William Whipple
Encyclopedia
William Whipple, Jr. was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence
as a representative of New Hampshire
.
Whipple was born at Kittery, Maine
, and educated at a common school studying how to be a merchant, judge, and a soldier until he went off to sea. He became a Ship's Master by the age of twenty-three. In 1759 he landed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
, and in partnership with his brother established himself as a merchant
. He married his first cousin Katherine Moffat some time around 1770 to 1771.
In 1775, he was elected to represent his town at the Provincial
Congress
. In 1776 New Hampshire dissolved the Royal government and reorganized with a House of Representatives and an Executive Council. Whipple became a Council member, and a member of the Committee of Safety
, and was elected to the Continental Congress
, serving there through 1779.
In 1777, he was made Brigadier General
of the New Hampshire Militia
, participating in the successful expedition against General Burgoyne at the battles of Stillwater
and Saratoga
raising and commanding a brigade (9th
, 10th
, 13th
and 16th
) of New Hampshire militia during the campaign. In 1778, General Whipple led another New Hampshire militia brigade (4th
, 5th
, 15th
, Peabody's
and Langdon's
) at the Battle of Rhode Island
. His slave, Prince Whipple
, followed the General to war and served with him throughout. William Whipple, freed his slave Prince, having believed he could not fight for liberty and own a slave.
After the war he became an Associate Justice
of the Superior Court
of New Hampshire. He suffered from a heart ailment and he died by fainting from atop his horse while traveling his court circuit. He was buried in the Old North Burial Ground in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1976, in conjunction with the American Bicentennial, his headstone was replaced with a new memorial by a local historical association.
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
as a representative of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
Whipple was born at Kittery, Maine
Kittery, Maine
Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals...
, and educated at a common school studying how to be a merchant, judge, and a soldier until he went off to sea. He became a Ship's Master by the age of twenty-three. In 1759 he landed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, and in partnership with his brother established himself as a merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
. He married his first cousin Katherine Moffat some time around 1770 to 1771.
In 1775, he was elected to represent his town at the Provincial
Province of New Hampshire
The Province of New Hampshire is a name first given in 1629 to the territory between the Merrimack and Piscataqua rivers on the eastern coast of North America. It was formally organized as an English royal colony on October 7, 1691, during the period of English colonization...
Congress
Congress
A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different nations, constituent states, independent organizations , or groups....
. In 1776 New Hampshire dissolved the Royal government and reorganized with a House of Representatives and an Executive Council. Whipple became a Council member, and a member of the Committee of Safety
Committee of Safety (American Revolution)
Many Committees of Safety were established throughout Colonial America at the start of the American Revolution. These committees started to appear in the 1760s as means to discuss the concerns of the time, and often consisted of every male adult in the community...
, and was elected to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
, serving there through 1779.
In 1777, he was made Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of the New Hampshire Militia
New Hampshire Militia
The New Hampshire Militia was first organized in March 1680, by New Hampshire Colonial President John Cutt. The King of England authorized the Provincial President to give commissions to persons who shall be best qualified for regulating and discipline of the militia. President Cutt placed Major...
, participating in the successful expedition against General Burgoyne at the battles of Stillwater
Stillwater (town), New York
Stillwater is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,522 at the 2000 census. The town contains a village called Stillwater...
and Saratoga
Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga conclusively decided the fate of British General John Burgoyne's army in the American War of Independence and are generally regarded as a turning point in the war. The battles were fought eighteen days apart on the same ground, south of Saratoga, New York...
raising and commanding a brigade (9th
Moore's Regiment of Militia
Moore's Regiment of Militia also known as the 9th New Hampshire Militia Regiment was called up at Lyndeborough, New Hampshire on September 29, 1777 as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of Gen. Horatio...
, 10th
Welch's Regiment of Militia
Welch's Regiment of Militia also known as the 10th New Hampshire Militia Regiment was called up at Candia, New Hampshire on September 27, 1777 as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of Gen. Horatio Gates as...
, 13th
Chase's Regiment of Militia
Chase's Regiment of Militia also known as the 13th New Hampshire Regiment of Militia was called up at Cornish, New Hampshire on September 22, 1777 as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of Gen. Horatio Gates...
and 16th
Bellow's Regiment of Militia
Bellow's Regiment of Militia also known as the 16th New Hampshire Militia Regiment was called up at Walpole, New Hampshire on September 21, 1777 as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of Gen. Horatio Gates...
) of New Hampshire militia during the campaign. In 1778, General Whipple led another New Hampshire militia brigade (4th
Evans' Regiment of Militia
Evans' Regiment of Militia also known as the 4th New Hampshire Militia Regiment was called up at Exeter, New Hampshire on September 8, 1777 as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of General Horatio Gates as...
, 5th
Nichols' Regiment of Militia
Nichols' Regiment of Militia also known as the 5th New Hampshire Militia Regiment was called up on July 21, 1777 at Winchester, New Hampshire for Gen. John Stark's Brigade gathering at Charlestown, New Hampshire during the Saratoga Campaign...
, 15th
Hale's Regiment of Militia
Hale's Regiment of Militia also known as the 15th New Hampshire Militia Regiment was at Fort Ticonderoga during the spring and summer of 1776 reinforcing the Continental Army garrison. The regiment was again called up on July 21, 1777 at Rindge, New Hampshire for Gen. John Stark's Brigade gathering...
, Peabody's
Peabody's New Hampshire State Regiment
Peabody's New Hampshire State Regiment was raised on January 1, 1778 under Col. Stephen Peabody at Hampstead, New Hampshire for service with Gen. John Sullivan in Rhode Island. The term of enlistment was one year. The regiment marched to Newport, Rhode Island and took part in the Battle of Rhode...
and Langdon's
Langdon's Company of Light Horse Volunteers
Langdon's Company of Light Horse Volunteers was formed on July 21, 1777 at Portsmouth, New Hampshire for Gen. John Stark's Brigade gathering at Charlestown, New Hampshire during the Saratoga Campaign. The company was formed by picked volunteers from other New Hampshire militia units. The company...
) at the Battle of Rhode Island
Battle of Rhode Island
The Battle of Rhode Island, also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill and the Siege of Newport, took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and militia forces under the command of General John Sullivan were withdrawing to the northern part of Aquidneck Island after abandoning their siege of...
. His slave, Prince Whipple
Prince Whipple
Prince Whipple was an African American slave who accompanied his owner, General William Whipple of the New Hampshire militia, during the American Revolutionary War.- Early life :William C...
, followed the General to war and served with him throughout. William Whipple, freed his slave Prince, having believed he could not fight for liberty and own a slave.
After the war he became an Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
of the Superior Court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
of New Hampshire. He suffered from a heart ailment and he died by fainting from atop his horse while traveling his court circuit. He was buried in the Old North Burial Ground in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1976, in conjunction with the American Bicentennial, his headstone was replaced with a new memorial by a local historical association.