Ci77 195

YALE UNTVERSmf
IIBKARY

Mehetabel Chandler Coit

Her book

1714

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lUilUthl Print. .Harwich. Conn
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This little book, now printed for the first time, is compiled
from existing manuscripts in the handwriting of Mehitabel
Chandler Coit, preserved among other family records. It is
offered to her descendants that they may have a better ac
quaintance with this good woman, devout, affectionate, house
wifely, and hold in loving remembrance the name of their
ancestor.
M. P. G.
E. S. G.
L. G. L.
Under the Elms,
Norwich Town, Conn,
Christmas, iS<)4.

Married
At Woodstock, Conn.., June 25, 1695, h -K^'^'-
Josiah Dwight, John Coit of New London, and
MehitaUe daughter of Deacon John and Elizabeth
(Douglass) Chandler.

Who were these young- people whose family life
began just two hundred years ago ?
John Coit (son of Deacon Joseph and grandson of
the first John who came from Wales to Cape Ann
and afterwards settled in New London) was born
Dec. I, 1670, and died October 22, 1744.
Mehitable Chandler was granddaughter of WiUiam
Chandler, one of the first settlers at Roxbury, Mass.
Her father, John Chandler, removed to New Rox
bury, afterwards called Woodstock, in 1688, and was
3

a man of influence there. Mehitable was born at
Roxbury, August 24, 1673, and died at New London,
November 3, 1758.
There were six children of this marriage, of whom
John and Elizabeth both married into the Gardiner
family of Gardiner's Island, (then called Isle of
Wight). Martha married first Daniel Hubbard and
second, Thomas Greene. There are portraits of her
and her second husband, painted in oil by Copley,
and several sprightly and affectionate letters to her
mother are preserved. Joseph was the father of
Thomas Coit of Norwich and Canterbury, Daniel
Lathrop Coit of Norwich, and Joshua Coit of New
London, and of several daughters who married into
the families of the Leffingwells, Hubbards, and
Huntingtons. " There is a traditional remembrance in New Lon
don of Mehitable Chandler Coit, as a person of
unusual energy and power, physically and mentally ;
and possibly her numerous descendants owe to her
some of their most valuable qualities.
She kept a journal of one of her journeys from her
New London home to her paternal home in Wood
stock, in which journey the home of her brother-in-
law, Rev. Joseph Coit, the first minister at Plainfield,
was a half-way house. This journal may have been
lost, says Rev. Robt. Coit Learned, in a letter."
From the Chandler Family Book.
4

But not so. There still exists a small leather cov
ered book with "Mehetabel Coit Her Book 1714"
written inside upon the cover. It is not a journal,
but contains a brief record of many family events,
the birth of her children, the visits of friends, &c.,
with sundry epitaphs, religious verses, and domestic
recipes for curing fevers and the 'toothake,' for
resting Eels and boiling Troute, for making currant
wine, Plumb Cake, Rusk and ginger bread.
From this book the following items have been
gleaned, by grandchildren of her grandson, Daniel
Lathrop Coit :
May 31, r688. My father with his family went to
live att New Roxburj-, afterwards caled Wodstock.
feb. 8, 1688/9. Hannah Gary born; the first
child that was born in Woodstock.
April 18, 1689. The Revolution att Boston,
August, 1690. I was taken very sick att Cam
bridg. November 2, 1694. I came to New London with
my Brother John Chandler & his wife. [Did she
then first meet John Coit ?]
Feb., 1694/5. Thomas Avery came to live wh
my husband.
June 25, 1695. We were married.
May 2, 1696. Wait Mayhew came to live here.
May 25, 1696. John Coit was born. [Her son.]
5

June 4, 1697. Our house was raised, ye 23 of
Septem^ following we came to live in itt.
Nov. 15. Joseph Coit was born. 1698. [Her son.J
feb. 3, 1698/9. Daniel Coit dyed att Long Island.
Oct. 21, 1699. Joseph Shapley came to live here.
Feb. 18, 1700. Samuell Coit was born. [Her son.]
Sept. 1 70 1. Saml Loomis came to live here.
June I, 1702. Thomas Coite was born. [Her son.J
Aprill 15. father Chandler dyed 1703 in his 69th
year. May 7, 1703. William Coit died, [Her brother-in-
law,] May 9, 1703, Samuell Coit dyed in his 4th year.
March 22, 1704. Eliz'l' Coit born.
March 27, 1704, father Coit dyed.
Sept, ye 3, Mr. Alfords & vrylands brig New
London was lancht.
Nov. ye 26. The Grace and Hannah was lancht
& was Raysd ye 10 of August 1705.
Dec, ye 14, 1704. The Love and Ann was lancht.
1705, April 2. John Chandler was born.
June 15. I came from Woodstock, my mother
Chandler came with me.
July 3, 1705. Mingo came here with Thos Avery
in the Love and Ann the first voyage, from bar
bados. August The Love and Ann said for barbados ye
2nd voyage. 6

October. She came in from Antego, the second
voyage. Sept. 23 Mother Chandler died in her 64th year;
Aprill I, 1706. Martha Coit was born. [Her
daughter.] June 14, 1706. billy Coit fell into the Cove & was
allmost drowned.
Septem^ 1707. My Husband & I went to Middle-
town October ye 3. We came Home again & Mother
Coit came with us.
May 24, 1707. My husband went to Road island
June 18 My husband and Sister Sarah and I went
to Stonington & Bror Joseph Coit was married to
Experience Wheeler.
June 21. We came home again.
June 25. Joseph Chandler went to Port Royal in
1707 September he come home, December 19. he
com to N. London, ye 25 he went home my husband
& Sarah Coit went with him
July 7. The Grace & Hannah sailed for barbados.
Aug. 2, 1707. ye Love and Ann Sett sail for bar
bados on a Satturday
Octo^' the Grace & Hannah come in from barbados
Decem! 7. my husband went to ye He of Wight,
Joseph Harris John Mayhew, Robert James went
with him ye 12 day thay come home.
7

In 1708 January ye 3 my Husband & Robert
James went to Woodstock, ye 10 thay come home,
March 10 1^08 Martha Coit's foot burntt with a
warming-pan' [Her daughter, aged 2 years.]
Aproll ye 29. a plank fell of the Stage upon
Thomas Coit & struck him down but gott no grate
mater of hurt. [Her son, aged 6 years.]
Aprill 28 John Coit went to Middletown with Mr.
Arnold by water, and come home May ye i.
July 22 1708 the Grace & Hannah sot saill for bar
bados George Plumb Master
Novembr 13 he come home again
Novembr 1 7 Mr. Richard Christophers sot saill for
barbados in the brig Richard Sc Joseph the first
voyage in 1708 and come home again the 22 qf
March & Charles Hill came with him.
August 12 1 70S Mr, Vryland's vessoll was burnt
upon the Stocks, on a thurdsday & John Coits foot
burnt Septemb! 1 2 1 708 my Sister Sarah Coit was married
to Mr. John Gardiner [Widow of Wm. Coit.]
feb 8 1708/9. Sister Gardiner come here to Mr.
Adamsis ordination the 28 She went home again,
June, 1710. John Coit went to New York with Mr.
Arnold 17— August 10, the ile of wite taken by the
french [1712 ?]
Sept. 30, 1712. I went to Woodstock, & Mr.

Waters & Mr. John Gardiner & Joseph Coit & come
home ye —
July the I 1714 my husband & I went to Wood
stock and came home ye 8 day
17 17 September Nell came to live here she being
twenty years of age.
1718 July Mr. Waters went away
July 2. 1719 John Coit was Marryed to Grace Chris
topher [Her son.]
April 7th 1720 John Coit was born. [Her grand
son.] July 8, 1722 Richard Coit born [Her grandson.]
Thomas Coit went to Woodstock Decembr the
2Sth 1720 and came home the 4th day of January
following July I. my brother John Chandler came here the
2 day my brother Joseph came the 3 day thay went
home fryday
October 20 Thomas Coit went to Rhod-I-Iand, ye
26 day he came hom again
the 29 my husband went to the ile of wight and
East Hampton and come home the first of Novembr
on a fryday the 2nd day Thomas Coit was taken
sick, very bad all that weak, the next weak went
a bro'd again
febr 20. 1724 on a thurdsday my husband and I
went to gardiners Island, [the home of her Sister
Sarah] the next day to East Hampton [to visit her
9

daughter Elizabeth] we went up from the fire place
a foott to the towne
the 25 day Samuell Gardiner [Her grandson ?] was
born, March 28 I came from East hampton and stayd 4
days att the Hand, Sarah Gardiner & Liza [daughter
of Elizabeth] came Home with me
Nov. 30th, Elizabeth Coit Born in 1724 [Daughter
of her son Thomas,]
April! 25: 1725. Elizabeth Coit dyed.
March 10 : my Son Thomas Coit died
October the i day my daughter Elizabeth Gardi
ner Died att Easthampton
May 19 ; 1726 I sett out for Woodstock Stayd att
Norwich that night, got to Woodstock the 02 day on
a fryday allmost tyrd to Death —
the 23d day Sister Chandler fell down and broke
her arm. Election Day
June I I came Home again itt was butt a mallon-
choly visitt, I being not very well all the Time that
I was thair. [For details of this visit see letter.]
July 2 1726 Susannah Chandler came to Live with
me July 22 : 1726 Mr. Winthrope went to England
July 20 1727 John Coit Martha and Joseph went to
Norwich the same day Lydia Star married to John
Bowles the 25th day Joseph and Martha came
home agfain

Aprill 6 : 1728 Martha Coit went to Glasonbury
with Mr. Treat and wife
febr 1734/5 Richard Douglass died very suddenly
September i 1735 A Dreadfull Storm of thunder
and lightning which struck the meetinghouse and
killed Ned birch Sabbath Day
november 17 1738 Liza Gardiner came home from
Boston with Joseph Printis
March 24 1741 my Son Mr DanieU Hubbard Died
in the 3- [35 th year of his age. First mention of
Martha's husband.]
febr 21 : 1748 Daniel Hubbard [her grandson]
came here with his brother thomas Greene and
March the 8 day thay away
May I Lucretia Hubbard [her granddaughter]
came here to give us a visit June 7 she went home
and Daniel Hubbard went with her
June 13 : 1748 I began to Read Mr burkis work
upon the new testement and finished it the 29 of
August Septbr 19: 1748 My brother Joseph Chandler &
his Daughter Susannah came here the 22 Day thay
went home
September 22 1748 my Son and Daughter [Martha]
Greene came here [Martha married Thomas Greene
Sept. 6th, 1744] Octobr 17 thay went home
May 3 : 1749 Russel Hubbard [grandson] came
here, the 9 day he went to Hartford

May 8 : 1749 Elizebeth Gardiner [granddaughter]
went to Boston June 8 she came home
(date not given.)
September 27 Mr. Gardiner & his wife, & his z
Sons came from Boston, the 29 thay went home
Mrs, Green, & Mrs. Sewall & her Son & daughter &
Mr. Wainwright, went with them

This is the last entry in the book : Mehitable died
Nov, 3, 1758, in her S6th year.
In the will of Mehitabel Coit, dated 20 Oct., 1752,
and approved 10 April, 1759, she gave her daughter
Martha Greene and her granddaughter Elizabeth
Gardiner 'all my wearing apparel." To each of
whom and to "my son John" "Joseph" and "my
grandson Thomas Coit, Son of my Son Thomas
Coit," each "one fifth of my estate."
From the Chandler Family Book.

Letter from Mehitable Coit to her daughters.

New London June 24 1724
Dear Children this comes to bring you my very hart to
be divided among you, so you may tak your shares &
send the rest back to your poore brothers, I long to
see you all, my affections are allmost upon the wing.
Ready to fly, tis a tryall to Live so remote ; I find
myself sumthing inclined to impatience, and am
sometimes hardly capable of any moderatian, and am
Ready to wish the time to fly swifter, that we may
meet again you know sumthing of the yernings of a
mothers bowels, you could not part with your Dear
littel Liza a few days, without dying, how then doe
you think I can contentedly live without you allways,
I want poor Martha att home very much, but cant
expect her before your husband comes home ; I hant
had one line from her since she went away I should
be very Lonesom ware itt not for your Sister Molly
13

[wife of her son Thomas] She is pretty well gott
over late indisposition I supose you will have your
fill of one another I hope you Love better than ever
anybody [ Tivo lines earefully blotted out.] I want to
talk with you about some things Relating to Martha
which is not proper to write, my hart is very full
and longs to tell you all its Akeings
Dear children mind the one thing neadfull that
good part that cant be taken away ; persue the best
things. Seek first the Kingdom of heaven and the
Riteousness thereof, and then all other neadfull
blessings shall be added,
from your Dear and Most affectionate Mother till
Death Mehetabel Coite
To Elizabeth Gardiner

A letter from Mehitable Coit to her daughter
Martha, then visiting friends in Boston.

May 19. 1726. I sot out to goe to Woodstock, and
before we got to Bowlses itt Rain'd a smart shower
and we fain to go in thare for shelter. When the
shower was a little over we satt out again, got to
Norwich, stay'd att Lathrop's that night, had fry'd
veal for supper. Susannah Morris and I lay
together. Fryday 20 we din'd att Cady's, had beef &
pork and Harbs, began to be very wery. I rid
behind Sam Moriss most of the way, gott to Wood
stock a littel before night all most tyr'd to Death.
Saturday 21 keept house all day not able to stir.
Sabbathday went to meeting com home home
very weary ; att night brother Joseph & wife came
to see me.
Monday 22 half dead still, but went to brother
Josephs a foot, betty Chandler went with me I stay'd
there all night.
Tusday 23 I came back again went to Richard-
15

son, Griggsis, Parkers, Peaks, Perrins, Childs Aspin-
walls, and so to brothers very wery.
Wednesday 24 Election day ; we went up to Town
see Trayning, went to dinner att Coz John's. Billy
and his wife thare too, wee, that is, sister, coz
hannah and coz billy's wife and I went to Abbis,
James Corbins, Mr Dwights Jos Bacons, Jabez Cor-
bins. Deacon Morris, and Mr Carpinders and so
home to brothers, the same day coming home sister
fell Down and brake her arm, they sent for Parker
to sett itt,
thurdsday 25 Sister Susannah Chandler set out to
goe to boston. Rainy wether. Dull and Mallon-
choly long to gitt home I wont to Mrs Homes
She is not married yett, att night Mr Dwight and
his wife and Mr Morris here to see us. Sister very
bad with her arm,
fryday 26 a bright Charming morning, in the fore
noon I Read in the Turkish History, in the after
noon Brother, coz Hannah, and I went to Sam ,
Morrisis, had Troute, to coz billy's and drank Sylli-
bub, came home wery and Dull, a pain in my face
I hate to Ride, the Horse started 3 or 4 times, I
wish't to be att home
Satturday 27 we made dyer bread I had the head Ake
very bad, till we went up the lott to see the folks cutt
bushes, went to Mrs Carpinders came home wery and
Malloncholy, would give all the world to be att home_
i6

Sabathday 28 went to meeting on foot, the text
happy are the people that are in such a case (I
could not think myself happy if I was in his people's
case) I went to diner att Johns brother Joseph
tharre too, my head full to the brim all day. att
night Mr Perrin and his wife to see me.
Munday 29 brother Jonh went with me to west
hill, we went to mercyes, paysons, Coys & Rites.
tusday 30 I sett out to come home, brother Chand
ler come with me as far as change brother Joseph
came with me as far as plainfield, thare we met
sister Abigail Coit, we went to Dinner thare, stayed
an hour or 2, then set out for norwich brother Coit
came with us as far as quinnibaugs thare we came
over in a connow, coz Samll Chandler came home
with us, we Rid over Shituckitt alone came to
Norwich about dark, lodged att Lathrops
Wednesday 31 we got home about 10 aclock not
very wery, found all well except the garding and
that was over Run with weads, Sam Chandler went
home the next Saturday, so much for Woodstock,
till I see you, —
Mrs Sarah Shackmaple came to see me She longs
to see you Mrs Eunice can tell you all the nuse. I
would have you Rite to your father, and acknowledg
his kindness to you and desire him to lett you stay
longer, I know he would take it well Send me word
17

if you have been to Roxbury and Charlestown and
who you went to see att Dorchester.
tis now munday night and the 4 day of July, we
had a letter from your brother Joseph last weak and
an other today by Thomas Mumford, who is come
home, he is gone to Anguila or Saint Martins for
salt and we shall look for him hom in a bout a fort
night. Your uncle Joseph Chandler is gon home to day,
I have sent your petty coat, and apron by him, to
coz. Chandler, who I suppose will bring itt to you.
Mary Truman was married last night, if you would
have me be easey in your absence you must write
to me often and tell me every thing
Give my servis to Capt Slaughter and tell him I
wish him a good voyage, to Mrs Slaughter & to Mrs
HaU a thousand times
I han't seen Mrs Adams since I had your letter,
but I know she likes the chimese very well she had
itt made up in a minit
the man says he has sent you a letter in my name
if he has I know nothing of itt, he brought me a
copy of itt to day which I have just now bin a Read
ing, if he has send me word, and say sumthing that
I may tell him he'll be distracted to know what
you say, thare is some very good counsill in it, so
far as itt applicable to you I would have you apply
itt to yourself Don't expose itt to be sure
18

Notes.

Rev'd Josiah Dwight was dismissed from the
Woodstock Church, Sept. 8, 1726, after a troublous
period of great dissatisfaction, partly on account of
the Saybrook Platform, partly on the question of
" singing by regular tunes." [See Miss Ellen D.
Larned's Histor}'' of Windham County.] This may
account in part for the '"malloncholy visit."
Martha Coit was evidently a character in the fam
ily circle. Her letters to her mother, and her
mother's allusions to her, give rise to the opinion
that she had various suitors— or perhaps it was only
one, too persistent— who met with little favor. A
letter from Mr. Daniel Hubbard, who became her
first husband, addressed to Mr. John Coit, asking
for her hand, was printed in the New England
Historical and Genealogical Register, October, 1894.

19

This preservation photocopy was made by the
Preservation Department, Yale University
Library and complies with the copyright
laws. The paper is Weyerhaeuser Cougar
Opaque Natural, which exceeds
ANSI Standard Z39.48-1984.
1994

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