DISTINGUISHED NANTUCKETERS . 101 



jawn adjoining the Hon. C. B. Swain's house on Cen- 

 tre Street. Mr. Folger again says: " The daughter* 

 of Keziah Coffin, who bore her mother's name, married 

 Phineas Fanning, f a young lawyer, who is said to have 

 written the verses describing the characteristics of 

 certain Nantucket families of his day. They were 

 married by the Eev. Bezaleel Shaw, who was then the 

 Congregational minister, April 5, 1777. Five sons 

 and two daughters were the result of the marriage. 

 Mr. Fanning died Dec. 21, 1798, and his wife Nov. 

 20, 1820. 



There are two versions of these verses of Mr. Fan- 

 ning's, which have perhaps more than a local celeb- 

 rity; both are here given, and the reader can take 

 his choice. The following is the version which Wil- 

 liam C. Folger, Esq., claims is the correct one: — 



" The Rays and Russells coopers are ; 

 The knowing Folgers, lazy ; 

 A learned Coleman very rare, 

 And scarce an honest Hussey." * 



" The Coffins noisy, boisterous, loud, 

 The silent Gardners plotting, 

 The Mitchells good, the Barkers nroud, 

 The Macys eat the pudding. 



" The Swains are swinish, clownish called, 

 The Barnards very civil, 

 The Starbucks they are loud to bawl, 

 The Pinkhams beat the devil." 



* The " Ruth " of Col. Hart. 



t The " Grimshaw " of Col. Hart in "Miriam Coffin," who 

 from all accounts appears to have amounted to but little. 



