Began this August 15th, 1812.
Mem. Am going to tell about the treasure, and what happened. But it
will be no use without the map. If any one tries to bring up
trouble, this is the truth and nothing else. Amen. So be it.
Signed, D. Coffin.
My father followed the sea, and bred me to it. He came from
Devonshire, near Exmouth. N.B.--He used to say the Coffins were a
great family in Devonshire, and as old as any; but it never did him
no good. He was an only son, and so was I, but I had an older
sister, now dead. She grew up and married a poultryman in Quay
Street, Bristol. I remember the wedding. Died in childbed a year
later, me being at that time on my first voyage.
We lived at Bristol, at the foot of Christmas Stairs, left-hand side
going up, two doors from the bottom. My mother from Stonehouse,
Gloster, where they make cloth, specially red cloth for soldiers'
coats. Her maiden name Daniels. She was a religious woman, and
taught me the Bible. My father was lost at sea, being knocked
overboard by the boom in half a gale, two miles S.W. of Lundy.
I was sixteen at the time, and apprentice as cabin-boy on board the
same ship, the _Caroline_, bound from Hayle to Cardiff with copper
ore.
Pages:
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192