THE COFFIN LINE Several theories are advanced regarding the origin of the family surname of Coffin, or Coffyn as was the earlier spelling. Allen Coffin, Esq., says..... Coffin is a word of Hebrew origin, signifying a small basket. Whether the Israelitish hosts were sufficiently enlightened to be in the enjoyment of baskets before the Eqyptians, or whether the chosen people of God were especially favored with knowledge of basketmaking while the rest of the world plodded on with less commodious means of transit, are matters which cannot at this remote period of time be satisfactorily answered. If any one man may be considered the patriarch of Nantucket, to whom more than to any other person, the descendants of the old Nantucket families may trace a common origin, that man is Tristram Coffin. Allen Coffin Esq. in his "Life of Tristram Coffyn" traces the family origin in England back to the days of Norman Conquest, the ancient seat of the name of England, now called Portledge, in the Parish of Ilwington, near Bideford, County of Devon, havng been granted to Sir Richard Coffyn, Knight, for valuable services rendered to William the Conqueror. Peter Coffyn, father of Tristram was doubtless born aout 1580 and died in 1627/8. He married Joa Kember (Thember) and had two sons and four daughters. Tristram was the elder son, his brother John died in Plymouth Fort, England, after having been mortally wounded. Tristram was born at Brixton, in 1605, and married Dionis Stevens, daughter of Robert Stevens, Esq. of Brixton, about 1630. They came to America about 12 years later. Their first settlement was at Salisbury, and they subsequently removed to Haverhill. His name appears as a witness to an Indian deed in Pentucket (Haverhill) in Nov 1642. He removed to Newbury in 1648/9 and thence to Salisbury in 1654/5. In 1644, he was licensed to keep an ordinary, sell wine and keep a ferry on the Newbury side of Carr's Island. In 1653, his wife was presented to the General Court, charged with selling beer at three pence per quart, but as she proved by witness, that she made it much stronger and gave quid pro quo, she was discharged. (The law required four bushels of malt to the hogshead at a price not to exceed two-pence per ale quart. She proved that she used six bushels.) Tristram returned to Salisbry and there made his plans to be one of the purchasers of Nantucket Island. He died in Oct 1681. In other reports, he has been referred to as the famed Judge of Newbury and Nantucket. COFFIN LINE - FIRST GENERATION RICHARD COFFIN Title: SIR Born: Died: Marriage: Married: abt 1520 in England Children: 1. TRISTRAM COFFIN b: abt 1525 in Butlers, parish of Brixton, co. Devonshire, England COFFIN LINE - SECOND GENERATION TRISTRAM COFFIN Birth: ABT 1525 in Butlers, Parish of Brixton, Co. Devonshire, England Death: abt 1602 in co. Devonshire, England Will: 16 Nov 1601 Parish of Brixton, Co. Devonshire, England TRISTRAM COFFIN, of Butlers, parish of Brixton, county of Devon, England, made his will 16 November 1601, which was proved at Totness, in the same county, in 1602. He left legacies to Joan, Anne and John, children of Nicholas Coffin; Richard and Joan, children of Lionel Coffin; Philip Coffin and his son Tristram; and appointed Nicholas, son of Nicholas Coffin, his executor. Nicholas Coffin, of Butlers, in the same parish, in his will dated 12 September 1613, and proved 3 November 1613, mentions his wife, Joan; sons, Peter, Tristram, Nicholas and John; daughter, Ann; and Joan, a daughter of one of his sons. He was grandfather of the emigrant to New-England. Peter Coffin, of Brixton, by his will dated 21 December 1627, and proved 13 March 1628, provides that his wife, Joan, shall have possession of the land, &c., during her life, and that then said property shill go to his son and heir, Tristram, "who is to be provided for according to his degree and calling;" and that his son John is to have certain property when he shall be twenty years of age. He speaks of his daughters, Joan, Deborah, Eunice and Mary, as being under twenty years of age. He refers to his tenement, called Silferhay, in Butlers, and to his brother Nicholas. He was father of the emigrant. John Coffin, of Brixton, in his will dated 4 January 1628, and proved 3 April 1628, appoints his nephew Tristram executor, and gives legacies to Joan, Deborah, Eunice, Mary and John, all under twelve years of age. The family is one of those, which have always used arms in this country, though unable to prove a right to them, inherited from ancestors ranking among the gentry of England. In Prince's Worthies of Devonshire may be read an account of the family of the name of Coffin which claims to have been seated at Portledge, in the parish of Alwington, in the northern part of that county, since the time of the Norman conquest. The family sent off branches into different parts of Devonshire and it is highly probable that the Coffins of this country are descended from some such branch, but the connection has not yet been proved. Smith's MS. Promptuariurn Armorum contains a drawing of the arms borne by "Sir William Coffin of Portledge in Devon of ye Privy Cha. to K. H. 8 "-Vert, five cross-crosslets argent, between four plates.-Heraldic Journal, vol. iii.-These are the arms used by the family in this country. Will prove 1602 Totness, Co. Devonshire, England Father: Richard Coffin Mother: Marriage: Married: abt 1550 in England Children: 1. Tristram Coffin b. abt 1554 2. NICHOLAS COFFIN b: 1555 in Co. Devonshire, England 3. Phillip Coffin b. abt 1556 Devon England 4. Lionel Coffin b. abt 1558 5. Thomas Coffin b. abt 1560 COFFIN LINE - THIRD GENERATION NICHOLAS COFFIN Birth: 1555 in Devonshire, England Death: 8 Oct 1613 in Brixton, Devonshire, England Will: 12 Sep 1613, Butlers, Parish of Brixton, Devonshire, England Burial: 08 OCT 1613 Brixton, Devonshire, England Father: Tristram Coffin b: ABT 1525 in Butlers, parish of Brixton, Devonshire, England Mother: Marriage 1 Johan (Joan) Avant b: 1559 in England, d. 2 May 1614/5 England Married: 1579 in England Children: 1. PETER COFFIN b: ABT 1580 in Brixton, Devonshire, England 2. Johan Coffin b: 1582 in England 3. John Coffin b: 1585 in England 4. Nicholas Coffin b: 1587 in England 5. Ann Coffin b: 1590 in England 6. Tristram Coffin COFFIN LINE - FOURTH GENERATION PETER COFFIN Birth: ABT 1580 in Brixton, Devonshire, England Death: 1627/28 in Brixton, co. Devonshire, England WILL: 21 DEC 1627 Brixton, Devonshire, England Event: Will prove 13 MAR 1628 Brixton, Devonshire, England Father: Nicholas Coffin b: 1555 in Devonshire, England Mother: Johan Avant b: 1559 in England Marriage 1 Joanna Kember (Thember) b: 1584 in Brixton, Devonshire, England Married: ABT 1608 in Brixton, Devonshire, England Children 1. TRISTRAM COFFIN Sr. b: 04 MAR 1608/9 in Brixham Parish, Plymouth, Devonshire, England 2. Joane Coffin b: 1611 in Devonshire, England. Alive in 1628, no rec. found after 1642 3. Peter Coffin b: 1613 in England. Died young. Bapt. 20 Feb 1613/4. 4. Deborah Coffin 5. Eunice Coffin b: 1617 in Devonshire, England 6. Mary Coffin b: 1619 in Devonshire, England 7. Ruth Coffin b: BEF 1625 in England 8 . John Coffin b: 1625 in Devonshire, England. Believed to have died at Plymouth Fort in the Parliamentary War. 9. Infant Coffin b: 1627 in England, poss. died young. Note: Peter Coffin of Brixton, Devon, England:Ancestors of American Presidents[:ITAL] compiled by Gary Boyd Roberts: First Authoritative Edition, 1995, p. 293. Mary & John 1630. Volume 17, p 37-39 Peter Coffin - born about 1580, probably Brixton. Will, dated 21 Dec. 1627, proved 13 Mar. 1627. Witnesses: Arthure Durant and Phillip Avent. He married Joane Kember about 1608, probably Brixton, daughter of Robert Kember. She was born about 1584 and died May 1661, age 77, Boston, Massachusetts. Peter was churchwarden in Brixton, 1614/15. After his death his widow, Joane, who received his lands for life, probably kept her children with her, until they all left for New England in 1642. The two daughters who did not come probably married in England. COFFIN LINE - FIFTH GENERATION TRISTRAM COFFIN Born: 4 Mar 1608/9 Brixham Parish, Plymouth, Devonshire, England Died: 2 Oct 1681 Nantucket, MA Father: Peter Coffin (Coffyn) Mother: Joan Kember Marriage: Dionis Stevens, b. 4 Mar 1609/10, dau of Robert Stevens Esq. and Dionis ____. Married: 1630, Brixton, Devonshire, England Note: This family came to MA from England in 1642, when Tristram was 37years old. He was a Judge. They were the parents of nine children. We are connected through 4 of them...James, Mary , John and Stephen. The male lines will be carried on, and the female can be traced through her husbands line. Children: 1. Peter Coffin b. 1631 Eng. , d. 21 Mar 1715 at Exeter, NH. He m. ca 1656 Abigail Starbuck. He was a prosperous lumber merchant in NH, also a Judge. He was the family's weathiest member. 2. Tristram Coffin b. 1632 Eng., m. 2 Mar 1652 Judith Greenleaf, widow of Henry Somerby. Tristram was a successful hatter. 3. Elizabeth Coffin b. 1634 Eng. m. 13 Nov 1651 Capt. Stephen Greenleaf. 4. JAMES COFFIN b. 1640 Eng., d. 1720 Nantucket. (See next generation) 5. John Coffin b. Eng., died in infancy. 6. Deborah Coffin b. 15 Nov 1642 Haverhill. MA, d. 8 Dec 1642 there. 7. MARY COFFIN b. 20 Feb 1645 Haverhill, MA, m. 1662 to Nathaniel Starbuck. He b. 1635 and d. 6d 6m 1719. (My 9th g. grandparents, see next generation.) 8. JOHN COFFIN b. 1647, d. 1711 (See next generation) 9. STEPHEN COFFIN b. 1652 d 1734 (see next generation.) Note: Tritram Coffin (1610-1681) of Salisbury, Massachusetts. English home: Baptized 11 Mar. 1610, Brixton, Devon (25 miles south of Exeter), on the English Channel, son of Peter Tristram (will, 21 Dec. 1627, proved 13 Mar. 1627/8) and Joanna Kember. His father had a tenement called "Silferhey" in Butlers (now Butlass) in Brixton parish. Tristram 's grandparents were Nicholas Coffin of Butlers, Brixton (will, 12 Sept. 1613, proved, 3 Nov. 1613) and Johan, who had land in Plympton Erle, Joanna Kember (b.a. 1584) was daughter of Robert Kember of Brixton, Devon. His will proved, 23 Jan. 1612/13. Dionis Stevens, Baptized 4 Mar. 1609/10, Brixton was daughter of Robert Stevens, whose will was proved 4 Feb. 1627/8. He was son of John Stevens of Brixton whose will was proved, 15 Dec. 1611. Tristram came in 1642 to Haverhill, Massachusetts. With him were his wife, five children, his mother (age 58), and two unmarried sisters, Eunice and Mary. His wife was pregnant on the voyage and she gave birth on 15 Nov. 1642 to a daughter who died a few weeks later. COFFIN LINE - SIXTH GENERATION I. JAMES COFFIN Born: 12 Aug 1640 in England d. 28 Jul 1720 at Nantucket, MA Died: Father: Tristram Coffin Mother: Dionis Stevens Marriage: Mary Severance b. 5 Aug 1645 Salisbury MA, dau of John Severance and Abigail ____. She d. aft 1681 Married: 3 Dec 1663 Salisbury MA Children: 1. Mary Coffin b. 18 Apr 1665 Dover NH, d. 1 Feb 1741 Nantucket. m1)Richard Pinkham, 2) James Gardner. 2. James Coffin b.____ Dover NH, d. 2 Oct 1741 Nantucket. Wed 1)Lover Gardner, b. 2 May 1672. He m.2) 19d 3m 1692 to Ruth Gardner, b. 26 Jan 1676. 3. NATHANIEL COFFIN b. 1671, d. 1721. (See next generation) 4. John Coffin b. Nantucket, d. 1 Jul 1747, m. Hope Gardner. She b. 16 Nov 1669, d. 12 Oct 1750. 5. Dinah Coffin b. Nantucket, d. 1d 8m 1750, m. 20 Nov 1690 Nathaniel Starbuck, b. 9 Aug 1668, d. 9d 2m 1753. 6. Deborah Coffin b. Nantucket, d. 8 Oct 1767, wed 10 Oct 1695 to George Bunker, b. 22 Apr 1671. 7. Ebenezer Coffin b. 30 Mar 1678 Nantucket, d. 17 Oct 1730, wed 12 Dec 1700 to Eleanor Barnard b. 18 Jun 1679, d. 1769. 8. Joseph Coffin b. 4 Feb 1679 Nantucket, d. 14d 7m 1719, wed at Nant. to Bethiah Macy, b. 8 Apr 1681, d. 6 Jun 1738. 9. Elizabeth Coffin b. Nantucket, d. 30 Mar 1769 at Nant. wed 1) Jonathan Bunker, b. 25 Feb 1675, m2) Thomas Clark. 10. Benjamin Coffin b. 28 Aug 1683 Nantucket, d. ___, Lost overboard between Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. 11. Ruth Coffin b. Nantucket, d. 28 May 1748, wed Joseph Gardner, b. 8 May 1677, d. 29d 7m 1747. 12. ABIGAIL COFFIN b. Nantucket, d. 15 Mar 1709. (See next generation) 13. Experience Coffin b. Nantucket, died young. 14. Jonathan Coffin b. 28 Aug 1692 Nant. d. 5 Feb 1773, wed 24d 11m 1711 Hephzibah Harker , d. 30 Dec 1773. II. MARY COFFIN Born: 20 Feb. 1645, Haverhill, MA Died: Father: Tristram Coffin Mother: Dionis Stevens Marriage: Nathaniel Starbuck, b. 1635, d. 6d 6m 1719. Married: 1662 Children: (See the Starbuck line for descendants. Mary and Nathaniel were my 9th g. grandparents.) III. LIEUT. JOHN COFFIN Born: 30 Oct 1647 Haverhill, MA Died: 5 Nov 1711 at Edgartown, MA Note: John was Lieut. of Militia. Father: Tristram Coffin Mother: Dionis Stevens Marriage: Deborah Austin, b.---, d. 4d 2m 1718 Nant., dau of Joseph Austin and Sarah Starbuck. Married: 1668 Children: 1. Lydia Coffin b. 1 Jun 1669 Nant. m.1)John Logan, 2) John Draper, 3)Thomas Phaxter. 2. Peter Coffin b. 5 Aug 1671 Nantucket, d. 27 Aug 1749., m1)Christian Condy, 2)Hope Gardner who d. 21 Mar 1750. 3. John Coffin Jr. b. 10 Feb 1673 Nantucket. 4. Love Coffin b. 23 Apr 1676 Nantucket, never wed. 5. Enoch Coffin b. 1678 Nantucket, m. 1700 Beulah Eddy, Enoch d. in Edgartown. 6. Samuel Coffin b. 12 Feb 1680 Nantucket, d. 22 Feb 1764, m. 1705 Miriam Gardner. She b. 14 Jul 1685, d. 17 Sep 1750 Nantucket. 7. Hannah Coffin b.---l, d. 28 Jan 1768, m. Benjamin JGardner. He b. 20 Jul 1683, d. 22d 1m, 1764. 8. Tristram Coffin b.----, m. 29d 2m 1714 Mary Bunker. She d. 29 Jan 1763. 9. DEBORAH COFFIN b. ----, d. 23 Sep 1760. (See the next generation.) 10. Elizabeth Coffin b.----, never wed. 11. Benjamin Coffin b. 8m 23d 1683. IV. STEVEN COFFIN Born: 11 May 1652 Newbury MA Died: 14 Nov 1734 Nantucket, MA Father: Tristram Coffin Mother: Dionis Stevens Marriage: Mary Bunker, b. 5m 1652 MA, d. Nant., dau of George Bunker and Elizabeth Godfrey. Married: 1668 Children: 1. Daniel Coffin b.-----, Lost at Sea 4m 1724. 2. Dionis (Dinah) Coffin b. 21 Sep 1671 Nant. m. Jacob Norton. 3. Peter Coffin b. 14 Nov 1673 nant. m.--- in Boston, MA 4. Stephen Coffin Jr. b. 20 Feb 1675 Nantucket, m. 21d 9m 1693 to Experience Look. 5. Judith Coffin b. Nant. d. 2 Dec 1760 Nant. wed 1)Peter Coffin b. 28 Aug 1674 Nant., Will probated 19 Jun 1707. She m.2)Nathaniel Barnard., m3) Stephen Wilcox on 31d 6m 1722. 6. SUSANNA COFFIN b.----, d. 11 Jun 1740. (See the next generation) 7. Mehitable Coffin m. Armstrong Smith. 8. Anna Coffin m. Solomon Gardner. She d. 22 Apr 1749. He b. 1 Jul 1680 and d. 17d 6m 1760. 9. Hephzibah Coffin m. 4 Sep 1707 Samuel Gardner. He d. 28d 10m 1757. 10. Paul Coffin b. 15 Apr 1695, m. Mary Allen. He was lost at sea Apr 1729. COFFIN LINE - SEVENTH GENERATION I. NATHANIEL COFFIN Born: 1671 Dover, NH Died; 29 Oct 1721 Father: James Coffin Mother: Mary Severnce Marriage: Damaris Gayer, b. 24 Oct 1673, d. 6 Sep 1764, dau of William Gayer Married: 17 Aug 1692 Children: 1. Dorcas Coffin b. 22 Jul 1693 Nant. d. 8 May 1778, m. John Soley of Charleston 2. Christian Coffin b. 8 Apr 1695 Nant. m.1) John Edwards, m2) Timothy Williamson. 3. Lydia Coffin b. 16 May 1697 m. 16d 7m 1714 Joseph Chase. 4. William Coffin b. 1 Dec 1699 Nant. m. 3 Sep 1722 Anne Holmes. 5. Charles Coffin b. 1d 1m 1702 m. Mary Barrett. 6. BENJAMIN COFFIN b. 1705, d. 1780 (See next generation.) 7. Gayer Coffin b. 24 May 1709 m. Rebecca Parker. 8. Nathaniel Coffin b. Jul 1711 d. 10 Jun 1800 m. Mary Sheffield. 9. Catharine Coffin b. 15 Jun 1715, m. 8 Jan 1735/6 Bethuel Gardner. II. ABIGAIL COFFIN Born: Nantucket, MA Died: 15 Mar 1709 Note: Her interrment was the first in Gardner's Burial Ground Father: James Coffin Mother: Mary Severance Marriage: Nathaniel Gardner, b. 16 Nov 1669, d. 1713 in England. Married: unk date Children: (See the Gardner line for their descendants) III. DEBORAH COFFIN Born: Died: 23 Sep 1760 Father: Lieut. John Coffin Mother: Deborah Austin Marriage: Thomas Macy b. abt 1687 Nant., d. 16 Mar 1759 Nant. Married: 18 Jun 1708 Children: (See the Macy line for their descendants.) IV. SUSANNA COFFIN Born: Died: 11 Jun 1740 Father: Stephen Coffin Mother: Mary Bunker Marriage: Peleg Bunker, b 15 Dec 1676, d. 1 Jun 1730 Married: 9 Jan 1700 Children: (See the Bunker line for descendants.) COFFIN LINE - EIGHTH GENERATION BENJAMIN COFFIN Born: 3d 4m 1705 Died: 3d 11m 1780 Father: Nathaniel Coffin Mother: Damaris Gayer Marriage1) Jedidah Hussey, d. 6d 8m 1759 Married: 5d 2m 1726 Marriage2) Deborah Macy, b. 17 Apr 1726, d. 28 Nov 1803. Children by Jedidah Hussey: 1. Reuben Coffin b. 21d 1m 1726/7, d. 23d 9m 1804, m. 10d 1m 1747 to Mary Joy. 2. Nathaniel Coffin b. 27d 1m 1729, m. 6d 1m 1757 Rebecca Coleman, b. 28d 12m 1740, d. 20d 3m 1777. 3. William Coffin b. 13d 11m 1730 m. 7d 2m 1754 to Hephzibah Barney 4. Benjamin Coffin b. 27d 9m 1732, m. 7d 2m 1754 to Elizabeth Hussey. She b. 23d 2m 1736/7. 5. Micajah Coffin b. 18d 8m 1734, d. 25d 5m 1827, m. 6d 1m 1757 to Abigail Coleman, b. 21d 9m 1735. 6. ABIGAIL COFFIN b. 24d 10m 1736, (See the next generation.) 7. Joseph Coffin b. 25d 12m 1738, d. 14d 1m 1740. 8. Anna Coffin b. 28d 6m 1740, d. ----, m. 6d 1m 1763 Charles Clasby. 9. Seth Coffin b. 31d 5m 1742, m. 3d 12m 1767, Lydia Barnard. 10. Paul Coffin b. 25d 11m 1744, m. 1d 2m 1770 Ruth Pinkham 11. Elihu Coffin b. 4d 10m 1746, disowned by Society of Friends (Quakers) for going to sea in Armed Vessel 7m 1778. 12. Isaiah Coffin b. 8d 12m 1748, d. 8d 5m 1749. 13. Abraham Coffin b. 5d 9m 1750 14. Abner Coffin b. 20d 3m 1753. Children by Benjamin Coffin and Deborah Macy: 1. Isaac Coffin b. 1d 9m 1764 2. Thomas Coffin b. 5d 9m 1766 3. Deborah Coffin b. 25d 8m 1768 Note: Benjamin was 63yrs old at the birth of his last child. COFFIN LINE - NINTH GENERATION ABIGAIL COFFIN Born: 24d 10m 1736 Died: 31d 8m 1758, Nantucket, MA Father: Benjamin Coffin Mother: Jedidah Hussey Marriage: Matthew Macy, b. 19 Oct 1732 at Nant. Married: 27d 2m 1755 Children: (See the Macy line for their descendants.) Line of Descent: RICHARD COFFIN, TRISTRAM COFFIN, NICHOLAS COFFIN, PETER COFFIN, TRISTRAM COFFIN, JAMES COFFIN, ABIGAIL COFFIN, JUDITH GARDNER, TIMOTHY BARNARD, BENJAMIN BARNARD, LYDIA BARNARD, EUNICE MACY, THOMAS MACY, JOHN MACY, LORETTA MACY, JAMES PARISHO, WAYNE PARISHO, SUSANNE PARISHO and RICHARD COFFIN, TRISTRAM COFFIN, NICHOLAS COFFIN, PETER COFFIN, TRISTRAM COFFIN, JAMES COFFIN, NATHANIEL COFFIN, BENJAMIN COFFIN, ABIGAIL COFFIN, MATTHEW MACY JR, EUNICE MACY, THOMAS MACY, JOHN MACY, LORETTA MACY, JAMES PARISHO, WAYNE PARISHO, SUSANNE PARISHO and RICHARD COFFIN, TRISTRAM COFFIN, NICHOLAS COFFIN, PETER COFFIN, TRISTRAM COFFIN, MARY COFFIN, JETHRO STARBUCK, SARAH STARBUCK, MATTHEW MACY, MATTHEW MACY JR, EUNICE MACY, THOMAS MACY, JOHN MACY, LORETTA MACY, JAMES PARISHO, WAYNE PARISHO, SUSANNE PARISHO and RICHARD COFFIN, TRISTRAM COFFIN, NICHOLAS COFFIN, PETER COFFIN, TRISTRAM COFFIN, MARY COFFIN, PRISCILLA STARBUCK, ELIHU COLEMAN, EUNICE COLEMAN, BETHIAH MACY, PAUL MACY, THOMAS MACY, JOHN MACY, LORETTA MACY, JAMES PARISHO, WAYNE PARISHO, SUSANNE PARISHO and RICHARD COFFIN, TRISTRAM COFFIN, NICHOLAS COFFIN, PETER COFFIN, TRISTRAM COFFIN, JOHN COFFIN, DEBORAH COFFIN, JOSEPH MACY, PAUL MACY, PAUL MACY, THOMAS MACY, JOHN MACY, LORETTA MACY, JAMES PARISHO, WAYNE PARISHO, SUSANNE PARISHO and RICHARD COFFIN, TRISTRAM COFFIN, NICHOLAS COFFIN, PETER COFFIN, TRISTRAM COFFIN, STEPHEN COFFIN, SUSANNA COFFIN, MARY BUNKER, BENJAMIN BARNARD, LYDIA BARNARD, EUNICE MACY, THOMAS MACY, JOHN MACY, LORETTA MACY, JAMES PARISHO, WAYNE PARISHO, SUSANNE PARISHO NOTE: I also have a website named "Genealogy Graphic Sets by Tristram." Please come visit! SURNAME INDEX BG's/Images by "Daze of Our Lives"