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.
We invite you to read a transcription
of the complete text of the Declaration as presented by the National Archives.
&
The article "The
Declaration of Independence: A History,"
which provides a detailed account of the Declaration, from its drafting through
its preservation today at the National Archives.
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