USA > Massachusetts > Nantucket County > Nantucket > Early settlers of Nantucket, their associates and descendants > Part 3
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Authority for his commission as lieutenant of militia will be found in Part First of Vol. XXXIV., and on page 21 of the New York Colonial Manuscripts in the custody of the Regents of the University in the State Library at Albany, and recorded by the Secretary of the Province of New York among memoranda of sev- eral military commissions, directed by Governor Thomas Dongan to be issued, and reads thus:
" Mr. John Coffin a Commission to be Lieu. of said Company at Nantucket June 5th 1684 all the first forme."
STEPHEN COFFIN was born at Newbury, May 10, 1652. He married Mary, daughter of George and Jane
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Early Settlers of Nantucket.
(Godfrey) Bunker, about 1668, and died at Nantucket November 14, 1734.
He remained upon his father's estate, and to him was given the management of his father's business, on agreement "to be helpful to his parents in their old age."
It is not surprising that the descendants of Tristram Coffin still bearing the name are so numerous when we find that of his nine children five out of the seven who married were sons; that Peter had nine children, that Tristram, Jr., had ten children and left one hun- dred and seventy-seven descendants, that James had fourteen children, that Lieutenant John had eleven children, and that Stephen had ten.
The two daughters, Mary Starbuck and Elizabeth Greenleaf, each had ten children, adding in two cen- turies many more descendants to the list, although not of the name.
The Nantucket Inquirer of July 22, 1826, says, " The House * in which Tristram Coffin resided is still standing, and has been the residence of seven genera- tions of the same name.
" The names of more than twelve thousand descend- ants of Tristram Coffin can be ascertained, some of whom are found in England, in all the British Domin- ions and in every state in the Union."
* At Newbury.
NOTE .- Savage says, "Twenty-six of Tristram's descendants graduated in 1828 at New England colleges, fifteen at Harvard alone."
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Tristram Coffin.
The above was written by Joshua Coffin,* Newbury- port, and is signed " Jam satis."
The following copies of the wills of the father, grandfather and great-unele of the emigrant Tristram Coffin were extracted from the original records in Eng- land for Mr. C. Howard Colket, of Philadelphia, and by his courtesy placed at the disposal of the writer, and we believe are now for the first time published in full in America:
Extracted from the District Registry Attached to the Probate Division of the High Court of Justice at Exeter.
IN THE ARCHDEACONRY COURT OF TOTNES.
In the name of God Amen the twelveth day of Sep- tember in the eleaventh yeere of the Raigne of our Sov- raigne Lord James by the grace of God of England Frannce and Ireland and in the forty and seaventh yeere of Scotland Kinge Defend of the Fayth &c Anno Dni 1613 I Nicholas Coffyn of Buttlers wth in the pysh of Brixton in the Countye of Devon Husbandman beinge weake of bodye but pfect in minde thankes bee therefore given to Allmightie God do make this my last
* Joshua Coffin, antiquarian and historian, descended from Joshua Coffin5, son of Joseph4, Nathaniel3, Tristram, Jr.2, Tris- tram Coffin1.
Joshua5 was born in Newbury December 30, 1702, married July 15, 1725, Margaret Morse, dau. Benjamin Morse, also of Newbury. Joshuas died Sept. 12, 1773. The children of Joshua5 and Mar- garet (Morse) were Sarah, Enoch, Mary and Joshuas, born Jan. 9, 1731, married January 21, 1775, Sarah Bartlett; died March 30, 1774 .- N. E. Hist. and Gen. Reg., Vol. xxiv., p. 313. (Edition 1890.)
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Early Settlers of Nantucket.
Will and Testamt contayning my wliole minde and in- tent in mann" and forme following First I do wth a free heart and willing minde render and give againe into the hands of my Lord God and Maker my Soule wch he of his Fatherly Goodness gave unto me nothing doubting but that he will receive it amonge his heavenly Angels And my body I bequeath to Christian buriall when & where it shall please God to appoint Itm I give and bequeath to Ann Meader the Daught" of Eliner Meader five shillings Itm I give and bequeath to Peter Cof- fyn my eldest Sonne my greatest brasse pann and my minde is that my Wief shall have the use thereof dur- ing her lief. Itm I give & bequeath to Tristram Coffyn my Sonnes Sonne one yearling bollock Itm I give & bequeath to Johun Coffyn my Sonnes Daught" one sheepe Itm I give and bequeath to every of my God-children twelve pence apeece Itm I give & bequeath to Johan Coffyn my Wief one bay nag wch we use to call Rowse Itm I give bequeath will and devise unto Nicholas Coffyn my Sonne All such right terme of yeeres intrest and de- mand as I myself my Executors or Assignes now have or here after may or ought to have of & in one tenemt with his app'tennce sett lying and being in Plimton Earle in the Countye of Devon aforesaid wherein one
There must have been a generation between Joshua6 and the historian, as he was born in the old Coffin Mansion in Newbury- port Oct. 12, 1792; he died June 24, 1864.
He was one of the twelve persons who, together with William Lloyd Garrison and others, formed the first anti-slavery society in New England. He was for many years a teacher, and num- bered among his pupils men who attained high position in after years.
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Tristram Coffin.
Thomas Spurwill there now dwelleth togith three closes or pcells of land thereunto belonging whereof the first is called or knowen by the name of Fortie Acres the second Wallford als Woodpke and the third the Meadow belowe the waie all wch recited p'misses I have and hold of and by the demise & grante of Will™ Moul- ton of Plimton Earle aforesaide Gent. To have & to hold All & singuler the said tenemt & three closes of land with th appurtennce unto the said Nicholas Coffyn his Execute administrators and assignes and to every of them imediatly from and after my death for and during all such time & tearme of yeeres as shall be then to com and unexpired of and in the same Tenemt & closes of land by and under the yeerly rents suits & services and all other covenants and condicons which I myself myne Execut's administrators and assignes or any of us stand chargeable for to yeeld pay and prforme for the same during the tearme therein that shall be to come after my death And in consideracon hereof my Will and intent is that my said Son Nicholas Coffyn shall within one whole yeere after my decease well & truely content and paie unto my Daugh' Ann Coffyn thirteene pounds sixe shillings and eight pence of lawfull money of England wch said some of XIII& VI8 VIIId I do hereby give and bequeath unto my said Daugh' Ann Coffyn And likewise the said Nicholas my Sonne shall after my decease paie unto my Sonne John Coffyn eight shillings yeerely during there naturall lives or as longe as they two shall live togither. The residue of all my goods and chattles moveable and unmoveable as well quiekstuffe & corne as implemts of household & all other goods of what quality soever the same bee not be-
36
Early Settlers of Nantucket.
fore by these presents given nor bequeathed I give & bequeathe to the foresaid Nicholas Coffyn & John Cof- fyn my Sonnes whome I make & ordaine to be my ioynt Executors of this my last Will & Testamt Provided allwaies that my Wief shall have the bed steed bedd & bedd clothes thereunto belonging wherein I do usually lie one brasse pann & one brasse crock to use the same duringe her lief and after her decease the same shall remaine to my said Executors And I do heereby ap- pointe & entreat my well beloved Friends Bartholo- mew Clevanger & Nicholas Edwards to bee the over- seeres of this my said last Will & Testamt praying them to bee an aide to myne Executors herein & to see the same faythfully and truely prformed And I do revo ke & annull all & every other & former Wills and Testamts legacies & bequeaths by me formerly made pronoun- cing this to be my p'sent last Will & Testamt In wittnes whereof I the said Nicholas Coffyn have hereunto sett my hand & seale yeven the daie and yeere first above written in the presence of those whose names are here- under written. - Sealed & signed in the presence of us viz. ~
-Teste me - ROBTO BICHFORD.
- The signe of NICHOLAS EDWARDS. -
This Will was proved on the third day of November 1613 by the Executors.
In the name of God Amen the VIth day of Novem- ber in the year of our Lord God 1601. I Tristram Coffing of Butlers in the Pish of Brixton being sick of body but pfect of remembrance thankes be geven unto Almighty God do make this my last Will and Testa-
37
Tristram Coffin.
ment in manner and form following that is to saye First I geve and bequeath my Soule unto Almighty God my Maker and Jesus Christ my Redeemer through whose death & passion I hope to be saved First I geve & bequeath unto the poore men box of Brixon V& Item I geve & bequeath to Johan Coffing the Daughter of Nicolas Coffing II brass pannes the greatest & the lest and on coverlett of draught work Item I geve and be- queath unto Tristram Coffing the Sonne of Philip Coffing forty shillings Item I geve and bequeth unto Philip Coffing XX8 Item I give unto Richard and Johan Cof- fing the children of Lionell Coffing VIS VIIId Item I geve to the children of Thomas Coffing each of them III IIIId Item I geve more to Johan Coffing the Daughter of Nicolas Coffing V& Item I geve to An Coffing the Daughter of Nicolas Coffing the right and titell of such ground as I have from Robert Chember or eles the som of X& more I geve to the sayd An II brass pannes and on coverlett Item I geve to foure children of Nicolas Meader each of them III IIIId Item I geve to John Coffing the Sone of Nicolas Cof- fing one bullock of the age of on year the resydue of my goodes & cattells movable or immoveable I geve and bequeath to Nicolas Coffing the Sone of Nicolas Coffing whome I make to be my whole Executor to pay my debts and to discharg my Legacies as far as bill bond or speciallitie is to shewe moreover I doe appoint Nico- las Coffing and James Coule to be my overseers to see Will and Testament to be pformed. -
This Will was proved on the 16th day of October 1602 by Nicholas Coffine the Father of Nicholas Cof- fine a minor the Executor, during his minority. -
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Early Settlers of Nantucket.
In the name of God, Amen, ye 21th day of December in ye third yeare of the raigne of our Sovraigne Lord Charles of Greate Britaine France and Ireland Kinge Defender of ye Faith &c. I Peter Coffyn of the Parish of Brixton in ye County of Devon being sicke of body but in perfect minde and memory (thankes be to God) doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme followinge Impr$ I give and be- queath my Soule to Allmighty God my Maker and Re- deemer and my body to the Earth to be decently buried. Item I give and bequeath to ye poore people of the Par- ish of Brixton XXs in money to be delivred unto them according to the discretion of my Executrix hereafter mentioned. Item I give and bequeath unto Tristriam Coffyn my Sonne one feather bedd pformed my best brasen panne and my best brasen crocke Item I give and bequeath unto Johan Coffyn my Wife ye issues pfitts and comodities of all my lands tenements & hered- itaments wth in ye sayd Parish of Brixton dureing her widdowhood she yeelding & payinge therefor yearly unto the sayd Tristriam my Sonne his heirs and assignes the summe of Fifty shillings of lawfull English money at ye four most usual feasts of the year and also suffi- cient meat drinke & clothes and convenient lodgings unto ye sayd Tristriam according to his degree and call- inge dureing her Widdowhood onely And if it happen ye sayd yearly rent of Fifty shillings or any part there- of to be behinde and unpayd that then and from thence- forth itt may and shall be lawfull to and for the sayd Tristriam Coffyn his heirs and assignes into all and sin- gular the said p'misses to enter and distraine and the distress so there taken from thence to lead drive carry
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Tristram Coffin.
away & empound and impound to detaine and keepe untill ye sayd rent of Fifty shillings with the arrearages of the same (if any bee) shall bee to him or them fully answered and payd. And further it is my Will that if the sayd Johan my Wife shall happen to marry that she shall immediately thereupon loose all ye pfitts comodi- ties and right of that one tenement called Silferhey lying in Butlers in ye parish of Brixton aforesayd which dureing her Widdowhood by my Will she is to have and ve same to redound & be immediately in the possession of my Sonne Tristriam his heirs and assignes Item I doe give and bequeath unto my Sonne Tristriam All my lands rents reversions services & hereditamts with the appurtenances whatsoever sett lying & being wth in the sayd Parish of Brixton or elsewhere wth in ye sayd County of Devon To have and to hold ye same and every part and parcel thereof to ye sayd Tristriam Cof- fyn his heirs and assignes for ever to ye only use pfitt & behoof of the said Tristriam Coffyn his heirs and as- signes to be holden of the cheife Lord and Lords of the Fee thereof by the rents and services therefor yearly due and payable and my Will farther is that if the said Tristriam my Sonne shall chance to dy without an heir male lawfully begotten or to be begotten of his body that then all the prmisses last mentioned & given to him shall redound unto John Coffyn my Sonne his heirs and assigns accordingly and in ye same manner that it should to ye said Tristriam my Sonne Item I doe give and bequeath unto Johan Coffyn Deborah Coffyn Eu- nice Coffyn and Mary Coffyn my four Daughters to each of them severally Thirty pounds in money that is to say amongst them CXX£ to bee payd when they
40
Early Settlers of Nantucket.
or each of them severally shall be of the full age of twentie years Itm I give and bequeath unto John Cof- fyn my Sonne Fourty pounds in money to be payd him when hee shall be of the age of twenty years Item I give and bequeath unto the child of my Wife now goeth withal the sume of Thirty pounds in money to be payd when he or she shall be of the age of twentie years. Provided always & my minde & will is that if either Johan Coffyn Deborah Coffyn Eunice Coffyn Mary Cof- fyn John Coffyn or ye child my Wife goeth withal happen to dy before he she or they doe come to ye age of twenty years that then his her or their portion or portions shall be equally divided amongst the survivors Item All ye rest of my goods chattels and cattells nor before given nor bequeathed I doe give and bequeath unto Johan Coffyn my Wife whome I make constitute and ordaine my full and whole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament And for ye better pformance here- of I doc intreat my well beloved in Christ my brother in law Phillip Avent and my Brother Nichas Coffyn to be ye Overseers to see this my last Will & Testament pformed.
ARTHURE DURANT - PHILLIP AVENT. - - Proved on the thirteenth day of March 1627 by the Executrix.
CHAPTER V.
ADMIRAL SIR ISAAC COFFIN, BARONET.
THE following facts have been abridged from an ac- count published in the Boston Herald within a few years.
On the easterly side of Harrison Avenue just above Kneeland Street, Boston, a trifle back from the avenue, stands a gambrel-roof wooden structure. This build- ing was moved from its original site, corner of Beach Street and Oxford Place, to its present location nearly half a century ago. It was the residence of Nathaniel Coffin, one of the foremost adherents of King George, who at one time held the responsible position of col- lector of his Majesty's customs for the port of Boston. The house must have been built as early as 1750, and it was, on May 16, 1759, the birthplace of Isaac Coffin, who afterwards rose to be an admiral in the British navy. In the same house was born his brother John, who became major-general in the British army.
Sir Isaac retained an affection for the place of his birth, and coming from Nantucket stock he invested in 1827 the sum of £2500 in English funds for the es- tablishment of a school on that island to be known as the " Coffin School."
Drake, in his " Old Landmarks of Boston," says that of this fund " the Mayor and Aldermen of Boston were made trustees for the distribution of the annual inter-
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Early Settlers of Nantucket.
est among five of the most deserving boys and as many girls of that school."
King George III., with whom Sir Isaac was a great favorite, gave him a grant of the Island of Magdalen in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and in after years it was proposed to create him Earl of Magdalen; this propo- sition fell through, and the alleged reason was, that in establishing the Coffin School in Nantucket he was creating sailors who in mature age might fight against the crown.
At the present time the old house in Boston is used for manufacturing purposes.
Sir Isaac Coffin was the fifth generation in descent from Tristram, Sr., his father being Nathaniel, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Barnes, of Boston. Nathaniel * was the son of William, who was the son of Nathaniel, who was the son of James, who was the son of Tristram Coffin, Sr.
The following extracts from an English biographical work on the life of Admiral Coffin are abridged from manuscript of the late Mr. George Howland Folger. This manuscript is now the property of the Historical Society of Nantucket.
Sir Isaac entered the navy in 1773, under the patron- age of Admiral John Montague; he served as midship- man on board several ships, and in 1778 obtained a lieutenancy. In July, 1781, he was promoted to the rank of commander, and was in the " splendid battle " of April 12, 1782, which resulted in the capture of the
* N. E. Hist. and Gen. Reg., Vol. xxiv., p. 306, says Nathaniel Coffin (son of William) graduated from Harvard College in 1744, died in New York in 1780.
13
Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, Baronet.
celebrated Comte de Grasse. In 1795, as commission- er, he resided in Corsica, where he remained until the evacuation of the island in 1796; here he twice narrow- ly escaped assassination. After passing through vari- ous fortunes of war, he was, in 1804, made rear-admi- ral. Soon after this he was raised to the dignity of baronet. In 18OS he was promoted to the position of vice-admiral, and in 1814 became full admiral, and in the general election in 1818 was chosen as representa- tive to Parliament for the borough of Ilchester.
He married, in 1811, at the age of fifty-two, Eliza- beth Brown Greenly, only daughter of T. Greenly, Esq. There were no children.
He crossed the Atlantic not less than thirty-one times, a circumstance more remarkable in the early part of the century than at present.
The following incident in his life, related by a rela- tive, is somewhat amusing when told of one valiant in arms :
" Somewhere about 1824 the Admiral was in Phila- delphia at the residence of his kinswoman, Anna (Fol- ger) Coffin, widow of Thomas Coffin. To the company gathered to meet him he told that, being in command of a ship or fleet in the Pacific, an American whaler was spoken. The Admiral was curious to see the tak- ing of a whale, and accordingly went on board the American vessel. Soon a whale was sighted; a boat was lowered, and the Admiral took his seat with the crew; the harpoon was thrown, and then came the rush of the boat through the water, which was walled on each side.
"' Cut the rope!' cried the Admiral. 'No, no; '
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Early Settlers of Nantucket.
was the reply of the leader of the crew; 'you are not in command of this craft.'
" So Sir Isaac had to summon up what nerve he could and await his fate; he closed his story by saying he would infinitely rather have been at close quarters with a French seventy-four."
In the Nantucket Inquirer of September 2, 1826, may be found the following, copied from a Boston paper:
" According to previous appointment, the annual vis- itation of the public schools was attended on Wednes- day last by the parents and friends of the pupils, and by several strangers of distinction. Admiral Coffin gave as a sentiment, 'The City of Boston.'
" He was replied to by one of the committee:
" ' Our venerable and respected guest, Admiral Cof- fin, a native of our city and an alumnus of our ancient Latin school, who, though separated from us, in times of political dissension was generous and kind to his countrymen, who, amidst the honors and plaudits of a princely court, remembered with affection the land of his birth, and still bears testimony to the excellence of our civil and literary institutions.
" ' May honorable fame ever attend him, and may his declining years repose in health and peace.'"
September 9, 1826 .- " Honorary degree of M.A. was conferred on Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin at the annual commencement of Harvard University."
In the Nantucket Inquirer of date September 16, 1826, there is a notice of a visit of Sir Isaac Coffin to Nantucket, during which he spoke with affection of his native city, and attributed " all his attainments and re-
15
Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, Baronet.
nown to principles of knowledge imbibed in the public schools of Boston."
During his stay on the island he "visited principal places of resort, disregarded all court etiquette, and mingled freely with the inhabitants."
He died at Cheltenham, England, in 1839, aged eighty years.
CHAPTER VI.
STEPHEN GREENLEAF, WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF HIS FATHER, EDMUND GREENLEAF.
THE GREENLEAF FAMILY is supposed to have been of Huguenot origin; EDMUND, the first of the name who came to America, was born * in the Parish of Brixham. He married Sarah Dole, and, with several children, was among the early settlers of "Newbury, or New- berry, now Newburyport."
" Ould Newberry " was incorporated in 1635. In a list of first settlers to whom was granted " a house lot of at least four acres, with a suitable quantity of salt and fresh meadow," is found the name of Edmund Greenleaf.+
Edmund Greenleaf was ordered to be ensign for Newbury in June, 1639.+
From Colonial Records we learn that he was later made lieutenant, and removed to Boston.
Captain Johnson styles Edmund Greenleaf " an an- cient and experienced lieutenant under Captain Ger- rish in 1644."
The following is an extract from his will:
" ... my will is being according to God's will and re-
* Hoyt says, page 183: "The Greenleaf genealogy gives bap- tism of Edmund Greenleaf January 2, 1574. This would make him ninety-seven years of age when he died. Another authority gives, Edmund, born 1590."
¡ James Edward Greenleaf's " Greenleaf Family."
17
Stephen Greenleaf.
vealed in his word, that wee must pay what we owe and live of the rest, unto whose rule the sons of mnen ought to frame their wills and actions therefore." This to show his correct principles. Another extract may be given, showing how absolute he considered his power over his wife, who evidently had a will of her own:
". . . Besides when I married my wife she brought me a silver bowl, a silver porringer, a silver spoon, she lent or gave them to her son-in-law, James Hill, with- out my consent."
This will is dated December 25, 1668.
STEPHEN GREENLEAF, son of Edmund, was born about 1628, and married, first: November 13, 1651, Elizabeth Coffin, daughter of Tristram Coffin and Dionis Stevens; second: In 1679, Esther (Weare) Swett, widow of Cap- tain Benjamin Swett, and daughter of Nathaniel Weare or Wire (early in Newbury, afterward of Nantucket, where he died March 1, 1681).
Stephen Greenleaf was one of the original proprie- tors of Nantucket, and, authority says, a religious man.
In " Greenleaf Family " we find the first mention of Stephen Greenleaf as ensign, May 11, 1670. August 5, 1675, with others, he marched against the Indians in response to a call to the colonies from Swanzy, where shortly after " nine Indians were murdered," this be- ing the first blood shed in King Philip's War.
In 1676 Stephen Greenleaf, with five others, was elected selectman, and in the same year was representa- tive to the General Court.
In 1680 the " Town granted ensign Stephen Green- leaf permission to build a wharf."
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Early Settlers of Nantucket.
He was ensign in 1686 and captain in 1690.
At a court held at Newbury in 1686, March 30, " David Pierce, Captain Thomas Noyes and Lieutenant Stephen Greenleaf are commissioned to be Magistrates by the Court."
" In the same year Lieutenant Stephen Greenleaf and Lieutenant Tristram Coffin, with others, are ap- pointed a committee on laying out and dividing wood- lands."
November 21, 1686, “ deaeon Nieholas Noyes, dea- con Robert Long and deacon Tristram Coffin were, at the request of the selectmen, chosen standing overseers of the poore for the town of Newbury."
December 1, " Captain Daniel Pierce and Captain Stephen Greenleaf were added to the deacons as over- seers of the poore," and any three of them had power to act.
May 6, 1689, " The Committee of Safety in Boston having desired us to send a man or men for consulting with them what may be best for the conservation of the peace of the country, Our inhabitants being met this 6th day of May, 1689, have chosen Captain Thomas Noyes and lieutenant Stephen Greenleaf sen. for the end aforesaid."
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