Whipple, William, 1731-1785

<b>William Whipple</b><br>
<b>BIRTH</b> 14 Jan 1730<br>
Kittery, York County, Maine, USA<br>
<b>DEATH</b> 28 Nov 1785 (aged 55)<br>
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA<br>
<b>BURIAL</b><br>
North Cemetery<br>
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA

<p>William Whipple Jr. (January 25, 1731 NS [January 14, 1730 OS] – November 28, 1785) was an American Founding Father and signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence. He represented New Hampshire as a member of the Continental Congress from 1776 through 1779. He worked as both a ship's captain and a merchant, and he studied in college to become a judge. He died of heart complications in 1785, aged 55.</p>

<p>Whipple was born in Kittery, Massachusetts Bay (that portion which is now in Maine) in the William Whipple House to Captain William Whipple Sr. and his wife Mary (née Cutt), and educated at a common school until he went off to sea, and he became a Ship's Master at age 21. He married his first cousin Catherine Moffat in 1767, and they moved into the Moffatt-Ladd House on Market Street in Portsmouth in 1769. Their son William Whipple III died in infancy. Whipple was a descendant of Samuel Appleton, early settler in Ipswich, Massachusetts.</p>

<p>Whipple earned his fortune participating in the Triangle trade of the West Indies and Africa, with cargo such as wood, rum, and enslaved humans. He established himself as a merchant in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1759, in partnership with his brother Joseph (1738–1816).</p>

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li> 12/31/1778 NH Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1777 NH Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1776 NH Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1775 NH Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>

<p>William Whipple was born at Kittery Maine, in 1730. He was educated at a common school until his early teens, when he went off to sea to find his fortune. He was an able seaman, earning the position of Ship's Master by the age of 21. He worked hard and amassed a great deal of money. In 1759 he landed in Portsmouth and, in partnership with his brother, established himself as a merchant. Calls to public duty began almost immediately. He was elected to several local offices and was involved in the Patriot movement.</p>

<p>In 1775 he was elected to represent his town at the provincial congress. The following year New Hampshire dissolved the Royal government and reorganized with a House of Representatives and an Executive Council. Whipple was made a Council member, a member of the Committee of Safety, and was promptly elected to the Continental Congress. He served there through 1779, though he took much leave for military affairs. In 1777 he was made Brigadier General of the New Hampshire Militia. General Whipple led men in the successful expedition against General Burgoyne at the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga.</p>

<p>After the war Whipple was appointed an associate justice of the Superior Court of New Hampshire. He suffered from a heart ailment for several years and he died, fainting from atop his horse while traveling his court circuit, in November of 1785.</p>