Prince Whipple (abt. 1750 - 1796)

Born about 1750 in Anomabu, Central, Ghana

Died 23 Nov 1796 at about age 46 in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire

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Biography

Prince Whipple is Notable.

Prince Whipple has African ancestry.

Prince Whipple served with African-Americans in the American Revolution during the American Revolution.

According to William Cooper Nell, in his 1855 book Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, Prince Whipple was born to a wealthy family in Africa and sent to North American, along with his brother Cuffee, to be educated. They were kidnapped at sea and sold into slavery. ^[1]

He was a soldier and a bodyguard during the American Revolution under his owner General William Whipple. His position as bodyguard was a designation given because slaves were not legally able to serve, although serve he did. ^[2] He may or may not have participated in Washington's 1776 surprise attack on the British in New Jersey, and this fact is debated. ^[3]

in 1777, William Whipple was promoted and ordered to report to serve in Vermont. Prince went with him but asked for his freedom saying, "You are going to fight for your Liberty, but I have none to fight for." ^[4] According to the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Town Records,[10] General Whipple granted Prince the rights of a freeman on February 22, 1781, Prince's wedding day. He was legally manumitted by Gen. William Whipple on February 26, 1784. ^[5]

He is widely thought to be depicted in Emanuel Leutze's iconic painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware, 1851 which is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. ^[6]

Prince returned to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he reunited with his brother Cuffee. He married Dinah and together the three of them built a house on land he had been granted for his service in the war. Later they converted the house to a school, at which Dinah taught. Prince died in 1796 and is buried in Portsmouth's North Cemetery. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Nell, William Cooper (1855). The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution. Boston, MA: J.B. Yerrinton & Son, Printers
2. ↑ Horton, James Oliver; Horton, Lois E. (1997). In Hope of Liberty: Culture, Community, and Protest Among Northern Free Blacks 1700-1860. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Whipple#cite_ref-13
4. ↑ Benton, B. (1973). "Prince Whipple, Soldier of the American Revolution". Negro History Bulletin. 36 (4): 126–127.
5. ↑ According to the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Town Records,[10] General Whipple granted Prince the rights of a freeman on February 22, 1781, Prince's wedding day. He was legally manumitted by Gen. William Whipple on February 26, 1784.
6. ↑ By Emanuel Leutze - The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9520770
7. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #7142817 (accessed 31 March 2023)
   Memorial page for Prince Whipple (1750-23 Nov 1796), citing North Cemetery, Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA (plot: e-2, c-1); Maintained by Helen L. Smith Hoke (contributor 46540075).

• https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/whipple-prince-1750-1796/