Mary 'Great Mary‘ Starbuck

Mary Coffin

• Birth: Feb. 20, 1645 Haverhill Essex County, Massachusetts
• Death: Sep. 13, 1717 Nantucket Nantucket County, Massachusetts
• Daughter of Tristram Coffin, Sr. and Dionis (Stevens) Coffin
• Wife of Nathaniel Starbuck, Sr.

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Biography

"Reverend" Mary Coffin was born February 20, 1644/45 in Haverhill, Massachusetts just two years after her parents' arrival from Devonshire, England. She moved to Nantucket Island with her father, Tristram Coffin, who led the colonization of the island in 1660-1661. In 1662 she married Nathaniel Starbuck, a prosperous farmer, local official, and partner with her father in purchasing the area from the Indians.

"Great Mary," or the "Great Woman," as she is frequently referred to, was an exceptional woman. Born off-island in 1645, she and her husband Nathaniel were the first English couple married on Nantucket and parents of the first white child (a daughter, Mary) born on Nantucket Island, in 1663.

Mary (the mother) was the island's first storekeeper and Nathaniel invested in whaling. In later life she had a deep commitment to Quaker ideals and was instrumental in the growth and development of Nantucket's Religious Society of Friends.

Mother of ten children, of whom five daughters and three sons lived to maturity, Mary and her eldest son Nathaniel helped make Quakerism the leading religion on the island sometime after her own conversion from Puritanism by the Quakers of Providence, RI in 1701 at the age of 56. She was a minister, as were her children and grandchildren.

"The islanders esteemed [Mary Starbuck] as a judge among them, for little was done without her, as I understood," wrote Englishman John Richardson, describing his 1701 visit. He bestowed on her the epithet "the great woman," and in the same journal entry deprecated her husband as "not a man of mean parts but she so far exceeded him in soundness of judgment, clearness of understanding, and an elegant way of expressing herself ... that it tended to lessen the qualifications of her husband."

Mary was a "most extraordinary woman, participating in the practical duties and responsibilities of public gatherings and town meetings, on which occasions her words were always listened to with marked respect." For several years, Meetings or worships as well as Nantucket's political affairs were held in the "great fore-room" of her home which became known as "Parliament House," situated on what is now known as Island View Farm between the Macy's and the north head of Hummock ponds.

Despite Mary's involvement in the weighty matters of religion, she did not neglect domestic issues, as evidenced by a letter which Lydia Hinchman quotes in Early Settlers of Nantucket. In the aftermath of a fire experienced by her granddaughter, Eliza Gorham, Mary wrote to her:

Nantucket 17th of 1st mo 1714

Dear Child E.G.

These few lines may certify thee that thou art often in my remembrance, with thy dear husband and children, with breathings to the Lord for you, that you may find rest in all your visitations and trials: and also that there is a trunk filled with goods which is intended to be put on Eben Stewards vessel, in which are several small tokens from thy friends which thou may particularly see by the invoices here enclosed, and by some other marks that are upon the things.

Thy Aunt Dorcas in a new pair of Osnaburg sheets, thy Aunt Dinah in a pair of blankets. Thy Grandfather intends to send thee a bbl. of mutton, but it is not all his own, for cousin James Coffin sent hither 17 pieces. Cousin James said he intended to send thee two or three bushels of corn.

There is likewise sent from our women's meeting £7 which thy uncle Jethro said he would give an order for, for thee to take to Boston.

Sister James told me she intended to send thee two bushels of corn and some wool and likewise that Justice Worth said he would send thee some corn.

More meat and corn will be sent which will be in larger quantities, which thy uncle Jethro STarbuck will give thee an acct. of or to thy husband.

I should have been glad if he had come over with Steward, but I hope we will see him this summer, if not both of you.

So with my kind love to thee and thy husband, children and to all our frds. committing you to the protection of the Almighty who is the wise disposer of all things and remain thy affectionate grandmother.

Mary Starbuck

Mary Coffin Starbuck formed the Society of Friends on Nantucket Island and became a Quaker preacher.

Nathaniel’s wife Mary Coffin(b. 20 Feb 1645, Haverhill, Mass; d. 13 Sep 1717, Nantucket) was seventeen at the time of her marriage and was eighteen when her first child Mary was born. Mary was the first white child born on the Island of Nantucket. Nathaniel and Mary had ten children. Mary Coffin Starbuck, who became known as "The Great Mary" of Nantucket, was a woman of great power and influence and early became a convert to Quakerism and her personality was so great that soon the entire population of the Island became Quakers. Town Meetings which were frequently held in her home. For several years meetings for workshops were held in the "great fore-room" of her home known as 'Parliament House' situated on what is now known as Island View farm between the Macy's and the North Head of the Hummock ponds. John Richardson an early Quaker preacher said of her " The Islanders established her a Judge among them, for a little of moment was done without her advice". She held religious meetings in her own home, being herself a preacher of power and eloquence.

Mary coffin was a most extraordinary woman. She raised a family of ten children and operated the islands first store she had the respect of everyone that knew her. She was convinced of the folly of infant baptism and shared her friend Peter Folger's aversion of the rigid doctrines of Puritan congregationalists.

Daughter of Tristram (1605-1681) and Dionis Stevens(<1610-<1659)Coffin. She married Nathaniel in 1662. Mary was a most extraordinary woman. She raised a family of ten children and operated the island's first store. She had the respect of everyone who knew her. She was convinced of the folly of infant baptism, and shared her friend Peter Folger's aversion to the rigid doctrines of the Puritan Congregationalists. She became one of the first Islanders to embrace Quakerism in 1704. Her home was called the Parliament House, where many meetings were held. Children of Mary Coffin and Nathaniel Starbuck were Mary b.3-30-1663 d.unk, Elizabeth b.9 Nov,1665 d.1706, Nathaniel b.8 Nov,1668 d.29 Jan,1753, Jethro b.12 Dec,1671 d.12 Aug,1770, Barnabas b.12 Dec,1673 d,21 Nov,1732, Eunice b.10 April,1674 d.12 July,1766, Priscilla b.24 Aug,1676 d.14 Mar,1762, Hepzibah b.2 April,1680 d.7 April,1740, Ann b. abt 1682, Paul b. abt 1685.

Family links:

Parents:

 Tristram Coffin (1609 - 1681)

 Dionis Stevens Coffin (1610 - 1684)

Spouse:

 Nathaniel Starbuck (1634 - 1719)

Children:

 Mary S Starbuck Gardner (1663 - 1696)*

 Elizabeth Starbuck Coffin (1665 - 1706)*

 Nathaniel Starbuck (1668 - 1753)*

 Priscilla Starbuck Coleman (1676 - 1762)*

Siblings:

 Peter Coffin (1630 - 1715)*

 Tristram Coffin (1631 - 1703)*

 Elizabeth Coffin Greenleaf (1634 - 1678)*

 James Coffin (1640 - 1720)*

 Mary Coffin Starbuck (1645 - 1717)

 John Coffin (1647 - 1711)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Founders Burial Ground Nantucket Nantucket County Massachusetts, USA

Created by: Robert Dunbar Austin Jr Record added: Feb 21, 2012 Find A Grave Memorial# 85295575

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Mary Coffin
20 February 1645 – 13 November 1717 • LCTV-67F​​
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Mary Coffin
1645–1717 • LCTV-67F​​
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Nathaniel Starbuck I
1636–1719 • L29T-3PQ​​
Marriage: about 1662
Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America

Mary Coffin
1645–1717 • LCTV-67F​​

Children of Mary Coffin and Nathaniel Starbuck I (10)
Mary Starbuck
1663–1696 • L6JW-7DX​​

Elizabeth Starbuck
1665–1706 • LZ67-9G2​​

Nathaniel Starbuck II
1668–1753 • 26K6-G11​​

Jethro Starbuck
1671–1770 • LM9D-43R​​

Barnabas Starbuck
1673–1732 • 26K6-PKD​​

Eunice Starbuck
1674–1766 • LH5W-CCV​​

Priscilla Starbuck
1676–1762 • L8RZ-9GM​​

Hepzibah Starbuck
1680–1740 • MJSY-LT8​​

Ann Starbuck
1682–1716 • KFBC-CLM​​

Paul Starbuck
1685–Deceased • GNWM-HCH​​

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Tristram Coffin Sr
1609–1681 • L8BH-G24​​
Marriage: about 1630
Brixham, Torbay, Devon, England

Dionis Stevens
1610–1684 • MCCT-B3T​​

Children of Dionis Stevens and Tristram Coffin Sr (9)

Captain Peter Coffin I
1630–1715 • LY8Z-XW5​​

Tristram Coffin
1632–1704 • LZLZ-KSC​​

Elizabeth Coffin
1634–1678 • LY8Z-K4H​​

James Coffin
1639–1720 • 9VWJ-WHJ​​

John Coffin
1641–1642 • 94KT-BMN​​

Deborah Coffin
1642–1642 • LZ2S-L8L​​

Mary Coffin
1645–1717 • LCTV-67F​​

John Coffin
1647–1711 • KNZ2-13G​​

Stephen Coffin Sr.
1652–1734 • 9HKM-W69​​

GEDCOM Note

Category:Descendants of Tristram Coffin-221 Category: Nantucket Founders and Descendants Category: Haverhill, Massachusetts Category: Nantucket, Massachusetts Category: Nantucket Island Quakers Category:Founders Burial Ground, Nantucket, Massachusetts

Biography

Mary was the leading spirit in the organization of the Society of Friends. She became known as "The Great Mary" of Nantucket. She was a mostextraordinary woman, participating in public gatherings and especially in Town Meetings, which were frequently held in her house. In 1701,under the influence of John Richardson, the famous Friend from England, and during his visit to Nantucket, she became a Friend and became the leader of a movement to establish a Friends Meeting on the island. This became a powerful influence in the lives of many persons, and for a long period exercised control over the affairs of the town. On account of her superior judgement, she was often consulted in town affairs as well as in religious matters. Until her death, she was probablythe most influential person living on the island of Nantucket.
Mary Starbuck was called by writers of that period 'the great woman,' a 'Deborah' among them for her wisdom and great ability, being as often consulted in town affairs as she was in religious matters. She is said —on the anthority of her eldest son, Nathaniel, Jr.— to have beenbaptized by Peter Folger, in Waiptequage Pond; but about 1704 she became convinced of the truth as taught by the Friends, joined them, and became one of their ministers. Her family after that generally became Friends, and her son Nathaniel, and daughter Priscilla Coleman, and grandsons Elihu and Nathaniel Coleman, were at a later period Quaker ministers."

Nathaniel, Sr., and Mary Starbuck probably lived on the Cornish farm; Nathaniel, Jr., near the south end of Maxcy's Pond."

Daughter of Tristram (1605-1681) and Dionis Stevens(<1610-<1659)Coffin. She married Nathaniel in 1662. Mary was a most extraordinary woman. She raised a family of ten children and operated the island's first store. She had the respect of everyone who knew her. She was convinced of the folly of infant baptism, and shared her friend Peter Folger's aversion to the rigid doctrines of the Puritan Congregationalists. She became one of the first Islanders to embrace Quakerism in 1704. Her home was called the Parliament House, where many meetings were held. Children of Mary Coffin and Nathaniel Starbuck were Mary b.3-30-1663 d.unk, Elizabeth b.9 Nov,1665 d.1706, Nathaniel b.8 Nov,1668 d.29 Jan,1753, Jethro b.12 Dec,1671 d.12 Aug,1770, Barnabas b.12 Dec,1673 d,21 Nov,1732, Eunice b.10 April,1674 d.12 July,1766, Priscilla b.24 Aug,1676 d.14 Mar,1762, Hepzibah b.2 April,1680 d.7 April,1740, Ann b. abt 1682, Paul b. abt 1685.

Quaker Preacher Of Nantucket Island
Mary Coffin Starbuck was born February 20, 1645 in Haverhill, Massachusetts, just two years after her parents’ arrival from Devonshire, England. Ten men got together and planned the purchase Nantucket Island, off the Massachusetts shore. Mary’s father, Tristram Coffin was the leader of the group — along with Edward Starbuck, Thomas Macy, and Isaac Coleman – and the purchase took place in 1659. He took his family to the island in 1660, where he was Chief Magistrate in 1671 and Commissioner in 1675.

In 1662, Mary married Nathaniel Starbuck, a prosperous farmer, local official, and partner with her father in purchasing the area from the Indians. The son of Edward and Catherine (Reynolds) Starbuck, Nathaniel was born February 20, 1634 in Dover, New Hampshire. Mary was eighteen when her first child was born – the first white child born on the Island of Nantucket. From this family all of the Starbucks of America are descended.

For several years, Town Meetings were frequently held in the “great fore-room” of her home, which became known as “Parliament House.” John Richardson an early Quaker preacher said of her, “The Islanders established her a Judge among them, for a little of moment was done without her advice.” She held religious meetings in her home, being herself a Quaker preacher of power and eloquence.

The population of Nantucket in 1700 was approximately 300 whites and 800 Indians. Short of specie and wanting loyal suppliers, traders advanced up to ten pounds of cloth, fish hooks, shoes, shot, kettles, and more in exchange for feathers and fish – and Mary’s company store was born. The use of the credit system depended on the courts allowing the Indians to be sued for debt. Mary’s book shows accounts for as many as 200 Indians, who were primarily engaged in codfishing and fowling but were also performing routine manual labor, and later whaling. In return for their efforts, they received necessary tools, cloth, and supplies.

Mother of ten children, of whom five daughters and three sons lived to maturity, Mary and her eldest son Nathaniel helped make Quakerism the leading religion on the island sometime after her own conversion from Puritanism by the Quakers – the Society of Friends – at Providence, Rhode Island, in 1701 at the age of 56.

Quakerism in Early Nantucket The Society of Friends (Quakers) was the first religious group to formally organize on the island. Mary Starbuck and her husband Nathaniel led the Quaker movement on Nantucket. The Nantucket Meeting was formed in 1708, with Mary serving as an elder and her son Nathaniel Jr. as clerk. Mary became the first recognized minister among the islanders.

The first meetings were held in the Starbuck home. Englishman John Richardson wrote of a meeting at which Mary “Spoke trembling… Then she arose, and I observed that she and as many as could well be seen, were wet with Tears from their Faces to the fore-skirts of their Garments and the floor was as though there was a Shower of Rain upon it.”

“The islanders esteemed [Mary Starbuck] as a judge among them, for little was done without her, as I understood,” Richardson wrote. [She was a] “most extraordinary woman, participating in the practical duties and responsibilities of public gatherings and town meetings, on which occasion her words were always listened to with marked respect.”

Mary, who became known as “Great Mary of Nantucket,” was a woman of great power and influence. She was consulted upon all matters of public importance, because her judgment was superior, and she was universally acknowledged to be a great woman.

The Quakers on Nantucket were strong politically and financially; many were involved in the lucrative whaling industry. They were in the majority for most of the eighteenth century, and their devotion to simplicity and strict adherence to traditional ways influenced Nantucket’s architecture, home furnishings, clothing, and social behavior.

Quakerism gradually became the dominant religion of Nantucket’s ruling elite and a majority of island residents during the most prosperous days of the whaling industry. It effectively served as the official faith of the small maritime community that would become the whaling capital of the world.

Although the first Meeting house on Nantucket was built in 1711, Mary did not live to see the official Nantucket Monthly Meeting be established. Mary Coffin Starbuck died on Nantucket Island November 13, 1717, at the age of seventy-two. Fittingly, her body was laid to rest in the Friends’ burial ground next to the new meetinghouse built on land donated by her son and the Nantucket proprietors.