"Nantucket", by Mary Starbuck

28

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

2. Obituary of Moses Coffin From the Boston Journal in 1882 we find the following: Mr. Moses Coffin, who was thirty-two years a resident of Springfield, Vt., died at his residence in that place on the 13th inst. He was born in Nantucket, Mass., Nov. 15,1799, and was a lineal descendant of Tristram Coffin. His mother, Phebe Folger Coffin, was a descendant of Peter Folger whose daughter Abiah was the mother of Benjamin Franklin. Mr. Coffin was bred to the sea and made his first voyage as cabin boy when he was fifteen years old. Having learned navigation, he, at the age of twenty years, became the Mate on a coasting vessel, and in this position remained until he shipped in 1825 on the ship JOHN JAY for the Pacific Ocean. The captain, in a drunken fit, stabbed an officer, and the ship was taken from Valparaiso home by Mr. Coffin.

During his several voyages he learned the Spanish and Kanaka languages, and was often employed as an interpreter by American and British officers. Leaving the sea in 1828, he moved to Willimantic, Conn., and then to Ashland, Mass., in 1832, where he remained until 1850, then moved t9 Springfield.

While in Ashland he invented several improvements in paper making machinery, that are in use at the present time (1882).

He married in 1823 Nancy Gardner, of Nantucket, who bore him two daughters and seven sons. She died in 1854, and, on May 31,1858, he married Mrs. Caroline Hatch, of Springfield, who survived him. His last days were peaceful and he died, regretted by all who knew him.

& Nantucket

"Just a sandy wind-swept island!"

What more would you have it be, With a turquoise sky above it,

Around it a sapphire sea? When its dawns are pearl and opal,

Its noon are crystals clear, And its sunsets shower down gold dust

Till the diamond stars appear, When to those who are born on the island,

And to many from over the sea, 'Tis fairer than all its jewels,

What more does it need to be? Mary Starbuck, 1911