Thomas Coffin (Pre-confederation Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Coffin was a businessman, seigneur
and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born in Boston
in 1762, the son of John Coffin, and came to the town of Quebec
with his family in 1775. He became a merchant in Montreal
. In 1786, he married Marguerite, the daughter of Louis-Joseph Godefroy de Tonnancour, and settled at the seigneury of Pointe-du-Lac. Coffin served as the sheriff for Trois-Rivières district from 1790 to 1791. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for Saint-Maurice
in 1792; he was reelected in 1796, 1800 and 1808. He was named a justice of the peace in 1794. In 1795, a large portion of his properties were sold to cover an unpaid debt. In 1798, with John Craigie
, he established an ironworks at Batiscan
. Coffin was elected to the legislative assembly for Trois-Rivières
in 1810. In 1817, he was named to the Legislative Council
and served until 1838. Coffin also served as colonel for the local militia and commissioner of police for Trois-Rivières
.
He died in Trois-Rivières in 1841.
His brother Nathaniel
was a provincial surveyor and also served in the legislative assembly.
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
and political figure in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
.
He was born in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in 1762, the son of John Coffin, and came to the town of Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
with his family in 1775. He became a merchant in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. In 1786, he married Marguerite, the daughter of Louis-Joseph Godefroy de Tonnancour, and settled at the seigneury of Pointe-du-Lac. Coffin served as the sheriff for Trois-Rivières district from 1790 to 1791. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
for Saint-Maurice
Saint-Maurice (Lower Canada)
Under the Constitutional Act of 1791, the district of Saint-Maurice was established. Its boundaries, which roughly covered the current Mauricie area except for the city of Trois-Rivières, were reduced when the district of Champlain was created in 1829...
in 1792; he was reelected in 1796, 1800 and 1808. He was named a justice of the peace in 1794. In 1795, a large portion of his properties were sold to cover an unpaid debt. In 1798, with John Craigie
John Craigie
John Craigie was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Scotland, probably in 1757, and came to Quebec in 1781 as deputy commissary general for the British Army there. Craigie was named commissary general in 1784. The following year, he became private secretary to...
, he established an ironworks at Batiscan
Batiscan, Quebec
Batiscan is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada. It is located along the Saint Lawrence River at the mouth of the Batiscan River.-History:...
. Coffin was elected to the legislative assembly for Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières (Lower Canada)
Under the Constitutional Act of 1791, the district of Trois-Rivières was established. Its boundaries roughly covered the pre-merger city of Trois-Rivières...
in 1810. In 1817, he was named to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Lower Canada
The Legislative Council of Lower Canada was the upper house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The upper house consisted of appointed councillors who voted on bills passed up by the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. The legislative council was...
and served until 1838. Coffin also served as colonel for the local militia and commissioner of police for Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Trois-Rivières is a city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence Rivers. It is situated in the Mauricie administrative region, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour...
.
He died in Trois-Rivières in 1841.
His brother Nathaniel
Nathaniel Coffin
Nathaniel Coffin was a surveyor and political figure in Lower Canada and a militia officer in Upper Canada....
was a provincial surveyor and also served in the legislative assembly.