Jonathan Coffin Rathbone 1764-1836 The Rathbun-Rathbone-Rathburn Family Historian Volume One • Number Two • April 1981 Letter From the Editor--------- This second edition of our Family Others are sending in their family "Our first edition of the Historian Historian is being mailed to just records, enabling us to fill in gaps just arrived (Dec. 24) and I've spent over 200 subscribers-a figure and correct errors so our genealogy so much time reading it that I can't which more than meets our early will be both complete and accurate. get the gifts wrapped." Bettye hopes. Our first issue contained an arti­ Rathbone, Austin, Tex. The response to the first issue cle about our immigrant ancestors, was most encouraging. Many of you John and Margaret Rathbunlbone of "Your first issue . can only bring wrote us complimentary letters, a Block Island, and listed their praise. This resource has been in­ few comments from which are re­ children with birth dates and mar­ valuable to my research, making the printed on this page. riages. This issue devotes several subscription price a real bargain. It We are also beginning to receive pages to the second generation, so is a wonderful way to share our fam­ some of the material we re­ in time we will have a complete ily history." Charles Murray, Gal­ quested-old pictures and letters genealogy of the family. lipolis, Ohio. from family archives; obituaries and I am now officially retired, and de­ newspaper clippings about family voting much of my time to this "I have been perusing with great in­ members, and information on fam­ magazine, and to genealogy in terest your splendid magazine with ily achievements, reunions and general, and getting ready for the its so-professional touch .. .. Your other events. gardening season. years of research plus your news­ I want to express my gratitude to paper and other background give a all of you whose interest and sup­ polish and interest to the pages." port have made this magazine pos­ Frances Collard, Seattle, Wash. sible. We want to make it the best family magazine that we can. Keep "The first edition is great and I'm sending us your pictures and in­ sure the others will be also. I'm real­ formation, and let us know your ly looking forward to them. It's reas­ ideas and suggestions for future suring to have someone as compe­ issues. tent as you are to sort out our family tree." Katherine Caner, Seattle, Wash. "My husband and I were so pleased Our new magazine received with your first edition of the Family Frank H. Rathbun an encouraging announce­ Historian. We certainly appreciate ment in a recent issue of the your efforts to strengthen our fam­ Rhode Island Genealogical ily ties and your devotion 'to the Published quarterly by the Register, published by Alden perpetuity of our common heritage­ Rathbun Family Association at G. Beaman. This quarterly an honorable name." Mrs. Donna 11308 Popes Head Road , Fairfax, magazine is devoted entirely Rathburn, Kernersville, N.C. Virginia 22030; Telephone: (703) to early Rhode Island families, 278-8512 including, of course, the "It isn't every year that one receives Rathbuns. the gift of a half dozen ancestors for Frank H. Rathbun It contains data from wills, Christmas. I was surprised and de­ Editor and Publisher court records, land transac­ lighted with the first issue. Con­ Robert Rathbun tions, cemetery inscriptions gratulations . .. Your account of Research Director - all sorts of information of the steps which led you to locate great value to persons re­ the Acres, Voses and Rathbones in Hazel J. Rathbun searching Rhode Island fami­ Ditton, England, is a model of gene­ Assistant Editor lies. Your editor is a sub­ alogical sleuthing." Rachel Frank H. Rathbun III scriber and recommends it Laurgaard, Oakland, Calif. Production Manager highly. If interested, write di­ rectly to Mr. Beaman, P.O. Box "I think you did an excellent job on Janice A. Rathbun 585, East Princeton, Mass. Volume I of the Rathbun-Rathbone­ Business Manager 01517. The cost is $20 a year. Rathburn Family Historian." Oliver N. Rathbun, Cooperstown, N. Y. 18 Kate Rathburn Reaches 100; Ernest Rathbun 99 In June In our first issue, we mentioned 104-year-old Frank Rathbun, living in a California nursing home, and referred to him as probably the old­ est living member of our family. No one has challenged that claim, but several have come close. Mrs. Kate Rathburn of Texarkana, Ark., cele­ brated her 100th birthday on January 12. Ernest Rathbun of Cranston, R.I. , will be 99 on June 19. James C. Rathbone of New Hamp­ shire will be 100 next October. We extend our best wishes to these venerable family members. Pictures and stories of Mrs. Rathburn and Mr. Rathbun appear on this page. A story and pictures of Mr. Rathbone will be printed in the July issue. Her 100th birthday on January 12 Ernest and Eola Rathbun found Kate Rathburn of Texarkana, Ark., up at 7 a.m. ready to make breakfast, clean house and get dressed for a birthday luncheon in A widow nearly 40 years, she is a and his first wife, Olives Rathbun her honor at the neighborhood spry and sprightly centenarian. (JohnH:l"2"l). Ernest thus has two center. " I don't really have any secret for Rathbun lines of descent. The widow of William T.e Rath­ living this long, but I don't drink Ernest was married in 1909 to burn (Josephs Aaron 7 Josephs cold drinks because I believe Lillian Corp, who died in childbirth Perry5 Edumund' John:l"2"l), she was they're harmful to people. I just that same year. On April 12, 1912, born Kate Lee Frankson, and was drink milk and water, and I hate he married Eola May King, and the married to Mr. Rathburn in 1898. smoking and drinking. couple will celebrate their 69th an­ They had eight children. " I've lived right and tried to be a niversary this month. They have good person to everybody, so I two children and 14 grandchildren. believe it's God's will for me to have Ernest has a vivid recollection of lived so many years," Mrs. Rathburn his childhood days in the Exeter­ says. " I believe all people have to do West Greenwich area of Rhode is trust in the Lord and they will lead Island. fulfilling live~ . " He started work in a saw mill at Says her granddaughter, Mrs. age seven, worked with his father Kathryn Phillips, one of our charter on the farm, driving a team of oxen, subscribers: " We are all very proud and at age 14 sawed shingles and of our grandma." ground corn on a water-run grist mill. As a young man, he and a part· Ernest Charles Rathbun was born ner operated a saw mill in Cranston, in West Greenwich, R.I. , On June R.1. Ernest later worked at tool 19, 1882, the oldest of seven plants, and during World War I children of Charles Rathbun and made loading machines for bullets. Ella Thankful Sweet. During and after World War II, he Charles' father was Seneca, and owned and operated the Cranston his grandfather, John, was the son Machine Works. From 1928 to 1930, of two Rathbuns - Joseph Shef­ he served on the Cranston School Mrs. Kate Rathbun field5 Rathbun (Joshua' John3"2"l) Committee. 19 Jonathan Rathbone Prisoner of War at 12 Ship's Captain at 28 Western Pioneer at 48 This portrait of Jonathan Coffin Coggeshall and Mary had five gustine, Fla, where Captain Coffin Rathbone was made in 1800 while sons, three of whom lived to matu­ obtained command of an eight-gun he was a prisoner in Paris. Repro­ rity. Jonathan's birth was reported schooner bound for Edenton, N.C. duced here in black and white, the by Coggeshall in a letter dated Sept. They sailed northward, and off original is in pastels, showing him 10, 1764, to his mother-in-law on Cape Hatteras were chased by a with blue-grey eyes, medium brown Nantucket. The baby, he said, was well-armed British frigate. Captain hair, and wearing a bright red vest "a stally boy," and the mother was Coffin, still painfully aware of his and black jacket. doing "bravely." recent captivity, ran his schooner The mother died about 1773, leav­ close to shore hoping to prevent ing Coggeshall with four sons. They capture, but the British captain fol­ Probably no early member of our were apparently turned over to rela­ lowed with his ship, anchored near­ family had a more eventful career or tives, and young Jonathan was rais­ by, and opened a broadside fire. left a more complete account of his ed by an uncle for whom he had After a two-hour battle, as British life than Jonathan Coffin Rathbone been named-Jonathan Coffin, a marines prepared to attack, the (1764-1836), whose pictu re is sea captain. Coggeshall was remar­ Americans leaped overboard and reproduced on our front cover. ried on Sept. 22, 1774, to Thankful swam ashore, where they watched He was born Sept. 7, 1764, at Cash, by whom he had two daugh­ helplessly as the English sailed off Hastings, near Sag Harbor, on the ters. He died in 1778 of smallpox. with their schooner in tow. They eastern end of Long Island, the son At the age of nine, Jonathan was trudged overland to Ocracoke of Coggeshall" Rathbun (Abraham 3 hit on the upper lip by a hoop pole Island to find another way home. Samuel2 John').