Zenas Coffin

Zenas Coffin (June 3, 1764 – July 8, 1828) was an American mariner and one of the wealthiest whale oil merchants and largest shipowners

In 1791, at age 27, Coffin was the captain of a whale oil ship of 160 tons.

On June 12, 1818, Coffin incorporated the Nantucket Phoenix Insurance Company. Due to his large whaling ship fleet, Coffin felt it best to self insure his ships.

During 1800 to 1820, both Zenas and Gilbert were owners of many ships, but evidence shows that Gilbert was in charge during that time.

Coffin's two sons, Charles G. and Henry Coffin, along with his three son-in-laws, Thomas Macy, Matthew Crosby, and Henry Swift were joint administrators of Zenas Coffin's estate. The estate included the holding of over 150,000 gallons of whale oil, landholdings, houses and house-lots, stores, wharf property, and oil ships. The estate records show a final total of 200 items in inventory which must have had a value of nearly half a million dollars at that time. Coffin's widow Abial had little confidence in banks and tried to get her share in gold. She died 28 years after her husband.