He is descended from an honorable ancestry, being sixth in the line from Tristram Coffin, who came from Devon-j shire, England, and was subsequently chief magis-| trate of the island of Nantucket. The energy of the ancestor has been impre.ssed upon his descendants, and their name is identified with many of the mosi importantbusiness enterprises of the country. Amon| the most conspicuous of these descendants was Isaa< Coffin, a gallant naval officer, who, previous to thi Revolution, was in the British service, and rising tc the rank of admiral, was knighted by his sovereignj

> The following biographical sketches of members of the WeetchMte County bench and bar were prepared and inserted in this chapter b I the editor.

THE BE.NX'H AND BAR.

and received a grant of the Magdalen Islands, at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, which are still in the possession of his family. He was afterwards a member of Parliament, and distinguished both as a wise and a witty legislator.

Robert Coffin, the father of Owen T., was a thrifty farmer and a man of high standing and great influence in his town, of which he was a magistrate for many years, and although not a member, he was an adherent of the principles of the Society of Friends, which was very numerous in the section where he lived. Taking a great interest in the affairs of the State, he represented his county for a term or two in the Legislature. He married Magdalen, daughter of Taber Bentley and granddaughter of Col. James Vanderburgh, who was one of the most influential citizens of Beekman, Dutchess County, and a worthy representative of an ancient family, who came from Holland and settled in that region at an early day. He was a member of the Provincial Congress in 177fi, and a zealous friend of the patriot cause.