Anne Coffin

The descendants of Hugh Amory 1605-1805. By Gertrude Euphemia Meredith. http://www.archive.org/stream/descendantshugh00goog#page/n12/mode/2up

The Bunch of Grapes was probably established as an inn about this time. Feb. 6, 1711- 1712 ^Two legs broken in town this day, Frank Homes, by his horse falling on him ^ etc. says Sewall. For some reason objection was made to the renewal of his license as an inn- holder in 1713 but was withdrawn. He remained actively at the head of the tavern until 1721, spending much of his time after that date in South Carolina looking after his property there. His will was proved in Charleston S. C. June 9, 1726. Besides land in Charleston, he owned a plantation of 500 acres called Beach Hill and another of eighty acres on James Island. His sloop named the * Bumper ' is disposed of in his will. He was married to Rebecca Wharf -. by Rev. Cotton Mather. He joined the Brattle Street Church Nov. 3. 1706. Of his twelve children two daughters may be mentioned, Rebecca, who subsequently owned the tavern property, and Anne who married William Coffin, the third innkeeper. Rebecca, baptized Dec. 22. 1700 married Thomas Amory May 9, 1721. . • • Rebecca Holmes succeeded her husband . . • and was ' approved for innholder ' July 18. 1726. Administration on her estate was granted Feb. 16. 1 730-1. . . . Ebenezer Holmes, one of the administrators, charges himself with ^Received for rent of William Coffin for the Bunch of Grapes ^^337-* • • • William Coffin, the third keeper of the Bunch of Grapes, was the son of Nathaniel and Damaris (Gayer) Coffin of Nantucket. He was born Dec. 1, 1699, and married Anne Holmes Sept. 3, 1722. He took charge of the tavern on the death of his mother-in-law. April 21, 1731, *Upon the petition of William Coffin for a License to be an Innholder in the House called the Bunch of Grapes in King Street. His Petition to the General Court and their answer to it. The Selectmen have Considered them. And they do approve of and recommend the Said William Coffin to be a Person of Sober Conversation suitably accommodated and Provided for the Exercise of Such an Imployment.' In Judge Benjamin Lynde's diary are frequent references to the tavern. 'Aug. 15, I732» I put our Courts Club, 4 of us at Coffin's, to my account.' Coffin kept the tavern two years or more. He was an officer of Trinity Church and became a merchant of note. He died in 1775. He was the grandfather of General John Coffin, Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, Bart., and Sir Thomas Aston Coffin, Bart,"

Several of Holmes's sons were merchants at Charleston ; one went to sea and had a sloop of his own ; Eben, who stayed in Boston, seems to have been the only one for whom Harvard was thought possible. ** Dear Beckee/' their father writes ^'^ to his eldest daughter in 1720, "Bee sure asist your rilothar ... & exhoart your Brothers & sisters to diligenc & if Eben goes to Colledg I Hope the Lord will give him Grace to Improve so greatt a fafour as Larning." Beckee's brothers write to her " by every opportunity " with such ex- pressions as ** Ever Loving Sister," and " This will kiss your dear hands/' etc. She closes a note to one of them, younger than herself, with " Love and sarvis to you, your Loveing sister Rebekah Holmes."

[XXXVHL] Thomas Amory wrote to her father, Feb- ruary 9th, 1 720- 1 :

"Sir

" Please God you'l receive this under convert Madâ„¢ Holmes Letter for since that I have seen the Continent all along to Philadelphia do find Boston to be the best place for me to settle at, likeing it extraordinary well so have resolved to sett down & settle here the next business in hand was to look out for an help Mate and by the frequent conversation with your beloved Daughter Mrs Rebecca whom I find to answer the General Character the World gives of her, to be a most Discreet Virtuous good-humoured Young Woman & has all the Good Qualities y^ can be expressed for a Man to be happy with her, Wherefore we have the consent of your beloved Spouse, only waiting now y* first Opportunity y* same from your good Self, with your advice & blessing for the

Continuance of our happiness being most afFedlionate to you & yours reflfng to Mad"^ Holmes further thereon and am with best Respedte y assured & obed^ hble Servant."