Joshua Coffin

author

Joshua Coffin

1792–1864

Best remembered as a New England historian and committed abolitionist, this 19th-century writer paired local history with a strong moral voice against slavery. His work on early Newbury and antislavery causes made him an enduring figure in Massachusetts history.

1 Audiobook

An account of some of the principal slave insurrections, and others, which have occured, or been attempted, in the United States and elsewhere, during the last two centuries.

An account of some of the principal slave insurrections, and others, which have occured, or been attempted, in the United States and elsewhere, during the last two centuries.

by Joshua Coffin

About the author

Born in Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1792, he became known as a historian, antiquary, and abolitionist. Reliable sources describe him as a graduate of Dartmouth College who later taught school for many years, while remaining deeply connected to the history of his hometown.

He is especially associated with A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury and The History of Ancient Newbury, works that helped preserve the story of early New England communities and families. His interests ranged from genealogy and local memory to broader historical writing.

He was also active in the antislavery movement and wrote on slavery and emancipation, showing that his historical work and public convictions were closely linked. He died in 1864, leaving behind a reputation for careful historical research and principled reform.