We don't have much information on Nicholas and his family. His will is dated 12 September 1613, and he mentions in it his wife Joan, sons Peter, Tristram, Nicholas, John, and daughter Anne.

Nicholas and Joan (Avent) Coffin had at least seven children:

• Eleanor, born 1578 in Devonshire, England.
• Peter, b. 1580 in Brixton, Devonshire, England, d. 13 March 1627/8 in Brixton, Devonshire, England.
• Joan, b. 1582 in Brixton, d. 27 Dec 1610 in Brixton.
• Tristram, b. 1584 in Butler's Parish, Brixton, Devonshire, England.
• John, b. 1586 in Butler's Parish, Brixton, Devonshire, England, d. 4 Jan 1624 in Brixton.
• Nicholas. b/ about 1587 in Butler's Parish, Brixton, d. after 1628.
• Anne, b. about 1585/8 in Butler's Parish, Brixton.

Much of the above information on Nicholas and his family was supplied to me by Martha Barco, and is from LDS files and Ancestry.com.

Peter Coffin was of Brixton, County of Devon. His will, dated 21 December 1627, provides land for his wife, Joan(na), that land to go at her death to his son and heir, Tristram. The will also mentions son John, and daughters Joan, Deborah, Eunice, and Mary.

Joanna (Thember) Coffin came to America as a widow on the ship Hector out of Plymouth, England, in 1642, with her two daughters, Mary and Eunice, and her son, Tristram, and his family of wife and five children. One note I have makes the comment about Joanna Coffin that "She was said to have remarkable strength of character."

Peter and his wife Joanna (Thember) Coffin had at least six children, all born in England:

• John, died in Plymouth Fort.
• Tristram, b. in 1609; d. in Nantucket 2 Oct. 1681; m. Dionis Stevens.
• Joan, probably died in England.
• Deborah, died in England.
• Eunice, came to America with her mother and m. William Butler.
• Mary, came to America with her mother and married Alexander Adams.

Tristram and his family plus his mother and his two sisters had moved to Newbury by 1647. Tristram was authorized by the General Court to, "keep an ordinary and also a ferry" to carry passengers from Newbury to Salisbury. By 1652, he was taxed in Salisbury where he signed his name "Commissioner of Salisbury" until 1660. In Salisbury, Tristram, along with Peter Folger, organized a company of 10 proprietors for the purchase and settlement of Nantucket. On 2 July 1659, they agreed to purchase nine-tenths of the island from Gov. Thomas Mayhew for 10 pounds and other considerations plus two beaver hats, one for Mayhew, the other for his wife. At the time, beaver hats were the fashion in Europe and in America. The ten proprietors included our ancestors Christopher Hussey and Stephen Greenleaf. Stephen was Tristram's son-in-law. In July 1661, house lots were awarded and Tristram Coffin was given first choice. For many years, Tristram lived there and he with his son, Peter, held controlling interest in the island. At that time, Nantucket was under the jurisdiction of New York and Tristram was appointed "Governor" of the island in 1671 (Albany Deeds, vol 3:62). Two years later his commission is found in the Massachusetts Records. He held this office until 1680.

Tristram and his wife Dionis (Stevens) Coffin had nine children:

• Peter, b. in England, about 1630 or 1631; d. in Exeter, NH 21 March 1715; m. Abigail Starbuck. This family resided in Dover, NH, where Peter was a selectman. They had nine children.
• Tristram, Jr., b. in England, about 1632; d. in Newbury, MA, 4 Feb. 1704; m. in Newbury 2 March 1652/3 Judith (Greenleaf) Somerby, daughter of Edmund and Sarah (Dole) Greenleaf, and widow of Henry Somerby. This couple had ten children.
• Elizabeth, b. in England about 1634/5; m. 13 Nov. 1651 Capt. Stephen Greenleaf, son of Edmund and Sarah (Dole) Greenleaf.
• James, b. in England, 12 Aug. 1640; d. 28 July 1720; m. in Salisbury, 3 Dec. 1663 Mary Severance, daughter of John Severance. This couple lived in Nantucket and had 14 children.
• John, date of birth unknown; d. in Haverhill, MA, 30 Oct. 1642.
• Deborah, b. in Haverhill, MA, 15 Nov. 1642; d. 8 Dec. 1642.
• Mary, b. in Haverhill, MA, 20 Feb. 1645; m. Nathaniel Starbuck of Nantucket.
• John, b. in Haverhill, MA, 13 or 30 Oct. 1647; d. in Edgartown, 1711; m. Deborah Austin. This couple lived in Nantucket and had 7 children.
• Stephen, b. in Newbury, MA, 11 May 1652; d. 18 May 1734; m. Mary Bunker; residence Nantucket. This couple had 10 children.