Person:Kezia Folger (1)

Kezia was the model for the largely biographical character Miriam in "Miriam Coffin: Or the Whale-Fishermen. A Tale". Third cousin to Benjamin Franklin. Active in business, owning so many ships that "She had her ships in every sea". Rumored to be a smuggler. During the Revolution, owned and foreclosed on many mortgages on Nantucket, causing some animosity. "Took to the wrong side" during the Revolution, arrested for high treason in 1780 and acquitted.

1. ↑ Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States. Vital records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the year 1850. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1925-1928)
   1:488.

   Folger, Kezia, ch. Daniel and Abigail, 9th, 10 mo. 1723. [w. John Coffin (s. Samuel and Miriam), d. Daniel and Abigail (Folger), PR38.]
   [The 10th month in 1723 was December.]

2. ↑ Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States. Vital records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the year 1850. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1925-1928)
   5:166.

   Coffin, Kezia, w. John (s. Samuel and Miriam), d. Daniel Folger and Abigail (Folger), 29th, 3 mo. 1798, PR38. [wid. John, PR63.]
   [Per Source:Godfrey, Edward K. The Island of Nantucket, p. 100, fell down the stairs at the Morris house and died suddenly.]