In 2019, I embarked on a journey to write and self-publish two books about my Logan ancestry. My goal wasn’t fame or fortune; it was to create a legacy for future generations. Since then, I’ve refined my writing skills (hopefully!) and have since re-released updated editions of these books. One of these is The Lowland Logans —
“But, I am dead. I died in July of 1606. How can they convict me? They took all my lands, all my possessions. They dug up my bones and put them on trial. Yes, they put my bones on trial! And, they found my bones guilty of treason! They said I forfeited my rights because I could not testify. I AM DEAD! I died two years ago. Now they’ve confiscated my property, my lands, and my title was abolished. My heirs were stripped of their titles and holdings, they could not run for office, they were denied the privilege of their noble birth, and my estate, which included lands with four castles and monies valued at over £29,042. I was a multi-millionaire and they took it all!”
The second, Descendants of John Logan, Sr. of Washington, Connecticut, is a more traditional genealogy, including photos of the family homestead, historical article excerpts, and treasured memories.
Inspired by a letter from my great-grandfather, I also wrote a Vella series, weaving family history into a non-fictional narrative of lost and rediscovered stories.
You can click on each one to find them in Kindle.
I hope these works inspire future generations to discover the rich, resilient heritage woven into our family’s story and perhaps even uncover their own.
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It was exciting for me to stumble across a great article in the New England Ancestors Fall 2008 issue about my 11th great-grandmother, Dionis Stevens Coffin.
As I read the article and dug deeper, I discovered that Mary Coffyn (later Coffin) Starbuck, her daughter and my 10th great-grandaunt, born in 1645 in Massachusetts, had an impressive education. Despite living in the 1600s, she had a strong Puritan work ethic and was literate and proficient in Latin and Greek, which was unusual for a woman at that time. Mary was also well-versed in the scriptures. Her ability to read and write the classical languages was mostly only a skill obtained by young men studying the ministry at Harvard College.
At sixteen, she was engaged to Nathaniel Starbuck, her father’s business partner, in a marriage probably arranged by her parents. Their wedding in 1661 was the first in New England on the island of Nantucket, and their daughter was the first white child born there. Mary’s brother had already married Nathaniel’s sister, so she knew Nathaniel as a family friend.
Women of Petticoat Row ca.1895. Courtesy of Nantucket Historical Association.
With her education, Mary confidently expressed her knowledge of the world around her and actively participated in town meetings. She and her husband hosted many town meetings in their home, which became known locally as the “Parliament House.” Mary started a trading post or “country store” attached to their house shortly after their marriage. One of their primary customers was the Algonquian Indians. Mary’s account books, owned by the Nantucket Historical Association, date from 1683 to 1757 and reveal that they traded goods and labor in the store. The account books indicate that as many as 200 Indians, mainly involved in cod-fishing, fowling, routine manual work, and later whaling, received necessary tools, cloth, and supplies for their efforts.
Mary found her religious freedom and was allowed to sell items as she pleased. She was truly a free woman. Mary became a leader in introducing Quaker practices in Nantucket. She became a minister in the Society, as were several of her children. She was consulted on all matters of public importance because her judgment was superior, and she was well-acknowledged as a great woman.
The first Meeting House on Nantucket was built in 1711; however, Mary did not live to see the official Nantucket Monthly Meeting established. Mary Coffin Starbuck passed away on Nantucket Island on November 13, 1717, at the age of seventy-two. Her body was buried in the Friends’ burial ground next to the new meetinghouse, which was constructed on land donated by her son and the Nantucket proprietors.
Mary Coffyn Starbuck’s remarkable life serves as a testament to the strength, intellect, and determination of women in early American history. Her contributions to her community, her role in introducing Quaker practices to Nantucket, and her ability to navigate both the public and private spheres with grace and authority make her a figure worth remembering. As we reflect on her legacy, we are reminded of the power of education, faith, and resilience in shaping the course of history. Mary’s story is not just one of personal achievement but also one of enduring influence, leaving a lasting impact on the island of Nantucket and beyond.
Gavin, A. M. (2008, January 9). A Tale of Two Women: Seventeenth Century Coffin and Starbuck Matriarchs. Fall 2008 New England Ancestors, 9(4), 21-24.
It is the American Genealogical Biographical Index and one of the most essential printed genealogical sources in the United States. But I did not always know that. It was a hint, a source in Ancestry.com that would come up periodically on my New England ancestors. I never really understood it except for it to confirm a birth or some other fact. Ah, the ignorance of the early days!
Recently, I looked back at some older entries in my family tree to see if I could find new leads on some of my more elusive ancestors. One was Margaret Car(r), my 6th great-grandmother. She married John Logan, the ancestor who came to Connecticut through Massachusetts. Although I know John came from Ireland, I do not know anything about Margaret before she came to Connecticut. Although I know they married in Massachusetts.
One of the first clues I looked at again was the AGBI. In researching it, I came across a blog by Diane B. of OneRhodeIslandFamily.com. In it, she wrote, “The Boston Transcript was a Boston, Massachusetts newspaper that regularly carried a page of genealogical questions and answers. That feature ran for several decades in the late 1800s/early 1900s.” And, it is indexed in the AGBI!
Even more exciting was learning that I can order them and over 800 printed genealogies and other compiled sources from the Godfrey Memorial Library. From their website, “Godfrey Memorial Library is the owner and publisher of the American Genealogical Biographical Index (AGBI), which contains more than four million names, statistics, and sources for research, including local histories, church and vital records, military lists, and more. It also includes over two million records from the Boston Transcript. AGBI is the largest and most important genealogical reference set ever published, and clearly the best starting point to find any early New England settlers. This is an index to the books and periodicals on our shelves.”
This is what it looks like in Ancestry.com.
Did I just stumble upon a gold mine? We’ll soon find out, as I mailed out my request a couple of days ago. I printed out their order form, and for $10 each entry, I can soon find out what they know about my ancestor.
You, too, can access this gold mine at https://www.godfrey.org/agbi.html. Print and fill out the order form, then use the information from the AGBI index for each ancestor requested. I limited myself to three ancestors, including Margaret.
Another source attached to Margaret is regarding her marriage in Marshfield, Massachusetts, to John, titled “Mayflower Source Records.” Upon closer inspection, it was from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register called the “Mayflower Source Records: Primary Data Concerning Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard” by Gary Boyd Rogers. It’s a source of material where the majority of the descendants of the Mayflower Pilgrims settled by the end of the 18th century. Am I, or is Margaret, descended from a Mayflower passenger?
Exciting stuff! New revelations to dig up for sure.
Thanks for reading!
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