Joshua Coffin
Encyclopedia
Joshua Coffin was an American antiquary and abolitionist.
Coffin was born in Newbury, Massachusetts
. He graduated at Dartmouth
in 1817, and taught school for many years, numbering among his pupils the poet John Greenleaf Whittier
, who addressed to him a poem entitled "To My Old School-Master."
Coffin was ardent in the cause of emancipation, and was one of the founders of the New-England anti-slavery society
in 1832, being its first recording secretary.
He published The History of Ancient Newbury (Boston, 1845), genealogies of the Woodman, Little, and Toppan families, and magazine articles. As an adult, Coffin lived for a time in the downstairs southwest room of the Coffin House
, his ancestral home; in a tiny study housed within an ell of the house, Joshua wrote his History of Ancient Newbury.
Coffin was born in Newbury, Massachusetts
Newbury, Massachusetts
Newbury is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,666 at the 2010 census. Newbury includes the villages of Old Town , Plum Island and Byfield, home of The Governor's Academy , a private preparatory school.- History :Newbury Plantation was settled and incorporated...
. He graduated at Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is one of five campuses and operating subdivisions of the University of Massachusetts . It is located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States, in the center of the South Coast region, between the cities of New Bedford to the east and Fall River...
in 1817, and taught school for many years, numbering among his pupils the poet John Greenleaf Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittier was an influential American Quaker poet and ardent advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States. He is usually listed as one of the Fireside Poets...
, who addressed to him a poem entitled "To My Old School-Master."
Coffin was ardent in the cause of emancipation, and was one of the founders of the New-England anti-slavery society
New-England Anti-Slavery Society
The New England Anti-Slavery Society was formed by William Lloyd Garrison, editor of The Liberator, in 1831. The Liberator was also its official publication....
in 1832, being its first recording secretary.
He published The History of Ancient Newbury (Boston, 1845), genealogies of the Woodman, Little, and Toppan families, and magazine articles. As an adult, Coffin lived for a time in the downstairs southwest room of the Coffin House
Coffin House
The Coffin House is a historic Colonial American house, currently estimated to have been constructed circa 1678. It is located at 14 High Road, Newbury, Massachusetts and operated as a non-profit museum by Historic New England...
, his ancestral home; in a tiny study housed within an ell of the house, Joshua wrote his History of Ancient Newbury.
External links
- Transcription of a letter by Coffin to Lydia Maria Child