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In the eighteenth century, Coit Street (then Cove Street) in New London followed the shoreline of Bream Cove, an arm of New London Harbor. The Cove later shrank in the nineteenth century from silting and filling in to create additional land. When the William Coit House, on the corner of Washington and Coit Streets, was built around 1763, it was therefore on the water, although this is no longer the case. The Coits were a shipbuilding family and William Coit commanded ships during the Revolutionary War. Coit was also captain of a militia company, composed largely of sailors, that marched to the Siege of Boston in 1775.

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William Coit House (1763)
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8 thoughts on “William Coit House (1763)

  • January 18, 2013 at 9:49 pm
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    I am a descendent of the coit family. Are there any other coit homes still standing. Also, I’m looking for more infomation on Rev. Joseph Coit. I heard there was a biography written about him.

  • September 28, 2013 at 2:05 pm
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    I have a Revolutionary War document signed by Dr. Joseph Coit, if your interested.

  • May 15, 2014 at 8:26 am
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    I am also related to William Coit, his daughter Abigail married Joseph Williams a direct descendant of Edward Fuller from the Mayflower. I did not know about this house, although I knew Joseph & Abigail’s house was still standing a few years ago.

  • September 19, 2016 at 12:49 pm
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    Did William Coit and Chapman go together to the battle of Bunker Hill? My relative, also from New London, Christopher Darrow was an officer in Chapman’s company.

  • February 28, 2017 at 6:20 pm
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    I am a descendant of the Coits as well. George Coit, 1790-1865, moved from Norwich to Buffalo, NY. Along with several others he helped establish the Western Terminus of the Erie Canal. He had a large red warehouse by the canal. His home is still standing, 414 Virginia, Buffalo, oldest home in Buffalo. It is currently owned by friends of mine. I helped with acquiring the historical registry sign that was installed last May. The house is lovely.

  • March 18, 2017 at 4:04 pm
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    I’m involved with the urban revitalization of this area and have been doing historic research as part of it. I’ve located the Coit Shipyard sites (1st one c. 1651 on what is now Howard Street, 2nd one 1699 on Bank Street across from the New London County Historical Society). There were many Coit descendants in New London for generations. Some had fine houses, but I’m note sure these have survived. There’s a house across the street from the one shown here, that was owned by Jonathan Coit in the mid 19th century, but he was an active real estate investor and may not have lived there.

  • January 10, 2018 at 12:21 am
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    There is at least one Coit home standing, I currently occupy it. It was built by Daniel Lathrop Coit and stayed in the family until the last of Daniel Coit Gilman’s grand daughters passed away. I would love to speak with a descendant. There is much you might like to know as I’ve done extensive research.

  • November 23, 2021 at 11:27 am
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    I am a descendent of Daniel Lathrop Coit, I would love to talk to you about my family. John C Coit

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