Capt. Thomas Coffin

5. Thomas Coffin [Whaler;Trader] (Benjamin, Thomas) died 1815.
Thomas owned real estate and pasture lands for sheep; a parcel of ground in "the Fishlot shares"; and land at School Street, bought in 1797.
He was an astute, highly respected businessman. In 1797, he bought land and built a solidly constructed, broad-timbered house of ample spaces and simple lines. It was a beautiful home, set only a step or 2 below the main street. This timbered house remains standing. He owned his ship, "Trial".
A change of fortune struck the family when Thomas Coffin, in a voyage up the west coast of South America, fell into a dispute with certain Spaniards, a dispute forcing him to leave his ship, the "Trial", at Valparaiso. This brush with the law dampened his ardor for a maritime life, and though he reached home safely he made no more whaling voyages.
In 1804 the Coffins sold the house on Fair Street to Anna Coffin's sister, Phebe Hussey and her children, and they moved to Boston.
In 1806, Thomas Coffin, merchant, bought a new brick dwelling house on Round Lane, costing $5600.
1809: Thomas Coffin and family moved to Pennsylvania.
1812: the Coffins moved to Ohio, then back to Philadelphia, PA. (Lucretia Mott)
Thomas married Anna Folger, daughter of Mr. Folger, on 1789. Anna died 1844.
She is a descendant of Peter Folger.

Thomas and Anna had the following children:


6 F i. Sarah Coffin was born 27 Oct 1790. She died 1824.


7 F ii. Lucretia Coffin [QuakerPreacher] was born 3 Jan 1793. She died 1880.

8 F iii. Elizabeth Coffin was born 22 Dec 1794. She died 1870. Elizabeth married Mr. Yarnall.


9 F iv. Mary Coffin was born 20 Nov 1796. She died 29 Sep 1797.


10 M v. Thomas Mayhew Coffin was born 19 Jun 1798. He died 1845/1846.


11 F vi. Mary Coffin was born 20 Mar 1800. She died 1824. Mary married Mr. Temple.


12 F vii. Lydia Coffin was born 14 Mar 1804.


13 F viii. Martha Coffin was born 1806. She died 4 Jan 1875.
Martha married (1) Peter Pelham. Peter died before 1829. Martha also married (2) David Wright [Lawyer] on 1829.