Mary Coffin was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1645 and married Nathaniel Starbuck at the age of 17. Mary was a most extraordinary woman. Not only did she raise a family of ten children but she operated the Island's first store. Her open mindedness gained her respect from everyone who knew her. Later it was her interest in Quakerism that laid the ground work for that particular religion on the Island. Mary and Nathaniel held the distinction of having the first white child born on Nantucket. Mary died on November 13, 1717.

Newbury Town Clerk, Deacon, Representative, and Counsellor 1730.

Nathaniel was a sea captain and great grandfather to Gen. John Coffin and Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin.

He studied medicine with Rev. Christopher Tappan of Newbury, and d. in 1765 ‘. 50. (Conn. Q. Reg., vol. 12: p. 358.)

Mentioned in his father's will annd appointed executor in his grandfather, Tristram's will.

Honorable Peter Coffin was born in England in 1631. He was the first child of Tristram and Dionis. Peter married Abigail Starbuck, daughter of Edward Starbuck. He resided in Dover, New Hampshire for a good portion of his life before moving his family to Nantucket. He later moved his family to Exeter, New Hampshire, where he became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire and a member of the Governor's Council. The Coffin's had ten children including their son Jethro whose house is considered the oldest house still standing on Nantucket having been built in 1686.

Ancestor of the Gloucester Coffins.

Mentioned in his father's will along with his son Tristram.

Mentioned with his father in his grandfather, Tristram's will.

Stephen Coffin was the last child born to Tristram and Dionis Coffyn. He was born in Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1652. He married Mary Bunker in 1668 and had ten children with Mary. Stephen took over his father's estate on Nantucket where he lived out his life as a farm manager. He died on November 14, 1734.

Mentioned in his father's will.

Mentioned with his father in his grandfather, Tristram's will.

Tristram married before coming to America and lived, successively at Haverhill, Newbury, Salisbury and finally on Nantucket Island, where he died.

On the fifteenth of November, 1642, Passaquo and Saggahew, with the consent of Passaconaway who was leader of the Merrimacs, sold for L3 10s. `to the inhabitants of Pentucket,' now Haverhill, a track of land fourteen miles long and six miles wide, `with ye isleand and the river that ye isleand stands in' etc. Among the witnesses to this deed was Tristram Coffyn, who had this year, arrived in New England and had moved from Salisbury to Haverhill.

Tristram is said to have been the first man to use a plow in Haverhill. He was a royalist, and was one of the few, if not the only early settler to come to New England as a consequence of the success of Oliver Cromwell.

In about 1644, Tristram and his family moved to Newbury, where he became a prominent inn keeper and ferryman. In Newbury in 1644 Tristram was granted permission to keep an "ordinary" (saloon), sell wine and keep a ferry on the Newbury side of the Merrimack between Newbury and Carr's island. George Carr ran the ferry from Carr's island to Salisbury. This arrangement was confirmed in the town records on December 26,1647: `Tristram Coffin (senior) is allowed to keep an ordinary and retayle wine, paying according to order, and also granted liberty to keep a ferry at Newbury side. In September 1653, `Tristram Coffyn's wife Dionis Coffin was presented for selling beer', at his ordinary in Newbury, 'for three pence a quart.' (higher than the set price for beer). Having proved `upon the testimony of Samuel Moores, that she put six bushels of malt into a hogshead she was discharged.' Dionis was found to be "doctoring" the beer sold at the ordinary. Contrary to current practice Dionis was making her beer stronger and charging a correspondingly higher price. The law at the time called for beer to be `good wholesome beer of four bushels of malt to the hogshead.' Goodwife Coffin is said to have remarked: `I'll have better beer than my neighbors and be paid for it. A fig for the law.'

In 1654 or 1655, Tristram returned to Salisbury where he signed his name as "Tristram Coffyn Commissioner of Salisbury."

In 1659, Tristram and some of his sons were among a company of Salisbury men who purchased nineteen twentieths of the island of Nantucket from Thomas Mayhew.
In 1660 Tristram Sr. with wife, mother and some of his children moved to the island where this branch of the Coffin family continued. Tristram Jr. remained in Newbury with his wife and family.
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Tristram Coffyn was born in 1609 in Brixton Parish, town of Plymouth, Devonshire, England and baptized March 11, 1610. He was the eldest child of Peter and Johanna Coffin.

Coffyn's early years in England were during a very eventful time. Intellectual freedom was being claimed as a right for each individual. This period was during the reign of James I. Among the names of the day were William Shakespeare, Francis Bacon and Oliver Cromwell. It was a period when the Puritans were making large gains in the Parliament.

Tristram had one younger brother, John and four sisters, Johanna, Deborah, Eunice and Mary. When Tristram was 19 his father Peter, died. His will was dated December 21, 1627 and was proved by his widow Johanna on March 13, 1628. In the will it was declared that Tristram was to be provided for according to his degree and calling. Tristram was a farmer and therefore most likely took control of his fathers estate near Plymouth. Two years later Tristram courted and wed Dionis Stevens, daughter of Robert Stevens of Brixton. Dionis Stevens was born in 1609 although other accounts say 1613. Shortly after their marriage, their first child Peter was born in 1631 followed by their son Tristram Jr., born in 1632. During the early 1630's England entered into a storm of conflict with the death of James I and the succession of Charles I. In 1638 the Scots took up arms against the King. The Presbyterians took control of the Commons and this was followed by an all out civil war in 1642. During this period of time Tristram and Dionis had two more children Elizabeth (d.o.b. unknown) and James born August 12, 1639. Dionis was also pregnant with their fifth child.

In 1640 Coffyn was selected as a Warden of Brixton Parish. Shortly after in November 1640, he leased his farm that was located at Butlass. With the civil war closing in on his family and the wounding and eventual death eight days later of his brother John at Plymouth Fort, Tristram decided to take his family, including his mother and two unwed sisters to safety in Colonial America. Tristram's friend Robert Clement was leaving for America shortly, aboard a small fleet of ships, some of which were owned by Clement. Tristram quickly put his affairs in order and embarked on his journey with his family aboard Clement's ship named "Hector Clement" in the spring of 1642. This proved to be the last time Coffyn was to see his home in England.

The crossing of the Atlantic took between 60 and 90 days before they arrived in Newburyport Massachusetts, during the summer of 1642. It was a mere twenty years since the pilgrims, aboard the Mayflower had landed at Plymouth. Shortly after their arrival, Tristram secured living quarters for his family and started exploring up the Merrimack River with Robert Clement in search of a good location for a more permanent home. He arrived in a soon to be called settlement named Pentucket, now known as Haverhill Ma. The book "The History of Haverhill" by George Chase states that Clements son, Job Clements had already settled in the area a year earlier, if so, this could be the reason that Coffyn and Clements chose this area. They found the area to have fertile soil with the necessary resources to build a farm, however, it was recorded that the large population of wolves were a problem with the flocks of sheep and a guard had to be posted at all times. In 1641 there were only six homes built in this area Tristram's group of settlers negotiated with the Indians for the property rights and secured a twenty square mile area for the sum of three pounds ten shillings. A copy of this deed is still on record and bares witness to the signatures of Robert Clement and Tristram Coffyn, dated November 15, 1642. Not only is this the first record of the first Coffin immigrant in America, but it also indicates how Tristram spelled his surname, Coffyn, with a "y" instead of an "i". It was also during this period that John, their youngest child fell ill and died. Dionis was also pregnant with their sixth child who was later named Deborah. She was born the first Coffin child in America, and the third child born in the tiny settlement but was destined for the same fate as the other newborns and died three weeks later. These deaths give evidence to the harsh conditions that the first immigrants must have encountered upon their arrival in the new world. The living conditions were primitive and unforgiving and many families suffered greatly. It was noted that Coffyn was the first white settler to plough land in the area, having made his own plough from materials at hand. A few years after his arrival in Pentucket, his daughter Mary was born, becoming the first Coffin child to be born and survive to adulthood in America. The settlements survival was threatened in the early 1640's when Indian war parties decided to target the settlers homes. They wanted to halt the white invasion but they feared the firepower of the settlers muskets. The plan was to send a small group of Indians to each of the settlers homes at the same time and gain entrance to the houses by pretending to want to trade with each of the settlers. Upon a predetermined signal, the Indians would then jump the homeowners, cut their throats and ransack the house looking for weapons. What the Indians didn't know was that one of their members was a Colonial informant who revealed the plan to British intelligence and the British soldiers along with about forty settlers disarmed the Indians before they could set the plan in motion. The Indians backed away knowing that it would be foolish to try again in the near future.

After only a few years of farming in Pentucket, Tristram embarked on a new direction. It would seem that not only was he a farmer, but he was also a businessman. When the opportunity arose to operate a ferry back in Newbury, he decided to move his family once again. The History of Newbury states that in 1644 Tristram Coffin Sr. is allowed to keep an Ordinary (Tavern) which consisted of selling wine and keeping a ferry and Inn on the Newbury side of the Merrimack River. George Carr kept a ferry on the Salisbury side across from Carr Island. These ferries crossed from Newbury on the south side, between Carr Island and Ram Island, over to the north side of Salisbury. The ferry was operated by Tristram and most likely his older sons Peter and Tristram Jr. in the early years, and as the older boys developed other interests, James took over. In the 1650's Peter left Newbury to go to Dover, New Hampshire, where he became involved in the lumber business. Tristram's daughter Elizabeth wed Stephen Greenleaf in 1651 and resided in Newbury. Tristram Jr. married Judith Somerby in 1653 and became a weaver/tailer and Deacon of the First Parish of Newbury. Tristram Jr. is also the person who brought the Coffin name to the old Coffin mansion in 1654, which still stands in Newbury, housing over eight generations of Coffin descendants up to the 1850's. In 1997 I had the pleasure of visiting Newbury and the Coffin house which is now a historical site. The Coffin house is one of the earliest homes made of wood still standing in New England. It is believed that the father, Tristram Sr., lived here shortly before moving to his new home in Nantucket. In 1735 the first centennial of Newbury was celebrated by the town in the front yard of the Coffin house, under two gigantic elm trees. The Tavern and Inn in Newbury was operated mainly by Dionis, Tristram's wife, and was called "Coffins Ordinary". Not only did she serve the patrons but she was also responsible for making the beverages of the day, which eventually got the Coffyns into confrontation with the law. The laws of 1645 stated clearly that "every person licenced to keep an Ordinary (Tavern) shall always be provided with good wholesome beer of four bushels of malt to the hogshead, which he shall not sell above two pence the ale quart, on penalty of forty shillings the first offence and for the second offence shall lose his licence". Dionis' ale was made with six bushels, giving it a kick that kept them coming back for more. For her troubles she increased the price by one pence and in turn had to stand before the court to defend her actions. Eventually the charge was dismissed, but word spread quickly through Newbury as to where to go for a quality ale. According to the book "Ould Newbury" by John Currier, the Coffins owned forty acres across from Carr Island. In later years the road to the Inn was known as Coffin Lane and was on the west side of present day Jefferson St..

Toward the mid 1650's the ferry crossings were replaced by a floating bridge leaving Tristram little choice but to sell his holding. He moved across the river to Salisbury where records show his name on some documents as Commissioner of Salisbury. It was during these years in the late 1650's that the first plans to relocate his family to a more desirable location were first laid out. Depending on which source one would believe, there are many arguments that have been brought forward as to why Tristram decided to leave Massachusetts. All would have been valid arguments. It was true that the Puritan rule was harsh and prejudice against freedom of choice both religiously and politically. It was also true that the desire to move to an area where fences were not needed for the livestock (that an Island would provide) would be of some benefit. However, In the end, Tristram's desire to keep his family together around him and in their own community outside of the smothering rules of the Puritans probably could have been the driving factor behind his decision to locate to a new home. In talking to his friends and neighbours he found he was not alone in his thinking. Others were also anxious to leave, many for the same reasons as Coffyn. After a short time their ideas took shape and later after meeting it was decided to form a group of associates to pursue matters further. The idea of common pastures and buildings were appealing to many, especially the farmers who were advancing in age. The back breaking life of maintaining a farm could now be shared among the group with common mills and labour supplied by the Indians. How the Island of Nantucket, thirty miles off the south shore of Cape Cod ever came forth as a choice, is once again debatable. Some point out that the connection lies with Thomas Mayhew, the owner of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, was a cousin of one of the associates in Tristram's group, a man named Thomas Macy. Others think that Nantucket simply came up in a passing conversation and caught Coffyn's imagination. At one meeting the decision was made to send Tristram Coffyn, possibly his son James, Edward Starbuck and cabin boy Isaac Coleman on a fact finding mission to meet with Mayhew and view Nantucket to assess its suitability as a home. Early in 1659 the men set out for Edgartown in Martha's Vineyard, the home of Thomas Mayhew.

Thomas Mayhew came to New England before 1632 from Wiltshire England. By 1637 Mayhew was in the town of Watertown, Massachusetts, where he was operating a grist mill. His business enterprises were flourishing by the time the family of John Folger arrived in Watertown. Mayhew had a son named Thomas Jr. who was very religious. Folger's son Peter was close to the same age as Thomas Jr. and the two became friends. They both shared an appetite for adventure, so when the opportunity came forth for the Mayhew's to purchase an Island named Nantucket, from the Earl of Stirling in 1641 for forty pounds, the adventure began. After seeing the Island it was concluded that Nantucket Island was too far off shore and that Martha's Vineyard would be a more suitable island to inhabit, so shortly after Mayhew also bought Martha's Vineyard.

Thomas Mayhew Jr. moved quickly to establish his home on Martha's Vineyard bringing Peter Folger along with him. His mission was to teach the Indians that inhabited the Islands' Christianity. Folger was to be a school master and surveyor. The work was quite successful and the elder Mayhew came to join them in Edgartown. In 1657 Thomas Jr. found it necessary to go to England to stimulate more financial support, however, his ship was lost in a gale on the crossing and he was never heard from again. Mayhew was devastated by the loss of his son, however he decided to continue with his son's mission. Folger on the other hand was looking for a change. His chance came in the form of a shallop sailing into the harbour at Edgartown with Tristram Coffyn on board. It's interesting to note that this simple twist of fate with Coffyn arriving in Edgartown while Folger was searching for a new adventure, brought about the circumstance to which American statesman, scientist and writer, Benjamin Franklin would later be born into. In later years, Folger's daughter, Abiah, of Nantucket, married Josiah Franklin, where in 1706 shortly after moving from Nantucket, gave birth to Benjamin Franklin. In turn this made Peter Folger, Ben Franklin's grandfather.

Tristram's preliminary discussions with Mayhew were favourable. However, Mayhew insisted that if Coffyn's group wanted to purchase Nantucket, the Indians on the Island would have to be included in the negotiations. It was estimated that Nantucket had about 700 Narragansett Indians living in six villages, mostly on the east shore. Today, unfortunately, there is not a single Indian descendant living on the Island. The last Indian descendant died in the 1850's. Nantucket in Algonquin is interpreted as "far away Island". Coffyn realized that without an interpreter he would have problems communicating with the Indians. To address this problem he enlisted the services of Peter Folger who was also a skilled Surveyor. Shortly thereafter, the group left for the Island. The Indians greeted them favourably and although their interpretation of purchasing land proved to be different than the white interpretation, they agreed on the idea. In later years the Indians were surprised to learn the meaning of trespassing, for in their culture no one ever owns property but instead they only had rights to live upon it, yet anyone could travel through it. After achieving their goal, Coffyn and the rest headed back to Edgartown for further negotiations with Mayhew.

Committed to carrying on with his lost son's work, Mayhew had no real interest in Nantucket and therefore agreed to very reasonable terms for the purchase of the Island. The sale price of 30 pounds along with two beaver hats, one for him and one for his wife, was a bargain especially if one considers that after owning the Island for close to twenty years Mayhew was selling it for ten pounds less than he bought it for. The beaver hats incidently were made by Tristram Jr. Today one can only speculate on the mood of the negotiations, but judging by the eventual results, Coffyn and Macy must have respected each other a great deal in order for things to have gone so smoothly. Mayhew did however retain a one twentieth share of the venture so he could have a voice in how the Island affairs were being handled.

Coffin returned home to Salisbury to organize the purchase of Nantucket. Once there, his eight partners ratified the agreement with Mayhew and ten new partners and ten tenant inhabitants were admitted into the company.

Original Owner Partner Selected Half Share Owners

Thomas Mayhew Richard Swain
Tristram Coffin John Bishop
Thomas Macy Edward Starbuck Peter Folger
Richard Swain Thomas Coleman Eleager Folger
Thomas Barnard Robert Barnard Thomas Macy
Peter Coffin James Coffin Joseph Coleman
Christopher Hussey Robert Pike Joseph Gardner
Stephen Greenleaf Tristram Coffin Jr. John Gardner
John Swain John Smith Sam Streton
William Pile Thomas Look Nathaniel Holland

The half share partners were tradesmen who were needed to help develop the settlement. Folger was the interpreter/surveyor who later became the miller. Joseph Gardner was a shoemaker and Nathaniel Holland was a tailor ect. Some of the other half-share holders listed didn't join the group until the later years.

In the fall of 1659 before any formal deed was drawn up with the Indian leaders Wanackmamack and Nickanoose, James Coffin, Thomas Macy and family, Edward Starbuck and Isaac Coleman left Salisbury for Nantucket to take up residence. Macy was in trouble with the Puritan judges for harbouring Quakers during a short rain storm. Nantucket was out of the Judge's legal realm, so rather than stay and face the charges he decided that the sooner he could leave Salisbury the better it would be. Edward Starbuck was Macy's partner in the company and also his best friend. He felt compelled to go with Macy and the rest to see them through what was going to be a tough first winter. James Coffin age 19 went to watch over his father's interests and Isaac Coleman age 13 was probably just looking for adventure.

The first winter on Nantucket proved to be one full of hardships. The crossing was reported to have been a rough one in which the tiny craft was almost lost. During the first winter the Indians were said to have been most helpful in seeing to the needs of the first white settlers on the Island. In the spring of 1660 Edward Starbuck returned to Salisbury to update the rest on the progress of Nantucket. The reports were favourable and others made preparations to relocate quickly.

The freedom enjoyed in Nantucket, by being independent from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, was the lure that attracted many from Salisbury. But along with their freedom certain laws and regulations had to be drawn-up to keep the new settlement from deteriorating. For instance one guideline was that Indian land could not be purchased by any individual except for use by all its original purchasers. This would ensure a balanced ownership. The Colony of New York claimed jurisdiction over Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket and so it was with the Governor of New York, Francis Lovelace, that the Colony had to deal within terms of being recognized. By the summer of 1661, records show that the meetings were now being held on Nantucket indicating that many of the settlers had made the move to the Island. The first concerns of many were where their house lots would be located. At a town meeting held July 15, 1661 it was agreed upon that each owner would have the freedom to choose his lot within limits not previously occupied. It was also decided that the lot size for each full share holder would be sixty rods square (a rod consisting of 16ƌ"). It was also agreed that Tristram Coffyn would select first, in which he selected a lot on the north western coastline of the Island at a place known as Cappammet Harbour (today known as Capaum Pond). The original Nantucket record states "Tristram Coffyn, Sr., had his house lot laid out at Cappammet, by the aforesaid lot layers, at Cappamet Harbour head, sixty rods square, or thereabouts, the east side line part of it bounded by the highway; the south side by a rock southward of the pond; the north by the harbour head; the west side bounded by the lot of Tristram Coffin Jr." In the aftermath, once all was said and done, Tristram had succeeded with his wish to live out his days in a free society surrounded by his friends and family, not unlike the communes that arose during the 1960's. To his east side, across Cappamet Harbour was his son Peter who didn't reside on the Island but was a frequent visitor seeing as he had secured the rights to supply the settlers with lumber for their homes. To the west was the lot of his son Tristram Jr., again not a full time resident but a frequent visitor. To the south laid the lots of his daughter Mary and her husband Nathaniel Starbuck. Mary and Nathaniel were very much a part of the Island's development. Mary owned the first store on the Island as well as being regarded in later life as a spiritual leader, having embraced Quakerism. Mary and Nathaniel also had the honour of having the first white baby on the Island during the early 1660's. Also to the south lay the lot of James Coffin. After Tristram, James was the head of the Coffin interests on Nantucket.

The first years of settlement consisted of building houses along with shelters for their livestock, mainly sheep and oxen, as well as developing pastures and common buildings. The Indians helped to develop the farms and taught the settlers a great deal about living on the Island. In turn they were given employment and some formal education. The first years were often regarded as the best years upon Nantucket, in terms of creating a society that flowed in harmony, where one could rely on their neighbours as though they were family. The great grandson of Thomas Macy would later write, "The little community was kind and courteous to each other and hospitable to strangers. The prevalence of good feeling was remarked and felt by all who came among them".

From the beginning Tristram Coffyn and Thomas Macy were the spokesmen for the settlement. In 1671 they were selected by the group to go to New York and meet with Governor Lovelace and secure their claim to the Island. Upon their return the Islanders nominated Coffyn to be Chief Magistrate of Nantucket. The town also selected all other officers except the Chief Military Officer who was to be selected by Governor Lovelace from nominees chosen by the settlement. After a few more years of harmony, or about the early 1670's the first signs of trouble on the Island began to appear. The problems came through the evolution of the two classes of settlers. On one hand they had the full share owners and their partners, who by Nantucket law had two votes each. On the other hand the half share owners only had one vote resulting in less of a say on Island affairs. They viewed themselves just as important as the full share settler. The only thing missing for a revolt by the half share members was a leader. That changed in 1673 when it was decided that the community needed to expand their fishing interests by enlisting the services of a skilled tradesman by the name of John Gardner of Salem, Massachusetts. Gardner was the brother of full share owner Joseph Gardner. Right from the start John Gardner challenged the original owners on most issues and from this began the feud between the Gardners and the Coffins.

Another problem arising on the Island involved the Indians and liquor. Some of the white settlers were taking advantage of the Indians' ignorance regarding liquor consumption. Laws had to eventually be implemented prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol to Indians. John Gardner often ignored these laws which escalated the tension on the Island. Gardner also attempted to buy land from the Indians, however the final blow most probably resulted from a meeting Gardner set up with Gov. Lovelace's replacement, Governor Francis Andros. One of the requirements of the Islanders was to pay taxes to New York. This payment was met by giving the government four barrels of fish. John Gardner convinced the settlers to let him deliver the payment. While there, he met with Governor Andros and in turn convinced the Governor to name the main town in Nantucket, Sherborne, after his home town back in England. He then managed to get himself appointed as Chief Military Officer. This all came about shortly before the Dutch takeover of New York. With the change in governments in New York, Gardners's group declared that past arrangements with the original settlers were no longer valid. The tension ran high for a short period until the Dutch were run out of New York and the old government was reinstated. Upon this action, Tristram and Mathew Mayhew, grandson of Thomas, once again sailed for New York and had their agreements with the government reinstated.

In 1676 Thomas Mayhew became Chief Magistrate on Nantucket with Peter Coffin, a new resident on the Island becoming Assistant Magistrate. Peter and James Coffin had returned to the Island as a result of the conflict on the mainland between the Indians and the white settlers known as King Philip's War. This appointment of Macy and the election of Peter Coffin infuriated the Gardner group. Not only was Peter a "Coffin" he also held government positions back in Dover and was not considered a full time resident of Nantucket. A few years later the tension eased with the elections of James Coffin, John Gardner and Nathaniel Starbuck who would all be elected as Assistant Magistrates. The feud continued toward the late 1670's in a period that would result in Tristram Coffyn being selected as Chief Magistrate by Governor Andros in the hopes of trying to pull the community back together. Coffyn was regarded by most of the settlers as the one person who could rectify Nantucket's struggle with growth. Unfortunately, for everyone, a shipwreck on the Nantucket shoals diverted any plans that Tristram had for the Islanders. In September 1678 a French ship ran aground during a storm, forcing the crew to abandon ship. Shortly thereafter the cargo was salvaged by certain parties and sold for profit. This action put Tristram, who was chief magistrate, in violation with maritime law which stated that the cargo should have been secured until claimed by the owner. In failing to do so, Tristram subjected himself to be responsible for the lost cargo. The courts came down hard on him with a stiff penalty which would ruin him financially. The action cast a dark cloud over Coffyn, who was now in his early 70's. His family rallied to his side but the strain of the penalty along with the feuding years had worn him down. His son James made financial arrangements to pay the fine. In the end, surprisingly, it was John Gardner, who had become the new Chief Magistrate of Nantucket, who stood up to the courts with a touching appeal on Coffyn's behalf. He convinced the courts to reduce the penalty substantially.

Made freeman 29 Apr 1668.
When Tristram's father left Newbury, Tristram Jr. stayed behind. He was very active in town and church affairs holding a number of positions in town government. In about 1654 Tristram erected the Coffin home on what is now High Street in Newbury. This house, one of the oldest still standing in North America, is now owned by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. And may be visited by the public.
The Rev. Thomas Parker first settled Newbury in 1635 with a group of about one hundred of his followers. The church in Newbury was led by Rev. Parker for many years and in the 1660's great controversy arose as to its administration and religious practices. Two factions developed in the town and Tristram, throughout was a supporter of Rev. Parker, signing petitions and giving testimony throughout the period.
On May 14, 1654, Tristram signed petition in defense of Robert Pike who was accused of "intemperate zeal and seditious speech".
On March 7, 1663, he was appointed a fence viewer.
On May 29, 1668 Tristram was admitted as freeman.
In March of 1674, Tristram, among others was appointed to lay out six acres to be used as pasture for the future ministry. This, apparently led to him being appointed lot layer on September 21, 1677.
In the years, 1669, 1670, 1680, and 1681 he served as a selectman of the town.
Additionally, on September 29, 1681 he was appointed by General Court as one of three commissioners of small claims.
On March 1, 1682 Tristram was appointed "standing way warden to see that evry inhabitant do their part on the hye wayes"
By the year 1683, Tristram was one of the largest sheep owners in Newbury with a herd of 55.
In 1686 he was a member of the committee that partitioned the balance of the undivided common lands in Newbury.
On November 21, 1693, having previously been made a Deacon of the church, Tristram, with the other two deacons were chosen as standing overseers of the poor in Newbury and he was made Treasurer for the Poor.
In 1695, Newbury, having grown substantially was divided into two parishes, Tristram and two others were selected to make the geographical division. This was the beginning of the parish divisions which would result in the break off of Newburyport seventy years later.
Remaining active in church and town affairs until the end, on October 18, 1700 Tristram was appointed to a committee to procure a new bell for the First Parish Meeting House.
When Tristram died in 1704 a memorial inscribed as follows was erected in the First Church burial ground in Newbury:
To the memory of Tristram Coffin, Esq.,
who having served the first church of
Newbury in the office of Deacon 20 years
died Feb, 1703-4 aged 72 years.
'On earth he pur-chas-ed a good degree,
Great boldness in the faith and liberty,
And now possesses immortality.'
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Tristram Coffin Jr. was born in England in 1632. He married Judith Somerby of Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1652. Tristram was a weaver and filled many notable positions on the Newbury Town Council. He was named Deacon to the first Parish of Newbury. His house in Newbury is known as the Old Coffin House. Tristram Jr. and his wife Judith's graves are marked in the cemetery of the First Parish of Newbury which is located across the street from the Coffin house. Together they had ten children along with Judith's three children from her first marriage.

1787, Dec. 3d. Michael Farley, John Choate, Daniel Noyes, and John Cogswell are chosen to meet in Boston on the second Wednesday of January to consider the Constitution of the United States, as proposed by the National Convention.

He was a man of Christian character and one of the most influential citizens in that part of Ipswich; the leading man in establishing the parish and the church, and in building the meetinghouse, etc.

WILLIAM COGSWELL, at the age of twelve years, preparatory to the study of medicine, was placed under the private instruction of his uncle, Rev. Jonathan Searle, of Mason, N. H. The war of the Revolution breaking out, he entered the army, at the age of fifteen years, enlisting in the company commanded by his older brother, Capt. Thomas Cogswell, in Col. Baldwin's regiment. Having served the term of his enlistment, from Jan. 1, 1776, to Jan 1, 1777, he pursued the study of medicine and surgery with Dr. Nathaniel Peabody, of Atkinson, N. H. In 1778 he re-entered the service of his country for a short time, under Gen. Sullivan, of Rhode Island. Having completed his medical studies, he was appointed, July 19, 1781, Surgeon's Mate in the Military Hospital at West Point, N. Y. Jan. 5, 1784, he was promoted to the position of Surgeon-in-Chief of the hospital and Chief Medical Officer of the United States Army, which he filled from June 20, 1784, to Aug., 1785. Dr. Cogswell resigned the position of Surgeon-in-Chief, Sept. 1, 1785, and terminated his connection with the army, having been some five years in the service of the country. He soon after married and settled in Atkinson, N. H., where he continued in the practice of his profession, for almost half a century, until his death.

Dr. Cogswell was one of the original members of the New Hampshire Medical Society, which was incorporated in 1791. He was appointed by the General Court one of its nineteen Fellows. Many medical students were under his instruction. He was one of the founders of Atkinson Academy, which was incorporated in 1791, and a member and the President of its Board of Trustees for many years. He gave the land on which the academy was erected. Dr. Cogswell was appointed, Oct. 5, 1794, Justice of the Peace by Gov. Gilman of New Hampshire. Sept. 27, 1810, together with his wife and three oldest children, he made a public profession of religion and united with the church. His other six children, one an infant, were baptized the same day. Dr. Cogswell, some twenty years later, died at the age of seventy years. On the funeral occasion Rev. John Kelley, of Hampstead, N. H., preached a sermon, which was published, the text being, "WISE MEN DIE" Ps. xlix. 10. It has been said of Dr Cogswell, "He advanced the doctrine of God his Saviour by his life and conversation. In his religious faith he was decidedly evangelical. His last days were happy in the enjoyment of his Redeemer, and at his departure he seemed sweetly to sleep in Jesus."

Memoranda.
Dr. William Cogswell, in his early career, was approved, July 19, 1781, Surgeon's Mate in the Military Hospital, with Gov. Eustis, at West Point. John Cochran, Director-General, certifies "that he discharged his duties with great faithfulness, intelligence, and uncommon assiduity, by which means he has improved much in medical skill and has given universal satisfaction to those gentlemen of the department with whom he has been associated." Jan. 5, 1784, he was promoted to the chief charge of the hospital.

William Cogswell, Atkinson [N.H.]. Private, Capt. Thomas Cogswell's co., Col. Loammi Baldwin's (26th) regt.; pay abstracts for Feb.-May, 1776; also, order for wages, etc., dated Atkinson, July 26, 1777; also, list of men who furnished their own arms sworn to at Haverhill, July 30, 1777.
William had served as a private in his brother’s Thomas’s company, 26th Continental Infantry, January-December 1776; he left the army to study medicine and rejoined in 1778; appointed Hospital Surgeon’s Mate at West Point, January 19, 1781; Surgeon in Chief and Chief Medical Officer of the Army, June 20, 1784-August 12, 1785. [<i>Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War </i>(3:726).]

Of Hampton, NH.