COLEMAN
Extracted From
The History Of Nantucket, County, Island And Town :
Including Genealogies Of First Settlers
Starbuck, Alexander,

Boston: C.E. Goodspeed & Co., 1924.

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]

COLEMAN Thomas Coleman was the original Man of the name to be connected with affairs in Nantucket. Coffin's History of Newbury states that he came from Wittshire, England. in 1635. He first settled in Newbury. According to the Records of the Town of Newbury he was engaged by Richard Saltonstall and others in England and America in November, 1635, "for the keeping of horses and sheep in a general place for the space of three years." His work proved unsatisfactory, and each of the contractors was authorized to provide for his own.       In the original purchase of the Island, Thomas Coleman was chosen by John Swain as his partner. At what time he removed to the Island is not clear but evidently it was very early. At a meeting of the Town, March 1, 1663, it was voted that "John Coleman shall have land Lay out on the North side of the lots of Robert Barnard for the use of the said John Coleman, his father Thomas Coleman having given half of his accommodation on the Island half the house lot to be Layd out in he place before mentioned for John Coleman, the aforesaid Thomas Coleman doth Lay down one half of his Lot already Layd out."       In October, 1664. the Town chose Richard Swain and Thomas Coleman Surveyors of Highways. It may he assumed then that he was a resident as early at least as 1664.       His first wife's name was Susanna ____ and she died November 17, 1650. He married (July 11. 1651) Mary, widow of Edmund Johnson. She died at Hampton. January 30, 1663. He married a third time—to Margery—(Ashbourne according to some authorities) ["Early Settlers of Nantucket." p. 61. This would seem to be an error as a letter from (Rev.) Thomas Osborne dated Nantucket 25th, 8 mo. 1682, written to George Little (Rev) and quoted by Joshua Coffin in the Historic Genealogical Register for Jan. 1862, in which Osborne. who is a Baptist minister, mentions his own marriage to Margery Coleman, widow of Thomas. Margery, whose maiden name is not given, married—first—Osgood: second, Thomas Rowell: third. Thomas Coleman; fourth, Thomas Osborne—certainly showing a marked preference for Thomas as a name to cling to.] His children were: by Susanna: Benjamin, born May 1. 1640; Joseph, born December 2. 1642: John, born ___, 1644; Isaac, born February 20, 1647; probably by Mary: Joanna, ( by the third wife) Tobias. [Probably the lad who accompanied Tristram Coffin and Edward Starbuck on their first trip to the Island for observation. Savage makes Tobias the oldest son: Nantucket authorities do not agree with him. Thomas died in 1685, aged 83 years. Joseph married Ann Bunker, daughter of George. Senior: Isaac was drowned with John Barnard and his wife, June 6, 1669, while coming from the Vineyard in a canoe; John married (probably in 1666) Joanna Folger, daughter of Peter, Senior: Tobias married Lydia Osborne, daughter of Thomas's wife. He had one daughter Deborah, born in Nantucket, May 25, 1676. and removed with his family at an early period to Martha's Vineyard.       Joseph had but one son, who was born November 17, 1673 and was drowned in his boyhood. A daughter Ann, born November 10, 1675, who married Edward Allen was his only other child.       The family in Nantucket then may properly be said to have descended from John and Joanna. Mr. Worth says, [Nantucket Land and Land Owners, p.T66] Thomas' house lot "was 1,000 feet square. bounded on the north by the lot of Christopher Hussey, on the east by the Long Woods and on the South by the lot of Capt. Pyke." It was about half a mile southwest from the north head of the Hummock Pond. On his decease the house and lot descended to Tobias. Joseph's lot was located at High Cliff, which Mr. Worth thinks locates it in the section west of the estate of the late Charles 0' Connor Esq. John's house lot was a little west of the Elihu Coleman house. comprised ten acres and extended southeast to Robert Barnard's lot. __________ JOHN [1] married (probably in 1666) Joanna Folger, daughter of Peter, Senior. The Probate Court Records show that in the settling of John's estate. December 7, 1715, there were eight children: i John, born August 2, 1667; married (1694) Priscilla Starbuck, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary. ii Jeremiah, born probably in 1668; married (20th, 11 mo. 1714-15) Sarah Pratt. iii Thomas, born October 17, 1669; married Jane Challenge. iv Isaac, born February 6, 1671; married. v Phebe, born June 15, 1674; married ____ Cathcart. vi Abigail, married James Tisdale. vii Benjamin, born January 17, 1676. viii Solomon; married—first, (1st, 9 mo. 1711) Mary Macy, daughter of John and Deborah, who died 27th, 6 mo. 1715: second. (1718) Deliverance Swett. __________ JOHN [2] (John [1]) born August 2. 1667; married Priscilla Starbuck, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary. He died 19th. 1 mo. 1762: she died 14th. 3 mo. of the same year. Their children were: i Persis, born December 7, 1695, who died young. ii Nathaniel, horn December 20. 1697; married (4th, 10 mo. 1729) Mary Gardner, widow of Nathaniel and daughter of Peter and Judith Folger. iii Elihu, born February 12. 1699; married (6th. 10 mo. 1720) Jemima Barnard, daughter of John. iv Barnabas, born April 24. 1704; died in infancy. v Jethro, born 8th 7 mo. 1706; married—first, (6th, 11 mo. 1731) Lydia Paddack, daughter of Nathaniel and Ann; second, (31st, 1 mo. 1748) Lydia Macy. daughter of Thomas and Deborah. vi Barnabas, born 14th, 9 mo. 1708: married—first, March 3, 1728) Elizabeth Barnard. daughter of Nathaniel and Judith; second, (8th, 9 mo. 1733) Rachel Hussey, daughter of Silvanus and Abial. vii Phebe, born 10th. 4 mo. 1711; married ( 3d, 10 mo. 1730) Barzillai Folger, son of Nathan and Sarah. viii Priscilla, born 28th, 9 mo. 1713; married (7th, 11 mo. 1731-2) Samuel Bunker. son of Jabez and Hannah. ix John, born 20th, 11 mo. 1715; married (9th, 9 mo. 1738) Ruth Pinkham. daughter of Shubael and Abigail. x Mary, born 30th. 3 mo. 1718; married (2d, 10 mo. 1741) William Russell, son of Daniel and Deborah; died 11th. 1 mo. 1767. __________ JEREMIAH [2] (John [1] ) born probably in 1668; married (20th. 11 mo. 1714-15) Sarah Pratt. Their children were: i Peter, born 6th. 2 mo. 1716; probably married ( December 20, 1750) Susanna Upham. ii Lydia, born February 17, 1717-18; married—first, (28th, 8 mo. 1751) William Starbuck, son of Jethro and Dorcas: second (29th, 10 mo. 1761) Theophilus Pinkham, son of Richard and Mary. iii Silvanus, born June 2, 1720. iv Johanna, born September 19. 1722; probably married (March 9. 1750) Eleazer Clark. v Enoch, born March 24. 1724-5; married (5th, 11 mo. 1748) Mary Myrick, daughter of Andrew and Jedidah. vi Jeremiah, born October 19, 1729; probably married (February 12. 1756) Anna Russell. __________ SOLOMON [2] (John [1]) was twice married—first, (1st. 9 mo. 1711) to Mary Macy, daughter of John and Deborah, who died 27th, 6 mo. 1715; second. (20th, 8 mo. 1718) to Deliverance Swett. Their children were: [A clause in Solomon's will (probated in Feb. 1772) provided that none of his heirs "shall ever sell or dispose of my Dwelling House and the Land it stands upon except one to another among themselves."] By Mary: i Abigail, born probably in 1712; died 4th, 8 mo. 1787: married (6th, 8 mo. 1737) Zephaniah Coffin, son of Stephen and Experience. By Deliverence- ii Daniel, born 12th. 7 mo. 1719: married (December 3?, 1741) Elizabeth Mooers. iii Elizabeth, born 3d, 5 mo. 1722; married (9th 8 mo. 1746) Jonathan Gwinn, son of David and Alice. iv Christopher, born 30th. 6 mo. 1723; died 4th, 5 mo. 1795; married (9th, 12 mo. 1748) Priscilla Coffin, daughter of Samuel and Miriam. v Peleg, born 12th. 8 mo. 1725; died 31st, 5 mo. 1808; married (12th, 10 mo. 1751; Mary Worth, widow of Benjamin and daughter of Shubael and Jerusha Folger. vi Hepzibah, born 20th, 11 mo. 1727; died 2d, 5 mo. 1820. vii George, born 14th, 3 mo. 1730; married (10th, 11 mo. 1750) Eunice Folger, daughter of Jethro and Mary. viii Francis, born 25th, 6 mo. 1732; married (7th, 2 mo. 1760) Abigail Bunker, daughter of Samuel and Priscilla. ix Solomon, born 3d, 1 mo. 1735; married (14th, 12 mo. 1755) Mehitable Gardner, daughter of James and Susanna. __________ NATHANIEL [3] (John [2] John [1]) born December 20, 1697; married (4th, 10 mo. 1728) Mary Gardner, widow of Nathaniel and daughter of Peter and Judith Folger. He died 19th, 3 mo. 1783; she died 3d, 12 mo. 1763. Their children were: i Elizabeth, born 30th, 6 mo. 1730; married (16th, 9 mo. 1749) Samuel Ray, son of Samuel and Mary. ii John, born 15th, 8 mo. 1732; married (7th, 2 mo. 1754) Anna Davis, daughter of John and Margaret. iii Benjamin, horn 8th, 1 mo. 1735; lost at sea 1756. __________ ELIHU [3] (John [2] John [1]) [Reference to the Chapter on the subject of Slavery will show that Elihu Coleman while yet a young man was one of the earliest avocates of emancipation in America. The home which Elihu built and in which he lived is still standing, an evidence of the thoroughness of its construction and the excellence of the Nantucket timber of which it was built.] born February 12. 1699; married (6th. 10 mo. 1720) Jemima Barnard, daughter of John and Sarah. He died 24th. 1 mo. 1789: she died 25th. 12 mo. 1779. Their children were: i Ruth, born 9th, 9 mo. 1721; married (4th. 12 mo. 1711) David Coffin, son of Samuel and Miriam. ii William, born 3d. 6 mo. 1723; married (26th, 2 mo. 1756) Eunice Swain, daughter of John and Mary. iii Eunice, born 18th, 10 mo. 1724; married (13th. 8 mo. 1743) John Macy, son of John and Judith. iv Phebe, born 10th, 6 mo. 1726; married (14th. 9 mo. 1745) Seth Folger, son of Shubael and Jerusha. v Anna, born 24th, 12 mo. 1728; married (12th, 8 mo. 1749) John Coffin, son of Tristram and Mary, who died 1755; and, second. (1764) Jonathan Gardner, son of Barnabas and Mary. vi Priscilla, born 15th, 8 mo. 1731; married (13th, 10 mo. 1750) Peter Coffin, son of Peter and Hope. vii Mary, born 25th, 7 mo. 1733; married (3d. 1 mo. 1760) Shubael Pinkham, son of Shubael and Abigail. viii Abigail, born 21st. 9 mo. 1735; married (6th. 1 mo. 1757) Micajah Coffin, son of Benjamin and Jedidah. __________ JETHRO [3] (John [2] John [1] ) was born 8th 7 mo. 1706; married—first (6th 11 mo. 1731) Lydia Paddack, daughter of Nathaniel and Ann: he removed from the Island in 1779; she died 21st, 1 mo. 1747; married second. (31st. 1 mo. 1748) Lydia Macy, daughter of Thomas and Deborah. Their children were: By Lydia Paddack: i Jethro, born 28th. 8 mo. 1734; lost at sea 1755. ii Paul, _____, _____ : lost at sea 1755. iii Barnabas, _____, _____: lost at sea 1756. iv ---: married 13Oth. 12 mu. 621 Elizabeth Macy. daughter of .Jonathan and Lois. v Lydia, _____, married (29th,12 mo. 1768) William Coffin. son of David and Mary. [Removed from the Island with her husband in 1779]. By Lydia Macy. his second wife: vi Eunice, born — 5 mo. 1749; married (31st, 12 mo. 1767) Christopher Gardner, son of Robert and Jedidah. vii Charles, born 16th, 10 mo. 1750; married (7th, 1 mo. 1773) Katherine Hussey, daughter of William and Abigail. viii Simeon, born 22d, 9 mo. 1752; probably married (October 27, 1771) Rebekah Swain. ix Jethro, born 1st, 1 mo. 1755. x Deborah, born 6th, 1 mo. 1757; married (3d, 1 mo. 1781) Obed Coffin, son of Samuel and Elizabeth. xi Anna, born 12th. 4 mo. 1759. Eunice died 26th, 10 mo. 1772. Lydia and Simeon remained on the Island. With those exceptions the surviving children seem to have removed from the Island in 1779. __________ BARNABAS [3] (John [2] John [1]) born 14th, 9 mo. 1708; married—first, (3d, 11 mo. 1728) Elizabeth Barnard, daughter of Nathaniel and Judith; second, (8th, 9 mo. 1733) Rachel Hussey, daughter of Silvanus and Abial. He died 23d. 6 mo. 1781; she died 15th, 11 mo. 1729. Their children were: By Elizabeth Barnard: i Nathaniel, born 11th, 8 mo. 1729; married (28th. 10 mo. 1749) Hephzibah Hussey, daughter of Silvana and Hephzibah. By his second wife Rachel Hussey: ii Sarah, born 25th, 7 mo. 1734; married (7th, 12 mo. 1753) Timothy Folger, son of Abishai and Sarah. iii Abiel, born 16th, 9 mo. 1736; married (6th, 12 mo. 1753) Timothy Folger, son of Abishai and Sarah. iv Rebecca, born 10th, 10 mo. 1738; died in infancy. v Rebecca, born 28th, 12 mo. 1740; married (6th, 1 mo. 1757) Nathaniel Coffin, son of Benjamin and Jedidah. vi Judith, born 28th, 4 mo. 1742; married (9th, 2 mo. 1763) Andrew Worth, son of Christopher and Dinah. vii Seth, born 1st, 5 mo. 1744; married (29th, 12 mo. 1768) Deborah Swain, daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth. viii Silvanus, born 12th, 5 mo. 1746; married (2d, 6 mo. 1768) Mary Swift, daughter of Benjamin and Wait. ix William, born 19th, 6 mo. 1748; married (31st, 5 mo. 1770) Abigail Barnard, daughter of Joseph and Mary. x Barnabas, born 23d, 4 mo. 1751; married (September 7, 1776) Abial Clark. xi Elizabeth, born 29th, 3 mo. 1755; married (7th, 1 mo. 1773) Abishai Folger, son of Abishai and Dinah. xii Obed, born 1st, 9 mo. 1757; married (30th, 11 mo. 1780) Elizabeth Swain, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth. xiii Hepzibah, born 15th, 10 mo. 1759; married (30th. 10 mo. 1777) John Russell, son of John and Ruth. __________ JOHN [3] (John [2] John [1]) born 20th, 11 mo. 1715: married (9th, 9 mo. 1738) Ruth l'inkham, daughter of Shubael and Abigail. No children seem to be recorded. __________ ENOCH [3] (Jeremiah [2] John [ 1] ) born March 24. 1724-5: married (5th, 11 mo. 1748) Mary Myrick. daughter of Andrew and Jedidah; she died 23d, 11 mo. 1845. Their children were : i Eunice, born 20th, 9 mo. 1749; probably married (November 8, 1770) Benjamin Whippey. ii Silvanus, born 15th. 9 mo. 1751; probably married (July 31, 1774) Huldah Gwin. iii Abial, born 4th, 9 mo. 1755: died 11th. 11 mo. 1759. iv Lydia, born 4th, 11 mo. 1755. v Abigail, born 3d, 9 mo. 1761. vi Andrew, born 30th, 11 mo. 1763; married (3d. 11 mo. 1791) Lydia Folger, daughter of Jonathan and Lydia. vii Elizabeth, born 30th. 11 mo. 1763. viii Job, born 8th, 6 mo. 1768: married (October 28, 1790) Elizabeth Fosdick. __________ CHRISTOPHER [3] (Solomon [2] John [ 1] ) born 30th. 6 mo. 1723; married (9th, 12 mo. 1748) Priscilla Coffin, daughter of Samuel and Miriam. He died 4th. 5 mo. 1795; she died 2d. 2 mo. 1801. Their children were: i Miriam, born 30th, 8 mo. 1751; probably married April 7, 1771) David Rand. ii Stephen, born 11th, 9 mo. 1754. iii David, born 22d, 5 mo. 1758; married (29th. 5 mo. 1781) Elizabeth Russell, daughter of Reuben and Ruth. iv Phebe, born 10th. 10 mo. 1760; married (30th. 4 mo. 1782) Peter Joy, son of Reuben and Anna. v Obadiah, born 26th, 2 mo. 1763. vi Christopher, born 11th, 6 mo. 1765. vii Thaddeus, born 2d, 11 mo. 1767. viii Bethuel, born 29th, 4 mo. 1770. ix Libni, born 15th, 2 mo. 1773. __________ PELEG [3] (Solomon [2] John [1] ) born 12th, 8 mo. 1725; married (12th, 10 mo. 1751) Mary Worth, widow of Benjamin and daughter of Shubael and Jerusha Folget. He died 31st. 5 mo. 1808; she died 15th, 6 mo. 1815. Their children were: i Lydia, born 17th, 9 mo. 1753. ii Anna, born 20th, 6 mo. 1755. Removed from the Island in 1776. _________________ GEORGE [3] (Solomon [2] John [1] ) born 14th, 3 mo. 1730; married (10th, 11 mo. 1750) Eunice Folger, daughter of Jethro and Mary. Their children were: i Paul, who died in 1772. Probably born in 1751. ii Hepzibah, born 19th, 6 mo. 1753. iii George, born 28th, 10 mo. 1755. iv Eunice. v Nathaniel.       Eunice and Nathaniel both died in 1781. vi Thaddeus, died in infancy. vii Eunice, died in infancy. viii Judith, born 8th. 3 mo. 1769. __________ FRANCIS [3] (Solomon [2] John [1]) born 25th, 6 mo. 1732: married (7th, 2 mo. 1760) Abigail Bunker, daughter of Samuel and Priscilla. He died 6th, 10 mo. 1821; she died 1st, 6 mo. 1812. Their children were: i Priscilla, born 9th, 11 mo. 1760. ii Abishai, born _____ (probably in 1762). iii Phebe, born 11th, 10 mo. 1764. Married (October 18. 1783) David Swain. iv Silas, born 17th, 3 mo. 1767. v Elizabeth, born 3d, 10 mo. 1770. vi Moses, born 12th, 11 mo. 1776. vii Aaron, born (probably in 1778). viii Miriam, born 1st, 7 mo. 1779. __________ SOLOMON [3] (Solomon [2] John [1] ) born 3d. 1 mo. 1735; married (14th, 12 mo. 1755) Mehitable Gardner, daughter of James and Susanna. Their children were: i Deborah, born 13th, 9 mo. 1758. ii Susanna, born 15th, 9 mo. 1760. Probably married (February 18, 1781) Joseph Brown. iii Solomon, born 28th, 7 mo. 1766; married (August 27. 1790) Hepzibeth Wyer. iv Gardner, born 6th, 7 mo. 1768. Married (November 9, 1790) Hepzibeth Ray. v Sylvia, born 15th, 1 mo. 1771. Married (August 1790) William Ramsdale, Jr. vi Lydia, born 6th. 3 mo. 1775. Married (July 21, 1795) John Marshall. vii Janet, born 28th. 6 mo. 1776. __________ DANIEL [3] (Solomon [2] John [1] ) born 12th, 7 mo. 1719; married (December 9, 1741) Elizabeth Moores. The Friends Records record the marriage of two daughters: i Abigail, who married (4th, 2 mo. 1762) Hezekiah Coffin, son of Zaccheus and Mary. ii Elizabeth, who married (22d, 12 mo. 1768) Ebenezer Pinkham, son of Richard and Miriam.