PEI-GREENWICH-L Archives

From: Bob Brown <>
Subject: coffin name
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 16:01:21 -0400 (EDT)

From: "Joe Armstrong" <>
Marilyn;
I note one of your lines is Coffin, an interesting name, do you know the
origin of its connection with burial boxes?

Matthew was a London carpenter, born 1480. While working for the monks at
Blackfriars he developed a light-weight wooden box for corpses, but the
church said it was theologically unacceptable. They, being conservative by
nature, preferred the traditional stone sarcophagus.

He took his idea to others who were not so dogmatic and he prospered so much
he was, before he died in 1540, the Lord Mayor of London, no small feat for
humble carpenter Matthew COFFIN.

Thus it was that his name became linked with coffins. Thought you might
like to know that.

Sincerely, Joe of Gateshead..

This thread:

• coffin name by Bob Brown <>