The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American RevolutionStark, James Henry
History
The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American Revolution
Stark, James Henry
American loyalists -- Massachusetts; Massachusetts -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783
NATHANIEL COFFIN was the last Receiver General and Cashier of his
Majesty's Customs at the Port of Boston, he was an addressor of
Hutchinson in 1774 and of Gage in 1775. With his family of three persons
he accompanied the Royal Army to Halifax in 1776 and in July of that
year embarked for England in the ship Aston Hall. In May, 1780, while
returning, he died the day before the vessel arrived at New York. His
wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Barnes of Boston.
NATHANIEL COFFIN, JR., son of the aforesaid, was born in Boston in 1749.
Was an Addresser of Hutchinson in 1774 and a Protester against the
disunionists the same year. He was brought up to the bar, and succeeded
well in his profession. As he took a prominent part on the side of the
Government; and caused the "Liberty Tree" to be cut down, he was obliged
to fly, or he would have been tarred and feathered. He employed a negro
to assist him in cutting it down. A thousand dollars reward was offered
by the Revolutionists for the offender, the darky informed against him,
and he had to leave.[180] He was at New York in 1783, and was one of the
petitioners for lands in Nova Scotia. At a subsequent period he was
appointed Collector of Customs at the island of St. Kitt's and filled
that position for thirty-four years. He died in London in 1831, aged 83.
[180] "Memoir of General John Coffin." By Captain Henry Coffin. R. N.,
1880, p. 17.
WILLIAM COFFIN, second son of Nathaniel, the Cashier. An Addresser of
Hutchinson in 1774; went to Halifax in 1776, proscribed and banished,
1778. Assisted his brother in destroying the "Liberty Tree." He had
three sons in the British service. After the peace, he was at St. John,
New Brunswick, a prosperous merchant.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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