Tristram Coffin and other Salisbury investors bought Nantucket island from Thomas Mayhew on 2 July 1659.

The purchase price was 30 pounds plus two beaver hats made by his son, also called Tristram.

Coffin was the prime mover of the enterprise and was given first choice of land.

In 1659 he settled near the western end of the island near Capaum pond.

His sons Peter Coffin, Tristram Coffin Junior and James Coffin also received land on the island.

Soon after settling, Tristram Coffin purchased the thousand-acre Tuckernuck Island at the western end of Nantucket.

On 10 May 1660 the sachems conveyed title to a large part of the island to Coffin and his associates for eighty pounds.

He built a corn mill in which he employed many of the local Native Americans, and he employed others on his farm.

In 1671 Coffin and Thomas Macy were selected as spokesmen for the settlers, going to New York in 1671 to meet with Governor Francis Lovelace and secure their claim to Nantucket.

As the most wealthy and respected of the settlers, Coffin was appointed chief magistrate of Nantucket on 29 June 1671.

After a period where Macy served as Chief magistrate, in 1677 Coffin was again appointed chief magistrate for a term of four years.
Tristram Coffin and other Salisbury investors bought Nantucket island from Thomas Mayhew on 2 July 1659. 
The purchase price was 30 pounds plus two beaver hats made by his son, also called Tristram.
Coffin was the prime mover of the enterprise and was given first choice of land.
In 1659 he settled near the western end of the island near Capaum pond.
His sons Peter Coffin, Tristram Coffin Junior and James Coffin also received land on the island. 
Soon after settling, Tristram Coffin purchased the thousand-acre Tuckernuck Island at the western end of Nantucket.
On 10 May 1660 the sachems conveyed title to a large part of the island to Coffin and his associates for eighty pounds.
He built a corn mill in which he employed many of the local Native Americans, and he employed others on his farm.
In 1671 Coffin and Thomas Macy were selected as spokesmen for the settlers, going to New York in 1671 to meet with Governor Francis Lovelace and secure their claim to Nantucket.
As the most wealthy and respected of the settlers, Coffin was appointed chief magistrate of Nantucket on 29 June 1671.
After a period where Macy served as Chief magistrate, in 1677 Coffin was again appointed chief magistrate for a term of four years.
Tristram Coffin (settler)