Phebe Hanaford was born on May 6, 1829 in Siasconset on Nantucket Island to Phebe Ann (Barnard) Coffin (who died a month later) and George W. Coffin, a shipowner and a merchant [REF].
Hanaford received an advanced education both at home and in public and private schools on Nantucket, studying math and Latin at home [REF].