Extraordinary Nantucket Women, at the Nantucket Whaling Museum

This 2018 performance at the Nantucket Whaling Museum highlights the lives of fifteen extraordinary women from the 17th through the 20th century on Nantucket. From its earliest days, dating back to the mid-1600s, Nantucketers have made their own way in the world. This is particularly true of the women who made their homes here. From the outset, men and women worked equally hard to make the fledgling settlement survive. When whaling became the dominant industry, whaling husbands would leave the island for years at a time, often, 3-5 years. At any given time, the women probably outnumbered the men four to one. Women had to fill the breach and did so in remarkable ways, raising their large families, managing households and running businesses in town, and found the time to become involved in the social movements of the day.
William Oliver Stevens, an American author and professor, wrote, “Indeed, it is probable that no other community in America of the size of Nantucket has ever given the country so many extraordinary women.”
The notable women include:
Mary Coffin Starbuck (1645-1717)
Abiah Folger Franklin (1667-1752)
Kezia Folger Coffin (1772-1798)
Lucretia Coffin Mott (1793-1880)
Eliza Ann Chase McCleave (1811-1895)
Susan Veeder (1816-1897)
Maria Mitchell (1818-1889)
Rebecca Ann Johnson (1829-??)
Mary Ellen Pleasant (ca. 1812-1904)
Eliza Starbuck Barney (1802-1889)
Anna Gardner (1816-1901)
Lydia Folger Fowler, M.D. (1822-1879)
Margaret Getchell (1841-1880)
Hanna Monaghan (1889-1972)
Mildred Jewitt “Madaket Millie” (1907-1990)
Also featuring the "Nantucket Girl's Song" based on a witty poem found in the journal kept by Eliza Brock, wife of Peter C. Brock, master of the Nantucket ship Lexington on a whaling voyage from May 1853 to June 1856. It sums up how many women felt about their husbands being off on whaling voyages for years at a time. Songwriter Susan J. Berman set this poem to music and added a verse of her own.

[@shh120]

I put so many names in my tree, the Franklin's, the Folgers, the Coffins, the Starbucks, the Macys, the Mitchells. You brought the names to life...my ancestors. Thank you. ❤

[@omarra6781]

Looking forward to this as I'm related to the Starbucks, Folgers, Coffins, and Gardners.

[@GardenGirlD76]

This was very enjoyable! I am a Coffin descendant and enjoyed learning more about the amazing women of Nantucket!

[@kingofhearts1514]

I am a Coffin descendant also and this was great to watch and learn about her life.

[@JmarieD]

I too am a Coffin descendant.... I'd love to visit Nantucket some day.

[@annamariegolden2867]

I too am a descendent of Tristram Coffin. He is my 8th great uncle. This is all so fascinating.

[@lindaleehall]

This was really well done. I am a descendant of Mary Coffin Starbuck and several other early settlers. Nantucket was such a vibrant and interesting society.

[@rjmurphyo0]

I'm a descendant of Mary Coffin Starbuck. Some of my Nantucket descendants include the Gardners, Paddocks, Folgers and the list goes on and on.

[@omarra6781]

@@rjmurphyo0 Out of your families, I'm also related to the Folgers and Gardners.

[@tabea8piano]

A wonderful event, presentation and singing. I look out for more about the memory of the great women of Nantucket.

[@roksannastephens4375]

I throughly enjoyed this, wonderful information. Going to research these women more. Thank you for this video.

[@kelceyc1509]

I just found out Tritram coffin is my 11th great grandpa, John Macy my 10th, and Johm coffin my 10th great grandfather, Thomas Macy 9th,

[@JmarieD]

Hello cousin, Tristram & Dionis are my 11th great grandparents. The coffins, Starbucks, Reynolds are all in my tree. Most of the names on the pillar are my grandparents- I imagine yours also.

[@NeTxGrl]

I'm descended from Coffin's and Folger's.

[@joanwillison9922]

Not Indians please. Natives