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Spouse: Deborah AUSTIN. John COFFIN and Deborah AUSTIN were married in 1668. Children were: Enoch COFFIN, Lydia COFFIN, Peter COFFIN, John COFFIN, Love COFFIN, Samuel COFFIN, Benjamin COFFIN, Hannah COFFIN, Deborah COFFIN, Tristram COFFIN, Elizabeth COFFIN.
John COFFIN1 was born on Feb 10, 1673. Parents: John COFFIN and Deborah AUSTIN.
John David COFFIN82 was born on May 31, 1859.
Spouse: Sadie Alvira BERNAUER. John David COFFIN and Sadie Alvira BERNAUER were married. Children were: Blanche Edna COFFIN.
Jonathan COFFIN. Parents: James COFFIN and Mary SEVERANCE.
Joseph COFFIN. Parents: Benjamin COFFIN and Jedidah HUSSEY.
Joseph COFFIN. Parents: James COFFIN and Mary SEVERANCE.
Love COFFIN1 was born on Jun 5, 1676. Parents: John COFFIN and Deborah AUSTIN.
Lydia COFFIN. Parents: John COFFIN and Deborah AUSTIN.
Mary COFFIN. Parents: James COFFIN and Mary SEVERANCE.
Mary COFFIN1 was born on Feb 20, 1645 in Haverhill, MA. She died on Oct 13, 1717. Parents: Tristram COFFIN and Dionis STEVENS.
Spouse: Nathaniel STARBUCK. Nathaniel STARBUCK and Mary COFFIN were married in 1662 in Nantucket, MA. Children were: Jethro STARBUCK, Mary STARBUCK, Elizabeth STARBUCK, Nathaniel STARBUCK, Barnabas STARBUCK, Eunice STARBUCK, Priscilla STARBUCK, Hephzibah STARBUCK, Ann STARBUCK, Paul STARBUCK.
Mary W. COFFIN was born on Jul 9, 1833.81 Parents: Reuben COFFIN and Sarah Adams BASSETT.
Spouse: Edward BENTLEY. Edward BENTLEY and Mary W. COFFIN were married in 1846/47 in Lysander, Onondaga County, NY. Children were: Floyd Fenimore BENTLEY, Frederick BENTLEY, Florence BENTLEY, Ella BENTLEY, William BENTLEY.
Micajah COFFIN1 was born on Aug 18, 1734. He died on May 26, 1827. Parents: Benjamin COFFIN and Jedidah HUSSEY.
Nathanial COFFIN1 was born in May 1671 in Dover, MA. He died on Oct 29, 1721. He was a Whaling Master. Nathaniel Coffin was born in Dover, New Hampshire in 1671. He married Demaris Gayer, daughter of William. Nathaniel was a sea captain and great grandfather to Gen. John Coffin and Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin. Nathaniel died in 1720.
Reference: http://www.isn.net/~dhunter/rcoffin/pg1_25.html
Parents: James COFFIN and Mary SEVERANCE.
Spouse: Damaris GAYER. Nathanial COFFIN and Damaris GAYER were married on Oct 17, 1692. Children were: Benjamin COFFIN.
Nathaniel COFFIN. Parents: Benjamin COFFIN and Jedidah HUSSEY.
Paul COFFIN. Parents: Benjamin COFFIN and Jedidah HUSSEY.
Peter COFFIN. Parents: John COFFIN and Deborah AUSTIN.
Peter COFFIN. Parents: Jacob COFFIN and Elizabeth NORTON.
Peter COFFIN1 was born before 1535 in Portledge, Devonshire, England. He died after 1558 in County Devonshire, England. Parents: James Sir COFFIN and Mary COLE.
Spouse: Mary BOSCOWEN. Peter COFFIN and Mary BOSCOWEN were married before 1555 in England. Children were: Nicholas COFFYN.
Peter COFFIN1 was born about 1580 in Brixton, Devonshire, England. He died in 1627 in Brixton, Devonshire, England. PETER COFFYN of Brixton, Devonshire, was born
there ca 1580; died in 1628. His wife Joane (Kember),
born in 1584, died in Boston, Mass., in
May 1661, described as "a woman of remarkable
character". In 1615, Peter was a churchwarden in
Brixton.
Children born in Brixton:
i. TRISTRAM1, b. 1610. See below.
ii. Joane, b. ca 1611.
iii. Peter, bp. Feb. 20, 1614; d. young.
iv. Deborah, b. ca 1616; prob. m. William
Stephen, lic. June 25, 1640.
v. Eunice, bp. March 22, 1618; m. William
Butler in America; d.s.p.
vi. Mary, b. ca 1620; m. ca 1645, Alexander
Adams, Boston shipwright; 4 children.
vii. Ruth, bp. Sept. 10, 1623; d. soon.
viii. John, b. prob. ca 1625; said to have died
in 1642 at Plymouth Fort in the Parliamentary War.
ix. Child b. after Dec. 21, 1627; prob. died young.
FROM: A Genealogical History of the Clark and Worth Familes
Author: Carol Clark Johnson
Call Number: CS71.C6
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Peter was born in Brixton during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, around 1580. Peter married Joan Thember, born 1584, daughter of Robert and Anna Thember. The Coffyns had six children, Tristram, John, Joan, Deborah, Eunice and Mary. Peter was the Church Warden of St. Mary's Church, in Brixton during the period around 1614. Little else is known of Peter except that he had a farm as stated in his will written, December 1, 1627 and proved March 13, 1628.
"In the name of God, Amen, ye 21st day of December in ye third year of the raigne of our Sovraigne Lord Charles... I Peter Coffyn of the Parish of Brixton in ye county of Devon, being sick of body but in perfect minde and memory, doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament... I give and bequeath unto my sonne one feather bed, my best brasen panne and my best brasen crocke. I give and bequeath unto Johan Coffyn my wife ye issues pfitts and comodities of all my lands tenements and hereditaments with in ye sayd Parish of Brixton during her widowhood she yeelding and paying therefor yearly unto the sayd Tristram Coffyn my sonne his heirs and assignes the summe of fifty shillings of lawful English money at ye four most usual feasts of the year and also sufficient meat, drink and clothes and convenient lodging unto ye said Tristram according to his degree and calling".
Reference: http://www.isn.net/~dhunter/rcoffin/rcoffini.html Parents: Nicholas COFFYN and Joan.
Spouse: Joanna THEMBER (OR KEMBER). Peter COFFIN and Joanna THEMBER (OR KEMBER) were married about 1600 in England. Children were: Tristram COFFIN, John COFFIN.
Peter COFFIN1 was born in 1631 in England. He died on Mar 21, 1715 in Exter, NH. Parents: Tristram COFFIN and Dionis STEVENS.
Spouse: Abigail STARBUCK.
Phebe COFFIN. Parents: Jacob COFFIN and Elizabeth NORTON.
Reuben COFFIN. Parents: Benjamin COFFIN and Jedidah HUSSEY.
Reuben COFFIN1 was born on Feb 22, 1787 in Easton, Washington County, NY. IGR Film Number: 537953 He signed a will on Aug 30, 1862 in Onondaga County, NY. County # 34 , Vol #M, Page # 90
In the matter of proving the last will and testament of Reuben Coffin, deceased, Onondaga County, NY.
Be it remembered that heretofore upon the petition of Edward Bentley and Robert Coffin, the executors named in the last will and testament of Reuben Coffin, late of the town of Lysander in said county, deceased, in said county, for that purpose, to the Surrogate of said county, a citation was duly issued in this matter which citation with the proofs of service thereof was thereafter duly returned to said Surrogate, and which said petition and citation, with the proofs of service thereof, are now on file in the office of said Surrogate. And thereupon the last will and testament of the said Reuben Coffin, deceased, with the proofs thereof were produced and are as follows, to wit:
I Reuben Coffin of the town of Lysander in the County of Onondaga and State of New York of the age of seventy five years and being of sound mind and memory do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following that is to say after paying all my debts and funeral charges I give and devise to my wife Sarah Coffin all my personal and real estate lying and being in the town of Lysander, county of Onondaga, State of New York during her natural life excepting, what I hereby set apart to my son E. B. Coffin. To my son E. B. Coffin I give thirty acres of land lying and being in the state of Iowa, county of Tama, being the same deeded to me by E. B. Coffin and Almira his wife bearing date Sept. 22nd 1857 and also a Judgement obtained in said State of Iowa for the sum of about two hundred and twenty dollars the same as he has a power of attorney to collect. And after the decease of my said wife my property is to be divided between my children as follows, first to my son Robert Coffin five hundred dollars and to my son Alexander M. Coffin five hundred dollars. The remainder of all that may be left to be divided in equal shares with my sons Jacob Coffin, Robert Coffin, and Alexander M. Coffin and my daughters Harriet Borgardus, Elizabeth Chaffee, Sally Ann Harrington, Hepsibah Woodruffe, Susan Fuller, and Mary Bentley and to their heirs after them.
I hereby appoint Edward Bentley and Robert Coffin Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of August A.D. 1862 Reuben Coffin L.S.
The within instrument consisting of one sheet was at the date hereof declared to us by Reuben Coffin the testator therein mentioned to be his last will and testament and he at the same time acknowledged to us and each of us that he had signed and sealed the same and we therefore at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other signed our names hereinto as attesting witnesses.
E. Connell
David Sulfin
He died on Feb 21, 1868 in New York. Appears in the "NAMES OF HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS APPEARING IN THE 1810 CENSUS" for the Town of Lysander.
1830 NY Census Index , Page 063; LYSANDER, ONONDAGA County, NY
"Near Little Utica Reuben Coffin came early, being collector in 1812."
Source: Past and Present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, by The Rev. William M. Beauchamp. NY: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1908, pp. 377-383.
"The vicinity of Little Utica was first settled by Reuben Coffin who was collector in 1812, and whose descendants still live in that section, one of whom now bears the name of the pioneer; his mother (should read "wife") was a centenarian at her death." Source: Onondaga's Centennial by Dwight H. Bruce (ed.). The Boston History Company, 1896, Vol. I, pp.739-752.
Part 48: Origins Of Lysander, Plainville, And Jacksonville Are Described
...by 1810 the first Lysander resident, Jonothan Palmer had been located for 18 years...
How many of his six brothers had followed him to Palmertown by 1810 is not certain, but it is reasonable to believe some of them were there, and it is also easy to imagine how cordial must have been the welcome given by the Palmers to Reuben Coffin and his bride of two years, when their clumsy covered wagon gave a final lurch and came to a creaking stop before their log cabin one May day in that year. The trek from Washington County had been long and tedious, with the homespun linen cover to the heavy wagon their only shelter from the noonday sun. One of the last nights on the trail had been spent in camp in what is now the heart of Syracuse, the present site of the Lincoln store.
A few days were spent in the Palmer cabin while the men fashioned a similar one farther east, on the bank of a swift stream, for the newcomers. Here on Lot 37 lay the 600 acres of land claimed by Reuben and Sarah Bassett Coffin. Here beneath the tall pines that grew along the stream, the women of the settlement gathered on wash day to make use of the excellent spring water, and exchange bits of news, and assist each other in daily tasks.
Not far from the spring and near the cabin, Reuben hung an iron kettle on a tripod for cooking and general purposes. One morning as Sarah was frying cakes over this out of door fire, a huge black bear crossed the path to the spring and ambled slowly off into the woods.
Part 49: Celebration Held Honoring Sarah Coffin On 100th Birthday
Apparently the hardships of pioneer life did not shorten the days of Sarah Coffin, for on May 7, 1887 a grand celebration was held at the colonial home (the present yellow house with slender pillars by the front entrance, that stands a quarter of a mile east of Jacksonville) to honor her on her one hundredth birthday. Two tents were raised in the front yard and the crowd of visitors was served dinner. Frank Sharp was detailed to toll the bell of the Little Utica church one hundred times.
Her family consisted of six living children, thirty-six grandchildren, eighty-four great-grandchildren, and nineteen great-great-grandchildren. With members of this family and a host of neighbors and friends this venerable daughter of the historical Bassett and Adams families of Massachusetts celebrated her centennial.
No better picture of Jacksonville in pioneer days can be given than to quote from the Baldwinsville Era of May 14, 1887 which contained a complete account of the occasion, as well as the life sketch of Mrs. Coffin:
"Centennial Birthday"
Mrs. Sarah Adams Coffin celebrates her one hundredth birthday at the residence of her son, A. M. Coffin, near Little Utica." "It has long been the custom of the people of this country, as well as of the old, to celebrate centennial anniversaries. Eleven years ago the tenth day of this month occurred, in the city of Philadelphia, the official opening of the centennial exhibition of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which took place July 4,1776. History tells us how the people on that day gathered in the streets of Philadelphia, anxious to learn the decision. In the steeple of the old State House, was a bell on which, by a happy coincidence, was inscribed, 'Proclaim Liberty Throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof.' Impatiently they waited for the bell ringer's boy to announce the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and to give his father the signal to ring the bell. Suddenly the bell ringer heard this boy clap his hands and shout, "Ring, Ring". The father grasped the iron tongue and swung it to and fro, proclaiming the glad news of liberty to all the land. The large crowd caught up the sound and every steeple reechoed it. During the entire night the people expressed their joy by shouting, illuminating the streets, firing cannons, etc.
It is also the case sometimes, that men and women live longer than their allotted three score years and ten, and reach their one hundredth birthday. Such is the case with the lady, whose name appears at the head of this article and her centennial birthday was appropriately celebrated at the residence of her son, A. M. Coffin, near Little Utica, last Saturday. The family had previously issued invitations to relatives and friends, inviting them to assist in properly observing the day.
At six o'clock in the morning, Mrs. Coffin, who is blind and quite deaf, and very feeble, being unable to help herself, was attacked with a sinking spell, and it was thought she was dying. This circumstance threw a feeling of gloom over the household, but about seven and a half o'clock, she rallied and appeared much better, so much so that she was dressed for the occasion. She was attired in a black satin dress and upon her head wore a white cap. Before the company began to arrive, A.W. Warner, the photographer, took her picture and also that of the five generations present. Their names and ages are as follows: Mrs. Sarah Coffin, 100 years old; Mrs. Bogardus, 77; Mrs. Johnson, 51; Mr. Johnson, 26; Master Andrew Johnson, 5.
At nine o'clock a.m., vehicles began to roll up to the house and before the day had passed, over six hundred people had called to pay their respects to Mother Coffin. On the east side of the house two tents 12 by 15 feet had been pitched, inside of which were two tables set, where lunch was served from ten a.m. to twelve noon, to all callers. After lunch, a picture was taken of all the older gentlemen present, whose names and ages will be found elsewhere, also a picture of the house, together with a portion of the company. About four o'clock, Rev. J. L. King announced that the exercises of the day would begin. The first on the program was singing, after which J. A. Merrifield of offered a fervent prayer. Rev. J. L. King next read a sketch of the life of this venerable old lady.
Part 50: Sketch Of Mother Coffin's Life Presented At Her 100th Birthday (by Reverend J. L. King)
"VENERABLE MOTHER COFFIN, THRICE FAVORED SONS AND DAUGHTERS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
I have the pleasure and honor of being selected to present a brief sketch of Madame Sarah Adams Coffin, whose Centennial Birthday you come to celebrate. We are thankful to Almighty God that she is spared to complete a century, and that six of her sons and daughters, five of her grandchildren, two of her great-grandchildren and two of her great-great-grandchildren now meet.
We only regret that her sight and hearing are impaired so that she cannot engage the more readily and happily in these festivities. Yet it is cause for profound thankfulness to know that she can intelligently exercise her memory and reason, and appreciate the fact that this is her one-hundredth birthday. To test her powers of mind, last Wednesday I said to her, 'I have seen a lady a hundred years old before, but you are better looking than she was!' To that she laughed heartily. Then I told her that on her birthday they would have to give her one hundred strokes. She replied thoughtfully, '0, well, I guess they will not be very cruel to me', indicating that though her sight is gone and her hearing not very acute, her immortal spirit still sees some things yet in their true relations.
Her maiden name was Bassett. She was born at Chilmark, Dukes County, Massachusetts, on Martha's Vineyard, May 7, 1787. Her father's name was Ebenezer Bassett and her mother's name was Abigail Adams, second cousin to John Adams, the second president of the United States. Her great-grandfather, Mayhew Adams, lived to be 115 years of age, had his third set of teeth, and could read without spectacles. Grandmother's ancestors had lived in this country for some time.
The Bassetts came here about thirty years before her birth. Her great-grandfather Bassett was colonel in the English army and that office was then no sinecure position. After faithful service in the French and Indian war in 1756, he received a lot at Martha's Vineyard, as a grant from the English government for honorable duties performed. Therefore he settled there instead of returning to his native country and there her father lived and she was born. Who is there that can trace his ancestors to two branches of the human family more honorable than these?
Sarah Bassett loved to look upon the ocean. She remembers seeing the ships tossed like feathers upon its bosom, and those early scenes have always been remembered with pleasure. She was a bright girl of twelve summers when her parents took her with them and family, in 1799, to Easton, Washington County, New York. The motive inducing her father to seek a home inland was because he had a number of boys. The laws of nations permitted seamen to impress into their service any man in the time of an emergency. If a vessel lacked hands at any given port, the commander could compel the first able bodied men he came across of given age, to go to sea in order to manage the ship. As their sea-view home was so near to the sea, there was no redress to save the boys from being forced to follow the life of a sailor, so he chose the least of two evils and got out of harm's way by coming to the Empire State.
In the year of 1808, Miss Sarah Bassett was married to Reuben Coffin. He belonged to the historic Coffins of Nantucket Island, who were doubtless acquainted with Nantucket skippers and the like. Reuben Coffin and his bride, Sarah Coffin, soon made up their minds to go west and seek a fortune. The western fever raged then as now.
In 1810, about two years after their marriage, they left Easton, Washington County, and came in all about 175 miles with a team and covered wagon, a linen sheet constituted the covering, which was probably woven by the young and enterprising wife. Another team came with them and four families accompanied each other through a country in places wild in the extreme, over impassable and trackless wastes where the hideous howling of the wolves must have been a familiar night experience.
They left Snow's Bridge for Palmertown. This march was made in a day. The only marks they had to tell which way to go were the blazed trees, which told the way some kind traveler had taken before them. The forest stretched in one unbroken mass, from the river to Palmertown. A road had been cut out, so they picked the way for their teams by winding through the thick woods as best they could. For seven miles no houses were to be seen, until that night, worn out with fatigue, they arrived in Palmertown. This was May 3, 1810.
Jonathan Palmer, an old revolutionary soldier, had a lot granted to him in pay for his continental services. He had built a log house on the lot where Mr. Irwin Baker now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Coffin were welcomed to Jonathan's log house. I do not know how large it was, but the hospitality of that early time made almost any house commodious. They shared apartments with their host four days. In the meantime, Reuben Coffin rolled one log above another, notched to fit, until a house stood ready for occupancy. The fifth day they occupied their own dwelling. It stood over the creek about twenty rods north from where we now are. The lot embraced six hundred acres. We are now upon a part of the six hundred acres.
Mother Coffin came from that old log house to live here, so we find that during seventy-seven years she has been no rolling stone, having lived in but two houses during her married life. Some of the original owners sold parts of the six hundred acres until about two hundred acres are left. March 1, 1886, Robert died so that Alexander is the only son left to possess the land. It has fallen to his lot to have his mother with him, and we know the duty is a privilege and a delight to him. Sir Walter Scott said, "How pleasant it is for a father to sit at his child's board. It is like an aged man reclining under the shadow of the oak which he has planted." And I may add to that of Sir Walter Scott, by saying it is equally so, when the mother dwells with her son. And such a mother as we have here, lives seldom in this world. The love she bears today to her children, doubtless equals her tenacious hold on life. How fortunate for Mother Coffin, to have a son with his wife, and her daughter, Mrs. Harrington, situated so as to care for her. How blessed for Alexander and all the other sons and daughters to have such a mother.
What a springtime that must have been when they planted their first seed corn among the felled trees. They cleared off the logs to make room to sow winter wheat. No saw mill was found, so they built the first one in town. The nearest grist mill was at Camillus. That was so far that some way had to be improvised to prepare the corn for bread. Jonathan Palmer was equal to the emergency. He scooped out a large beech stump, smoothed it by burning the inside of the hollow, and thus made a mortar mill for pounding corn to meal. The other part was a pole that could bend, one end was put in the ground, the upper end was placed across the limb of a tree. The limb acted as a fulcrum. A large iron called a pestle was attached to the upper end of the pole, and then worked into the beech mortar by the powerful hand of early settlers, until corn was converted to meal and wheat to flour. Of course the heavy pestle was carried up by the bent pole only to come down again and again, until it had scientifically ground the grist. One man preferred another method.
He put his bag of corn or wheat inside of a deer skin and with the hairy side upon the ground, he drew deer skin with corn or wheat clear to Skanateles Lake to mill, and back he came with it ground, making a round trip of 48 miles."
Part 51: Episodes in Mother Coffin's Life Related On Her Birthday
IN 1816 the settlers experienced the rigors of a severe winter. It was an extremely cold season. The frost had spoiled their wheat. One day some visitors came. What should they do for bread? Just then the good hostess remembered that several barrels of bran had been standing in the chamber a year. Immediately the bran was sifted, short-cake made, served, and the company retired well-filled and merry in heart, not knowing the ruse that was played upon them for a good while. The hostess and family with becoming fortitude continued to live upon the products of corn meal during that year. There were two ways to secure something beside bread without eating the herd and the flock.
One was to go fishing. As there was no dam across the 0swego river, the salmon trout swam and leaped in the water of Three Mile Creek east of Little Utica. Hither went the Coffins with pitch forks, and speared trout frequently weighing 3 pounds. When they wanted change of fare, all they had to do was to visit the denizens of the forest, knock over a bear and slice him up. Bear stories were strictly truthful then, one of which Grand-Mother Coffin relates.
Reuben, her husband, with his brothers, John and Peter, assisted by Mr. Dutcher, killed a bear with their axes west of George Allen's store (Jacksonville). The bear, when dressed, weighed 400 pounds. Sometimes the bears and the wolves tried to get even with the settlers. Grandmother's sheep once got out of the fold and the wolves held high carnival as they salted down eight of them.
Two or three years after they reached Palmertown, a Mr. Neal had a cow browsing in the woods. One evening the cow did not return as usual. They searched for her; her bones were found, but the cow had slipped out of them, gone down the rapacious thouts of the wolves.
But while the men were industrious and frugal, and the bears and wolves too neighborly, the face of perseverance of Mother Coffin knew no bounds. The first year business was carried on principally by trading one article for another. Little money was in circulation. The time to pay taxes on the 600 acres rolled around. How could they meet the $4 due? She resolved to meet the demand. She had woven a piece of flannel. No doubt extra pains were taken to weave it as nicely as possible, for it was a new dress pattern to be worn by herself. However, she willingly gave up the labor of her hands, and a new dress pattern for four dollars, and with it the taxes were paid.
Parents: Jacob COFFIN and Elizabeth NORTON.
Spouse: Sarah Adams BASSETT. Reuben COFFIN and Sarah Adams BASSETT were married in 1808. Children were: Mary W. COFFIN, Harriet B. COFFIN, Elizabeth COFFIN, Hepzibah COFFIN, Sarah "Sally" Ann COFFIN, Ebenezer B. COFFIN, Jacob COFFIN, Susan COFFIN, Robert COFFIN, Alexander M. COFFIN.
Reuben Moore COFFIN. Parents: Ebenezer B. COFFIN.
Children were: Edna Browning COFFIN.
Richard COFFIN. Parents: William COFFIN and Margaret Cockworthy GIFFARD.
Spouse: Alice GAMBON. Richard COFFIN and Alice GAMBON were married in Mersten, Schropshire. Children were: John COFFIN.
Richard COFFIN1 was born in 1280 in Alwington, Devonshire, England. The name Coffin, originates from an old Hebrew word meaning "one who sells baskets". Another definition is derived from the Norman word "Coffeyn", which meant guardian of the boundary. Members of the Coffin family were placed in the four corners of the west country to keep the territory in control of William the Conqueror.
Early place names bear this out. In the east there was a valley named Combe-Coffin, in the south there was Coffin-Will and in the east Coffin-Ingarly.
Some of the Coffins came to England before the Norman Conquest, and settled in Somerset and Devon. At the time of the Great Survey of all the lands, ordered by William the Conqueror, the Coffins are mentioned in the Doomsday Book, as being in possession of several hides of land, a hide being as much area that a family could utilize in order to substain it's members. The British seat of the Coffins, Portledge Manor, near Bidefore, Devon, was granted to Sir Richard Coffyn, Knight, for services rendered to William the Conqueror. The earliest record of Coffin ownership for Portledge is 1251. Portledge was held by the Coffins for seven centuries, with the eldest son inheriting the estate.
Reference: http://www.isn.net/~dhunter/rcoffin/rcoffini.html
Children were: John COFFIN.
Richard COFFIN1 was born in 1475 in Portledge, Devonshire, England. He died on Dec 24, 1555 in Alwington, Devonshire, England. Parents: John COFFIN and Philippa Elizabeth HINGSTON.
Spouse: Wilmot CHUDLEIGH. Richard COFFIN and Wilmot CHUDLEIGH were married in 1510 in Merifield, Cornwall. Children were: James Sir COFFIN.
Robert COFFIN was born on Nov 1, 1824.81 Parents: Reuben COFFIN and Sarah Adams BASSETT.
Ruth COFFIN. Parents: James COFFIN and Mary SEVERANCE.
Samuel COFFIN. Parents: John COFFIN and Deborah AUSTIN.
Sarah COFFIN. Parents: Jacob COFFIN and Elizabeth NORTON.
Sarah "Sally" Ann COFFIN was born on Jul 26, 1816. Married Albert Harrington Parents: Reuben COFFIN and Sarah Adams BASSETT.
Seth COFFIN. Parents: Benjamin COFFIN and Jedidah HUSSEY.
Stephen COFFIN.
Spouse: Mary BUNKER. Children were: Dinah (or Dionis) COFFIN, Susanna COFFIN.
Stephen COFFIN. Parents: Tristram COFFIN and Dionis STEVENS.
Susan COFFIN was born on Mar 14, 1823.81 Parents: Reuben COFFIN and Sarah Adams BASSETT.
Susanna COFFIN. Parents: Stephen COFFIN and Mary BUNKER.
Tristram COFFIN. Parents: John COFFIN and Deborah AUSTIN.
Spouse: Mary BUNKER.
Tristram COFFIN. Parents: Tristram COFFIN and Dionis STEVENS.
Tristram COFFIN1 was born in 1609 in Brixton, Devonshire, England. He died on Oct 2, 1681 in Nantucket Island, MA. TRISTRAM COFFIN1, HON., son of Peter and Joane, was baptized March 11, 1610, at Brixton parish near Plymouth in Devonshire, England. He was of the landed gentry and Owned estates in Dorset and Devon. His father's will stated that he was to be provided for
"according to his degree and calling", this seeming to indicate that he was well educated and had a profession. Circa 1630 he married Dionis Stevens, the daughter of Robert Stevens, Esquire, of Brixton, and in 1640, he was a church warden at Brixton, in 1641 a constable.
In 1642, at the age of 32, he left Devon and came to Massachusetts with his wife and five small children, his mother then 58, and two sisters, settling first at Salisbury, and a few months later at Haverhill where two more children were born in the ensuing years. In 1642, Brixton was raising earthworks in prospect of war between the Royalists and parliamentarians, and was the site of numerous skirmishes in connection with the siege of Plymouth. Tristram's brother John died during that siege. It is thought that Mr. Coffin may have come to America with his friend Robert Clements in the latter's ship.
At Pentucket (later renamed Have hill), Tristram was one of five men to sign the deed of purchase November 15, 1642, the first two names being Rev. John Ward and Robert Clements. According to tradition he was the first to plough land there, having made his own plough. There, too, he became a freeman in November 1645. In 1644 and again in 1647, he held the license "to keep an ordinary and also a ferry" for the transportation of passengers from Newbury to Salisbury across the Merrimac River. In 1653 Tristram still kept the ordinary, and his wife was "presented for selling beer for 3 pence a quart". Samuel Moore attested that six bushels of malt were put into the hogshead and the case was dismissed. In 1652 and 1659, he was taxed in Salisbury where he served on the trial jury in 1650, 1654 and 1659, and was the county commissioner in 1655.
He formed a company in 1659 for the purchase of land in Nantucket, and Coffin, Macy and Associates paid œ30 and two beaver hats for the island property July 2, 1659. The following year, Tristram moved to Nantucket with his wife, mother and four of his children, receiving first choice of the lots, July 15, 1661. He built and maintained a cornmill, employing many Indians by whom he was regarded as a just and kindly friend. Tristram and his son Peter were the wealthiest of the island settlers, and in 1671
Tristram became Governor of Nantucket, serving again in that office from 1674 until 1680, the year before he died. He was described as "exhibiting Christian character". His mother died there in May 1661 at 77, Tristram died October 2, 1681, leaving a substantial estate, and his widow died after 1682. By 1728 their living descendants numbered 1,218.
FROM: A Genealogical History of the Clark and Worth Familes
Author: Carol Clark Johnson
Call Number: CS71.C6
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Tristram was a farmer and therefore most likely took control of his fathers estate near Plymouth. In 1640 Coffyn was selected as a Warden of Brixton Parish. Shortly after in November 1640, he leased his farm that was located at Butlass. With the civil war closing in on his family and the wounding and eventual death eight days later of his brother John at Plymouth Fort, Tristram decided to take his family, including his mother and two unwed sisters to safety in Colonial America. Tristram's friend Robert Clement was leaving for America shortly, aboard a small fleet of ships, some of which were owned by Clement. Tristram quickly put his affairs in order and embarked on his journey with his family aboard Clement's ship named "Hector Clement" in the spring of 1642.
The crossing of the Atlantic took between 60 and 90 days before they arrived in Newburyport Massachusetts, during the summer of 1642.... Tristram secured living quarters for his family and started exploring up the Merrimack River with Robert Clement in search of a good location for a more permanent home. He arrived in a soon to be called settlement named Pentucket, now known as Haverhill Massachusetts. The book "The History of Haverhill" by George Chase states that Clements son, Job Clements, had already settled in the area a year earlier, if so, this could be the reason that Coffyn and Clements chose this area... In 1641 there were only six homes built in Pentucket. Tristram's group of settlers negotiated with the Indians for the property rights and secured a twenty square mile area for the sum of three pounds ten shillings. A copy of this deed is still on record and bares witness to the signatures of Robert Clement and Tristram Coffyn, dated November 15, 1642. Not only is this the first record of the first Coffin immigrant in America, but it also indicates how Tristram spelled his surname, Coffyn, with a "y" instead of an "i". It was also during this period that John, their youngest child fell ill and died. Dionis was also pregnant with their sixth child who was later named Deborah...... It was noted that Coffyn was the first white settler to plough land in the area, having made his own plough from materials at hand. .... The History of Newbury states that in 1644 Tristram Coffin Sr. is allowed to keep an Ordinary (Tavern) which consisted of selling wine and keeping a ferry and Inn on the Newbury side of the Merrimack River. .....
According to the book"Ould Newbury" by John Currier, the Coffyns owned forty acres across from Carr Island. In later years the road to the Inn was known as Coffin Lane and was on the west side of present day Jefferson St. down by the shore of the Merrimack River.
Toward the mid 1650's the ferry crossings were replaced by a floating bridge leaving Tristram little choice but to sell his holdings. He moved across the river to Salisbury where records show his name on some documents as Commissioner of Salisbury.
By the summer of 1661, records show that meetings were now being held on Nantucket indicating that many of the settlers had made the move to the Island. The first concerns of many were where their house lots would be located. At a town meeting held July 15, 1661 it was agreed upon that each owner would have the freedom to choose his lot within limits not previously occupied. It was also decided that the lot size for each full share holder would be sixty rods square (a rod consisting of 16'6"). It was also agreed that Tristram Coffyn would select first, in which he selected a lot on the north western coastline of the Island at a place known as Cappammet Harbour (today known as Capaum Pond).
The original Nantucket record states "Tristram Coffyn, Sr., had his house lot laid out at Cappammet, by the aforesaid lot layers, at Cappamet Harbour head, sixty rods square, or thereabouts, the east side line part of it bounded by the highway; the south side by a rock southward of the pond; the north by the harbour head; the west side bounded by the lot of Tristram Coffin Jr."
From the beginning Tristram Coffyn and Thomas Macy were the spokesmen for the settlement. In 1671 they were selected by the group to go to New York and meet with Governor Lovelace and secure their claim to the Island. Upon their return the Islanders nominated Coffyn to be Chief Magistrate of Nantucket. The town also selected all other officers except the Chief Military Officer who was to be selected by Governor Lovelace from nominees chosen by the settlement. After a few more years of harmony, or about the early 1670's the first signs of trouble on the Island began to appear. The problems came through the evolution of the two classes of settlers. On one hand they had the full share owners and their partners, who by Nantucket law had two votes each. On the other hand the half share owners only had one vote resulting in less of a say on Island affairs. They viewed themselves just as important as the full share settlers. The only thing missing for a revolt by the half share members was a leader. That changed in 1673 when it was decided that the community needed to expand their fishing interests by enlisting the services of a skilled tradesman by the name of John Gardner of Salem, Massachusetts. Gardner was the brother of full share owner Joseph Gardner. Right from the start John Gardner challenged the original owners on most issues and from this began the feud between the Gardner's group and the Coffin group.....
In 1676 Thomas Mayhew became Chief Magistrate on Nantucket with Peter Coffin, a new resident on the Island becoming Assistant Magistrate. Peter and James Coffin had returned to the Island as a result of the conflict on the mainland between the Indians and the white settlers known as King Philip's War. This appointment of Macy and the election of Peter Coffin infuriated the Gardner group. Not only was Peter a "Coffin" he also held government positions back in Dover and was not considered a full time resident of Nantucket. A few years later the tension eased with the elections of James Coffin, John Gardner and Nathaniel Starbuck who would all be elected as Assistant Magistrates. The feud continued toward the late 1670's in a period that would result in Tristram Coffyn being selected as Chief Magistrate by Governor Andros in the hopes of trying to pull the community back together. Coffyn was regarded by most of the settlers as the one person who could rectify Nantucket's struggle with growth. Unfortunately, for everyone, a shipwreck on the Nantucket shoals diverted any plans that Tristram had for the Islanders. In September 1678 a French ship ran aground during a storm, forcing the crew to abandon ship. Shortly thereafter the cargo was salvaged by certain parties and sold for profit. This action put Tristram, who was chief magistrate, in violation with maritime law which stated that the cargo should have been secured until claimed by the owner. In failing to do so, Tristram subjected himself to be responsible for the lost cargo. The courts came down hard on him with a stiff penalty which would ruin him financially. The action cast a dark cloud over Coffyn, who was now in his early 70's. His family rallied to his side but the strain of the penalty along with the feuding years had worn him down. Later his son James made financial arrangements to pay the fine. In the end, surprisingly, it was John Gardner, who had become the new Chief Magistrate of Nantucket, who stood up to the courts with a touching appeal on Coffyn's behalf. He convinced the courts to reduce the penalty substantially.
When all was said and done what remained was Coffyn's ill health. The year was 1681, and autumn was closing in. Coffyn had made the arrangements that were to follow his death back in 1678. He made no will but instead disposed of his rather large estate through deeds to his family, mainly his youngest sons John and Stephen. To his numerous grandchildren, 60 in all, he granted 10 acres of land to each one upon the Coffyn's Island of Tuckernuck, off the west coast of Nantucket. In 1681 Tristram owned two houses on his property, the first dwelling house he deeded to Stephen and the new house upon the hill was to go to John. His son Stephen was asked to care for their mother, Dionis up until her death.
On October 3, 1681 Tristram Coffyn died, he was 72 years old at the time of his death. His funeral brought out all the Islanders including the Gardners to mourn his passing. It has been recorded that his old friend Edward Starbuck read from the bible and then Tristram's body was taken to a favourite location on his property and buried. Through the years the exact site of his grave has wandered from memory, however, the man himself lives on in each one of his descendants. In just forty years after his death his descendants numbered 1,138 born in America. In 1728 the number had increased to 1, 582. All of them descendants from one couple, Tristram and Dionis Coffyn. Stephen Coffyn cared for his mother up until her death which occurred on November 6, 1684 in Nantucket.
Reference: http://www.isn.net/~dhunter/rcoffin/
Parents: Peter COFFIN and Joanna THEMBER (OR KEMBER).
Spouse: Dionis STEVENS. Tristram COFFIN and Dionis STEVENS were married in 1630. Children were: James COFFIN, Mary COFFIN, John COFFIN, Peter COFFIN, Tristram COFFIN, Elizabeth COFFIN, Deborah COFFIN, Stephen COFFIN.
William COFFIN1 was born in 1420 in Alwington, Devonshire, England. He died on Sep 11, 1486. Parents: John COFFIN and Thomasin HARTHEY.
Spouse: Margaret Cockworthy GIFFARD. William COFFIN and Margaret Cockworthy GIFFARD were married in 1453 in Alwington, Devonshire, England. Children were: Richard COFFIN.
William COFFIN1 was born on Nov 13, 1730 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. He died on Aug 20, 1816. Removed from island 21 Jul 1775 Parents: Benjamin COFFIN and Jedidah HUSSEY.
Spouse: Hepsabeth BARNEY. William COFFIN and Hepsabeth BARNEY were married on Feb 7, 1754. Children were: Jacob COFFIN, Hephzibah COFFIN.
Nicholas COFFYN1 was born in 1555 in Devonshire, England. He died in 1613 in Brixton, Devonshire, England. He was buried on Oct 8, 1613 in Brixton, Devonshire, England. He was christened in `. Coffyn is a Norman name, seated at Falais at the time of the Conquest of 1066 and later in England at Portledge in the parish of Ilwington, near Bideford, Devonshire
(granted by William the Conqueror to Sir Richard Coffyn, Knight, for assisting him).
NICHOLAS COFFYN of Buttlers Parish, Brixton, Devonshire,
born ca 1555. He married Johan (possibly
the widow Avent) ca 1579. He died at Brixton October
8, 1613, and his widow was buried there
February 5, 1615. Nicholas had brothers Philip,
Lionel, Thomas and Tristram as well as a sister
Elinor.
Children born in Brixton:
i. PETER, born ca 1580. See below.
ii. Johan, b. ca 1582; bur. Dec. 27, 1610,
in Brixton.
iii. John, b. ca 1585; d.s.p. 1628.
iv. Nicholas, b. ca 1587; living in 1628;
had a son Nicholas.
v. Ann, b. ca 1590; m. Feb. 1, 1614, in
Brixton, Thomas "Winston" Jr.
FROM: A Genealogical History of the Clark and Worth Familes
Author: Carol Clark Johnson
Call Number: CS71.C6
Parents: Peter COFFIN and Mary BOSCOWEN.
Spouse: Joan. Nicholas COFFYN and Joan were married about 1579 in Brixton, Devonshire, England. Children were: Peter COFFIN.
Ann COGGESHALL2,31 was born about 1622. She died on Mar 6, 1685/86 in Newport, RI. She was buried in Coddington Burial Ground, Newport, RI. Parents: John COGGESHALL and Mary.
Spouse: Peter EASTON. Peter EASTON and Ann COGGESHALL were married on Nov 15, 1643 in Newport, RI. Children were: Patience EASTON.
John COGGESHALL.
Spouse: Mary. John COGGESHALL and Mary were married. Children were: Ann COGGESHALL.
Hannah COGGSWELL2,13 was born in 1624 in Leigh, Westbury, Wilt, England. She died on Dec 25, 1704 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts. She was christened in Allsaints Parish, Westbury Leigh, Wiltshire, England. She was buried in Phipps St Bur Gr, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts. She has Ancestral File Number 2T5V-4K.
Spouse: Cornelius WALDO. Cornelius WALDO and Hannah COGGSWELL were married on Mar 1, 1645 in Of Ipswich, Essex, Mass. Children were: Son, Judith WALDO, Mary WALDO, John WALDO, Elizabeth WALDO, Cornelius WALDO, Daniel WALDO, Martha WALDO, (Twin) WALDO, Rebecca WALDO, Judith WALDO, Mary WALDO, Jonathan WALDO, Child WALDO, Deborah WALDO.
Aimee COLE.
Spouse: Aaron Michael SHAW.
Arthur COLE was born in Mar 1868. Parents: John COLE and Harriet SNYDER.
Spouse: Jennie. Arthur COLE and Jennie were married in 1900. Children were: Floyd COLE.
Catherine COLE. Parents: Donald E. COLE and Catherine NYE.
Donald COLE. Parents: Donald E. COLE and Catherine NYE.
