Stories

The family’s history as a book, in parts and chapters, each chapter told from the records.

Contents

Part I. Leaving England

  1. I.1Rev. John Robinson1576-1625Theological founder of the Pilgrim movement, pastor of the Separatist congregation at Leiden (1609-1625) that became the Mayflower Pilgrims. He died in Leiden before the crossing, but his church became Plymouth Colony.
  2. I.2Tristram Coffin1609-1681Founder of Nantucket. Led the nine original purchasers who bought the island in 1659 for £30 and two beaver hats. First Chief Magistrate of Nantucket.

Part II. New England Dissent

Chapters in preparation.

Part III. Nantucket

  1. III.1Thirty Pounds and Two Beaver Hats1659-1681From Dionis Coffin's beer case to the purchase of Nantucket.

Part IV. Revolution & Reform

  1. IV.1The Liberty Tree1646-1775The most famous tree in American history, and our family's connection to both sides of it.

Part V. America Moves West

  1. V.1Leroy E. Swift1836–c. 1880A Falmouth mariner’s son who served as a Navy officer in the Gulf, married in New Orleans, and left a son who found his way back to New England.

Part VI. Within Living Memory

Chapters in preparation.

Part VII. Tradition & Legend

  1. VII.1The Domesday Book & the Coffin Family1086What the Domesday Book of 1086 records about Alwington, and why the Coffins' Norman origin is family tradition.
  2. VII.2A Ship Called Polec. 1495-1589A Plymouth merchant's voyages to Guinea and Brazil, and the two sons who followed him to sea.
  3. VII.3The Countess and the Tower1532-1576A Plantagenet granddaughter who survived her family's fall, and the earl who survived the Tower.