Kezia Folger Coffin Nantucket She Merchant
A "Mary Starbuck with an attitude," says Nathaniel Philbrook in his book Away Off Shore: Nantucket Island and Its People, 1602-1890 Chapter 12 is a great read! These families are part of my direct line through the Coffin, Greenleaf, Garner, Davenport, Moody, Noyes, and Folger. Three of Tristram Coffin's children married into my family line. I have provided several links to the stories, history, and genealogy below. Enjoy!
On Dec 4 1740 Kezia Folger (1723-1798) daughter of John and Abigail (Folger) Folger. married John Coffin (1708-1788) son of Samuel Coffin. Kezia's parents were cousins that is why the have the same last name.Her mother's parents were John Folger (son of Peter Folger and Mary Merrill) and Mary Barnard (daughter Robert Barnard and Joanna Harvey) They too were cousins same last name. More Coffin and Folger info--
Samuel Coffin was born at Nantucket Island, Nantucket, Massachusetts 12 Dec 1680. His parents were John Coffin and Deborah Austin. He married Miriam Gardner 1705 at Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts . Miriam Gardner was born at Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts 14 Jul 1685 daughter of Richard Gardner and Mary Austin . They were the parents of 10 children:
Deborah Coffin born 4 Jun 1708.
John Coffin born 4 Jun 1708.
Parnell Coffin born Abt 1710.
Sarah Coffin born Abt 1713. David Coffin born 25 Oct 1718.
William Coffin born 1720.
Miriam Coffin born 29 Sep 1723.
Mary Coffin born 1724.
Libni Coffin born 1728.
Priscilla Coffin born 21 Feb 1730.
Samuel Coffin died 22 Feb 1764 at Nantucket Island, Nantucket, Massachusetts
From America Volume 35 Kezia Folger Coffin, spoken of in affectionate terms in letters of Benjamin Franklin, Abiah Franklin and Jane Mecom, "achieved her niche in general as well as local ... A woman of more than average courage, ability and independence, she was one of the important merchants and ship owners of Nantucket. ... She was the daughter of Daniel Folger, grandson of Eleazer, and his cousin, Abigail Folger, daughter of John. At seventeen, she married a whaling captain fifteen years her senior.