Notes:
He was probably married to Ann Coleman of Nantucket sometime in 1692, and remained on the island until his death. Soon after marriage he built a house on the Plains west of Clark's Cove, some three miles out of the present town, where he lived many years. In 1891 I [Orrin Peer Allen] was shown the site of the old house by William S. Allen, which is indicated now by a slight depression and a few pieces of brick. The original doorstone of this house was moved in 1826 by Shubael Allen to form the doorstone of his house on Milk street, since known as the Isaiah Folger place. The stone is undressed, some three feet square, with a surface worn smooth by the feet of seven generations.
From the Town Records of Nantucket I [Orrin Peer Allen] have gleaned these extracts concerning Edward Allen: The first mention of his name which I find is in the record of a town meeting held the 17th of the 12th month, 1706, when he was chosen one of the jurors to attend the Court Sessions of Common Pleas to be held the 25th of 1st month, 1707. At a town meeting held 29th of 1st month, 1707, Edward Allen was chosen constable. At a town meeting held 25th of 5th month, 1709, Edward Allen was chosen one of a committee to inspect every man's meadows on the island and where they find any man short in their proportion they have hereby power to amend every such man's share with the common meadows as far as it will go, to the best of their understanding. At a town meeting held 28th of 1st month, 1710, Edward Allen was chosen a juror with six others to attend next court ensuing to be held 28th of 2d mo nth, 1710. At town meeting held 20th of 1st month, 1713, Edward Allen was chosen one of the trustees of the Island. At town meeting held 24th of 1st month, 1714, Edward Allen was chosen one of the jurors. At the same meeting he was chosen one of the trustees of Nantucket. At town meeting held 23d of 1st month, 1715, Edward Allen was chosen one of the grand jurors for the ensuing year. At the same meeting he was chosen one of a committee to impound any hogs found on the commons after the time appointed. At town meeting held 23d day of 1st month, 1719, Edward Allen was chosen one of the grand jurors for the year ensuing.
From Nantucket Co. Record of Deeds is copied the following: "Be it known unto all men by these presents that I, Daniel Spotso, a Sachem on the Island of Nantucket in the Province of the MA Bay in New England, for and in the consideration of the sum of fifty shillings current money in New England to me in hand paid at or the ensealing of these presents by Edward Allen of the aforesaid Island of Nantucket, husbandman have granted, bargained, sold, alienated and confirmed and do by these presents fully, clearly and absolutely grant, bargain, sell, alienate and confirm unto the said Edward Allen, his heirs and assigns forever, commonage, freeage and pasturage for one horse on the Island of Nantucket, together with all the rights and privileges belonging into the said commonage or liberty of feeding or pasturing one horse on said Island, being one of those my father, Spotso, reserved by agreement with the English, as by said agreement may more fully appear. To have and to hold the same liberty or commange for one horse, unto him the said Edward Allen, his heirs assigns forever without in any manner of let, hinderance or molestation by me, the said Daniel Spotso, or my heirs, or by any other person or persons by our means, consent or procurement, and I, Daniel Spotso, do hereby covenant and promise to and with said Edward Allen, that the premises before the ensealing of these presents are absolutely free and clear from all former or other grants, alienations or incumbrances whatsoever, and that I have good right, lawful power, the same to dispose of. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this twenty-eighth day of May in the year of our Lord, 1707.Sealed and delivered in the presence of us.
DANEL SPAO. SEAL.
WILLIAM GAGER,
ELEAZOR FOLGER, JR.In 1711 Edward Allen, with 21 others, gave a quit claim deed of the horse commons which they had purchased of the Indians to the inhabitants of the Island for their use. On Feb 19, 1723, Edward and Ann Allen had a deed of 10 acres of land confirmed to them by arbitration which had been in dispute, which had belonged to Thomas Coleman and given by him to his son Tobias.
There are many records of deeds of land to Edward and Ann Allen, and between 1735 and 1740 there are records of land deeded by them, apparently near Main street in the town to each of their nine children. From these records it would appear that in their declining years they moved into town and probably lived with their son Ebenezer. My [Orrin Peer Allen's] attention was called to this fact by the kindness of Prof. Henry Mitchell of Nantucket, who furnished me with numerous extracts from the Co. records. In 1717 Benjamin Allen of London, cousin of our Edward, sent him a clock made in London by W. Tomlinson. This clock is a tall one, with brass works, and is still in good running order. It has remained in some branch of the family since the death of Edward. It is now in the possession of Mrs. Eben W. Allen of Nantucket. It will go to Robert M. Stratton of San Francisco. He is descended from Rachel, d. of Edward Allen, who m. Thomas Starbuck. Edward Allen, I learned from Mr. Wm. C. Folger of Nantucket, was a man of intelligence and pleasant address, one popular with his fellow townsmen. He deserves well of his posterity, for he reared nine children, eight of whom married and in turn raised large families; one was lost at sea, whaling, at the age of twenty-five. As has been remarked, Edward Allen came to Nantucket after it had been settled by the whites some 30 years; at this time it contained about 700 whites. The Indians had been christianized and were peaceful neighbors; all the lands occupied by the whites had been paid for and there
seems never to have arisen any cause for serious dispute. The climate was mild, the land productive and the inhabitants prosperous, as prosperity was counted in those days of limited needs, and our ancestor, as well as his neighbors, passed his days in contentment, and when his pilgrimage was over, was laid to rest in the ancient burial ground near Maxcy's Pond, with grave unmarked by slab, as were those who had preceded him.
The birth of Edwards wife, Anne, is recorded in the Nantucket Vital Records with the additional note that she married Edward Allen "of Piscataqua".
Notes:
In his book "Descendents of Edward Allen of Nantucket, Mass. [ca 1891], Author Orrin Peer Allen writes:
"From notes given me by Prof. Mitchell, I infer that Nathaniel Allen's house was located on the south side of Main street near Trader's Lane and about 1/4 mile westward from the Pacific Bank. In a deed dated Feb. 9, 1735, by which his father and mother gave him right to certain commons, Nathaniel is designated as a mariner, and from other circumstances we infer he was the master of a vessel; and as his first wife was from Newburyport, he probably sailed to that port in his regular coasting trips; and for a similar reason he doubtless found his second wife on Martha's Vineyard, for the storms often drove the vessels into Vineyard Haven for shelter whereupon the occasion was utilized in forming acquaintances, and often resulted in transferring some of the fair maidens of the Vineyard to Nantucket homes. Nathaniel Allen and his first wife were Friends; the record of their marriage and of their two children is found in the books of the Friends' meeting at Nantucket. Miss Gaskel was a descendent of Cassandra Southwick, of whom Whittier has written in one of his most beautiful poems. Nathaniel's second marriage was out of "meeting"and he was consequently dropped from membership, but his two children remained within the fold of the Friends. His second wife, Mercy Skiffe, was descended from Gov. Carver, the Skiffs, the Chipmans and from John Tilley and John Howland of the Mayflower. It is supposed that he spent the best part of his life following the sea, as we find he had little to do in connection with affairs at home."
Notes:
In his book "Descendents of Edward Allen of Nantucket, Mass. [ca 1891], Author Orrin Peer Allen writes:
"From notes given me by Prof. Mitchell, I infer that Nathaniel Allen's house was located on the south side of Main street near Trader's Lane and about 1/4 mile westward from the Pacific Bank. In a deed dated Feb. 9, 1735, by which his father and mother gave him right to certain commons, Nathaniel is designated as a mariner, and from other circumstances we infer he was the master of a vessel; and as his first wife was from Newburyport, he probably sailed to that port in his regular coasting trips; and for a similar reason he doubtless found his second wife on Martha's Vineyard, for the storms often drove the vessels into Vineyard Haven for shelter whereupon the occasion was utilized in forming acquaintances, and often resulted in transferring some of the fair maidens of the Vineyard to Nantucket homes. Nathaniel Allen and his first wife were Friends; the record of their marriage and of their two children is found in the books of the Friends' meeting at Nantucket. Miss Gaskel was a descendent of Cassandra Southwick, of whom Whittier has written in one of his most beautiful poems. Nathaniel's second marriage was out of "meeting"and he was consequently dropped from membership, but his two children remained within the fold of the Friends. His second wife, Mercy Skiffe, was descended from Gov. Carver, the Skiffs, the Chipmans and from John Tilley and John Howland of the Mayflower. It is supposed that he spent the best part of his life following the sea, as we find he had little to do in connection with affairs at home."
Notes:
Nicholas Coffin ( in early times written "Coffyn") and his wife had land in Plympton Erle. "Coffin" is a landed family of great antiquity and the name originated from the French adjective, chauve (bald). From the early nickname came the name Chaufin which eventually became anglicized as Coffin. From English records we find that Edward Coffin, the Jesuit, was born in Exeter in 1571 and Henry Coffyn lived in county Somerset in 1327.
The will of Nicholas was made on 12 Sept 1613 and probated on 3 Nov 1613 in Totnes, Devonshire, England. In this will he mentions wife Johan, sons Peter, Nicholas, Tristram , John and daughter Anne. It is held with much confidence by many persons, that this ancestor was a descendant of Richard Coffin who came to England at the time of the Norman Conquest, and who was the founder of the ancient family now seated at Portledge. The names of the proprietors of Portledge have been, Richard, John, William and David, but with the name of Richard predominating in the continuous line of names preserved since 1254. That in the branch to which Nicholas belonged, there was a Richard, is seen from the will of his brother in which the name is mentioned. The branching from the main stock at Portledge may have occurred, however, several generations before this Nicholas came upon the scene. In looking for the origin of the family in Normandy, it has been found that the old chateau of Courtiton, a few miles from Fallaise was once the home of the Norman Coffins, the present owner, Mons. Le Clerc, being the grandson of the last of that line of Coffins, she having in 1796 married a Le Clerc. The Normandy home and the ancient Portledge manor house (which in part has existed for centuries ) must ever be object of great interest to the American Branch. [From "One Hundred Sixty Allied Families" by John 0. Austin.]
The above ancestral line for Nicholas is supported by the work of Burton W. Spear in his extensive genealogical work "Search for the Passengers of the Mary and John - 1630". In Volume 17, pg. 36, he speculates that "Nicholas was the son of Tristram Coffing of Buttlers, Brixton, Deavonshire, born about 1525-1530".
It will be found, however, that some researchers of this family still subscribe to the now discredited speculation of one Thomas Amory, in an article about Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, Bart., in which he suggests that Nicholas was the son of Peter Coffin and Mary Boscawens, daughter of Hugh Boscawens and Phillippa Carminow.
Notes:
A work on the Ancestry of Charles Stinton Pillsbury and John Sargent Pillsbury states that Johan, the spouse of Nicholas Coffin mentioned in his will, may be the widow Johan Avent.
Notes:
On 4 Jan 1628, John Coffin, uncle of Tristram Coffin, wrote his will making Tristram Executor and leaving him most of his estate. Three months later, on 3 Apr 1628, Tristram's uncle Nicholas and his aunt Ann Winston brought suit against Tristram in the Exeter District Probate Court, claiming that two or three days before New Years John Coffin instructed Tristram to make John's will and told him that Nicholas Coffin, son of John's brother Nicholas, should be executor, but that Tristram had put his own name as executor, and John tore the paper when he saw it. The paper of the will read in court was not torn, and was witnessed by Henry Tammas and Martha Simnell who testified that they saw Tristram write the will and John sign it and seal it with a key. The court found for Tristram.
Notes:
Silvanus Allen resided many years on Nantucket, where we often find him referred to on the town records as chosen to act as a juror, and in 1746 was elected constable of the Island. In the Registry of Deeds at Taunton we find recorded in Book 45, p. 208, that Sylvanus Allen of Sherborn (Nantucket) removed to Dartmouth where he bought real estate for ?257, dated 27th of 1st month, 1761, and soon after he bought another lot of land for ?500. He probably resided in that portion of Dartmouth which was established as New Bedford in 1787. He bestowed land at different times upon his several children.
Source: Descendents of Edward Allen of Nantucket, Mass, Author: Orrin Peer Allen, CallNumber: R929.2 A42
Notes:
The farm by the Old School Baptist Church was occupied first by Calvin Dyer, the by Seymour Dyer and later by his son Frank Dyer.
Seymour and Angeline had eight children: Charles E., Elizabeth C, Alice Eldeen, Adaline Ardelle, William Albert, Frank Everett, Sidney F. and Rose Belle.