Prince Whipple

Prince Whipple (1750–1796) was an African American slave and later freedman who accompanied his former owner, General William Whipple of the New Hampshire militia, during the American Revolutionary War.

Early life

In his 1851 book Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, the nineteenth-century African-American author and abolitionist, William C. Nell related some undocumented anecdotes about Whipple and his life:

Prince Whipple was born in Ambou (sic), in Ghana, of comparatively wealthy parents. When about ten years of age, he was sent by them, in company with a cousin, to America to be educated. An elder brother had returned four years before, and his parents were anxious that their child should receive the same benefits. The captain who brought the two boys over proved to be a treacherous villain, and carried them to Baltimore, where he exposed them for sale, they were both purchased by Portsmouth, New Hampshire men, Prince falling to General William Whipple. He was emancipated during the [Revolutionary] War, was much esteemed, and was once entrusted by the General with a large sum of money to carry from Salem to Portsmouth. He was attacked on the road, near Newburyport, by two ruffians; one was struck with a loaded whip, the other one he shot...Prince was beloved by all who knew him. He was also known as "Caleb Quotom" of Portsmouth, where he died leaving a widow, Dinah a freeperson and two children.

According to the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Town Records,[1] General Whipple granted Prince Whipple the rights of a freeman on 22 Feb. 1781, Prince's wedding day. He was legally manumitted by Gen. William Whipple on 26 Feb. 1784.

Legacy

According to legend, Prince Whipple accompanied General Whipple and George Washington in the famous crossing of the Delaware River and is the black man portrayed fending off ice with an oar at Washington's knee in the painting Washington Crossing the Delaware, painted 75 years after the event by German American artist Emanuel Leutze. Most historians doubt that there is any basis for this story. It is extremely unlikely that either General Whipple or Prince Whipple was present at the Battle of Trenton. At that time, General Whipple was serving in the Continental Congress, which had fled Philadelphia and reconvened in Baltimore, a distance of 135 miles from Trenton. Moreover, Prince Whipple was not famous at the time the painting was commissioned, and it is unlikely that Leutze would have heard of him.

Prince Whipple may be depicted near George Washington in the lower left corner, or the bow, of the boat.

Notes

  1. ↑ Portsmouth Town Records, Vol. III, p. 95, New Hampshire State Library at Concord, New Hampshire

References

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