Coffin family: Peter Sr., Nicholas, Peter Jr.

(Coastal families/Coffin branch)

Peter Coffin and Mary Boscawen

* Peter COFFIN gent, died in England.

Peter COFFIN married Mary BOSCAWEN. They had the following children: ♥ Nicholas COFFIN, Tristram COFFIN, Phillip COFFIN, Lionel COFFIN, Thomas COFFIN.

HISTORICAL NOTE:
The family,” according to Sylvanus J. Macy, “is one of those which have always  used (a coat of ) arms in this country, inherited from ancestors ranking among the gentry of England. The family sent off branches into different parts of Devonshire, the Coffins of this country  are descended from one such branch. Peter is believed to be the father of Nicholas Coffin and great grandfather of Tristram Coffin.

Individual source:  The Coffin Family by Louis Coffin, 1962, Nantucket Historical Society, Nantucket, MA.

* Mary BOSCAWEN was born ABT 20 Jan 1551 in Penkivel, Cornwall,  England; christened in Penkivel, Cornwall, England; died on 4 Sep 1622 in Penkivel, Cornwall, England; buried in Penkivel, Cornwall, England.
[Image: Smugglers cottage on the Tregothnan estate has been home to the Boscawen family since 1335.]

BIRTH:
Mary was born to the family of Hugh Boscawen and Philippa Carminowe.

HISTORICAL  NOTE:
Mary Boscawen was a 11th  generation descendent of Boscawen’s and Carminowe’s that lead back to a Roger Carminowe. Roger Carminowe held a Knight’s Fee in 1173 AD and was a Witness in 1220.

BURIAL:
Mary was buried at St. Michael’s Church in the rural village of Penkivel, between Falmouth and Truro, and 40 miles from Plymouth, Cornwall. The church is small and usually open and unattended. Mary is buried beneath the floor, her grave marked by a seventeenth century brass  plate, which shows a full body likeness of her and states;

“HERE LYETH THE BODY OF MARIE THE WIDDOW OF PETER COFFIN GENT & 4th  DAVGHTER OF HUGH BOSCAWEN OF TREGOTHNAN ESQ WHO DYED YE 4th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 1622 AGED 71 YEARES” {D1}

DOCUMENT:
1. The Coffin Family by Louis Coffin, 1962, Nantucket Historical Society, Nantucket, MA, p. 84.
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Nicholas Coffin and Johan ___

* Nicholas COFFIN, died AFT 12 Sep 1613 in Butlass, Brixton Parish, Devon, England.

Nicholas Coffin married Johan (Joan). They had the following children: ♥ Peter COFFIN II (b. ABT 1588), Ann COFFIN, John COFFIN, Nicholas COFFIN.

HISTORICAL NOTE:
The Coffins of Portledge, Alwington parish, Devonshire, near Bideford, 45 miles north of Plymouth and Brixton, have resided at Portledge Manor at least since 1254 AD, and even earlier according to a boundary deed seen by the Rev. John Prince who wrote his treatise on “Worthies of Devon” about 1690.
It was written in Saxon, says Prince, “About the time of the Conquest” by the Abbot of Tavistock, granting certain lands to Richard Coffin. Tavistock is 15 miles directly north of Plymouth and 30 miles south of Portledge.{D1}  Portledge Manor is now owned by the British government and operated as a resort hotel.{D1} [Internet image below: 1907, Portledge manor, Alwington parish, Devonshire, England.] I should point out that although the Coffin family maintained ownership of the manor and its estates, our branch of the family has come down a line that, while propertied, was certainly not wealthy.

WILL:
In his Will, Nicholas mentions son, Peter, and grandson, Tristram, stating, “…Itm I give and bequeth to Peter  Coffyn my eldest sonne my greatest brass pann and my minde is that my Wief shall have the use thereof during her lief. Itm I give and bequeth to Tristram Coffyn my sonnes Sonne one yearling bollock…I give and bequeth to Johan Coffyn my wief one bay nag wch we use to call Rowse…”{D2}

DOCUMENTS:
1.  The Coffin Family by Louis Coffin, 1962, Nantucket Historical Society, Nantucket, MA., p. 82.
2.  Early Settlers of Nantucket by Lydia Swain Mitchell Hinchman. The original Will is to be found in the District Registry attached to the Probate Division of the Court of Justice of Exeter (in the Arcdeaconry Court of Totnes), England. “The Will of Nicholas Coffin.”
Individual  source:  The Coffin Family by Louis Coffin, 1962, Nantucket Historical Society, Nantucket, MA

* Johan (Joan) last name unknown.

Individual source:  The Coffin Family by Louis Coffin, 1962, Nantucket Historical Society, Nantucket, MA.
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Peter Coffin II and Johan Thember

* Peter COFFIN II was born in ABT 1588 in Brixton Parish, Devon,  England; died BEF 13 Mar 1627 in Brixton Parish, Devon, England; buried in Brixton Parish, Devon, England.

Peter Coffin married Johan (Joan) THEMBER. They had the following children: ♥ Tristram COFFIN (b. 1609), John COFFIN, Johan COFFIN, Deborah COFFIN, Eunice COFFIN, Mary COFFIN.

The family name was spelled Coffyn in England and later Coffin in the America.

BIRTH:
Peter was  the 3rd of 7 children born to his parents, Nicholas Coffin and Johan (Joan).

WILL:
Peter Coffin’s Will , mentions his wife, son Tristram, son John and four daughters, Johan, Deborah, Eunice and Mary, all four under twenty years of age.
The Will is dated 21 Dec 1627 and was proved 13 Mar 1627/8. {D1}.

The Will states, “…Item I give and bequeth unto Tristram Coffyn my Sonne one feather bedd pformed my best brasen panne and my best brasen crocke. Item I give and bequeth unto Johan Coffyn my wife y issues pfitts and comodities of all my lands tenements & hereditaments wth y sayd Parish of Brixton dureing her widdowhood she yeelding & paying therefor yearly unto the said Tristram my sonne his heirs and assignes the summe of Fifty shillings of lawful English money at y four usual feasts of the year and also sufficient meate drinke & clothes and convenient lodgings unto y sayd Tristram according to his degree and calling dureing her Widowhood…Item I doe give unto Sonne Tristram All my lands rents reversions services & hereditamts with the appurtenances whatsoever sett lying & being wth in the sayd Parish of Brixton or elsewhere wthin y sayd County of Devon…Item All y rest of my goods chattels and cattells nor before given nor bequethed I doe give and bequethe unto Johan Coffyn my wife…”{D2}

DOCUMENTS:
1.  The Coffin Family by Louis Coffin, 1962, Nantucket Historical Society, Nantucket, MA.
2.  Early Settlers of Nantucket by Lydia Swain Mitchell Hinchman. The original may be found in the District Registry attached to the Probate Division of the Court of Justice of Exeter (in the Arcdeaconry Court of Totnes), England.
Individual source: The Anderson Story, by Mrs. C. J. Davis, Mrs. Cora May Boots and others, printed in 1968. A 67 page genealogical record of the Anderson family from John & Elizabeth Horney Anderson, ca 1800 to 1968.

* Johan (Joan) THEMBER was born in ABT 1584; died on 30 May 1661 in Boston, MA; buried in Boston, MA.

Johan’s maiden name is variously spelled Thember and Thumber.

DEATH:
Johan died at age 77 years.

Individual source: The Anderson Story, by Mrs. C. J. Davis, Mrs. Cora May Boots and others, printed in 1968.
Individual source:  The Coffin Family by Louis Coffin, 1962, Nantucket Historical Society, Nantucket, MA.