Peter Coffin

Peter Coffin was born about April 1580 in Brixton, Devonshire, England. Family-tree notes describe him as a yeoman who rented land from a lord and identify his wife as Joan Thember. He made a will dated 21 March 1627, which was proved on 13 May 1628. The supplied material contains conflicting statements about his death date, his wife’s name, and an alleged connection with Plymouth Colony.

Peter Coffin was born about April 1580 in Brixton, in Devonshire, England. One family-tree note states that he remained in Brixton throughout his life. He is described in that note as a yeoman who rented land from a lord.

About 1604 or 1605, Peter married Joan Thember of Brixton. She was born about 1584 and is identified as a daughter of Robert and Anne Thember.

Peter dated his will 21 March 1627. It was proved on 13 May 1628. The supplied notes state that he died sometime between the making and proving of the will and was buried at Brixton. They also discuss the old-style calendar, in which March was the first month, and suggest that the interval represented by these dates may be uncertain.

A separate note gives Peter’s death as 13 March 1627 and describes an estate of £236 at probate, while another heading gives his lifespan as 1580–1628. These statements require reconciliation with the will date and probate date.

The material also says that he was wounded at “Plymouth Colony Fort.” This claim conflicts with the statement that he remained in Brixton all his life and is not supported by a cited source in the supplied material.

The notes further state that Peter’s surviving spouse traveled to America with their son Tristram and that she died on Nantucket Island on 30 May 1661. However, that spouse is called Anne in the later note, whereas the earlier marriage information identifies Peter’s wife as Joan Thember. The notes also name daughters Eunice and Mary as having gone to America with their mother and brother. Because of the conflicting wife’s name and the absence of citations, these later family migration statements should be treated as family tradition or as claims needing verification.

Historical context

The supplied notes use old-style calendar terminology. In calendars where the year began in March, dates in January and February, and sometimes the interpretation of dates around the change of year, may differ from modern usage. The notes themselves raise this issue but do not provide enough evidence to resolve Peter Coffin’s exact death date.

Sources & research

No formal sources or identifiable citations were supplied.

Original Family Tree Maker Notes: “Peter Coffin (1580 - 1628) In England Peter was a yeoman who rented land from a lord. He was wounded at Plymouth Colony Fort. His probate was on March 13 1627/28 with an estate of 236 pounds.”

Original Family Tree Maker Notes: Peter was born in Brixton in the County of Devonshire, England, about 1580; married about 1604 or 1605; wrote his will on 21 March 1627; and the will was proved on 13 May 1628.

Original Family Tree Maker Notes: Joan Thember was reportedly born about 1584 and was a daughter of Robert and Anne Thember.

Original Family Tree Maker Notes: A later statement calls Peter’s surviving spouse Anne and says she traveled to America with Tristram, Eunice, and Mary and died on Nantucket Island on 30 May 1661.