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Prince Whipple
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Prince Whipple
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Prince Whipple (c. 1750–1796) was an African American slave and later freedman. He was a soldier and a bodyguard during the American Revolution under his slaveowner General William Whipple of the New Hampshire Militia who formally manumitted him in 1784. Prince is depicted in Emanuel Leutze's painting Washington Crossing the Delaware and Thomas Sully's painting Passage of the Delaware.[1][2][3]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

In his 1855 book Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, the nineteenth-century African-American author and abolitionist William Cooper Nell related some undocumented anecdotes about Whipple and his life:

Prince Whipple was born in Ambou [sic], Africa, 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.[4]

Prince and his brother Cuffee were sent by their parents to study in America. During the journey, they were kidnapped by a slave trader and sent to a prison in the Caribbean.[3] Prince, his brother, and hundreds of other slaves at the prison were sold to a sea captain. A majority of the prisoners were sent to sugar and tobacco plantations in the West Indies and the Southern British Colonies. Prince and Cuffee were not among those sold in the plantations, but instead were sent to Portsmouth, New Hampshire to be house slaves.[3] There they were purchased by William Whipple Jr. who was a successful businessman and owner of the slave ship that purchased the slaves from the prison.[3]

Prince was well liked in Portsmouth. As William Nell stated "He was also known as 'Caleb Quotom" of Portsmouth'"[4] and got along well with the other slaves. Prince joined William as a servant in large weddings, dinners, balls, and parties held by the White population of New Hampshire and was well received.[3]

American Revolution

[edit]

When the Revolution started, William Whipple was assigned as a captain in the Continental Army and took Prince with him. Initially, Prince served as a bodyguard to William because of military regulations that forbid Blacks from serving in the army or militia.[5] Despite the restrictions, Blacks had been reported to have fought alongside the colonists in many battles including Lexington and Bunker Hill.[6] The British offered freedom to American slaves if they were to serve in the British Army against the American Colonies.[7] In 1780, the Southern Colonies began to draft free Blacks and a select number of enslaved men for military service as a response to the actions of the British.[8] The conscription of Blacks was also an answer to the diminishing manpower of the Thirteen Colonies.[9] The increased need of men allowed Prince to serve as a military aide to William and a soldier in the New Hampshire Militia.

Service under William Whipple

[edit]

In 1777, William was promoted to brigadier general and was ordered to go to Vermont. Prince joined him, but challenged his position as a slave. Prince argued with William saying "You are going to fight for your Liberty, but I have none to fight for."[6] William offered Prince his freedom if he continued his military service. Prince agreed and by the end of the war, William ended Prince's servitude and granted his freedom. 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.

Freedom Petition

[edit]
Main article: Freedom suit

In 1779 Prince joined with nineteen other freed slaves who referred themselves as the "Natives of Africa" in Portsmouth.[1][11] These men went to the House and Council sitting of New Hampshire and petitioned for their freedom to be kept. They stated the following:

God of Nature gave them Life and Freedom, upon the Terms of the most perfect Equality with other men, That Freedom is an inherent right of the human Species, not to be surrendered, but by Consent, for the Sake of social Life; that private or public Tyranny and Slavery, are alike detestable to Minds conscious of the equal Dignity of human Nature … [12]

Their plea for freedom was made public in the New Hampshire Gazette. Although Prince was not a freedman at the time of the signing of the petition, he was an advocate for the protection of freedmen rights and liberties.[13] the petition was tabled. In March 2013 the New Hampshire Senate passed the Bill; in April 2013 the New Hampshire House passed the Bill[14]

After the War

[edit]

Prince returned to Portsmouth as a freedman and reunited with his brother Cuffee. He married a woman named Dinah who was a slave in New Castle and was granted freedman status by her enslaver at age 21.[6] For his service in the war, Prince was given a small plot of land upon which he, his brother, and his wife built a house. They converted the house into the Ladies Charitable African School to teach young children.[3] Dinah taught there until her death.

Death and legacy

[edit]

Prince died in 1796, and is buried (as is his former owner, William Whipple) in Portsmouth's historic Old North Cemetery.[15] At least two artists acknowledged Prince's patriotic service during the Revolution under Commander George Washington and William Whipple in two noteworthy art pieces.

The Crossing of the Delaware, Prince Whipple may be depicted near George Washington in the lower left corner, or the bow, of the boat.
The Passage of the Delaware, 1819. Prince Whipple can be seen to the far right side of the painting dressed in red.

According to legend, Prince Whipple accompanied General Whipple and George Washington in the famous crossing of the Delaware River[16] 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 (217 km) 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.

In 1819, American painter Thomas Sully created his interpretation of the Battle of Trenton.[2] The painting depicts Washington on a white horse around three white officers and a Black man. The Black soldier in the painting is shown wearing red clothing speaking to an officer. The man in this picture is confirmed to be Prince Whipple as Sully had heard about Prince and incorporated him into his painting.[17][18] Much like the Leutze painting, Prince was most likely not present at Trenton during Washington's crossing.

References

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Prince Whipple

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Prince Whipple (c. 1750–1796) was an enslaved African man who served as a soldier and personal aide to William Whipple, a signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Hampshire, during the American Revolutionary War. Born in Africa and transported to the American colonies as a child via the Atlantic slave trade, Whipple was owned by William Whipple in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from around 1765. He accompanied his enslaver on military campaigns, participating in the Battles of Saratoga in 1777 and Rhode Island in 1778, where he fought as part of the Continental Army. In November 1779, Whipple joined nineteen other enslaved African men in petitioning the New Hampshire legislature for freedom, citing the hypocrisy of slavery under a government founded on principles of liberty as articulated in the Declaration of Independence; the petition invoked natural rights but did not secure immediate emancipation for all signers. Whipple's historical significance lies in his wartime service and role in early abolitionist advocacy, though later 19th-century accounts, influenced by abolitionist narratives, inaccurately depicted him rowing George Washington's boat in the 1776 Delaware River crossing—a claim unsupported by primary records or eyewitness accounts, with the figure in Emanuel Leutze's 1851 painting representing a composite rather than any specific individual. He gained freedom after the war, likely around 1784 upon William Whipple's decision or following the owner's death in 1785, and lived as a free man in with his wife until his death.

Origins and Enslavement

African Background and Capture

Prince Whipple was born circa 1750 on the West African coast, likely in Anomabu (also spelled Anamaboe or Amabou), a trading hub in the region of present-day . Accounts from 19th-century historians portray him as originating from a family of relative prominence, possibly the son of a local leader or chief, though primary evidence for his precise social status remains absent. At around age ten in 1760, Whipple was captured into the transatlantic slave trade, a process typical of the era involving raids, judicial sales, or betrayals amid intertribal conflicts and European coastal forts. Later narratives, such as those by abolitionist William Cooper Nell, claim he and a younger sibling were dispatched by their father to learn a trade abroad but were seized en route by a duplicitous ship captain and sold into bondage; scholars regard these specifics as legendary, emphasizing instead that he departed as a free child before forced enslavement. Whipple was transported to the American colonies, arriving in , by 1760 or shortly thereafter, where sea captain and merchant acquired him as property, possibly via purchase in the , , or directly from a . This transaction aligned with William Whipple's prior involvement in maritime trade, including slaving voyages, though exact records of the acquisition are sparse and derived from local histories rather than contemporaneous documents.

Life in Colonial New Hampshire

Prince Whipple was transported from the coast of to , a key colonial trading port, in 1760 at approximately age ten. There, he entered enslavement under , a merchant and former who had established himself in the local economy through shipping and trade. As property in Whipple's household, Prince performed duties as a personal body servant, a role common for enslaved Africans in seaports where owners like William Whipple—later a signer of the Declaration of Independence—relied on such laborers for domestic and attendant services amid the colony's modest but persistent slaveholding practices. Portsmouth's economy, centered on maritime commerce including some involvement in the Atlantic slave trade, shaped the environment of Whipple's enslavement. William Whipple's household included at least one other enslaved person, Cuffee Whipple, indicating a typical setup for affluent families in the region, where enslaved individuals handled household tasks, errands, and personal attendance. Prince Whipple developed skills and refinement valued by his enslaver, positioning him for closer service roles within the Whipple family, which grew after William's 1767 marriage to Katherine Moffatt. Historical records from the period confirm that such enslaved servants in often accompanied owners in daily affairs, though specific personal accounts from Prince himself remain absent. By the early 1770s, as tensions escalated toward revolution, Prince Whipple's life remained bound to William Whipple's rising political and military status in . Enslaved status legally precluded autonomy, with New Hampshire's 1776 constitution failing to immediately abolish despite revolutionary rhetoric on liberty; Whipple's household exemplified this contradiction, as the owner advocated independence while holding human property. Prince's pre-war years thus centered on servitude in a prosperous home, without documented resistance or attempts until wartime pressures emerged.

Revolutionary War Involvement

Enlistment and Service as Bodyguard

Prince Whipple entered military service in 1775 as the enslaved personal attendant and bodyguard to William Whipple, a merchant and signer of the Declaration of Independence who was commissioned as a captain in the New Hampshire militia that year and later promoted to colonel. Enslaved Africans like Whipple were not formally enlisted as soldiers due to colonial statutes barring their arming, such as New Hampshire's 1718 law, but owners routinely brought servants on drills and campaigns for logistical support and protection. William Whipple's rising rank to brigadier general in 1777 required Prince's accompaniment without pay or official status, reflecting the era's practice of treating enslaved aides as extensions of their masters' duties rather than independent enlistees. Throughout the war, Prince Whipple fulfilled bodyguard responsibilities by attending to William Whipple's needs during field operations, including managing horses and providing close security amid battlefield hazards. He was present for the , arriving before the British surrender on October 17, 1777, where militia forces under generals like Whipple contributed to the of General Burgoyne's army. Similarly, in the from August 9 to 29, 1778, Whipple escaped injury when a cannonball struck nearby, killing a and wounding another man, underscoring his proximity to combat without documented frontline engagement. No pension applications or muster rolls list Prince as a formal , consistent with his role as an unpaid, unnamed aide in state records. Historians drawing from Adjutant General archives and contemporary accounts, such as Charles Brewster's 1873 recollections, affirm Whipple's service as tied to his enslaver's commissions rather than independent enlistment, distinguishing it from free black volunteers in Continental units. This arrangement highlighted the Revolution's contradictions, as Prince bore risks akin to soldiers but remained legally property until manumitted post-war. Scholarly analyses, including those by genealogist Blaine Whipple and local historian Valerie Cunningham, emphasize these verified militia escorts over later embellished narratives of broader combat heroism.

Key Battles and Military Contributions

Prince Whipple served primarily as a bodyguard and personal servant to of the during the , accompanying him on key campaigns despite his enslaved status. His military involvement centered on support roles rather than frontline combat, reflecting the common practice of enslaved individuals serving alongside their owners in Continental forces. Whipple participated in the of 1777, where General commanded a of New Hampshire troops that contributed to the decisive American victory over British forces on October 7 at Bemis Heights. Historical records confirm Prince Whipple's presence with his owner during this northern theater operation, which marked a turning point by halting British advances and securing French alliance support, though specific actions attributed to Whipple himself remain undocumented beyond his attendant duties. In 1778, Whipple joined the (August 29), serving as a listed attendant amid militia engagements against British positions on . General Whipple's forces, including Prince, participated in the withdrawal following a failed Franco-American assault, with records noting his continued service until early September. This action highlighted the integrated yet unequal roles of enslaved Black men in Continental service, providing logistical and personal support without formal emancipation during the engagements. No primary evidence supports Whipple's involvement in other major battles, such as the 1776 Delaware crossing or Trenton campaign, claims often propagated in popular depictions but contradicted by timelines and muster rolls placing him elsewhere. His contributions, while ancillary, exemplified the broader participation of enslaved Africans in the Patriot cause, aiding officers in a war that rhetorically championed liberty.

Pursuit of Personal Freedom

The Exeter Petition of 1779

In November 1779, Prince Whipple, still enslaved to of , affixed his signature to a submitted by twenty enslaved Africans seeking from the state. The document, dated November 12, 1779, was addressed to the Council and , which were then in session in , the temporary seat of the wartime legislature. The petitioners, identifying as "natives of " and listing their enslavers' surnames, argued that " is an inherent right of the human species" derived from the "God of Nature," reason, and the principles of , which condemned perpetual bondage as inconsistent with divine law and human equality. They emphasized their long service to masters, their contributions to the colony's prosperity, and their willingness to labor freely if emancipated, while decrying the degradation of being bought, sold, and denied control over their lives, liberty, and property. Whipple signed as the twentieth petitioner, alongside others including Brewster, Rogers, and Cipio Hubbard. Presented to the General Assembly on , 1780, the prompted an order for its publication in the New-Hampshire Gazette but received no substantive legislative action, with lawmakers deeming the matter untimely amid ongoing hostilities with Britain. This inaction left Whipple and most signers in bondage, underscoring the 's invocation of Revolutionary ideals—such as those in the 1776 state prohibiting except as punishment for crime—without immediate enforcement against entrenched property interests. persisted legally in until a 1857 ruling interpreted the as abolishing it by 1804 through non-enactment of enabling laws. The document's text, preserved in state archives, represents one of the earliest organized antislavery appeals by enslaved people in the , predating broader efforts.

Path to Manumission

Prince Whipple's pursuit of freedom, initiated through the 1779 co-signed by him and other enslaved individuals in , did not yield immediate legislative , as the document was tabled without action by the state assembly. The argued for the incompatibility of with the principles of liberty underpinning the Revolution, but broader abolition required gradual legal evolution in , where persisted until a 1783 court ruling interpreted the state constitution as prohibiting it for new entrants, though existing slaves like Whipple faced delayed relief. Whipple's military service under provided a more direct avenue to personal liberty, as enslavers increasingly soldiers post-war to align with republican ideals. Historical municipal records from , document that Whipple received his freedom in 1781 immediately after the Revolutionary War's conclusion, rewarding his contributions as a and participant in campaigns. Formal legal followed in 1784, when executed the deed emancipating him, consistent with the signer's documented opposition to and practice of freeing his own enslaved people amid shifting post-war norms. This individual manumission reflected a among petition signers, where five, including Whipple, achieved freedom during their lifetimes, often tied to service or owner discretion, while others remained enslaved until death. William Whipple's decision aligned with his correspondence advocating slavery's end, though no evidence indicates coerced legislative pressure; rather, it stemmed from wartime promises and the practical realities of a victorious republic confronting its hypocrisies.

Later Life and Death

Post-War Activities

Following his in 1784 by General , Prince Whipple settled in , where he resided in a modest house on property owned by Whipple's widow. He had married Dinah Chase, another formerly enslaved individual who was freed on their wedding day of February 22, 1781, and together they raised six or seven children. Whipple supported his family through various odd jobs as a free laborer, including serving as a major-domo at elegant social events and providing dining services at local ballrooms, establishing himself as a jack-of-all-trades in the . His wife contributed to the African American community by operating an informal for Black children from their home, which later formalized as the Ladies Charitable African School in —the first such institution in —continuing her educational efforts until 1832. Whipple died on November 21, 1796, at the age of 46, and was buried in Portsmouth's North Cemetery alongside , at least one daughter, and a granddaughter, near the tomb of his former owner.

Death and Burial

Prince Whipple died on November 21, 1796, in , at the age of approximately 46. Following his in 1784, he had resided in with his wife, , whom he married after gaining freedom, and they had at least one . Whipple was interred in Portsmouth's North Cemetery (also known as the North Burial Ground or Old North Cemetery), rather than the segregated Negro Burial Ground, which appears to have been closed or disused by the time of his death. His grave lies near the tomb of his former enslaver, , who had died in 1785 and was also buried there. Alongside Prince are the graves of Dinah Whipple and at least one daughter and granddaughter, reflecting his post-war establishment of a unit in the community. Originally marked by a wooden , Whipple's gravesite received a replacement headstone in later years, with commemorative efforts noted around the 50th anniversary of his death by local veterans or historical groups. The precise is not recorded in surviving primary accounts, though contemporary records indicate he had engaged in maritime or labor work in after the Revolution.

Historical Assessment and Myths

Verified Facts Versus Legends

Prince Whipple's verified historical record centers on his enslavement to merchant and signer , whom he accompanied as a personal attendant during the Revolutionary War, and his role in advocating for emancipation through the November 12, 1779, Exeter Petition. In this document, Whipple joined 19 other enslaved Africans in petitioning the New Hampshire legislature for freedom, citing their contributions to the war effort: "That we have in all probability risked our lives in their Service; And as Freedom inspires a noble Confidence." The petition reflects collective service in 's and Continental forces, though individual muster rolls confirm Whipple's enrollment in state units rather than specifying combat roles. In contrast, legends portraying Whipple as a frontline soldier at battles like Saratoga or , or as a rower in George Washington's crossing, lack primary evidence such as pay vouchers, diaries, or orderly books. commanded troops at Saratoga in 1777, where Prince likely served in a non-combat capacity, but no records place him at the Trenton campaign or encampment, where units had limited involvement. The iconic of a oarsman in 's 1851 painting Washington Crossing the Delaware—often misidentified as Whipple—originates from 19th-century abolitionist narratives, including William Cooper Nell's 1852 The Colored Patriots of the , which amplified unverified anecdotes to underscore African American sacrifices amid antislavery advocacy. Leutze's work, created in with European models, romanticizes the event for inspirational effect rather than historical fidelity, as the crossing involved Durham boats crewed by locals, not enslaved attendants from distant commands. These embellishments, while motivational, diverge from archival realities, prioritizing symbolism over documented participation.

Debunking Common Misrepresentations

A widespread misrepresentation portrays Prince Whipple as the African American soldier depicted rowing the boat in Emanuel Leutze's 1851 painting Washington Crossing the Delaware, symbolizing black participation in the Revolutionary War. This identification lacks historical substantiation, as no primary records place Whipple at the December 25, 1776, crossing near Trenton, New Jersey. Contemporary evidence confirms that , Prince's enslaver, was in , , during the event, handling congressional duties rather than accompanying Washington's . Prince Whipple, serving primarily as William's bodyguard in units after enlisting around 1777, had no documented involvement in the Delaware campaign. The painting's figure, created over 70 years later for dramatic effect, draws on abolitionist symbolism rather than factual depiction, with Leutze incorporating composite elements to evoke the era's struggles. This legend traces to 19th-century abolitionist narratives, notably William Cooper Nell's 1852 book The Colored Patriots of the , which popularized the association to underscore African American amid slavery's persistence. While Nell's work highlighted real patriots like Whipple—who petitioned for in 1779 and served loyally—the amplified myths over verified records, such as muster rolls absenting him from Washington's forces. Another misconception claims Prince Whipple endured in 1777-1778 alongside Washington, but logistical records tie him to service under William Whipple's brigade, not the main encampment. These errors, perpetuated in popular histories, overlook primary sources like petitions and enlistments, prioritizing inspirational tropes over evidentiary precision.

Enduring Legacy

Prince Whipple's enduring legacy centers on his symbolic role in representations of African American participation in the , despite historical inaccuracies surrounding specific events. Emanuel Leutze's 1851 painting Washington Crossing the Delaware features a Black rower often misidentified as Whipple, perpetuating a legend that has popularized his image as emblematic of enslaved individuals fighting for independence while denied personal freedom. This depiction, originating in 19th-century abolitionist narratives like William Cooper Nell's 1852 The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, underscores the broader contributions of Black soldiers, even as evidence confirms Whipple served under at Saratoga and but not verifiably in the Delaware crossing. Commemorative efforts in , preserve Whipple's memory through physical markers and historical sites. A headstone in , dedicated on July 4, 1908, by local veterans, honors his Revolutionary War service and post-war life as a . The Moffatt-Ladd House, William Whipple's residence, includes a marker recognizing Prince's presence and , highlighting the household's ties to both Declaration signer and enslaved veteran. Whipple's story informs ongoing discussions of racial paradoxes in the founding era, featured in the Black Heritage Trail of , which traces sites of his family's post-emancipation activities, including education initiatives for . His involvement in the 1779 Exeter Petition for emancipation positions him among early advocates for abolition in , influencing local narratives of freedom's uneven application. These elements collectively frame Whipple as a figure bridging military valor and the quest for personal liberty, with lasting resonance in American historical consciousness.

References

  1. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/inde-1779-petition-new-hampshire-prince-whipple.htm
  2. https://commonplace.online/article/what-freedom-meant-to-prince-whipple/
  3. https://whipple.one-name.net/prince/princewhipple.html
  4. https://blackpast.org/african-american-history/whipple-prince-1750-1796/
  5. https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/african-americans-in-the-american-revolution-prince-whipple-fact-and-fiction/
  6. http://www.seacoastnh.com/black-history/black-history/prince-whipple-and-american-painting/
  7. https://athenaeum.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Whipple%252C%2520William%252C%25201730-1785
  8. https://www.dsdi1776.com/signer/william-whipple/
  9. https://www.encyclopedia.com/african-american-focus/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/whipple-prince
  10. https://portsmouthhistorynotes.com/tag/prince-whipple/
  11. https://mm.nh.gov/files/uploads/sos/docs/1-petitions-1779-11-12-slave-petition-combined.pdf
  12. https://nhpbs.org/americanrevolution/princewhipple.pdf
  13. https://africanamericanheritagesites.stqry.app/en/story/55874
  14. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7142817/prince-whipple
  15. https://www.geni.com/people/Prince-Whipple-Black-Patriot-of-the-American-Revolution/6000000017251449574
  16. http://www.seacoastnh.com/Black-History/Black-History-of-the-Seacoast/Untangling-the-Prince-Whipple-Legend/
  17. https://allthingsliberty.com/2021/07/the-silence-of-slavery-in-revolutionary-war-art/
  18. https://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/cross-with-us/myths/
  19. https://www.seacoastnh.com/history/history-matters/black-man-with-washington-crossing-the-delaware/
  20. http://www.seacoastnh.com/untangling-the-prince-whipple-legend/
  21. https://www.1776inlivingcolor.org/posts/prince-whipple
  22. https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/washington-crosses-delaware-leutze-lawrence
  23. https://www.nhmagazine.com/along-the-way-day-trips-into-black-history/
  24. https://blackheritagetrailnh.org/all-tours
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