Rash's Surname Index
Notes for William COFFIN
In 1812, the area that would be Hammonton was mostly wilderness, with the exception of a saw mill. The saw mill was run by William Coffin in agreement with its owner, John Coates. Coffin bought out Coates and then partnered with a man named Johnathan Haines. Together they built a glass factory and established themselves as a merchant stop on the road from Camden to Leeds Point and along the Mullica River.
Hammonton is named for one of Coffin’s sons, John Hammond Coffin. What began as “Hammondton” later evolved into what we have today, minus the “d”. (FYI: Coffin’s other son Edward Winslow Coffin went on to found, you guessed it: Winslow!) Hammonton remained a tiny settlement until two men from Philadelphia, Charles K. Landis and Richard J. Byrnes partnered and began selling land. The first home from these land sales was built on what is now Central Avenue.
On July 1, 1854, the Camden and Atlantic Railroad ran its first train between Camden and Atlantic City. The arrival of the Hammonton Railroad Station in 1858 brought more settlers and Hammonton grew in size and industry. The settlers were from mostly English descent. Blacksmiths, brick layers, carpenters, farmers, and more joined together and contributed their skills to help one another, and the town, prosper. The new settlers were from varied religious backgrounds. Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists and Catholics established their places of worship. Recreational activities were held at the Hammonton Lake Park and, like today, the town hosted a waterfront July 4th celebration.
The largest village at the time of the township's incorporation was Winslow Village. Winslow Village was the site of the Winslow Glass Works, built by William Coffin in 1831. William named the village of Winslow after his youngest son, Edward Winslow Coffin. In 1833, William Coffin took on a partner, Andrew Hay. In 1851, Andrew Hay became the sole proprietor of the glass works and expanded the business in the area to include a saw mill and a grist mill, in order to diversify the industries there. Coffin and Hay are also credited with helping to establish the Methodist Church in Winslow Village in 1840 by donating the ground. By 1865 the glass works employed 400 people, but in 1892 a fire destroyed the factory.
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