Author’s Note: This series of postings are taken from the
book Signing Their Lives Away by Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese. The publishers at Quirk Books kindly gave me
permission to judiciously quote from it on my blog. While I dispense with quotation marks, the
sentences are lifted directly from the book.
The purpose is to introduce you to those who signed the Declaration of
Independence and who often remain in the shadows of history. This book is a must for the home collection
of any avid reader, historian, or patriot.
New Hampshire LIVE
FREE OR DIE
2. William
Whipple. Age at signing: 46, Profession:
Sea Captain, merchant, general
As a boy, Maine-born William Whipple went to sea and was so
able-bodied that he attained the rank of captain by the age of twenty-one. His travels took him to Africa, the West
Indies, and Europe. These destinations
offer a clue about the type of boat Whipple was sailing: he was, at least for a time, a slave
trader. He not only profited from the
business but also kept some slaves of his own, including an enslaved African
named Prince who fought beside him during the Revolutionary War.
…Prince’s story highlights an oft-forgotten chapter in
history. As many as five thousand black
Americans are believed to have fought on the patriot side during the
revolution. At first, Washington, a
slaveholder, wasn’t keen on the idea of recruiting blacks. But later, as manpower shortages mounted, he
agreed to enlist free blacks. At the
same time, the Brits offered freedom to any slave who would fight on their side….Ultimately,
more blacks served with the British than with the Americans.
Prince, who died in 1797, is buried in the same cemetery (in
Portsmouth) – a high honor in those days.
A metal marker identifies Prince as a veteran of the Revolutionary War.
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