Description:

New England

Early New England Archive Relating to Coffin Family's Northern Branch

 

A collection of approximately 120 documents belonging to the extended Coffin Family, the descendants of Nantucket co-founder Tristram Coffin, Sr. who settled in northeastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and southeastern Maine. Manuscript material includes land deeds, military orders, legal writs, promissory notes, indenture and guardianship contracts, invoices and receipts, birth/death records, architectural drawings, and medical prescriptions. Documents relate to New Hampshire (Dover, Durham, Exeter, Madbury, Peeling/Woodstock, Rochester, Somersworth, etc.), Maine (Berwick, York, etc.), Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. In generally very good condition, with expected wear including toning, isolated discoloration, well-worn paper folds, scattered repairs, etc.

 

Nineteenth-century genealogical records referred to this northern branch of the Coffin Family as the "Newbury branch of Tristram Coffin's family." Tristram Coffin, Sr. (1605-1681) emigrated from southwestern England to Boston in 1642. Coffin farmed in and around Salisbury, Haverhill, and Newbury, and ran an inn, sold beer, and operated a ferry there through the early 1650s. He, along with a few other intrepid investors, purchased Nantucket Island from Thomas Mayhew in for £30 and two beaver hats 1659. Coffin eventually settled there permanently, unlike members of the northern branch of his family who stayed in the area around Newbury, Massachusetts. Coffin's 7 children and 60 grandchildren prospered to such an extent that by 1728, Coffin descendants scattered throughout New England numbered in the thousands.

 

The Nantucket branch of the Coffin Family is celebrated for its role in the nineteenth-century American whaling industry. No fewer than six Coffins captained Nantucket-based whaling vessels in the late 1700s. Owen Coffin (1802-1821) was a teenaged sailor aboard the whaleship Essex when it was rammed and sunk by a sperm whale in the Pacific Ocean. This real life story of animal vengeance later inspired Herman Melville's classic sea tale Moby Dick. Yet the Coffin Family's Newbury branch should not be overlooked. A study of them--and the documents in this archive--reveal details about founding settlers, Indian relations, religious dissidents, slavery, women, and the lumber business in early New England.

 

The majority of the items in this archive relate to 4th and 5th generation descendants of Tristram Coffin, Sr.: Coffin's great-grandson Captain Tristram Coffin (1701-1761) and his great-great-grandson Eliphalet Coffin (1742-1808). Items of particular interest are briefly described below, but there is an abundance of other manuscript material. Documents also relate to Jeremiah Belknap (1744-1798), clergyman and historian; Ebenezer Adams (1704-1769) and Samuel Adams (1694-1751), John Adams's paternal uncles; Steven Evans Dr., Nathaniel Evans, Ezra Young, and many more.

 

Massachusetts Governor Jonathan Belcher

 

1p ADS signed by Jonathan Belcher (1681/2-1757), Governor of Massachusetts between 1730-1741, as "JBelcher," dated October 25, 1734. In part: "By His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq, Governor and Comander In Chief, In Cover The Sd Province. To Tristram Coffin Gentleman Greeting…"

 

Feme Covert "Widdow Hannah Coffin"

 

Small group of documents, ca. 1762-1780, relating to Hannah (nee Smith) Coffin and the estate reconciliation of her husband, Captain Tristram Coffin (1701-1761). A representative example: "1762 March ye 12 Then Received of the Widow Hannah Coffin the full of all that was given me in the Last will and testament of her Husband Tristram Coffin Lately Deseast I Say Received by me, Joseph Ham."

 

Coffin Family Bible Page?

 

Loose leaf page, possibly from a Coffin Family Bible,  ca. 1737-1742, recording the births of the children of Tristram Coffin (1701-1761) and Hannah (nee Smith) Coffin, including Deborah, John, Susanna, and Hannah, but excluding Eliphalet and Parnal.

 

Early Dover, New Hampshire Coffin Family Land Deeds

 

Gorgeous over-sized ADS with two early wax seals recording transfer of property in Dover, New Hampshire from Eliphalet Coffin (1689-1736) to his younger brother Tristram Coffin (1691-1751), signed and dated August 7, 1727. Also a contract between Peter Coffin and John Hall dated August 22, 1719.

 

Local Economy

 

35+ receipts showing that residents of Northern New England had access to staple items like dried fish and mackerel, as well as luxury items like pepper, allspice, tea, sugar, indigo, molasses, and rum.

 

Lumber Industry

20+ documents relating to Dover's thriving lumber industry, ca. 1720-1790, including receipts and requests for white oak and pine timber, logs, boards, rail fencing, and poles. A representative example: "Received of Mr Eliphalet Coffin Eleven hundred & Sixty Two feet Merchantable pine Boards on Account Dover Dec : 2d 1774 Thomas Sharman."

 

Cocheco Massacre Survivor

 

Two documents relating to the son of Major Richard Waldron (1615-1689) of Dover, New Hampshire, who was famously slain in the 1689 Cocheco Massacre. The Major was notorious for his mistreatment of local Indians; these land deeds dated 1727 and 1734 involve his son, Colonel Richard Waldron (1650-1730). Also including several documents relating to Cocheco Landing.

 

Medical memorabilia

 

Three remarkable documents relating to health and wellness in the colonial period. Including a receipt for a house call; a 1733 letter describing a "fit" at church; and an early prescription reading in part: "Give of the Drops 18 or 20 at a time Every 15 hours and a potion of the powder Between add Some Saffron to the Tew = Give the trade rold up in the paper at night Dissolved in a Spoonfull of molasses which will work through her…"

 

Slavery

 

Captain Tristram Coffin's Ledger page, ca. 1747-1762, detailing fifteen years' of sundry expenses for things like shoe repair, women's gloves, lumber, and animal hides. Of especial interest is the July 1749 entry found in the second column: "By 1 Load halld by Capt Hansons Negro."

 

Quakers

 

A paper slip suggesting, in passing, considerable religious tolerance in southern New England, to wit: "To Mr. Eliphalet Coffin att Dover You are hereby Notified that at a Publick Town Meeting Legally Warnd then at the Quakers meeting house at Cocheco In Dover, (this Day) you were Drawd to Serve on the Petit Jury…" Eliphalet Coffin (1742-1808) was one of Captain Tristram Coffin's sons.

 

Architectural Drawing

 

Undated architectural drawing of two-story house with carpenter's notes.

 

...And dozens of documents awaiting further research. An archive that promises to yield more fascinating discoveries about the Coffin Family of early New England!

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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