This is the final blog about Newbury, Massachusetts. In the previous two Monday blogs you read about the historic farm and residence. Today's blog is about another property called the Coffin House. You'll learn the importance of the family in the drafting of 2 Constitutions and a surprise tie-in to southern Maine!
(Rob and Tom outside the Coffin house in Newbury, Massachusetts.)
WHAT IS THE COFFIN HOUSE? This house was the home to the Coffin family for over three centuries. The Coffins came in 1642 from England. They were not puritans but loyalists instead, and the family even founded the island of Nantucket. The house was built in 1678 and it began as a simple dwelling where Tristram and Judith Coffin lived in two or three rooms with their family in 1712 the house more than doubled in size to accommodate a married son's family. WHO WAS TRISTHAM? Tristham (1609-1681) was born into a wealthy family in Brixton, Devonshire, England. As a royalist during the First English Civil War, he chose to leave for America rather than stay and fight.
HOUSE CHANGES - As generations grew the house expanded. In 1785, Two Coffin brothers divided the only separate residences with rooms expanding 3 centuries the Coffin House reflects an expanding economy and evolving ideas about architecture privacy and domestic life.
WHAT IS THE COFFIN FAMILY FAMOUS FOR? - Famous members of the historic Coffin family include Tristram Coffin, Levi Coffin and Lucretia Coffin Mott. This prominent lineage traces back to early New England settlers and includes leaders in abolition, women's rights, and colonial history.
ABOUT THE COFFIN FAMILY and MASS. CONSTITUTION - Joshua Coffin was a school teacher who had married twice and 6 children. He wrote about history of Newbury and west Newbury and helped draft the language in the Massachusetts constitution in 1782. It cited a freedom of religion clause and "all men are created equal." FACT: It's the oldest state constitution and it's still in effect! It was used to draft the U.S. Constitution. Joshua Coffin's student, Whittier was also an abolishinist and they helped slaves escape captivity.
WHO BUILT THE HOUSE? - Tristan coffin jr. built this house in 1678. He and his wife had many children. He was a tailor and made cloth. In 1711 the front of house was built out.
MOST PHOTOGRAPHED FIREPLACE!- Originally, the fireplace was larger, and over time was made smaller in 1785. It is one of the most photographed fireplaces in historic homes. (Photo left: The kitchen fireplace. Credit: R.G.)
FAST FACTS - 1) Upstairs there is a fireplace in central area that was constructed with plaster & clay, horsehair and limestone.
2) There's also a 1720 era bedroom with a Murphy bed that hoists up to the wall.
(Photo: A bedroom the shows the original wood plank flooring. Credit: R.G.)
3) ORIGINAL FLOORING!- All of the flooring is Pine. in 1678, England's King marked pine for shipbuilding, so carpenters could only cut 23" wide boards for homes. Wider boards were used for ships. The Have been here since 1678.ABOUT NATHANIEL & SARAH COFFIN, TAILOR & SHOEMAKER - When Nathaniel coffin owned the property it was 20 acres, and a farm with sheep, pigs, and cattle. He was also a tailor and had a tannery. His wife Sarah and their children made shoes! In fact, in 1784, Sarah may have provided shoes to George Washington . She made shoes and provided shoes for revolutionary war soldiers.
ANOTHER MOST PHOTOGRAPHED HISTORIC PIECE - We learned that the Hutch in kitchen is one of the most photographed historic hutches. It was built 28 years later than 1678 (1706) by Nathaniel Tristan's son. (Photo left: The kitchen Hutch! Credit: R.G.) THE BUTTERY- The Buttery was located on the north side of house. It was out of direct sunlight and the coolest room in the house. It has one window with shutters which would be closed to keep it cool and store butter. Gratefully, it was preserved as it was for 100 years as most of these rooms have been turned into bathrooms in historic homes.
(Photo below: The narrow "Buttery." Credit: R.G.)
THE FRONT PARLOR - The Front parlor is decorated in the Federalism period of the 1800s. Event the hallway outside, leading to the front door (which was added on in 1700s) is in the Federalist time design. In the front parlor they would hold Tea parties, wakes, and host holidays. The parlor had wallpaper, and portraits, a piano and ribbon backed chairs made locally in Newburyport. HOW THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY GOT THE HOUSE - When the 2 Sons divided house between families, there were 2 deeds for one house in 1820. By the late 1800s, Edmund coffin wanted to recombine property and knew a man named Appleton who was the founder of the Historical society. Appleton's mother also happened to be a member of the Coffin family and by 1929 the house became an historical property.FUN FACT TIED TO SOUTHERN MAINE - Peter coffin was a logger and had a lumber business in the Berwicks (North Berwick, South Berwick and Berwick). Peter Coffin worked near the Hamilton House in South Berwick, ME. From there, he sent lumber to Newburyport for ship construction. There is a also a "Coffin brook" in Berwick, Maine, which has to be named for him!
WHO BUILT THE HOUSE? - Tristan coffin jr. built this house in 1678. He and his wife had many children. He was a tailor and made cloth. In 1711 the front of house was built out.
No comments:
Post a Comment