HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 193 



Comfort, 1739; John Comfort, 1745; Henry Jude, 

 1750; Tom Ichabod, Joel Elisa, Simon Hews, Nathan 

 Quibby, 1769." 



Revolution. 



F. C. Sanford, Esq., says: — 



" In 1765 William Rotch built the first ship ever 

 owned at Nantucket. She was called the ' Neptune,' 

 and was commanded by Nathan Coffin. She sailed on 

 her first voyage to London with a load of spermaceti 

 oil, and was followed by the 4 Bedford ' and c Dart- 

 mouth' in 1772, also the 'Beaver,' the two last named 

 being the tea ships concerned in the Boston Harbor 

 affair, Dec. 16, 1773. 



" Capt. Nathan Coffin commanded another ship from 

 here bound to London, and was captured by a British 

 admiral, who told him he must go into his Majesty's 

 service or into irons. Coffin replied that they could 

 hang him to their yard-arm before he would fight his 

 own countrymen.* 



" After the tea had been thrown into the dock at 

 Boston, the ships came to Nantucket. The ' Beaver ' 

 and c Bedford ' were fitted for whaling, and sent to the 

 Brazil Banks. After filling with oil the l Beaver ' 

 sailed for London, the 'Bedford' bringing her oil to 

 Nantucket." 



For a further account of the u Bedford," see " Whal- 

 ing," page 338. 



* " Hang me, if you will, to the yard-arm of your ship, but do 

 not ask me to become a traitor to my country." — Bancroft, 

 Vol. IX. page 313, 



