Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, Vol. I, Part 14

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed; Jordan, Wilfred, b. 1884, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, NY : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 710

USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, Vol. I > Part 14

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Something of his political views are expressed in the following speech in the House of Commons :

"For my part I am not ashamed nor afraid to affirm, that thirty years have made no change in any of my political opinions; I am now grown old in this house, but that ex- perience which is the consequence of age has only confirmed the principles with which I enter'd it many years ago; time has verified the predictions which I formerly utter'd, and I have seen my conjectures ripen'd into knowledge. I should be therefore without excuse, if either terror could affright, or the hope of advantage allure me from the declaration of my opinions ; opinions, which I was not deterred from asserting, when the prospect of a longer life than I can now expect might have added to the tempta- tions of ambition, or aggravated the terrors of poverty and disgrace; opinions, for which I would willingly have suffered the severest censures, even when I had espoused them only in compliance with reason, without the infallible certainty of experience. Of truth it has been always observed, Sir, that every day adds to its establishment, and that falsehoods, however specious, however supported by power, or established by con- federacies, are unable to stand before the stroke of time: Against the inconveniences and vexations of long life, may be set the pleasure of discovering truth, perhaps the only pleasure that age affords. Nor is it a slight satisfaction to a man not utterly in- fatuated or depraved, to find opportunities of rectifying his notions, and regulating his conduct by new lights. But much greater is the happiness of that man, to whom every day brings a new proof of the reasonableness of his former determinations, and who finds, by the most unerring test, that his life has been spent in promotion of doc- trines beneficial to mankind. This, Sir, is the happiness which I now enjoy, and for which those who never shall attain it, must look for an equivalent in lucrative employ - ment, honorary titles, pompous equipages, and splendid palaces. These, Sir, are the advantages which are to be gained by a seasonable variation of principles, and by a ready compliance with the prevailing fashion of opinions; advantages, which I indeed cannot envy, when they are purchased at so high a price";

William Shippen, m. Frances, dau. of Sir Richard Stote ;

Robert Shippen, b. 1675. Received his M. A. July 22, 1693, was Fellow of Brasenose, and Professor of Music at Gresham College; he held several preferments. In 1710 he became Principal of Brasenose, and in 1718 Vice-chancellor of Oxford University. Bur. in Brasenose Chapel, where there is his bust and an epitaph in Latin by Dr. Frewin, of which the following is a free translation :

"Robert Shippen, Professor of Sacred Theology Who amongst the Mertonians Well Versed in the knowledge of Literature And the rules of Philosophy. Was first a Fellow of this College Afterwards for Thirty Five Years Warden Meanwhile five times vice-Chancellor of the University. A man, if ever such there was, Prompt, diligent and faithful In promoting the interests & advantage of his friends Careful, expert and unwearied In enlarging the revenue & emoluments of the College Watchful, bold and resolute

In maintaining and defending the rights & privileges of the University. Died 24 November A. D. 1745-Aged 70 years.

Most deeply lamented by his friends, the College and the University."

"William Seyborne Esquire A nephew by a sister To his greatly revered Uncle And who honored him living and dead. Hath erected This memorial of his love and duty."

SHIPPEN

The tablet is about eight feet in length, surmounted with a bust of Robert Shippen, terminating with the shield of the Shippen coat-of-arms. There appears to have been a certain degree of intimacy between Robert and his American cousin, Joseph. His book-plate is preserved in the American branch of the family;

John Shippen, bap. by his father at Stockport July 5, 1678. Was a merchant in Spain, and British consul at Lisbon; d. unm. Sept., 1747; bur. in St. Andrew's, Holborn, London ;

Anne Shippen, named for Edward Willes, one of the Judges of Court of King's Bench, 1767, m. Anne Taylor, dau. of Anne, sister of William Shippen, M. P.

EDWARD SHIPPEN, the emigrant, was baptized on March 5, 1639, at Methley, not far from the manufacturing city of Leeds ; the Loidis-in-Elmet of Saxon days. The name Methley probably originally meant the middle pasture land between the rivers Calder and Aire. To-day Methley Church is almost, excepting the steeple, which is an eighteenth-century addition, as it was when Edward Ship- pen lived at Methley. He came over to America and settled in Boston in 1668. There he engaged in mercantile pursuits with much success. In 1669 he was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, showing that he was still at that time a member of the Protestant Church of England. Two years later he married Elizabeth Lybrand, a Quarkeress; this marriage led him to become a Quaker. Owing to his new religion, he was subjected to severe perse- cution, and in 1677, was twice "publickly whipped." In various ways he was subjected to great annoyance, until finally, about 1693-4, he decided to take refuge in Pennsylvania.

It would seem to have taken him about a year to perfect the disposal of his estate in Boston and transfer it to Philadelphia. In this latter city his wealth, his fine personal appearance, his house on Second street, styled "a princely mansion", his talents, and his high character, speedily obtained for him such posi- tion and influence that on July 9, 1695, he was elected Speaker of the Assem- bly ; in 1699 he was made Chief-Justice, and on October 25, 1701, William Penn named him in the charter as Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. Penn, as is well known, gave most anxious consideration to his selection of officers to govern the new city. He thoroughly appreciated the importance of a correct choice. It was, to borrow a military phrase, the base-line in his operations. The success of his whole enterprise turned upon it, the consciousness of which, apart from any other motives, political or philanthropic, was sufficient to stimu- late him to the utmost caution and deliberation in his choice of incumbents. In Edward Shippen he found a man of courage, energy, integrity, intelligence, and sagacity ; whose unspotted moral character was ample earnest to the citizens that the executive power would be exercised with the strictest justice and fidelity ; whose active business habits and bravery equally assured them of the chief mag- istrate's resolution and promptness, whilst his high social position gave dignity to the office.

From 1702 to 1704 Edward Shippen was President of the Governor's Council, and for six months, when there was no Governor in the Province, he was acting Governor. In 1706 he contracted his third marriage, which led to his separation from the Society of Friends. After that, apparently, he retired from public life, except that he continued to advise upon public affairs, as is shown by Penn's let- ter dated 24th, 5th month, 1712, where Edward Shippen is addressed, in con- nection with Isaac Norris, Thomas Story, and others. Edward Shippen died at Philadelphia, October 2, 1712.

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No one could wish to detract in the slightest degree from Penn's merits; but we are taught to render "honor to whom honor is due." In doing so, we must needs say that a great, if not the greatest, portion of the glory of building up the commonwealth which was "founded by deeds of peace" is due to Shippen, Nor- ris, and Logan, and men like them; the men who, here, in the new country itself, fostered commerce, developed the resources of the Province, set the best of examples, by disdaining no proper toil in their respective vocations, yet neg- lected not the refinements and graces of letters and polite society.

Edward Shippen married (first), 1671, Elizabeth Lybrand, of Boston; they had eight children, from whom are descended the Shippen family in America. She having died, October 25, 1688, he married at Newport, Rhode Island, Sep- tember 4, 1689, Rebecca, widow of Francis Richardson, of New York, and daughter of John Howard, of Yorkshire. Her sister Mary, who had married (first) Thomas, son of William Coddington, Governor of Rhode Island, had just prior to Edward Shippen's removal to Philadelphia, become third wife of Anthony Morris, at that time a leading merchant of Philadelphia. Edward Shippen took up his residence in a fine mansion on the west side of Second street, north of Spruce, and had a fine "country house" at Broad and South streets, his property extending along the south side of the old city as far west as Sixteenth street and east to Front street. William Penn spent much of his time at Ship- pen's house on Second street, on the occasion of his second visit to Pennsyl- vania. His spacious lawn extending down to Dock Creek, on which he main- tained a herd of deer, and his orchard of choice fruits were famous in their day.

Among the descendants of Edward Shippen and his first wife, Elizabeth Ly- brand, many reached positions of influence and distinction, both under the Colon- ial and the State governments. Some account of their distinguished services will be given later in this narrative. Mr. Shippen's second wife, Rebecca (Howard) Richardson, died in Philadelphia, February 26, 1704-5, and in 1706 he married (third) Elizabeth, widow of Thomas James, from Bristol, England, daughter of John Wilcox. This marriage separated him from the Society of Friends, and about this time he also retired from public affairs, except that he continued to be the confidential adviser of Penn in some matters of state as shown by Penn's letter of 5mo. 24, 1712. He died in Philadelphia, October 2, 1712. His third wife survived him, dying in Philadelphia, August 7, 1724. His only child by the second marriage was a daughter, Elizabeth, born at Boston, October 20, 1691, and died there August 8, 1692. By the third marriage he had two sons, John, 1707, died same year ; and William, born Philadelphia, October 3, 1708, died February 3, 1730-I, unmarried. His descendants therefore are through his first marriage, with Elizabeth Lybrand.

Issue of Edward and Elizabeth (Lybrand) Shippen :-

Frances, b. Feb. 2, 1672, d. April 9, 1673;

Edward, b. Oct. 2, 1674, d. Nov. 2, 1674;

William, b. Oct. 4, 1675, d. 1676;

Elizabeth, b. Aug. 21, 1676, d. Aug. 16, 1688;

Edward, b. Feb. 10, 1677-8; d. in Philadelphia, Dec. 29, 1714; in. Fancenia Vanderheyden of Maryland, had dau. Margaret, who m. Jeykill. It was to him that his father devised ancestral estate at Hillam, Yorkshire;

JOSEPH, b. Feb. 28, 1678-9, d. in Philadelphia, June 1741; m. (first) Abigail Grosse; (second) Rose McWilliams; of whom presently;

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Mary, b. May 6, 1681, d. Aug. 30, 1688;

Ann, b. June 17, 1684, d. s. p. Dec. 6, 1712; m. July 10, 1706, Thomas Story, (first) Re- corder of Philadelphia, named as such in Charter of 1701; Master of Rolls, 1700-2; Keeper of Seal, same period; Provincial Councillor, 1700-1706; and one of Commis- sioners of Property ; d. 1742, in England ; elected Mayor, but refused to serve.

JOSEPH SHIPPEN, son of Edward and Elizabeth (Lybrand) Shippen, born at Boston, February 28, 1678-8, remained in Boston after the removal of his father to Philadelphia, and married there, July 28, 1703, Abigail, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Grosse, of Huguenot descent. They removed to Philadelphia in 1704, his wife died there June 28, 1716, and he married (second) Rose, widow of John McWilliams, also widow of Charles Plumly. She was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Budd, of Burlington, New Jersey, where she was born March 13, 1680-I. Joseph Shippen resided a time in Philadelphia, removing later to Germantown. Resided at "Buttowood Farm," formerly the "Roebuck Tavern." In 1727 Joseph Shippen joined Dr. Franklin in the formation of the "Junto" founded "for mutual information and the promotion of the public Good," which was the forerunner of the American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743. He was an energetic and industrious business man, was very prominent in the commercial and social life of Philadelphia, and took a deep interest in science and literature. He died at Germantown, June, 1741. His children, all by the first wife, were :-

EDWARD, known as "Edward Shippen of Lancaster," b. Boston, July 9, 1703, d. Lancas- ter, Sept. 25, 1781 ; m. (first) Sarah Plumley; (second) Mary (Gray) Rowland, of whom presently ;

Elizabeth, b. Philadelphia, April 17, 1705, d. there June 8, 1714;

Joseph, known as "Gentleman Joe," b. Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1706, d. Germantown, July, 1793; subscriber to the Dancing Assembly, 1748; led a "gay and luxurious life"; was member of Common Council of Philadelphia from Oct. 1742, many years; m. Mary Kearney ;

William, b. Aug. 31, 1708, d. Dec. 29, 1716;

Anne, b. Philadelphia, Aug. 5, 1710, m. Charles Willing ;

Dr. William Shippen Sr., b. Philadelphia, Oct. I, 1712, d. Nov. 4, 1801; one of first physicians of Pa. Hospital; one of founders of Second Presbyterian Church, member sixty years ; elected American Philosophical Society, 1767, later its Vice-president; had been member of Franklin's "Junto"; elected by Pa. Assembly to Continental Congress Nov. 20, 1778, re-elected Nov. 13, 1779. M. Susannah, b. Philadelphia, June 30, 1711, d. there 1774, dau. of Joseph and Katharine (Noble) Harrison ;

Dr. William Shippen Jr., son Dr. William Sr., b. Philadelphia Oct. 21, 1736, grad- uated at College of N. J. ( Princeton), 1754, valedictorian of class; studied med- icine with father until 1758, then went to England and pursued his studies there; took degree M. D. at Univ. of Edinburg, 1761; returned to Philadelphia May, 1762, and on advice of his father commenced course of lectures on anatomy, the first ever delivered in America, continued until appointed, Sept. 23, 1765, Professor of Anatomy and Surgery of Medical Dept. of College of Philadelphia, founded by him. July 15, 1776, appointed Chief Physician of Flying Camp, and March, 1777, laid before Congress a plan for organization of Hospital Dept. for the army, which, with slight modifications, was adopted, and he was ap- pointed, April 11, 1777, "Director General of all the Military Hospitals, for the Army of the United States;" On reorganization of College of Philadelphia as Univ. of Pa. elected May II, 1780, Professor of Anatomy, Surgery and Mid- wifery, which he held until resignation, 1806. Was an originator of Philadel- phia College of Physicians, 1787, and its president 1805 to death, July II, 1808. M. in London, 1760, Alice, youngest dau. of Col. Thomas Lee, Governor of Vir- ginia, by his wife Hannah Ludwell, and sister to Richard Henry, Lightfoot, and Arthur Lee. She was b. in Virginia, June 4, 1736, d. Philadelphia March 25, 1801.

Elizabeth, b. Sept. 28, 1714, d. Dec. 3, 1714.

EDWARD SHIPPEN, eldest son of Joseph and Abigail (Gosse) Shippen, gener-

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ally known as "Edward Shippen of Lancaster", born in Boston, Mass., July 9, 1703, was reared in Philadelphia to mercantile pursuits, in 1732 became a part- ner of James Logan, under firm name of Logan & Shippen, and in 1749, engaged in the fur trade with Thomas Lawrence, under title of Shippen and Lawrence. He was elected to Common Council of Philadelphia October 3, 1732, was elected by that body to the Board of Aldermen October 4, 1743, and a year later was elected Mayor of the city. He was an accomplished scholar, a cultured gentle- man, and was very much esteemed throughout the Province. He was a founder of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University, and was a trustee twenty years. He became a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1768, of which his son Edward was also a member. On engaging in the fur trade in 1749, he removed to Lancaster, and became an extensive landed pro- prietor on the then frontier of Pennsylvania. He laid out the town of Shippens- burg, named for him. He was appointed Prothonotary of Lancaster county, March 28, 1753, held that office until the Revolution, and was also clerk of the other courts of the county, as well as Justice of the County and Provincial Courts.

During the French and Indian wars he filled the position of paymaster and Commissary of the British and Provincial troops, under Generals Forbes and Stanwix and Col. Bouquet, and managed the purchase of supplies for the sev- eral expeditions with so much thoroughness, integrity and tact, as to receive the public thanks for his services in 1760. In fact he discharged all his public duties in a manner eminently praiseworthy and honorable, and in his private inter- course always showed himself so virtuous and upright as to merit and hold the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary struggle he was too old to take a prominent part, either in the field or in the Committee of Safety, but nevertheless, always expressed him- self warmly in behalf of the Colonies, and gave material aid. He had an unswerving faith in the ultimate success of the cause of independence, even in the darkest days of the struggle, but did not live to see it achieved. He died at Lancaster, September 25, 1781. He married (first), September 20, 1725, Sarah, born in Philadelphia, November 8, 1706, died there April 28, 1735, daughter of Charles Plumley by his wife Rose Budd, who became the second wife of Joseph Shippen, father of Edward. He married (second), in August, 1747, Mary, widow of John Nowland, and daughter of William and Mary Gray, of Philadelphia. She was born in London, England, January 13, 1705-6, and died at Lancaster May 3, 1778. His children were all by the first wife.

Issue of Edward and Sarah (Plumley) Shippen :-

Elizabeth Shippen, b. Philadelphia, Aug. 17, 1726, d. Aug. 29, 1726;

Joseph and Benjamin, twins, d. inf., Sept. 6, 1727;

EDWARD SHIPPEN, b Philadelphia, Feb. 16, 1728-9; Provincial Councillor, Chief Justice, etc., of whom presently ;

SARAH SHIPPEN, b. Feb. 22, 1730-1, d. at "Tinian", her husband's seat near Harris- burg, Pa., Sept. 17, 1784; m. May 14, 1748, Col. James Burd, of Provincial service and Revolution ; of whom later ;

JOSEPH SHIPPEN, b. Philadelphia, Oct. 30, 1732; Colonel in Provincial service; Secretary Provincial Council; Judge of Lancaster County Courts, etc .; m. Jane Galloway; of whom also, later ;

Rose Shippen, b. Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 1734, d. Sept. 30, 1734.

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EDWARD SHIPPEN, eldest son of Edward and Sarah ( Plumley ) Shippen, born in Philadelphia February 16, 1728-9; through the trying ordeal of the struggle for independence, he entertained views entirely at variance with those of the then dominant party, and took no part in the struggle, nevertheless, through a long and useful career, rendered to his Province and State as distinguished ser- vices as any of his distinguished family, and held throughout, the respect and esteem of her people. He studied law in the office of Tench Francis, Esq., then the most learned and prominent member of Philadelphia Bar. His father, real- izing he could not fit himself for a high position in the practice of that profes- sion in America, sent him to England in the early part of 1749, to pursue his legal studies there. He was entered as a student at the Middle Temple, London, and in 1750, was admitted to practice as a barrister. On May 14, 1750, he sailed for home, and on his arrival in Philadelphia, at once took up the practice of his chosen profession. His rare talents and learning soon procured him a fair amount of business at the local bar, and on September 25, 1750, was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, on his diploma from the Middle Temple, London, and he soon after had charge of a number of important cases in that tribunal. On November 22, 1752, he was appointed Judge of the Court of Admiralty at Philadelphia, then an important and lucrative position. He took a lively interest in Provincial affairs, and in 1756, was appointed by Provincial Council, with a number of others, to pacify the people of Lancaster, then in a turmoil over Indian affairs. On September 24, 1765, he was appointed Prothonotary of the Supreme Court, a position that does not seem to have pre- vented him from enjoying a large practice in that court. On December 12, 1770, he was appointed to the Provincial Council, and took an active part in its deliberations, until it went out of existence with the Provincial government in 1776.

With the coming of the Committee of Safety, followed by the Supreme Exec- utive Council, as the ruling power in the State, Judge Shippen was of course leprived of his several offices and the disturbance and uncertainties of the change of government then succeeding, left little time or thought for litigation, so that his practice ceased to bring in any revenue, and he retired with his family to the Falls of the Schuylkill, and lived in quiet retirement. While he resented and abhored the oppressive measures which the dominant party in England had un- wisely imposed upon the Colonies, his education and profession and its practice had engendered in him the highest respect for the English laws and the preroga- tives of the Crown, and felt that a total separation from the mother country would be ruinous to his beloved province and her institutions. He was, however, loyal to the existing authorities in his native state and freely gave and kept his parole, to hold no communication with her enemies and remain in or near his own house, remaining entirely impassive and neutral; an attitude he strenuously main- tained throughout the war. When the British took possession of the city of Phil- adelphia, he returned to his city house, and was on terms of intimacy with a num- ber of the English officers. His accomplished and beautiful daughters received much attention from the gallant young English cavaliers, with whom they were thrown in contact. They were, however, not permitted to attend the "Meschi- anza", the brilliant fete designed by Major Andre just before Gen. Howe's de- parture for England; though it is believed that his repugnance to their appear-

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ing in the immodest costume they were expected to wear, had more to do with his refusal than questions of state or loyalty.

At the close of the war, his means were much impaired and he purposed to remove his family to Lancaster in order to reduce the cost of living. With the coming of peace, however, differences of opinion were largely forgotten, and by reason of his well known ability and integrity, he was appointed May I, 1784, President Judge of Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, and on September 16 of the same year, was made one of the judges of the High Court of Errors and Appeals, filling both positions until the abolition of the latter by the adoption of the new constitution in 1790. In addition having been elected Justice of Dock Ward, October 13, 1785, he was commissioned on the following day by the Su- preme Executive Council, President Judge of the Quarter Sessions and General Jail Delivery ; but having little taste for the petty criminal trials that came before him, he asked to be relieved of that office a year latter. January 29, 1791, he was appointed Associate Justice of Supreme Court and held that position until 1799, when Chief Justice Thomas Mckean, having become Governor, appointed Judge Shippen to the position of Chief Justice, vacated by his election. He served as Chief Justice until the close of the year 1805, when the infirmities of age induced him to resign and he died suddenly, April 16, 1806, and was buried at Christ Church with high honors. Judge Shippen was a man of large views, sound, practical common sense which tolerated and respected the views and opin- ions of others, though he could not share them, when convinced that they were honestly held and expressed. His great experience, learning and talents, his undoubted integrity, his patience and industry, his careful discrimination and conscientious love of justice, made him just such a judge as the state needed as she launched into independent statehood under new laws and new conditions. He was not one of those brilliant meteors that have periodically flashed upon the forensic horizon, but a plain, practical, conscientious jurist of unquestioned ability and fairness. He was a member of American Philosophical Society. He married at Christ Church, Philadelphia, November 29, 1753, Margaret, daughter of Attorney Gen. Tench Francis by his wife Elizabeth Turbett. She was born in Talbot county, Maryland, August 17, 1735, and died in Philadelphia, May 28, 1794.

Issue of Edward and Margaret (Francis) Shippen :-

ELIZABETH SHIPPEN, b. Sept. 15, 1754, m. her cousin Col. Edward, son of Col. James and Sarah (Shippen) Burd, of whom later ;

Sarah Shippen, b. Feb. 1, 1756, d. 1831; m. Sept. 21, 1787, Thomas Lea of Philadelphia, son of Thomas and Eleanor Lea, from Dublin, Ireland; b. in Philadelphia, July 26, 1757, d. there, Sept. 22, 1793;

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Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, Vol. I, Part 14

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed; Jordan, Wilfred, b. 1884, ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York, NY : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 710

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed; Jordan, Wilfred, b. 1884, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, NY : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 710