Historic Nantucket, April 1985, Vol. 32 No. 4

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In Search for the Ancestors of Tristram Coffin WALTER WESTON FOLGER, now a resident of North Carolina, has been a valued contributor to Historic Nantucket over a period of years. He has been in correspondence with Mr. N.K. Jeans, of Truro, England, an interested researcher, delving into the Coffin family of England, seeking the immediate forebears of Tristram Coffin, one of the original founders of Nantucket. One of these Coffin families was that of Peter Coffin, of Cornwall, England. In a letter to Mr. Folger, in September, 1984, Mr. Jeans stated he has been collating some of his research material on Peter Coffin, with the following deductions: "Firstly, there is no reason for me to change my views, and, in fact, I am certain that Peter Coffin had nothing to do with Nantucket. Therefore, I am enclos­ ing a review copy of my notes of 1980, and you may pass them along to Mr. Stackpole for publication. "Secondly, I regret it is not possible to follow the Chudley connection, as there are no registers extant for that period. "Thirdly, from letters received from Mr. Stephen Cof­ fin, I am in agreement with certain deductions he has painstakingly and analytically made. He was 91 when he wrote me in 1981. This correspondence comes as close as any to linking the South and West Coffins in England." This information supplied to Mr. Folger by Mr. Jeans follows: 1. P E T E R C O F F I N B o r n and christened at Peylnt in Cornwall, approx. 25 miles from Plymouth. No Parish registers at Peylnt pre 1610. M a r r i e d to Marie Boscawen (who see below). No record of marriage traced, connected in his lifetime with Pelynt, Duloe, St Neot, St Mawgan in Pydar, St Eval, St Cleer, St Winnow, St Columb Major, St Columb Minor, and St Michael Penkivel. Will dated 13.4.1605, proved 12.12.1605 - will in CRO, Truro. Left Estate of 50 Pounds, describing himself as


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