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Owen Coffin

Male 1802 - 1821  (18 years)  Submit Photo / DocumentSubmit Photo / Document


Personal Information    |    PDF

  • Name Owen Coffin 
    Born 24 Aug 1802  Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 2 Feb 1821  At Sea Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Owen was a sailor aboard the whaling ship the Essex. November 20, 1820, while in the Pacific the ship was rammed by a sperm whale causing it to sink. The crew escaped in row boats with some supplies but, months latter they had still not been rescued.

      In January 1821 the food ran out and the survivors began to eat the bodies of those who died. Eventually it came down to a point that only 4 men were left. Near starvation they drew straws to determine which of them should be sacrificed so that the others could live.

      Owen lost the draw, He was shot and eaten. Five days latter one of the three remaining men died. On February 23rd, the remaining two men were rescued.
    SS Essex.
    SS Essex.
    The whaling ship Essex being attacked by a Sperm Whale. The drawing as made by Thomas Nickerson, cabin boy and, a survivor of the wreck of the Essex.
    Thar She Blows!
    Thar She Blows! (11)
    While many cultures and countries engaged in whaling this page is concerned with the history of the New England whaling industry. In no way should this be seen to justify modern whaling.




    Thar She Blows!




    Commercial whaling in the United States began in the 17th century in New England. The industry peaked in 1846–1852 when the availability of petrochemicals and over-hunting made the practice increasingly impractical.




    At one time whale oil was absolutely necessary. It's main uses were for household lighting and lubrication of machinery. There were alternatives to whale oil, but they were inferior in performance and cleanliness of burn. While the oil was the primary driver there were secondary products. The baleen some whales used to strain food from the sea were a secondary harvest. They were used in applications that would be accomplished in the modern world with plastic or steel. Simply put whale hunting allowed civilization to grow and prosper.
    Headstones Submit Headstone Photo Submit Headstone Photo 
    Person ID I55969  Nagel
    Last Modified 16 Oct 2020 

    Father Hezekiah Coffin, Jr,   b. 12 Sep 1775,   d. 1815  (Age 39 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother Nancy Bunker,   b. 11 Jan 1778,   d. 20 Mar 1869  (Age 91 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Family ID F16339  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart