Nantucket to New Zealand Coffins - Alexander "Long Tom" Coffin

http://www.uridge.org/Euridge_Uridge-p/p138.htm#i3443

Alexander COFFIN1,2
d. 26 July 1901

Alexander 'Tom' Coffin
Husband of Caroline Henrietta Bathurst
Alexander's nickname was Long Tom COFFIN.1 He was born in the USA, and went to New Zealand from Nantucket USA. There is anecdotal evidence that he ran away to sea at the age of 12 years. Alexander's grandson, Charlie Coffin was told that Alexander left the States in 1832. Stories have it that he came out on a whaling ship captained by his uncle, Seth Coffin, and that he named one of his sons Seth Silverneil after the captain of his ship. He was first documented in Timaru in 1840 at the Rhodes Brothers Whaling Station. He also worked as a drover and labourer before setting up in farming at Okains Bay. He dabbled in poetry, acted as a vet and raised his family on the farm.1 Alexander was the partner of Caroline Henrietta BATHURST; They had fourteen known children:
William Thomas Bathurst; Alexander Bathurst Coffin; William Henry Coffin; Edward James Coffin; Henrietta Louisa Coffin; Silas Augustus Bathurst; Seth Silverneil Bathurst Coffin; Philip George Bathurst Coffin; Alfred William Bathurst Coffin; Richard Uridge Bathurst; Walter Henry (Abbott) Coffin Bathurst; Charles Samuel Bathurst Coffin; Lillian Francis Bathurst Coffin; Peter Bathurst Coffin.1,3
Alexander died on 26 July 1901 in Okains Bay, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand