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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.
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.
To view the account books, visit https://nha.org/research/nantucket-history/history-topics/mary-coffin-starbucks-account-book-with-the-indians/
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.
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