by N.K. Jeans

In Search for the Ancestors of Tristram Coffin

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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 enclosing 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 Coffin, 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. W i l l dated 13.4.1605, proved 12.12.1605 - will in CRO, Truro. Left Estate of 50 Pounds, describing himself as

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Gent, of St Mawgan in Pydar. Mentions wife, sister named Mary Goldsmith & various others. K n o w n In 1595 employed by John Arundel of Lanhern as Bailiff (a John Coffin similarly employed by Bassett of Tehidy). No trace of parentage or any other information. 2. M A R I E B O S C A W E N B o r n in 1551 (No trace of record of baptism). M a r r i e d Peter Coffin as above - no record of date or place found. P a r e n t a g e 4th Dau. (10th of 14 children) of Hugh Boscawen of Tregothnan and Phillipa Carminowe, dau. & coheir of Nicholas Carminowe of Carminowe. D i e d 4.9.1622. Buried at St. Michel Penkivel 21.9.1622. Memorial brass in floor of North Transept of St. MPK Church. K n o w n Aged 7 at date of Hugh Boscawen's death Sept. 1559. Her mother, Phillipa remarried (see below) and it may be supposed that she moved away from Tregothnan to her Mother's new home. Following Peter Coffin's death in 1605 she appears to have lived with her sister, Elizabeth, supported by annuities obtained by her nephew Boscawen. NO TRACE OF HER WILL. NOTE: No mention of any children to marriage of Peter & Mary Coffin. Lord Falmouth says marriage is sans issue.* 3 . P H I L L I P A C A R M I N O W E B o r n 1519 M a r r i e d Hugh Boscawen (date not known) R e m a r r i e d to James Trewydden als Trewynnard of Chedley (now Chudley, in Devon) 9.8.1563

S p e c u l a t i o n : How did Marie Boscawen come to meet Peter Coffin? Heralds Visitation to Devon gives Richard Coffin of Portlinch marrying Wilmot, dau. of Sir Richard Chudley. This may give a clue as to the introduction of these two people, and in so doing provides a very tenuous link for Peter Coffin back to the N. Devon Coffins. There are various other tenuous clues: from private sources I know that John Coffin (son of Richard above, who died in 1619) married Elisabeth, dau. of Henry Hurdley. Now, purely coincidentally, a John & Elizabeth Coffin took a lease of Trezebal Tenement in Manaccan Parish on 20.1.1620 in 1640 a Boscawen bought the freehold of this property; the significant point being that the terms of the lease to Coffin (which was a life lease) were very disadvantageous to the Tenant, being designed to give an an-