William Whipple

WILLIAM WHIPPLE was born in Kittery Maine on January 14, 1730. He was the eldest son of William Whipple, a native of Ipswich, who was a brewer, but for a time he had engaged in a seafaring life. His mother was the daughter of Robert Cutts, a wealthy and distinguished ship-builder, who established himself at Kittery and at his death left her a handsome fortune. The education of young Whipple was limited to public school. On leaving school, Whipple, who had developed a love of the sea, set out on board a merchant cargo vessel. By the age of twenty-one he commanded a ship of his own, and for several years devoted himself to the merchant marine business. His voyages were chiefly confined to the West Indies and Africa, and he brought a large number of slaves to this country (during the Revolution he freed those that belonged to him). Whipple was very successful and he acquired a considerable fortune.

In 1759, he abandoned the sea entirely and entered into business with his brother Joseph in Portsmouth. Whipple married his cousin, Catherine Moffatt of Portsmouth (their only child died in infancy) and settled down as a merchant. From the start, Whipple sided with the colonies in the conflict with Great Britain. He was elected a delegate from New Hampshire to the Continental Congress, taking his seat in May 1775 and continued to be a member until the middle of September l799. In Congress he distinguished himself and by his perseverance and application, he received the respect of his peers, both in Congress and at home. He sat in prominence on the marine and commerce committees and he was worried about the self-interest of foreign powers that supported American independence.

Whipple was chosen to aid General George Washington with his military plans for the summer campaign. He commanded contingents of New Hampshire troops at Saratoga and he participated in General Sullivan's expedition to Rhode Island in 1778. It is said that General Whipple, on his way to join the army of General Gates at Saratoga, had with him his slave named Prince, whom he encouraged to fight bravely if they should be called into action. Prince then replied: ‘Sir, I have no inducement to fight, but if I had my liberty, I would endeavor to defend it to the last drop of my blood.' The story is that Whipple freed his slave on the spot.

Whipple resigned his military appointment on June 20, 1782. He was a member of the New Hampshire legislature from 1782 until his death in 1785 and was an associate justice of the superior court even though suffering from a bad heart. In the fall of 1785, while riding the court circuit, his heart problem worsened and he returned home. He was confined to his room, until the 28th day of November, when he died, in his 55th year.

WHIPPLE, William, signer of the Declaration of Independence, born in Kittery, Maine, 14 January, 1730; died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 28 November, 1785. His father, William, a native of Ipswich, Massachusetts, was bred as a maltster, but, removing to Kittery, engaged in a seafaring life for several years. The son was educated at a public school in his native town, and afterward became a sailor, having command of a vessel before he was twenty-one years of age. He engaged in the European, West India, and African trade, and brought large numbers of negro slaves to this country, but afterward, during the Revolution, liberated those that belonged to him. In 1759 he abandoned the sea entirely and entered into business in Portsmouth with his brother Joseph, which connection lasted till about two years previous to the Revolution. At an early period of the contest between the colonies and Great Britain he took a decided part in favor of the former. He was elected a delegate from New Hampshire to the Continental congress in 1775, taking his seat in May, was re-elected, 23 January, 1776, took his seat on 29 February following, and signed the Declaration of Independence in July. He was re-elected to congress in 1778, and declined to be chosen again, but was a member of the state assembly in 1780-'4. He was commissioned a brigadier-general in 1777, commanded a brigade of New Hampshire troops at the battles of Saratoga and Stillwater, and, after the surrender of Burgoyne, signed the articles of capitulation with Colonel James Wilkinson on behalf of General Horatio Gates. General Whipple was afterward selected as one of the officers under whose charge the British troops were conducted to their place of encampment on Winter hill, near Boston. In 1778 he participated in General Sullivan's expedition to Rhode Island, and he resigned his military appointment, 20 June, 1782. In 1780 he was appointed a commissioner of the board of admiralty, which post he declined. He was state superintendent of finances in 1782-'4, appointed judge of the supreme court, 20 June, 1782, and justice of the peace and quorum throughout the state in December, 1784, and acted in this capacity till his death.

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