The historian moved his finger to the section indicating the 1700s. “But this is where things become interesting. Here is your ancestor, Sebastian Coffin, a businessman and lawyer. He was also a director of a newly-formed bank. He did quite well for himself until the bank was robbed. Thanks to an enemy he gained over a disputed business deal, suspicion fell on Sebastian. Many people in town turned away from him despite the lack of evidence that he had anything to do with the robbery. He was removed from his directorship at the bank and lived his life shunned by many townsfolk. Years later, the real robbers were found, but it was too late for Sebastian’s reputation. It is a sad tale of how public opinion can ruin a man’s career and life.
“How awful.” Lin’s face clouded. “I wonder why he didn’t leave the island and try to start over somewhere else.”
“That remains a mystery.” Wilson slid the paper closer to Lin. “You see who Sebastian married?”
Lin read the name. “Emily Witchard.”
“You have Witchards and Coffins in your blood.” Wilson’s eyes were bright. “That is a very powerf ….” The man’s voice trailed off and he finished the sentence with a different word. “It’s very interesting.”
Lin was sure he was going to say “powerful” and she wanted to question him about what he meant, but Wilson reached for a book on the table and opened it to show a drawing of the mansion that Sebastian Coffin had built and where he and his wife had made their home until the bank scandal hit.
“I know that house,” Lin said. “It’s right behind where my cousin lives.”
“Which house does your cousin own?”
Lin told him the address. “The backyard of my cousin’s Cape house abuts the property of the mansion that belonged to Sebastian and Emily.”
“Well, I was not aware of who presently owns the Cape house. I don’t know how that fact eluded me.” Wilson’s bushy eyebrows scrunched together. “In any case, when Sebastian was removed from the bank position, his income plummeted. Townspeople wouldn’t do business with him, so he had to sell the lovely mansion he’d lived in for years. The parcel of land the mansion sat on was quite large, so he had it subdivided and had the smaller Cape house built behind his former home. He and Emily moved there and lived in that house until they passed away.” Wilson made eye contact with Lin. “And this I find fascinating. Sebastian was involved in witchcraft.” He watched the young woman’s face for her reaction.
Lin kept her expression emotionless. “Witchcraft?”
“In early Colonial America, belief in the supernatural was widespread. For example, poor farmers often invoked charms for a favorable harvest. Rumor was that Sebastian had premonitions of the future. Have you ever noticed the little brick extension on the chimney of your cousin’s house?”
Lin blinked trying to recall what Wilson was referring to.
“The extension is made of brick and it stands in the shape of an upside-down horseshoe. Such a thing can be seen here and there on the chimney’s of old houses on the island. In fact, the oldest house on Nantucket has one as well. You know the house I mean?”
Lin nodded. She knew the shape from seeing the design on several chimneys, but she didn’t recall that Viv’s house had a chimney with the same design.
“The symbol is supposed to ward off evil and keep witches away.” Wilson leaned nearer to Lin, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. “But, Sebastian and Emily Coffin didn’t believe that witches were evil, they believed that powers could be used for good purposes. It is believed that Sebastian and Emily sheltered people who were about to be accused of sorcery, people who ran away from persecution in mainland towns and came to the island seeking safety. The Salem witch trails ended in the late 1600s, but persecution continued in many areas for years after that. When you have the opportunity, take a look at the bricks on your cousin’s chimney. The design on that chimney is slightly askew. Sebastian ordered it to be constructed that way as a symbol to those seeking help and sanctuary.”
Wilson let out a chuckle and the suddenness of it startled Lin. “How ingenious the man was. He used the very symbol meant to ward off witches in order to draw those persecuted individuals to safety.” Wilson shook his head admiringly. “Sebastian was a very clever man. A good man, as well. Before the bank problem, he was considered by the townspeople to be a kind and generous person.”
The alarm on Lin’s phone sounded and she jumped. “Oh. I have to go. I need to be somewhere to meet a handyman.”
Wilson frowned. “There’s so much more to tell. You must stay another time.”
Lin wanted to share the family trees with Viv. “Could I bring the folder to show my cousin? I know she’d love to see the information about our ancestors.”
Wilson looked like he might reply in the negative, so Lin headed him off. “I could return the folder early tomorrow morning.”
“I suppose that would be fine, but please do bring it back tomorrow.” Wilson’s phone buzzed. He reached for it and stood up. “Excuse me. I must take this.”
Lin stood and leaned down to scoop up the papers that were on the table. She stuffed them back into the folder. As she was about to close it, something caught her eye under one of the other papers.
She pushed the documents aside to find a piece of paper showing a hand-drawn interior layout of a house, Viv’s house. A surge of adrenaline rushed threw Lin’s body. She squinted and read what was written in the upper right-hand corner. The address of Viv’s house was written under the words, “Vivian Coffin.” Scrawled at the bottom of the paper was, “Greg Hammond” and the name of his boat. Lin’s heart pounded so hard she thought it would jump from her chest.
She took a quick glance at Wilson before lifting the paper and slipping it into the folder. Wheeling for the kitchen door, she called good-bye to Wilson who was still speaking on the phone.
Wilson claimed he didn’t know who owned the Cape house. Why does Anton Wilson have the interior layout of Viv’s house? And why does he have Greg Hammond’s name and boat information written on that same piece of paper?
With worry and anxiety swirling through her body, Lin jogged to her truck with Nicky at her heels.
Chapter 14
Lin parked her truck in front of Viv’s house just as the handyman showed up and the two entered the Cape together with Nicky trailing behind them. Queenie sat on the back of the sofa and she gave the man a dirty look. She didn’t care to have her early evening nap interrupted.
When the handyman set down his tool chest and started to work, Lin returned to the front yard so that she could look up at the Cape’s red brick chimney. She couldn’t see any design on the front, so she walked around to the side of the house. There, on the left section of the chimney, was the small upside-down U-shaped design built into the bricks. Lin turned to the street and she could see that the design would be evident to anyone walking along the road who knew to look for it.
“Hello?” The handyman called to Lin from the front door.
Lin’s heart skipped a beat. Now what? She walked inside. “What is it?
The man gestured to the wall with his hammer. “There’s the small cupboard. Someone closed it up. It was boarded up and plastered over.” He pointed to the broken shelves visible next to the fireplace. “The wood rotted and collapsed and that caused the buckling of the wall that the owner noticed. Parts of the shelves gave way.”
Lin wondered why someone would close up the cupboard. Since the handyman was about to pull out the remaining boards of the cupboard, she lifted her phone to take a picture to send to Viv. Lin bent to inspect the broken shelves. She craned her neck to look under the boards. She let out a little gasp of surprise. “There are words written under here.” Faded handwriting showed on the bottom of the old shelf.