her Husband, Nathaniel Starbuck, to Dispose of all
the aforesaid Lands and Accomodations, with all appurtenances, as he shall
Judge most meet. in witness whereof, I, the said Tristram Coffin, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this 14th 4th mo, 1664.

TRISTRAM COFIYN.
[Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of—

Tuomas Macy,

Mary SwalIn,

Sarau Macy.

This deed was acknowledged before me. Thomas Mayhew, upon the

Island of Nantucket, this 15th day of January, 1677, I say before me
Tuomas MAayHew, Mag.

July 26, 1736.—Then Receiv’d the original of this above written Deed,
and by the Desire of same conserned, perfected the Record above by making
the sign of the seal. Attest: ELEzER FOLGER, Regr.

While Tristram was generally reputed to be quite wealthy in goods
and lands, owning, together with his sons, at one time about a one-
fourth part of the island of Nantucket, and the whole of Tuckernuck,
he did not die rich. He fully realized that he could not take his riches
with him to another world, and that the amount of land he would re-
38 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

quire at his death would be very small. He made no will, but dis-
posed of much of his land while he lived, by deeds, the consideration
always being his ‘regard and natural affection.” Most of the remainder
of his estate he deeded to his two youngest sons, John and Stephen,
and they were to take after the decease of both himself and his wife.
To each of his grandchildren he gaye ten acres of land upon the island
of Tuckernuck, or to such of them as would plant it.

Tristram to Stephen, his youngest son, conveying half his accommo-
dations, excepting his new house on the hill.
[Nantucket Records, Old Book, Page 63.]

Know all Men by these presents, that I, Tristram Coffin, of Nan-
tucket, Senore, do give, grant, bargain and sell unto my son, Stephen
Coffin, the one-half of my land at Cappam, Alies Northam, within the
township of Sherborn; situated upon Nantucket Island, that is to say,
the one half of my house lot with half my accomodations and _ privileges
and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging, all building except,
that is to say, my new dwelling house upon the hill, and my old dwell-
ing house under the hill, by the Erbe garden; now, for and in consid-
eration of the aforesaid premisses, my son, Stephen Coffin, shall always
from time to time do the best he can in managing of my other half of
my lands and accomodation, during mine and my wife's life, and that he
be helpfull to me and his mother in our old age and sickness, what he
can: now I, Tristram Coffin, above said, do for this and for divers other
considerations me moving thereunto, do as above said, give, grant,
bargain, and sell unto my son, Stephen Coffin, his heirs and assigns, all
my one half of my house lot with all appurtenances thereunto belonging :
To have and to hold forever, to him, the said Stephen Coffin, his heirs
and assigns, executors and administrators, upon the conditions aforesaid ;
and my son, Stephen Coftin, shall allways from time to time, have free
liberty to go to and froe to the new barne that he hath lately built with
horse, foot, and cart, as he hath occasion, and to have the free use of
half an acre of land adjoining the said Barn on the East side, and South
and North side. in witness whereof, I have set my hand and seal, the
fifteenth of the eleventh mone, one thousand six hundred and seventy-
six. Tristram Corryn.

Acknowledged before me the deed within written this 15th day of
June, 1677. ‘ ‘THomas MAYHEW, Magistrate.

Agreement between Stephen Coffin and his father, as to rights in barn
to Tristram and his wife Dionis.
[Nantucket Records, 2d Book, Page 12.]

Artickels of agreement between Tristram Coffin, Senior, and Stephen
Coffin, Son of the aforesaid Tristram Coffin, both of the Town of Sher-
born, on the Island of Nantucket, as followeth: imprimis, we do Jointly
and severally agrec that whereas there is a Barn built at Coppamet by
us, this present year, one Thousand Six hundred seventy seven, that the
aforesaid Stephen Coffin hath bin at the most part of the charge, there-
fore I, Tristram Coffin, do covenant and agree with my son, Stephen
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 39

Cottin, that he shall have the aforesaid barn and Lentors for himself, and
his heirs and assigns, forever: To have and to hold and Quietly to Injoy,
in Consideration whereof, as also in Consideration of the Receiving of

Two Thousand foot of boards, and sume Timber, and some Labour of

severall persons in framing the works, I, Stephen Coffin, do Consent and

agree that my Father, Tristram Coffin, and my mother, Dionis Coffin,
shall have the use of the one half of the aforesaid barn, Coming in and
going to the barn and Lentors without any kind of hindrance, Let, or
molestation, by, from, or under me, Stephen Coffin, my heirs, executors,

Administrators, or Assigns; and if my Father and Mother aforesaid do

happen to Dye in some short time, as namely, within seven years after

the Date hereof, then I, Stephen Coffin, do engage to pay the some of Ten

Pounds to my Father or Mother's order, within one year after their De-

cease, if they or either of them order me so to do. Witness our hands

and seals to this agreement, the 18th of July, 1677.

Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of us,
who are witness to these present within
written artickles of agreement:

MartHa Hussey, Tuomas Macy,
NATHANIEL BARNARD.

' this Deed was Acknowledged this 24th Day of July before me
THos. Macy, Mag.

TRISTRAM COFFYN,
STEPHEN COrrFIN.

Tristram grants his new dwelling house to his son John.
[Nantucket Records, 2d Book, Page 19.]

To all christian people To whome these presents shall come, Tristram
Cottin, Senior, in the Town ot Sherborn, on the Island of Nantucket,
sendeth greeting, and Declareth that, in regard to my naturall afections
unto my. son, John Coftin, now of Sharbon, as also for divers other good
and Lawful consideration, I, the above said Tristram Coffin, do freely
give unto my son, John Coflin, and to his heirs, forever, my new Dwell-
ing house, with all other houses Adjoining unto it, and also the whole
half share of land and accomodation and appurtenances thereunto Be-
longing, Namly, my part of the House lot and all commonage of Timber,
wood, pasturages, and all meadows, marshes, and creek grass thereunto
belonging, the aforesaid Tristram Coflin, do freely and firmly by these,
give, grant, and confirm the above said Dwelling House, with all privi-
leges and appurtenances as afore named, unto my son, John Coffin, and
to his heirs: to have and to hold forever, imediatly after the Decease of
me, the aforesaid Tristram Coffin, Senior, and my now wife, Dionis
Coftin, free and discharged against all persons or person laying any claim
unto the above said House or any appurtenances thereunto belonging, in,
by, or under me; and in witness hereof, I, Tristram Coffin, Senior, ‘have
set my hand and seal, the third Day of December, one Thousand Six
hundred Seventy Eight. :
TristRAM Corryn, Senior.
Witness hereunto:

JAMES COFFIN,

STEPHEN COFFIN.

This was acknowledged by Mr. Tristram Coffin to be his act and

Deed the 3d 10 m, 1678. :
‘ WILLIAM WORTH, Assistant.
A true copy: Wiuiam Worth, Recorder.
40 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

Tristram grants ten acres of land to cach of his grandchildren to plant.
{Nantucket Records, 2d Book, Page 17.)

All Men shall know by these presents, that J, Tristram Coffin, of
Sherborn, on the Island of Nantucket, with or in Regard of my N. atural
afection unto my Grand Children, I do freely give unto every one of
them Ten Acres of land to plant or sow English grain on, or any other
Improvement for oats or what is fit for food for men. I say I, the above
said Tristram Coffin, senior, do freely and fermly give unto all and every
one of my grand ‘children that are now living, o1 that shall be born here-
after, each of them ten‘acres of Land upon the Island of Tuckernuck :
To have and to hold to plant Indian Corn or to sow or plant any other
grain on, and if they or any of’ them shall sow their land with english
hay seed they shall have liberty to keep four shep upon every acre ona |
dureing their Life time, of any one that shall so improve the above name
Land, or any part of it. in Witness hereof, I, Tristram Coffin, have set
my hand and seal 3d 10th 1678.

‘Sioned, sealed and delivered in presence of us
the within written Deed.
JAMES COFFIN, JOHN COFFIN,

$ TrisTRAM COFFYN.
STEPHEN COFFIN. :

This Deed was acknowledged by Mr. Tristram Cottin to be his act
and Deed before me WILLIAM WorTH, assestant 3 m 10th 1678.

this is a true copy of the origenall by me—WuiLL1aM Worry, Regr.,

By these deeds above quoted we shall learn that Tristram Coffyn had
a new dwelling house, which stood on a hill, and another dwelling house
which stood under the hill. Also, that he last lived in his new house: on
thé hill. With this information, and by tracing the title of the new
house on the hill, which was conveyed to John Coffin, and from John to
his son Peter, and from Peter to his son Robert, the said Robert’s estate
being defined within the recollection of the present generation, I think
we can know the exact spot where Tristram Coffyn last resided, and from
which place his mortal put on immortality. His wife, who survived
him, doubtless breathed her last in the same mansion, a8 she was to have
alife right carved out of the estate which subsequently: became vested
in John and Stephen Coffin. The Court of Sessions, at that time exer-
cising probate jurisdiction, allowed to Mrs. Dionis Coffyn the use of the
entire estate of her husband during her life, the three sons, James, John,
and Stephen, as administrators, so recommending.

The date of Tristram’s death has been fixed by some writers as hay-
ing occurred on the 2d day of October, 1681, and I have given it as such
in the opening paragraph of this book. It is so recorded in the record
of deaths in the Town Clerk’s office. But in the Records of the Court
held the morfth following his death, where his three sons, then residing
upon the island, appeared and were granted letters of administration, it

‘
THE COFFIN. FAMILY. 41

is plainly written 3d. And on the 8th day of the following August, when
an inventory of the estate was presented, the date of his death is again
stated as occurring on the third day of October, and this time it is
spelled out. So that.the preponderance of record evidence is in favor of
the 3d of October, 1681. It is possible that the death occurred at mid-
night, about the close of the 2d and commencement of the 3d, and the
time differently estimated by different persons. The night of the 2d
would be continuous with many at that time, until the daylight of the
3d, and timepieces were not as numerous as now, the hour-glass serving
principally as a recorder of time.

The following copies from the Court records will reveal the condition |
of his estate at the time of his decease, and the proceedings had thereon.
It was the last service performed for him by his children, and was done
decently and in order:

Mr. James Coftin, John Cottin, Steven Coffin doe bind ourselves,
Joyntly and severally, in the some of an hundred pounds starlingé, to
perform the trust in administering on our father’s estate, and to baer the
Court harmless according to law.

; JAMES COFFIN,
JOHN CorrFIN,
STEPHEN COFFIN.

At a Court of Sessions held the 29th of November, 1681, I have
granted administration unto Mr. James Coffin, John Coffin and Steven
Coffin, on the estate of Myr. Tristram Coffin, deceased the 3d day of
October, 1681, the having given security according to law.

The 8th day of August, 1682, ah Inventory being presented to the
Court of the estate of Mr. Tristram Coffin, senior, who departed this life
the third day of October, on thousand six hundred eighty one, the Court
taking into consideration the present state of the estate, together with
the best Information of his mind before his decease: doe order the use
of the estate for Ms Dionis Coffin, his widdow, during her life, after al
Just debts are paid:

At a Court this 9th February, 1682.

Mr. James Coffin and Steven Coffin appeared at this Court desiring
dischare of further standing administrator to the. estate of Tristram
Coffin, deceased. It appeared to the Court they having made payment
of all the estate.

As previously indicated, Tristram assumed the duties of Chief Mag-
istrate the last time under peculiar circumstances. He succeeded his
long time friend and associate Thomas Macy, against whom there had
been bitter animosities engendered. The difficulties which perplexed
Mr. Macy, also annoyed Tristram. And while it does not aypear that he
was interested in the contentions to the extent that Mr. Macy was, yet
as his interests were the same, it is nowise probable that his opinions
42 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

were withheld. He adhered to the policy maintained by the twenty
original purchasers, as opposed to the claims of the subsequent settlers
who were admitted to certain privileges and accorded certain rights.
specifically mentioned, but not upon terms of equality. The new settlers.
were allowed half shares upon certain conditions; but they multiplied
and soon outnumbered the original band, and partisan feelings were
fostered, and jealousies appealed to in such manner, that the era of good
fecling was passed never more to be recalled in his day, if ever after
enjoyed. His last administration, as will be discovered by the official

documents presented, was not without its alloy of unhappiness, and left

him a legacy of sorrow, which his sons, with filial regard, hastened to

relieve him of. In his humble petition for relief, he touchingly refers to

the act of his son having saved him from languishing in a prison; and to

John Gardner, his successor as chief magistrat, who presented his peti-

tion, as his loving neighbor. ‘ :

’ The official act which caused him to sacrifice his property ‘to repair,
was one of omission rather than commission. A ship was wrecked on
Nantucket shoals, in September, 1678, loaded with hides, and the chief
magistrate allowed her to be wrecked by parties. Portions of the cargo
and rigging were embezzled. A Court of Admiralty held the chief mag-
istrate , responsible, and the parties who had derived the benefit of wreck-
ing the vessel refused to bear any share of the fine, and the burden fell
upon Tristram Coffyn alone. His own testimony in the case seems to
have been all the evidence against him upon which the decision was
made up. No one of his descendants will read the story as officially re-
corded, without a feeling of pride that their great ancestor, under a most
distressing ordeal, in which both his fortune and his honor were at stake,
saved his honor. And the Governor at New York discharged him from
the award of the Admiralty upon his representation.

Through these documents, preserved for more than two centuries,
we get a glimpse of the spirit of the times which our Nantucket
ancestors impressed with their own personality. And, while the first
settlers were not all agreed upon the subjects of public policy which
subsequently entered into the political concerns of the island, and while
their dissentions oftentimes assumed a degree of acrimony and vindic--
tiveness painful to reflect upon, they were very generally men of sturdy
character and heroic lives. Looking back through the dim vista of two
hundred years we shall behold a galaxy of names illumined by high re-
solves—names that have not tarnished with time nor faded from the
world with the friction of the centuries—names that were not born to.
die. We shall see engraven high up on the world’s escutcheon the names.
of Macy, Starbuck, Folger, Gardner, Swain, Hussey, Coleman, Barnard—-
and then, still higher up, resplendent with innumerable descending rays-
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 43

of light and love and christian sympathy, extending throughout the
broad universe, we shall see the name of Tristram Coffyn.

At the age of 76 he passed from the scenes of earth, honored and re-
spected by a large race of descendants, and numerous friends and neigh-
bors. At his death he left a posterity of 7 children, 60 grandchildren,
and a number of great-grandchildren. His posterity is more numerous.
now. In 1722 there had been born 1138 descendants, of whom 871 were
then living. In 1728, six years later, there had been added to the num-
ber born 444, making the total number born 1582; and of that number
1128 still eurvived. This computation, by Stephen Greenleaf, the first
grandchild, was made more than one hundred and fifty years ago. What
the number now is will never be detinitely ascertained. Their name
is legion.

The ancestor Tristram found a sepulchre upon the island of Nan-
tucket where he died, but none of his numerous descendants can. point
out the place. If the old cemetery cast of the Maxcy’s pond was used
for burial as early as 1681, he was doubtless interred therein. If not,
then most likely upon his own estate.

Nantucket being a dependehcy of the Province of New York, the
earliest records concerning the island are found among the archives of*
that State, at Albany. From these official records Mr. Franklin B.
Hough, in 1856, made a compilation of very many valuable and exceed-
ingly interesting documents relating to Nantucket, which would proba--
bly never have seen the light but for his labors. They are printed in a
small book, and though the number of copies printed was limited to one
hundred and fifty, I have been enabled to possess myself of one long.
enough to make the following extracts therefrom:

Deeds from James Fforrett to Thomas Mayhew and Son. °
(Deeds, i, 71; iii, 64, and iii, 76, Secretary’s Office, Albany. ]

Thefe Pretents doe witneffe, That I, James Fforrett, Gent., who was fent-
over into thefe parts of America, by the Honble Lord Sterling with a Com-
mitlion for the ordering and difpofing of’ all the Iflands that Jyeth between
Cape Codd and Hudfons River, and have hitherto continued his Agent with--
out any Contradiction, doe hereby graunt unto Thomas Mayhew at Water-
towne, Merchant, and to Thomas Mayhew his Sonne, free Liberty and full
Power to them, their Heyres and Affignes, to Plant and Inhabitt upon Nan-
tuckett and two fmall Iflands adjacent, and to enjoy the faid Iflands to them,
their Heyres, and Affignes forever. Provided, That Thomas Mayhew and
Thomas Mayhew his Sonne or either of them or their Affigns doe render and’
pay yearly unto the Honble the Lord Sterling, his Heyres and Affignes, fuch
an Acknowledgement as fhall bee thought Att by John Winthrop Efgr the:
Elder, or any two Magiftrates in the Maffachufetts Bay, being chofen for’
that ind and Purpofe by the Hon. the Lord Sterling or his Deputy; and: by
the faid Thomas Mayhew and Thomas Mayhew his Sonne, or their Affignes.

Its agreed, That the Governmt that the faid Thomas Mayhew and
Thomas Mayhew his Sonne and their Affinees fhall fett up, fhall bee fuch as.
is now eftablifhed in the Maffachufetts aforefaid, and that the faid Thomas
Mayhew and Thomas Mayhew his Sonne and their Affignes fhall have as.
44. THE COFFIN FAMILY.

much Priviledge touching their Planting, Inhabitting, and Enjoying, of all
and every Part of the Premifes as by the Patent to the Patentees of. the
Maffachufetts aforefaid, and their Affociates. In Witneffe hereof I the faid
James Fforrett have hereunto fett my Hand and Seale this 13th Day of Oc-
tober, 1641. :
JamMES Frorretr (Seale)
Witneffes - Purrre WaTson, Clerke.
*  RoBERT CoRrANe, 200%
NicywoLas DaAvIsoN,
Ricud STILLMAN.

A Deed Made to Mr. Mayhew by Richard Vines.
(Deeds, fii, 66, Secretary’s Office.],

: I, Richard Vines, of Saco, Gent., Steward Genrll for Sir Fferdinand
Gorges, Kat, Lord Proprietor of ye Province of Mayne Land and ye Ifands
of Caparrock and Nantican, doe by thefe Prefents give full Power and Au-
thority unto Thomas Mayhew, Gent: his Heyres and Affociates, to plant and
inhabitt upon ye Iflands of Caparrock als Martha’s Vineyard, wtb. all Rights
aud Priveledges thereunto belonging, to enjoy the Premifes unto himfelfe his
Heyres and Affociates forever, yielding and paying unto ye faid Sr Ferdinand
Gorges, his Heyres and Affignes forever annually, as two Gent. indifferently
-by each of them chofen, fhall judge to be meet by way of acknowledgment.
Given under my Hand this 25th day of October, 1641.

e

Ricué ViNEs.
Witnefs :
THOMAS PaGE,
ROBERT LONG.

Deed of Nantucket to Ten Purchafers.
[Deeds iii, 56, Secretary’s Office. ]

Recorded for Mr. Coffin and Mri Macy aforefd ye Day and Yeareafores¢ .

Bee it known unto all Men by thefe Prefents, that I, Thomas Mayhew,
of Martha’s Vineyard, Merchant, doe hereby acknowledge, that I have sould -
unté Triftram Coffin, Thomas Macy, Chriftopher Huffey, Richard Swayne,
Thomas Bernard, Peter Coffin, Stephen Greenleafe, John Swayne, and
William Pike, that Right and Intereft Ihave in ye Land of Nantuckett, by
Patent; ye wch Right I bought of James Fforrett, Gent. and Steward to ye
Lord Sterling, and of Richard Vines fometimes of Sacho, Gent., Steward-
Genrll unto Sir Georges, Knight, as by Conveyances under their Hands and
‘Seales doe appeare, ffor them ye aforefaid to Injoy, and their Heyres and
Affignes forever, wtl all the Priviledges thereunto belonging, for in confider-
ation of ye Sume of Thirty Pounds of Current Pay, unto whomfoever 1 ye
faid Thoinmas Mayhew, mine Heyres or Affignes, fhall appoint. And alfo two
Beaver Hatts, one for myfelfe, and one for my wife. And further, this is to
declare that I the said Thomas Mayhew have received to myfelf that Neck
upon Nantuckett called Masquetuck, or that Neck of Land called Nafhayte,
the Neck (but one) northerly of Masquetuck, ye aforefaid Sayle in any-

' wife notwithftanding. And further, I ye faid Thomas Mayhew am to beare
amy Parte of the Charge of ye faid Purchafe abovenamed, and to hold one-
twentieth Part of all Lands purchafed already, or fhall be hereafter pur-
chafed upon ye faid Ifland, by ye aforef Purchafrs or Heyres and Affignes
forever. Briefly: It is thus; That I really fold all my Patent to ye aforefaid
nine Men, and.they are to pay mee, or whomfoever I fhall appoint them,
ye Sume of Thirty Pounds in good Marchautable Pay in ye Maffachufetts,
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 45

under wcbh Governmt they now Inhabit, and 2 Beaver Hatts, and I am to
beare a 20th Part of ye Charge of ye Purchafe, and to have a 20th Part of all
Lands and Priviledges; and to have web of ye Necks abovefi that I will
myfelfe, paying for it; only ye Purchafers are to pay what ye Sachem is to
have fur Mafquetuck, although I have ye other Neck. °

And in Witnefs hereof, I have hereunto fett my Hand and Seale this
fecond Day of July, fixteen hundred and fifty-nine, 1659.

: Per me, Tuo: MayHeEw.
Witness

JOHN SMYTH,
EDWARD SCALE.

Deed of Tuckanucket Ifand.

(Deeds iii, 57, Secretary’s Office. ]

Recorded for Mr Coffin and Mr Macy aforefuid ye Day and Yeare Afore-
. written. :

The tenth Day of October, one thoufand fix hundred fifty and nine;
Thefe Prefents Witnefs, That I, Thomas Mayhew, of Martin’s Vineyard,
Mercht, doe Give, Grant, Bargaine, and Sell, all my Right and Intereft in
Tuckanuck [fland, als Tuckanuckett, which I have had, or ought to have, by
Vertue of Patent Right, purchafed of ye Lord Stirling’s Agent and of Mr
Richard Vines, Agent unto Sir Fferdinando George, Knight, unto Triftram
Coffin St. Peter Coffin, Triftram Goffin Jun". and James Coffin, to them and
their Heyres forever, ffor and in confideracon of ye juft Sume of fix Pounds
in Hand paid, and by mee Thomas Mayhew, received in full Satisfaction of
y® aforefaid Patent Right, of ye aforefaid Ifland..

And in Witnefs hereof, I have fett my Hand and Seale.

Per me, Tuomas Mayurw.

Witnefs hereunto,
ROGER WHEELER,
GEORGE WHEELER.

Deed of Wanockmamack.

This witnesseth that I, Wanochmamack, chife sachem of Nantucket,
hath sold unto Mr. Tristram Coffin and Thomas Macy, their heirs and
assigns, that whole nack of land called by the Indians, Pacummohquah,
being at the east end of Nantucket, for and in consideration of five
pounds to be paid to me in English goods or otherwise to my content by
the said Tristram Coffin aforesaid at convenient time as shall be de-
manded. Witness my hand or mark this 22 of June, 1662.

W=ANACKMAMAK.
itness hereto: . ;
Le Perer Foucer & Wawixnestr whose English name is Amos.

Indian Deed of Nantucket.
[Deeds iii, 54, Secretary’s Office.]

Recorded for Mr. Triftram Coffin and Mr. Thomas Macy, ye 29th of
June, 1671 aforefaid.
These Prfents Wittnefs, yt I, Wanackmamack, Head Sachem of ye

mtuckett, have Bargained and Sold, and doe by thefe Pref-
vn tekgee and Sell ‘unto’ Triftram Coffin, Thomas Macy, Rich4
46 . THE COFFIN FAMILY.

Swayne, Thomas Bernard, John Swayne, Mr. Thomas Mayhew, Edward
Starbuck, Peter Coffin, James Coffin, Stephen Greenleate, Triftram
Coffin Junt, Thomas Coleman, Robert Bernard, Chriftopher Huffey,
Robert Pike, John Smythe, and John Bishop, thefe [fiands of Nantuckett,
namely, all ye Weft end of ye aforet Iftand unto ye Pond comonly called
Waquittaquay, and from ye Head of that Pond to y* North fide of ye
Ifland Manamey; Bounded by a Path trom ye Head of ye Pond aforefaid
to Manamoy; as alto a Neck at ye Eatt End of ye Ifland called Poguo-
mock, wth the Property thereof, and all ye Royaltyies, Priviledges, and
Immunityes thereto belonging, or whatfoever Right I ye aforef’ Wan-
ackmak have, or have had in ye-Same: That ix, all ye Lands afore-
menconed and likewife ye Winter ffeed of ye whole Ifland from ye End
of an Indyan Harveft untill Planting Time, or ye firft of May, from
Yeare to Yeare for ever; as likewife Liberty to make Ufe of Wood and
Timber on all Parts of ye Ifland; and likewife Halfe of the Meadows
and Marifhes on all Parts of ye Ifland, wttout or beside ye aforefd Tracts
of Land purchafed; And likewife ye ufe of ye other Halte of ye Meadows
and Marifhes on all Parts of ye Ifland, wttout or beside yé aforefd Tracts
of Land purchatfed; And likewife ye ufe of ye other Halfe of ye Meadows
and Marithes, as long as ye aforefaid Englith their Heyres and Aflignes
live on ye Ifland; And likewite I the aforefaid Wanackmamack doe fell
unto ye Englith aforemenconed ye propricty of ye reft of ye Ifland belong-
ing unto mee, for and in confideracon of ffourty Pounds already received
by mee or other by my Consent or Ordt. To Have and to Hold; ye
aforefi Tracts of Land wth ye P’priety, Royalties, Immunityes, Prive-
leges and all Appertenances thereunto belonging to them ye aforef Pur-
chafrs their Heyres and Aftignes forever.
In Witnets Whereof, I the aforefd Wanackmamack have hereunto fett
my Hand and Seale ye Day and Yeare above written.
‘ The Signe of WANACK-MAMACK.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered in ye ptfence of

PETER FOULGER.

ELEAZER FOULGER,

Dorcas STARBUCK.

Indian Receipt for Land—Receipt of Wanackmanack.
[Nantucket Records, Old Book, Page 27.] a ¥

Received of Tristram Coftin, of Nantucket, the Just sum of five
poun, which is part of the seven pound that was unpaid of the Twenty
pound Purchase of Land, that was purchased of Wanackmanack and
Neckanoose, that is to say, from Monomoy to Waquettaquage pond,
Nanahumack neck, and all trom Wesco westward to the West end of
Nantucket, I say, Received by me, Wanackmamak, of Tristram Coftin,
five pounds Starling, the 18th 11 m, 1671. .

the X mark of
WANACKMAMAK.
Witness hereunto:
RICHARD GARDNER,
ELEZER FOLGER.
THE COFFIN FAMILY. | 47

Lwo Letiers or Certificates from the Inhabitants of Nantucket.
[Deeds iii, 58, Secretary’s Office, Albany.]

Recorded for ye aforefaid Mr. Coftin and Mr. Macy, 2 Lives on Certifi-
cates, from ye Inhabitants of Nantuckett, as followeth, vizt. ;

WHEREAS y¢ Honble Coll: Lovelace, Governour of New Yorke, gave
forth his Summons for ye Inhabitants of ye Ifle of Nantuckett to make
their Appearance before his Honot at New Yorke, either in their own,
Perfon or by their Agent, to thew their Claymes in refpect to their Stand-
ing or Clayme of Intereft on ye aforetaid Ifland. Now wee whofe Names
are underwritten having intrutted our ffather Triftram Coffin to make
Anfwer for us, Wee doe Empower our ffather Triftram Coffin to act and
doe for us wth ye Honé Governt Lovelace, foc far as is Juft and Reason-
able, wth Regard to our Intereft, on ye Ifle of Vantuchett and Tucha-
nuckett.

Witnefs our Hands ye 24 Day of ye fourth Month, fixteen hundred and
feventy-one, 1671. ?
JAMES COFFIN,
NATHANIEL STARBUCK,
JOHN COFFIN,
STEPHEN COFFIN.

This is to Signify that ye Inhabitants of Nantuckett have choten Mr.
Thomas Macy their Agent to Treat wth ye Honble Coll: Lovelace concern-
ing ye Affayres of ye Itland, to Act for them in their Behalfe and Stead,
and in ali Confideracons to doe what is neceffary to be done in reference
to ye Premifes, as if they themfelves were Perfonally prefent.

Witnefs their Hands, dated June 5t, 1671.

: Epwarkp STARBUCK,
PETER FFYOULGER,
JOHN ROLFE.

The Inhabitants aforefd doe also in ye name of ye rest, defire Mr.
Triftram Coffin to affift their aforefa Agent what hee can in ye matter or
Bufynefs concerning y® Ifland Nantuckett.

Propofals to ye Governor from yé Inhabitants of Nantuckett goout
settling that Government.

[Deeds iii, 59, Secretary’s Office. ]

rimis, Wee humbly propofe Liberty for ye Inhabitants to chufe
pully a Man or Men 16 te Chiefe in ye Governm', and chofen or ap-
pointed by his Honor to Stand in place, conttantly invefted wt» Power of
Confirmacon by Oath or Engagemt, or otherwife as his Honor fhall ap-
point, one to be Chiefe in y* Cort and to have ye Power at
all times wt» regard to ye Peace and other neceffary Confideracons. ,
2ly. Wee take for granted yt y° Lawes of England are Standard of
Governmt, foe farre as wee know them, and are fuitable to our Condicon ;
yet wee humbly propofe that ye Inhabitants may have Power to Confti-
tute fuch Law or Ordr as are neeeHy and fuitable to or Condicon not
e 5 gland.

mR OY. te Ee tae yon ye Governmt from Time to Time, wee
are willing to joyne with or eichbot Ifland ye Vineyard, to keep together

one Cott every Yeare, one Yeare at or Ifland, ye next wth them, and

by
48 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

Power at Home to End all Cafes not exceeding 20 Ib; And in all cates
Liberty of Appeale to ye Gentl! Cort in all Actions above 40 Ib. And in
all Actions amounting to ye vallue of 100 lb Liberty of Appeale to his
Highneffe his Cort at ye Citty of New York; And in Capitall Cafes, or
fuch Mattrs as concerne Life, Limbe, or Banifhmt. All fuch cases to be
tryed at New Yorke. :

~ 4, And feeling ye Indyans are numerous among us,, Wee propofe
that ot Governmt may Extend to them, and Power to Summon them to
our Corts wth respect to Matt's of Trefpafs Debt, and other Mifcarriages,
and to Try and Judge them according to Lawes, when publifhed amongft
them. :

And Laftly, fome Military Power committed to us, refpecting our

Defence, either in refpect of Indyans or Strangts invadeing, &c.

The Anfwer to ye Nantucket Propofals.
[Deeds iii, 60, Secretary's Office.],

‘At a Councell held at Forte James in New York, ye 28th day of June in.
"ye 23¢ Yeare of his Maties Reigne, Annoqg Dom. 1671

In Anfwer to ye Propofalls Delivered in by Mr. Coffin and Mr. Macy
on y@ behalf of themfelves and ye reft of ye Inhabitants upon ye Ifiand
Nantuckett; The Governot and Councell doe give their Refolucons as
followeth, vizt.

Imprimis, As to ye firft Branch in their Proposalls, It‘is thought fitt
y* y? Inhabitants doe annually recomend two Perfons to the Governor,
out of web hee will Nominate one to be ye Chiefe Magiftrate upon that
Ifland, and ye Ifland of Tuckanuckett near adjacent for ye Yeare -enfue-
ing: who fhall by Commiftion bee Invefted with Power accordingly,

That y® Time when fuch a Magiftrate fhall Enter into his Employmt
after ye Expiracon of this firft Yeare, fhall Commence upon ye 13th day
of October, being his Royall Highnefs his Birthday, to continue for ye
Space of one whole Yeare, and that they Returne ye Names of ye two.
Perfons they fhall recommend three months before that Time to ye Gov-
ernot. s

That ye Inhabitts have Power by a Major Vote annually to Elect and
Chufetheir inferior Officers, both Civill and Military; That is to fay, ye
Affiftants, Conftables, and other Inferior Ofticers, for ye Civill Governmt,
and fuch inferiour Ofticts for ye Military as fhall be thought needfull.

2ly, The fecond Propofall is allowed of; That they fhall have Lib-
erty to make peculiar Lawes and Ordrs at their Gentll Cort for the well
Governmt of ye Inhabitts ye weh fhall bee in force amongtft them for one
whole Yeare; Dureing weh Time if noe Inconvenience doe appeare
therein, They are to Transmitt the faid Lawes or Ordrs to ye Governor
for his Confirmacon.,. Howev", They are (as neare as may bee) to con-
forme themfelves to ye Lawes of England, and to be very Cautious they
doe not Act in any way repugnant to-'them. ne

Bly... To ye 34, It is Granted, That they joyne wth their Neighbors of
Martin's Vineyard in keeping a Gent! Cort between them once a Yeare,
ye fa Cott to be held one Yeare in one Ifland, and ye next in ye other
where y® Chiefe Magistrate in each Ifland where the Cort fhall ‘be held.
is to ptfide, and to Sitt in their refpeetive Corte as Prefidt, but withall
That upon all occafions hee Confuel and Advize wt ye Chiefe Magistrate
of ye other Ifland. : a
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 49

That ye faid Gent! Cort fhall confift of ye two Chiefe Magiftrates of
both Iflands, and ye foure Afiiftants, where ye Prefidt fhall have a Cafting
Voyce; for ye Time of their Mecting, That it bee lett to themfelves to
Agree upon ye moft convenient Seaton of ye Yeare. ’

That in their Private Corts at Home, weh are to be held by ye Chiefe
Magiftrate and two Affiftts where ye Chiefe Magiftrate fhall have but a
fingle Voyce, They fhall have Power finally to determine and decide all
Cafes not exceeding y* Vallue of 5 Ib. wthout Appeale, but in any Sume
above that Vallue, They have Liberty of Appeale to their Gen! Cott who
may determine abfolutely any Cafe under 50 lb. without Appeale, but if
it shall exceed that Sume, ye Party aggrieved may have Recourfe by way
of Appeale to ye Genr!l Cott of Aftfzes, held in New Yorke.

And as to Criminal Cafes, That they have Power both at their Private
Corts at Home, as well as at ye Gentl! Cort, to inflict Punifhmt on Offend:s
foe farre as Whipping, Stocks, and Pilloring, or other Publick Shame. .
But if ye Crime happen to bee of a higher nature, where Life, Limbe, or
Banifhment are concerned, That fuch Mattrs be Tranfmitted to ye Gentll
Cort of Affizes likewife.

4. In Anfwr to ye 4th, It is left to themfelves to Ord? thofe Affayres
about ye Indyans, and to Act therein according to their beft difcretions,
toe farr as Life is not concerned; Wherein they are also to have Recourfe
to New Yorke, but that they bee carefull to ufe fuch moderacon amongft
them, That they bee not exafperated, but by Degrees may be brought to
be conformable to ye Lawes: To we End, They are to Nominate and
appoint Conftables amongft them who may have Staves wth ye Kings
Armes upon them, the better to keep their People in Awe and good Ord,
as is practized wth good succefs amongft ye Indyans at ye Eaft end of
Long Ifland. | .

To ye Laft, That they returne a Lyft of ye Inhabitants, as alfo ye
Names of two Perfons amongft them; out of whom ye Governot- will ap-
point one to bee their Chiefe Military Officer, That they may be in ye
better capacity to Defend themfelves againft their Enemyes, whether
Indyans or others. :

Nantucket Affayres.
[Deeds iii, 85, Secretary’s Office.]

Additionall Inftructions and Directions for the Government of the Ifland
Nantuckett, fent by Mr. Richard and Capt. Jno. Gardner, Aprill ye
18th, 1673.

Imprimis, That in regard ye Towne upon y?® Ifland of Nantuckett
is not known by any peculiar or particular Name. It fhall from hence-
forth bee called and diftinguifhed in all Deeds, Records and Writings by
the Name of the Town of Sherborne upon the Ifland Nantuckett.

That all Ancient and Obfolete Deeds, Grants, Writings, or Convey-
ances of Lands upon the faid Ifland, fhall bee efteemed of noe fforce or
Validity, but the Records of everyones Clayme or Intereft fhall beare
Date from the firft Divulging of the Patent granted to the Inhabitants by
Authority of his Royall Highneffe, and foe forward, but not before the
Peat ne Time of Election of the Chiefe Magiftrate, and other Civill
Officers, bee and continue accersing to the Directions and Inftructions
already given, but in regard of the iftance of the Place, and ye uncer-

A3
50 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

tainty of Conveyance betwixt that and this Place, ye Chiefe Magistrate,
and all the Civill Officers thall continue in their Employm* untill the
Returne of the Governors Choice and Approbacon of a new Magistrate
bee fent unto them, which is to be with the first convenient Opportunity.

That in cafe of Mortality, if it fhall pleafe God, the Chiefe Magis-
trate fhall dye before ye Expiration of his Employment, the Affiftants
for the Time being fhall manage and carry on ye Affayres of the Public
untill the Time of the new Election, and ye Governors Returne and Ap-
probation of a new Magiftrate in his Stead. 5

That the Chiefe Military Officer fhall continue in his Employmt dur-
ing the Governors Pleafure, and that he have Power to appoint fuch Per-
fons for inferior Officers as he thall judge moft fitt and capable.

That in Cafe of the Death of the Chiefe Military Officer during the
Time of his Employment, that then the Inhabitants doe forthwith make
Choice of two Perfons, and returne their Names unto the Governour,

‘ who will appoint one of them to bee the Officer in his Stead.

That in regard to ye Generall Cott to bee held in ye Ifland Nantuckett
or Martin's Vineyard is but once in ye Yeare, where all Causes or Ac-
tions are tryable without Apeale to ye Sume of fifty Pounds. Liberty bee
granted to try all Actions of Debt or Trefpass at. their ordinary Courts
to the value of ten Pounds without Appeale, unlefs upon Occafion of
Error in ye Proceeding there bee Caufe of Complaint from ye ordinary
Court unto the Generall Court, or from the Gen#! Court to the Court of
Affizes. .

That what is granted in the Generall Patent to the Inhabitants, ffree-
holders, of the Ifland Nantuckett is to bee underftood, unto them alone
who live upon the Place and make Improvemt thereof, or fuch others
who having Pretences of Intereft fhall come to Inhabitt there.

Given under my Hand at Fort James, in New York the Day and Yeare
afore written; and in ye 25th Yeare of his Maties Reigne.

Decifion of a Court of Admiralty held at Nantucket.

[New York Colonial MSS, xxix, Sec. Office.]

At aCourt of Admiralty, held at the Ifland of Nantuckett ye twenty-eighth
day of Auguft, by his Maties Athority, in the thirty-fecond Yeare of
the Reiagne of our Sovereigne Lord King Charles the Second, and in
the Yeare of our Lord on thoufand fix hundred and eighty.

Prefent, Capt® Cefar Knapton,

Capt» Richard Hall,
Mr John Weft,
Capt John Gardner, Magiftrate. Se

Mr. Triftram Coffin, late Magiftrate, being called to give an Accoumpt of
what was faued out of the Rack of a French Ship, caft away on this Ifand by
fome of Capt. Bernard Lamoyn’s Men, about the latter Part of the Yeare
feventy-eight, declared he had formerly giuen an Accoumpt, which being pro-
duced and read, it appeared that thare ware faued out of the faid Rack two
thoufand and fixteen Hydes, which he confeffeth are difpofed of by his Order,
Alowance and Aprobation, and by Information giuen, we valleu at fouer Shil-
lings per Hyde, which amounts toe fouer hundred and three Pounds fouer
Shillings; and alfo one Cable and a Pece, likewife fold by the faid Triftram
Coffin at forty fouer Pounds; and one Sayle at fix Pounds ten Shillings; and
two Pecis of Hafers at elenen Pounds, and an Ancker at thirteen Pounds ;
which in all amounts toe fouer hundred feventy-feuen Pounds fourteen Shil-

lings, for which no Claime hath bin made according to Law.
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 51

This Court tharefore, taking into Confideration the Allowance of Sal-
vage of faid Goods, and vnderftanding the Difeculty and Hardfhip the Sauers
endured, doe alow on fifth Part thareof for Salvage, according to Law,
which amounts toe ninety-five Pounds ten Shillings And for what was dif-
burted by the faid Tristram Coffin on Accoumpt of forme Duch Priffoners left
one the Ifiand, and what was paid by him to William Worth, for his Wound,
forty Pound one Shilling. In all, on hundred thirty-five Pounds ¢leauen
Shillings; which being deducted out of the faid Sum of fower hundred fev-
enty feauen Pounds fourteen Shillings. They doe adjudge and determine
that the faid Coffin doe make Payment and Sattisfaction toe the Gouernor or
his Order, on Accoumpt of his Royall Highnefs to whom by Law it doth ap-
pertain the Remainder of of the faid Sum, being three hundred forty-three
Pounds ten Shillings. And as for what Guns or Rigeing or other Things
that are vndifpofed of, toe be apprifed and Salvage to be alowed as aboue,
and to be fent to New York for his Royall Highnefe vfe, the Salvage toe be
lickwife paid by the faid Coffin, to be deduckted out of the three hundred
fourty-three Pounds ten Shillings. They Court lickewife declare thare
Opinion that the faid Coffin’s Actings Proceedings in difpofing of the faid.
Goods, are contrary to Law.

By Order of the Court, &c.
Wittiam Wortu, Clerk.

Tristram Coffin to Sir Edmond Andros.

[New York Colonial MSS, xxix, Sec. Office. ]

To the Right Honrabell Ser Edmund Andros, Knight, Signeur of Safmar-
yoe, Lieut. Generall vnder his Royall Hynes James Duke of York and
Albany, and Gouernor Generall of all his Royall Hynes Territorys in
America. Thefe Prefent. [External Seale ftamped with a Pine Tree
Shilling. ] /

. Nantuckett, 30th of Auguft, 1680.

Right Honerabell Sir: ;

: My humbell Service prefented vnto your Excellencye humblie fhewing
my hartie Sorow yt I fhould in any way giue your Exelency juft occafion of
Offence, as I now plainly fee, in actinge contrary to the Law, as I am con-
uinced I did, throw Ignorance in regard of not beinge acquainted with the
maretime Lawes, and yet I humblie intreat your Exelency to confider yt in
on Refpect my weeacknefs I hope may bee a littell born with: for I did tender
diuerfe Perfons the on halfe to faue the other halfe, and I could not get any
to doe it; and for the Hides I could not get any to goe but for to tacke all for
their Labor, becaufe it was judged by many yt the weare not worth the fau-
ing; fo I was nefefetated to doe as I did or elfe the had bin quite loft. Thare-
fore Ihumblye intreat your Excelency not to think yt I did it for any bye Re-
fpects or felfe Ends; for I doe affure your Excelency yt theare was not any
on Perfon yt did indent with me for any on Shillinge Proffit, only I did tell
foure of them yt if Ifhould bee by any cal’d to accot, the fhould bee accounta-
bell to me. But now the will not owne it and I can not proue it, fo [by Law
am cauft to beare all, only my hop is yt your Excelency will bee pleafed out
of your Leniency and Fauor to me to except of int Money, and Bill is fent
for the anfweringe of the Judgment of the Court; for had not my Sonn,
James Coffyn borrowed Money and ingaged for the reft of my Bill, I could
not have done it, but I muft have gone to Prifon. Now I humblye intreat
your Excelency to heare my louinge Nighbor, Capt John Gardner, in my be-
halfe, and wth your Exelency fhall bee pleafed to order Concerning the Cafe,
I fhall thankfulye except, knowing your Excelency to be a compafhonate,
mercyeful Man. And I hopI fhall a bale a ee Shan ‘ nee Rgot

id i ncy’s humbe arnan
bikes Ne doe kept your Excelency Ue Oe
Bg THE COFFIN FAMILY.

A Discharge to Mr. Tristram Coffin from the Judgment of the Court of Admi-
ralty Compounded.
(Warrants, Orders, Paffes, &c., xxii 1-2, 9, Secretary’s Office. ]

By the Governor: :

These.are to Certifie that I doe approve aud allow of the Compofition
and Agreemt made between Capt. Ceefar Knuapton, Capt. Richard Hall, Capt..
John Gardner, and Mr. John Weft, who were authorized to make Enquiry
abt the Wreck of a French fhip caft away on the Ifland of Nantuckett in
one thoufand fix hundred feventy and eight, and Mr. Triftram Coffin, then
Chiefe Magiftrate of the.faid Ifland, concerning the fame, for the fume of
one hundred and fifty Pound, halfe of which is payd; and on paymt of the
other halfe, fecured by his Sonn’s Obligacon, I doe accept the fame in fall
Satisfaction and hereby acquitt and difcharge the faid Truftram Coffin from
the Judgmt giuen againft him in the Court of Admiralty, on Account of faid
Wreck.

Given undér my Hand in New Yorke, the fixth Day of N roe

oi . v . .

DESCENDANTS OF TRISTRAM AND DIONIS.

Hon. Peter Corrtiy, eldest child of Tristram and Dionis, was born
at Brixton, County of Devon, England, in 1631. He married Abigail,
daughter of Edward and Katherine Starbuck, of Dover, N. H., after-
wards of Nantucket. He was one of the original purchasers of Nan-
tucket, and tradition says the wealthiest of them, owning large mill
property. He was a merchant at Dover before the purchase, and subse-
quently lived at Nantucket, but only for a short time to-be considered as
domiciled there. He was made freeman in 1666, at Dover; a Lieutenant
in 1675, on service in King Philip’s Indian war; a Representative in the
Legislative branch in 1672-3 and again in 1679. In 1690 he removed to
Exeter, N. H. From 1692 to 1714 he was at different times associate
justice and chief justice of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, and
a member of the Governor’s Council. He died at Exeter, March 21,
1715, but most of his life was passed at Dover. ‘i

In administering the functions of his several official positions ther
arose many questions of grave importance, and one which, as a judge,
has been handed down as a specimen of religious persecution. The
Reverend Joshua Moodcy had gathered a church at Portsmouth, N. H.,
and distinguished himself as an independent preacher. One of his
parishioners had been interested in seizing and carrying out of the
harbor a Scotch ketch [a heavy ship] and upon trial had sworn falsely,
but the Licutenant Governor, Cranfield, at the head of the province, had
adjusted the matter with the offender and discharged him. But pastor
Moodey took it-up and called church meetings upon the subject, which
irritated Gov. Cranfield, and Moodey was indicted under the uniformity
act in 1684, and imprisoned thirteen weeks, and then dismissed with the
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 53

charge to preach no more under penalty. He was advised to leave
Portsmouth and preached in the old church at Boston for a time atter- °
ward. And in 1693, he returned to Portsmouth and commenced preach-
ing again, when he was again arrested. Peter. Coffin was one of the
judges which convicted him, and in his own language Moodey thus
pours out his vials of wrath as copied from his records and published
in Mass. Hist. Society’s Coll., vol. x, p. 44, 1809:

___‘* The judge of the court was [captain of the fort] Walter Barefoot, the
justices Mr. Fryer, Peter Coffin, Thomas Edgerly, Henry Green, and Henry
Robey. Overnight, four of the six dissented from his imprisonment: but,
before next morning, Peter Coffin, being hectored by Cranfield, drew off
Robey and Green. Only Mr. Fryer and Edgerly refused to consent, but by
the major part he was committed. Not long after, Green repented and made
his acknowledgment to the pastor, who frankly forgave him. Robey was
excommunicated out of Hampton church for a common drunkard, and died .
excommupicate, and was by his friends thrown iuto a hole, near his house,
tor fear of an arrest of his carcase. Barefoot fell into a languishing dis-
temper, whereof he died. Coffin was taken by the Indians and his house and
mills burnt, himself not slain but dismissed. The Lord give him repentance,
though no sign of it have appeared. Psalm ix. 16.” _

His election as one of the magistrates of Nantucket under a period
of great excitement has been before alluded to. The early records of
Nantucket are frequently devoted to transactions of Peter Coffin, in the
purchase and sale of land, and of gifts and grants to his children, and
would be interesting to reproduce in a larger work. The lumber for his
son Jethro’s house, now the oldest house standing on Nantucket, was
the product of one of his millx. THis children:

Abigail, b. Oct. 20, 1657; m. Dec. 16, 1673, Daniel Davidson,'of Ipswich,
afterwards of Newbury.

Peter, Jr., b. Aug. 20, 1660; m. Aug. 15, 1682, Elizabeth, d. of Nathaniel
and Mary Starbuck; d. in Nantucket in 1699. es

Jethro, b. Sept. 16, 1663; m. Mary, d. of Hon. John and Priscilla Gard-
ner; d. in 1726. :

Tristram, b. Jan. 18, 1665; m. Deborah Colcord. . j

Robert, b. in 1667; m. Joanna, daughter of Hon. John Gilman, of Exeter,
N. H., widow of Henry Dyer; d. May 19, 1710. No issue. ioe

Edward, b. Feb. 20, 1669; m. Anna, d. of Hon. John and Priscilla
Gardner. :

Judith, b. Feb. 4, oe

1, died in infancy.

iisaneth, horn Jau. 27, 1680; m. June 5, 1698, Col. John Gilman, of
Exeter, N. H.; d. July 4, 1720. 4

Eliphalet, died single.

TrisTRAM COFFIN, JR., second child, was born in England, in 1632.
He married in Newbury, Mass., March 2, 1652, Judith Somerby, widow
of Henry, and daughter of Edmund and Sarah Greenleaf. She was born
in 1625, and died in Newbury, Dec. 15, 1705. He was made freeman
April 29, 1668, and died in Newbury, Feb. 4, 1704, aged 72, leaving 177

descendants. He was a merchant tailor, and filled many positions of
54 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

trust and honor in Newbury. ‘The early records of Newbury bear evi-
' dence of his identity with the interests of that town. In the severe
ecclesiastical contest concerning Rev. Thomas Parker, of Newbury,
Tristram Coffin, Jr., bore a conspicuous part in the interest of Mr.
Parker, of whose first church of Newbury he was deacon for twenty
years. He built, about 1654, according to the historian of Newbury, the
old Coffin mansion, which has remained in the family to the present day,
one of the ninth generation born under its ample roof, Miss Anna L.
Coffin, now occupying it. Mr. Thomas Coffin Amory, however, says that
it was built in 1649, by Henry Somerby, whose widow, it will be re-
membered, Tristram Coffin, Jr., married. It is one of the few old houses
left, and is built around a vast chimney stack with spacious fire-places,
with windows large and small opening in pleasant surprises, some on
closets and sothe on staircases, and with walls that, when stripped of
their papering not many years ago for the purpose of repapering, were
found to display such elegant landscape frescoes with artistic desigus of
figures and foliage as were wont to decorate fine residences in the days
of the Stuarts. It is a matter of tradition that Tristram Coffyn, senior,
lived in this old mansion a short time before his final removal to Nan-
tucket. ' ‘
Two monuments in the grave yard of the first parish of Newbury
bear these several inscriptions :

“To the memory of Tristram Coffin, Esq., who having served the first
church of Newbury in the office of a deacon 20 years died Feb. 4, 1708-4 aged
72 years.
“On earth he purchased a guod degree
Great boldness in the faith ‘and liberty
_And. now possesses immortality.”

“To the memory of Mrs. Judith, late virtuous wife of Deac. Tristram
Coffin, Esq., who, having lived to see 177 of her children and children’s chil-
dren to the 3d generation, died Dec. 15, 1705, aged 80.

“ Grave, sober, faithful. fruitful vine was she,
A rare example of true piety.

Widow’d awhile she wayted wisht-for rest,
With her dear husband in her Saviours breast.”

Tristram Junior’s children:

Judith, i in Newbury, Mass., Dec. 4, 1653; m. John Sanborn, of Hamp-
ton, N. H., Nov. 19, 1674.

econ, b. in Newbury, Nov. 10, 1655; m. Joseph Knight, Oct. 31, 1677

Mary, b. in Newbury, Nov. 12, 1557 ; m. Joseph Little, Oct. 31, 1677.

James, b. in Newbury, April 22, 1659; mn. Florence Hooke, Nov. 16, 1685.

John, b. in Newbury, Sept. 8, prea d. there May 18, 1677.

Lydia, b. in Newbury, April 22, 1662; m. Ist, Moses Little; 24, March
18, 1695, John Pike.

Enoch, b. in Newbary, Jan. 21, 1663; dc. there Nov. 12, 1675

Stephen, b. in Newbury, Aug. 18, 166 m. Sarah Atkinson, “Oct. 8, 1685 ;
d. Aug. 31, 1725.
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 55

Peter, b. in Newbury, July 27, 1667: phi ; i
() an 13, 1746. y, July 27, ; m. Apphia Dole; d. in Gloucester,

Nathaniel, Hon., b. in Newbur , March 23, 1669;
29, 1693: d. Feb. 20, 1748-9.) en eter meee mo

ELizaBetu Corrm, third child, was born in England, about 1634-5.
She married, in Newbury, Nov. 13, 1651, Capt. Stephen Greenleaf, son
of Edmund. She died at Newbury, Nov. 19, 1678. He died Dec. 1, 1690.
From this family have descended the Greenleafs of New England, among
whom have been many ripe scholars, eminent as jurists, teachers and
divines. Their children were:

is Stephen p teetlent, b. Aug. 15, 1652; m. Oct. 23, 1676, Elizabeth Gerrish,

Sarah Greenleaf, b. Oct. 29, 1655; m. June 7, 1677, Richard Dole, of New-
bury, son of Richard.
Daniel Greenleaf, b. Feb. 17, 1658.

Bibel Greenleaf, b. April 9, 1660: m. 1677, Thomas Noyes, son of
ames.

John Greenleaf, b. June 21, 1662; m. Oct. 12, 1685, Elizabeth Hills.

cue Sp reeeess b. Oct. 30, 1665; m. March 1, 1689, Sarah Kent, dau.

of John.

Tristram Greenleaf, b. Feb. 11, 1668; m. Nov. 12, 1689, Margaret Piper.

Edmund Greenleaf, b. May 10, 1670: m. July 2, 1691, Abigail Somerby,
dau. of Abiel.

Judith Greenleaf, b. Oct. 18, 1673; d. Sept. 30, 1690.

Mary Greenleaf, b. Dec. 6, 1676; m. Joshua Moody, son of Caleb.

Hon. James Corrry, the fourth child, was born in England, Aug.
12, 1640. He married, Dec. 3, 1663, Mary, daughter of John and Abigail
Severance, of Salisbury, Mass.; and died at Nantucket,' July 28, 1720,
aged 80 years. He came to Nantucket with the first settlers, but subse-
quently removed to Dover, N. H., where he resided in 1668, being a
member of the church there in 1671, and the same year, May 31, he was
there made freeman. Soon after this date, however, he returned-to Nan-
tucket and resided there until his death. He filled several important
public offices at Nantucket, among them Judge of the Probate Court.
‘The first records of the Probate Office are under his administration. He
was the father of fourteen children, all of whom, except two, grew to
maturity and married. From him have descended, perhaps, the most
remarkable representatives of the Coffin family, as doubtless the most
numerous and generally scattered. This branch furnished the families
that remained loyal to Great Britain in the American Revolution, and
General John Coffin, as well as his brother, Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin,
rendered valiant service against the Colonies, for which they received
in time their rewards, two sons of Gen. John now holding Admiral’s
commissions in the Royal Navy, one aged 88 and the other 84 years,
both hale and hearty when last heard from. The most distinguished
56 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

woman which America has produced, Lucretia Mott, was also descended
from this line, her father, Thomas Cofiin, being the 17th child of Benja-
min, and not the youngest, either. The children of James are:

Mary, b. in Nantucket, April 18, 1665; married first, Richard Pinkham,
of Portsmouth, N. H., who came from the Isle of Wight, and died in
Nantucket in 1718; second, James, son of Richard and Sarah Gardner;
d. in Nantucket, Feb. 1, 1741. ietetin

James, Jr., b. probably in Dover, N. H.; m., first, Love, dau. of Richard
and Sarah Gardner; second, Ruth, dau. of John and Priscilla Gardner ;

.__d. in Nantucket, Oct. 2, 1741.

Nathaniel, b. in Dover, 1671; m. Aug. 17, 1692, Damaris, dau. of Wm.
Gayer; d. Aug. 29, 1721.

John, b. in Nantucket; m. Hope Gardner, dau. of Richard; d. there July
1, 1747.

Dinah, b. in Nantucket; m. Nov. 20, 1690, Nathaniel Starbuck, Jr.; d.
there Aug. 1, 1750. ‘

Deborah, b. in Nantucket; m. Oct. 10, 1695, George Bunker, son of
Wm.; a. there Oct. 8, 1767.

Ebenezer, b. in Nantucket, March 30, 1678; m. Dec. 12, 1700, Eleanor,
dau. of Nathaniel Batnard; died there Oct. 17, 1780.

Joseph, b. in Nantucket, Feb. 4, 1680; m. Bethia, dau. of John Macy; d.
there July 14, 1719. ;

Elizabeth, b. in Nantucket; m., first, Jonathan, son of Wm. and Mary
Bunker; second, Thomas Clark; d. there, March 30, 1769. :
Benjamin, b. in Nantucket, Aug. 28, 1683; lost overboard between Nan-

tucket and Martha’s Vineyard. :

Ruth, b. in Nantucket; m. Joseph, son of Richard and Mary Gardner; d.
there, May 28, 1748.

Abigail, b. in Nantucket; m. Nathaniel, son of Richard and Sarah Gard-
ner; d. there March 15, 1709, and was the first person buried in Gard-
ner’s burial ground.

Experience, b. in Nantucket and died young.

Jonathan, b. in Nantucket, August 28, 1692; m. Hephzibah, dau. of Eb-
enezer Harker; d. there Feb. 5, 1773.

Joun Cori, fifth child, was born in England, and died in Haver-
hill, Mass., Oct. 30, 1642, in infancy. [

Dersorau Corriy, sixth child, was born in Haverhill, Nov. 16, 1642,
and died there, Dec. 8, 1642, in infancy. :

Mary Corrin, seventh child, was born in Haverhill, Feb. 20, 1645.
She was married at the age of 17, to Nathaniel, son of Edward and
Katherine (Reynolds) Starbuck; and died at Nantucket, Nov. 13, 1717.
He died at Nantucket, the 2d day of the 2d month, 1719. Her eldest
child, Mary Starbuck, born March 30, 1663, was the first white child
born upon the island. From this family all of the Starbucks: of
America are descended. She was a most extraordinary woman, par-
ticipating in the practical duties and responsibilities of public gath-
erings and town meetings, on which occasions her words were always
listened to with marked respect. The genius of whatever attaches to
the Equal Rights for Woman movement of the present day, in every
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 57

true and proper sense, she anticipated by two centuries, and reduced to
practice, without neglecting her domestic relations. She was consulted
upon all matters of public importance, because her judgment was supe-
rior, and she was universally acknowledged to be a great woman. It
was not that her husband, Nathaniel Starbuck, was a man of inferior
mould, that she gained such prominence, for he was a man of good
ability ; but because of her pre-eminent qualifications that she acquired
so good a reputation, whereby her husband’s qualifications were appar-
ently lessened. In the language of John Richardson, an early preacher,
‘The islanders esteemed her as 2 Judge among them, for little of mo-
ment was done without her.” In the town meetings which she was ac-
customed to attend, she took an active part in the debates, usually com-
mencing her address with ‘My husband thinks” so and so; or “My
husband and I, having considered the subject, think” so and so. From
every source of information, as also from tradition, there is abundant
evidence that she was possessed of sound judgment, clear understand-
ing, and an elegant way of expressing herself perfectly easy and natu-
ral to her. In 1701, at the age of 56, she became interested in the re-
ligious faith of the Quakers or Friends, and took the spiritual concerns
of the whole island under her special superintendence. She held meet-
ings at her own house which are often alluded to by visiting Friends who
have written concerning the island’s early religious history, wrote the
quarterly epistles, and preached in a most eloquent and impressive
manner; and, withal, was as distinguished in her domestic economy as
she was celebrated as a preacher. Of this department John Richardson,
who preached at her house, wrote, ‘‘ The order of the house was such in
all the parts thereof, as I had not seen the like before; the large and
bright-rubbed room was set with suitable seats or chairs for a meeting,
so that I did not see anything wanting according to place, but something
to stand on, for I was not free to set my feet upon the fine cane chair,
lest I should break it.” Enough might be written concerning her to
make an entertaining volume by itself, which may some time be at-
tempted. Her children:

Mary Starbuck, b. March 30, 1663; m. James Gardner, son of ‘Richard
dd. 1696.

Elizabeth Starbuck, b. Sept. 9, 1665; m., first, Peter Coffin, Jr., son of
Peter and Abigail (Starbuck) Coffin; second, Nathaniel Barnard, Jr.,
son of Nathaniel. ;

Nathaniel Starbuck, Jr., b. Aug. 9, 1668; m. Nov. 20, 1690, Dinah,
daughter of James and Mary (Severance) Coffin; d. at Nantucket Jan.
29, 1753.

Jethro Starbuck, b. Dec. 14, 1671; m. Dec. 6, 1694, Dorcas, dau. of
William and Dorcas (Starbuck) Gayer; d. Aug. 12, 1770.

Barnabus Starbuck, b. 1673; d. 9th mo., 21, 1732, unmarried.

Junice Starbuck, b. April 11, 1674; m. George, son of John Gardner; d.
12th of 2d mo., 1766,

;
58 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

‘Priscilla Starbuck, b. 1676; m. ‘John, son of John Coleman; d. Marclr
14, 1762.

Hephzibah Starbuck, b.. April 2, 1680; m. Thomas Hathaway of Dart-
mouth; d. 7th of 2d mo., 1740.

Ann, died single.

Paul, died single.

Ligeur. Joun Corr, eighth child (a former John having died),
was born at Haverhill, Oct. 30, 1647. He married Deborah, daughter of
Joseph and Sarah Austin; and died at Edgartown, Mass., Sept. 5, 1711.
From him the Martha’s Vineyard Coffins are descended. He removed to
Edgartown after his father’s death, about 1682-3. He was elected to.some
minor offices in Nantucket, and was at Edgartown commissioned a Lieu--
tenant of Militia. He had eleven children, among them Enoch, who was:
chief judge for Dukes County, and who had ten children, all of whom
lived to the age of rising 70 years, and six of the ten to above 80, and
two of them to 90, the most remarkable pinetenee of family longevity yet
discovered. His children in order were ’
Lydia, b. in Nantucket, June 1, 1669; m., first, John Logan; second,
John Draper; third, Thomas Thaxter of Hingham.

Peter, b. in Nantucket, Aug. 5, 1671; m., first, Christian Condy; second,
Hope, dau. of Joseph and Bethiah ¢ (Macy) Gardner ; d. there Oct. 27,
1749
John, Jr. " b. in Nantucket, Feb. 10, 1673.
Love, b. in Nantucket, April 23, 1676; died single. .
Enoch, b. in Nantucket, 1678; m. Beulah Eddy, about 1700; d. in Edgar-
town in 1761.

Samuel, Os in Nantucket; in. Miriam Garduer, dau. of Richard, Jr., 17055
d. Feb. 22, 1764.

Haunah, b. in Nantucket; m. Benjamin Gardner, son of Richard, Jr. ;
Jan. 28, 1768.

Tristram, b. in Nantucket; m. Mary Bunker, dau. of William, 1714; a.
Jan. 29, 1763.

Deborah, b. in Nantucket; m. June 18, 1708, Thomas Macy, son of John;.
d. Sept. 23, 1760.

Rlizabeth, bs in Nantucket; died single.

Benjamin, b. 8 mo., 23, 1683.

STEPHEN Corry, the youngest child, was born at Newbury, Mass.,
May 10, 1652, and was about 8 years old when his father removed to Nan-:
tucket. He married Mary, dau. of George and Jane (Godfrey) Bunker
about 1668-9, and died at Nantucket, Nov. 14, 1734. For him, to a consid-
erable extent, Tristram reversed the old English law of leaving to the eldest
son his lands and estates and gave them to his youngest son. Stephen
appears to have remained upon his father’s estate, and succeeded to the
management of the farm and general business cares, and by agreement
was to be helpful to his father and mother in their old age. He had ten
children, viz:
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 59:

Daniel, b. at Nantucket; d. 4 mo., 1724—lost at sea.

Dionis. b. at Nantucket Sept. 21, 1671; m. Jacob Norton.

Peter, b..at Nantucket Nov. 14, 1673 ;-m. in Boston.

Stephen, Jr., b. at Nantucket Feb. 20, 1675; m. 1693, Experience Look,.
dau. of Thomas. ‘

Judith, b. at Nantucket; m., first, Peter Folger, son of Klezer; second,
Nathaniel Barnard, son of Nathaniel; third, Stephen Wilcox; @. Dee.

2, 1760.
ee at Nantucket; m. Peleg Bunker, son of William; d. June
:

Mehitable, b. at Nantucket: m. Armstrong Smith.

Anna, b. at Nantucket; m. Solomon Garduer, son of Richard, 2d; d.
April 22, 1740.

Hephzibah, b. at Nantucket; m. Samuel Gardner.

Paul, b. at Nantucket April 15, 1695: m. Mary Allen, dau. of Edward;
d. April, 1729.

BIOGRAPHIES AND ANECDOTES OF DESCENDANTS.

The biographical and anecdotical feature of thix publication is nec-
essarily abridged on account of insuiticient time to properly arrange
and print before the first reunion of Tristram’s descendants at Nantucket,
August 16, 17, and 18, 1881. As many of his descendants have achieved
fame and gained a just celebrity, it becomes 2 matter of extreme deli-
cacy to select from among xv many the few that space will permit to be
noticed in this work. Those given, however, are but a fair representa-
tion of the many that might be, and which it is hoped some time will be,
added to the biographies of Tristram Coffyn’s descendants.

Gen. Joun Corrry, of St. John’s New Brunswick, was an elder
brother of Sir Isanc. He distinguished himself ax a general in the Eng-
lish army against the colonies; and subsequently took up his residence
at St. John’s, N. B. . In the war of 1812, he again took up arms in defence
of his country, having always remained loyal to Great Britain. At the
close of the Revolution he married Annie, daughtcr of William Mat-
thews, of St. John’s Island, South Carolina. Washington Irving in his
life of Washington, states that the advance on Entaw by Gen. Greene,
supported by Col. William Washington, was averted by Major John
Coffin, with 140 infantry and 50 cavalry. He was born at Boston, Mass.,
in 1756, and died at his residence in King’s Co., New Brunswick, on the
12th of May, 1838, aged 82 years. His whole career was that of a vig-
orous, conscientious man of great ability.

Ap ira Sm Isaac Currin, Baronet, was of the fifth generation from
Tristram and descended as follows: Tristram}, James?, Nathaniel,
William*, Nathaniel, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Barnes,
of Boston. Te was the fourth son, and was born at Boston, Mass., May
16, 1759. Entering the English Navy in 1773, he was commissioned a
Lieutenant, 1778; Captain, 1781; Rear Admiral of the White Squadron,
1804; Baronet, and also granted a Coat of Arms the same year; Vice-
Admiral, 1808; and in 1817 Admiral. He died at Cheltenham, England,.
in 1839, aged 80 years, without issue.
60 THE COFFIN FAMILY.

He was awarded an estate by the Government of England, known as
the Magdelen Islands, at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, about
‘the time he was created a Baronet. He was a personal friend of the
Duke of Clarence, who, when he became William IV., continued to
show him favor. When it became necessary, in 1832, to swamp the
House of Lords, by creating new Peers in order to pass the Reform Bill,
ithe name of ‘Sir Isaac was upon the King’s list. He desired tomake him
Ear] of Magdelen, but the Ministers objected, on the ground of his strong
attachment to his native country, and especially cited the fact of ‘his
fitting out a vessel with Yankee lads from his Lancasterian School at
Nantucket, to make master mariners of them, which could not be viewed
by England with favor. So it may in truth be said that the Coffin School
.at Nantucket cost the Admiral an Earldom, and came near,sacrificing
his Baronetcy.

In 1790, when in command of the Alligator frigate, at the Nore, under
sailing orders, the wind blowing strong, a man fell overboard. Coftin
plunged in after him and saved ‘his life; but in doing so sustained an
‘injury from which he never fully recovered. It was regarded as a most
heroic feat, and has once since been attempted by another descendant
.of Tristram, born at Nantucket, Lieut. Seth M. Ackley, of the U. S.
Navy, who received therefor a commendatory letter from the Secretary
of the Navy. re

Isaac Coffin was commissioner of the Royal Navy in 1795, and was
sent to Corsica; thence to Lisbon; thence to Mahon, in the Island of
Minorca. Then be was placed in charge of the King’s yard at Shearness.
He spent some time about the coast of Australia; and ‘‘ Sir Isaac’s Point”
and “ Coftin’s Bay.” as laid down on the English Coast Charts of Aus-
tralia, are named in honor of him. :

He married in 1811, Elizabeth, daughter of William Greenly, Esq., _
of Titley Court, Herefordshire ; and, assuming the lady’s name, became
Sir Isaac Coftin Greenly. But the union was not a happy one, and they
separated. She remained Lady Greenly and he dropped the Greenly.
She was an exemplary lady, inclined to literary pursuits of a religious
tendency which did not accord with his rollicking nature.

; He at one time took to politics and was elected member of Parlia-_
amaent for chester. Inclining to Liberalism, he consorted with the Whigs
and became noted for his rough humor and salt sayings.

Of his ready wit many stories are told—one will suffice. Once, on:
this way to Titley Court, stopping to bait at Chepstow, he was informed
‘by the innkeeper that an American, a prisoner, confined in the castle
hard by, claimed to be his relative, and prayed for an interview. Sir
Isaac, curiously, acceded, went to the prison, and was introduced to ‘‘a
gentleman of colour.” Both surprised and amused, he was informed by
Sambo that he*was an American, a namesake, and must therefore be a
relation, as no one would be likely to take his name for the fun of the
thing. ‘Stop, my man, stop,” interjected the Admiral, ‘let me ask you
a question. Pray, how old may yoube?” <‘‘ Well,” replied the other, ««I
‘should guess about thirty-five.” ‘Oh! then,” rejoined his interlocutor,
turning away, ‘‘ there is clearly a mistake here, you can’t be one of my
Coffins—none of my people ever turn black before they are forty.” He
nevertheless secured Sambo’s release.

One day an American ship sailed into Portsmouth or Plymouth, Eng-
land, before the war of 1812, when Sir Isaac had charge of the Naval
fleet. An English officer was sent on board. The master having gone
THE COFFIN FAMILY. 61

on shore, the mate being in charge did not receive the officer with the
etiquette required on such occasions. The officer gave the first saluta-
tion as he reached the deck, by saying ‘« What kind of a d—d Yankee
lubber has charge here, who don’t know his duty to properly receive his
majesty’s officer?” The mate said not a word, but seizing his visitor by
the collar and slack of his trousers threw him overboard, for his own
crew to pick up. Soon atter an armed boat came alongside to take the
mate on board the flag ship, where he was arraigned before Sir Isaac,
-who soon became aware that the culprit was a kinsman, whose father he
had been familiar with in boyhood. He tried to get the mate to acknowl-
edge that he was ignorant of the laws and customs, that he might dismiss.
the case, with admonition, but the Yankee was obdurate: ‘He'd be
d—d,” he said, ‘‘if any man should insult him with impunity on his own
deck and under the flag of his country.” The offender was remanded to
be regularly tried the next day. In the meantime the Admiral sent a
messenger to privately inform the mate that a suitable apology would re-
lieve him from any further trouble in the matter; but on the trial the
same defiant manner was assumed. The Admiral drew out some cx-
. pression, however, which he accepted as satisfactory, and dismissed the
offender with suitable admonitions.

Later in the day from the shore, the Admiral sent a message to the
young man stating that, as his father was an old friend and relative, he
would be happy. to meet the son and enjoy a bottle of wine with him at
the inn. But the young man replied that the Admiral might go to h—1l
with his wine. He’d see him d—d first before he’d drink with any d—d
Englisher, especially one who would approve of an insult to an officer
under his own flag upon his own deck. .

The Admiral used to relate the above incident with much gusto, as
he admired the spirit of independence exhibited by the Yankee mate. —

Perhaps the most beneficial and truly philanthropic act of the Admi-
ral was the founding of the Coffin School at Nantucket, a complete his-
tory of which, written by George Howland Folger, Esq., a former pupil
of the school, it is hoped will soon be presented to the public.

Cart. Setu Corrin, born at Nantucket, June 25, 1753, was a man of
undaunted courage, as the following incident related to me by his great-
eranddaughter, Miss Emma V. Hallett, will abundantly exhibit. Capt.
Coffin commanded a whaleship very young. In 1800, in the ship Minerva,
off Brazil Banks, in the capture of a large sperm whale, Capt. Coffin’s
lee was crushed, and no one on board had knowledge of surgery suffi-
cient to perform amputation except himself, and he had only witnessed
one such a case under similar circumstances. So he called for an instru-
ment used in cutting in whale’s blubber, and then called his mate, and,
bracing himself up on his couch, addressed his mate in this wise: “ My
lee has got to come off, or I shall die. I know how it should be done,
and will show you how to do it. If you flinch one whit Pll send this in-
strument through you. Iam ready. Begin!” And the mate did begin,
the captain instructing him how to take up each artery, and his leg was
saved. When the last bandage was properly adjusted both men fainted.

I FeIN, Esq., the historian of Newbury, was born at New-
ace ene ol Coin mansion, previously described, on the 12th of
October, 1792, and died in the old home of his ancestors on the 24th of
June, 1864, aged 73. He was a school teacher for many years, number-
ing among his pupils John Greenleaf Whittier and Cornelius C.'Felton,

cD ‘:
62 ’ THE COFFIN FAMILY.

both of whom have spoken of their old teacher in high terms of praise ;
the poet owning a debt of gratitude in a noble poem. Mr. Coflin was
much engaged in antiquarian pursuits and contributed much labor in
that field. “He published several works, and was by his neighbors some-
times called the ‘* Walking Encyclopedia,” there being scarcely any sub-
ject within the range of human knowledge that he had not examined,
and his wonderfully retentive memory made. him a storehouse of useful
information.

Lucretia Morr died at her residence near Philadelphia, on the even-
ing of Nov. 11, 1880, at the advanced age of! 87 years, 10 months and 8
days. She was born in Nantucket the third of January, A. D. 1793, in
2 house which stood on the spot now occupied by the residence of Capt.
Obed Starbuck, on Fair street. Her father subsequently built the house
now occupied by Judge T. C. Defriez, next south of her birth-place, in
which her early childhood was passed. She wis a direct descendant of
the first Tristram Coftin on the paternal side, and of. the first Peter
Folger on the maternal side, her father bearing the name of Thomas
Cottin and her mother that of Anna (Folger) Coffin.

In 1804, Lucretia then being only 11 years old, her parents removed
to Boston. Here for about two years she attended the Boston schools
with great advantage to herself. At the age of 13 she was sent to a
Friends’ Boarding School, in Dutchess County, New York, where she re-
mained three years, during the last year employed as an assistant
teacher, which shows how great her proficiency had been. Her parents,
meantime, had removed to Philadelphia, where she subsequently joined
them in 1809. Two years later, in 1811, at the age of 18, she was united
in marriage with James Mott, of Philadelphia, who atterwards became a
business partner of her father. Thus early settled in life the womanly
duties of wife and mother devolved upon her, and were discharged with
unerring fidelity, five out of six children born to her having arrived at
maturity and lived to the credit of their mother’s excellent example.

She was an approved minister of the Society of Friends, and in 1827,
took sides with Elias Hicks, and was thereafter known as a Hicksite.

Her active mind, directed and developed by the peculiar teachings
of her religious sect, took a wider range than had previously been cus-
tomary with women, and she gave of her best offerings to the world. In
all the great moral reforms she took an active part, manifesting a great
interest in the advancement of the working classes, frequently attending
their meetings, and adding her testimony to the righteousness of their
cause. She was unquestionably the most gifted woman of her time, and
used her gifts with consummate wisdom. As a spiritual, moral and in-
tellectual force of the nineteenth century she had no superior the world
over. Her power of speech was almost divine; her ‘‘ words were gold
coined in the mint of a royal mind;” whatever her hand touched, it
blessed; whatever her warm sympathy became attached to, grew in
stature and comeliness. She was the bright morning star of intellectual
freedom in America, and she helped break the chains which bound a
race in physical slavery. But for the fact that her death was to have
been expected, the announcement would have spread a gloom throughout
the bounds of civilization. The idol of to-day may crowd the hero of
yesterday from the speech of mankind; but the life of Lucretia Mott
has left an influence upon the world which time cannot destroy or efface ;
and, so long as there is left.a chord in the heart of humanity which beats
THE COFFIN FAMILY. — oo, 63

responsively to the truth and purity of her life, so long will there be pil-
grims journeying to her tomb to drop thereon in mingled profusion white
flowers and tears.

Pror. James Wenry Corrin, LL. D., was born at Williamsburg, near
Northampton, Mass., Sept. 6, 1806, and was sixty-six years and five
months old at the time of his death. Being lett a poor orphan, he went
to live with his uncle, the Rev. Moses Hallock, under whose eare he was
educated. He graduated at Amherst College in 1828. After leaving
college he engaged in teaching in Massachusetts, entering upon a pro-
fession in which he continued until the day of his death. Le established
one of the first manual labor schools in the country, at Greenfield, Maas.,
which was known as the Fellenberg Academy. Leaving Greenfield in
1837, he went to Ogdensburg, N. Y., to take charge of u school there.
Here he remained till 1839. His scientitic life dates from this time. Here
he became interested in Meteorology. In 1839 he left Ogdensburg to be-
come a tutor in Williams College, where he remained five years. Here
he published a work on the mode of calculating solar and lunar eclipses,
which was extensively used. During the same period he devised the
erection and superintended the building of the Greylock Observatory on
Saddle Mountain. In this observatory he placed the first combined, selt-
registering instrument to determine the direction, velocity and moisture
of winds, ever constructed. An improved instrument for the same pur-
pose he recently presented to the Observatory at Cordova, Buenos Ayres.
Leaying Williams College in 1843, he spent three years in teaching at
Norwalk, Conn. In 1844 an acquaintanceship began, which continued
up to the time of the rebellion, between the Professor and Capt. M. F.
Maury, U.S. N. Capt. Maury is well known for his investigations inte
the subject of oceanic currents and winds. In 1846 Prof. Cottin accepted
the position of Professor of Mathematics in Lafayette College, and for
twenty-seven years his life has been spent in Easton. .As Professor of
Mathematics at Lafayette, Dr. Coftin won much celebrity, but his name
will, perhaps, be more widely known throughout the country as a con-
tributor to the reports of the Smithsonian Institution, and for his inves-
tigations on the subject of winds and atmospheric changes. In this field
he was a pioneer. Twenty-two years ago the Smithsonian Institution
published a large quarto volume of Prof. Cofiin’s, on the Winds of the
Northern Hemisphere. For some years he was engaged on another
work, which at the time of his death was nearly ready for publication.
This volume was 2 treatise on the ‘Winds of the Globe.” Issued by
Smithsonian Institution, 1876—pages 781; 26 plates, the largest numer-
ical tables ever issued from the American press. Among his more
important mathematical works are a ‘‘ Treatise on Solar and Lunar
Eclipses,” a work on the “‘Meteoric Fire-ball of July, 1860,” ‘‘ Astro-
nomical Tables,” «« Conic Sections,” and ‘‘ Analytical Geometry.”

The merits and learning of Dr. Coffin were not unrecognized. He
was one of the first elected members of the National Academy of Science,
and was a prominent member of the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science, at whose meetings he frequently read papers on
meteorological subjects. At the time of his death, on the sixth of Feb-
ruary, 1873, he was an elder in the Brainerd Church. He united with
the church at an early age, and lived a sincere and devout christian.

Cart. Reusen Corrs, of Athens, N. Y., was in command of steamer
Seth Low, during the war of the Rebellion, chartered to tow from New
64 ” ‘THE COFFIN FAMILY.

York to James River the Monitor, with orders to proceed with all possi-
ble dispatch. When running down the coast with the Monitor in tow, a
heavy fog set in with a heavy sea. The United States officers on board |
in command of the Monitor wanted Captain Coffin, of the Low, to cast
anchor, as the lead showed they were shoaling their water and might get
ashore. Captain Coffin told the officers he would run off shore and that
would give more water, that his orders were to proceed with all possible
dispatch, and he was not going to stop unless compelled to, and kept on
his course, and reached his destination during the night previous to the
famous fight between the Monitor and Merrimack. Never had any
arrival proved more fortunate. The Monitor saved the balance of the
United States fleet not already destroyed. This act of Captain Coffin in
keeping on his course against the protests of the United States officers
saved many valuable lives, and the government millions’ of money.

THE COFFIN COAT OF ARMS.

Heraldry has a language all its own, the significance of which none
but careful students who have made it a specialty will pretend to abso-
lute accuracy in its exposition. Briefly stated, it is the science of con-
ventional distinctions impressed on shields or banners, and is both
national and personal. The latter treats of bearings belonging to indi-
viduals either in their own or hereditary right. The Coffins have always
claimed Coat Armour in hereditary right. ‘That branch descended from
Nathaniel Coffin, father of Admiral Sir Isaac,, inherit the right through
the Admiral’s grant, and are unquestionably entitled to wear his Coat of
Arms, but this differs essentially in its emblazonment from. the more
ancient ones. ; ;

Authorities upon English heraldry give, as belonging to the Coffins
of Devonshire, a description which, in its combination, is unlike any
other family bearings, and consists of Bezants and Cross-Crosslets.
While they differ as to order of arrangement and combination, the num-
ber.of Bezants is never less than three nor more than four, and the
Cross-Crosslets vary from five upward to a semee which is an indefinite
convenient number.

The Bezants are a roundle representing the ancient gold coin of
Byzantium, current in England from the tenth century to the time of
Edward III., and was probably introduced into coat armour by the cru-
saders. The white roundle exhibited upon Admiral Sir Isaac’s Arms, is
of silver, and is usually called a plate, although there were silver bezants
used as coin. The Cross-Crosslets are Crosses crossed on each arm.

The Crests and Mottoes are of quite modern origin. .