Lot 215
Whipple, William (1730-1785) Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Manuscript Document Signed ("Wm. Whipple") (Portsmouth, New Hampshire, January 18, 1770), 1pg. folio. Certifying the appraisal of the household goods of Captain Joseph Hixon of Portsmouth, Mariner, Deceased. The captain's most valuable possessions were his brigantine Intrepid, valued at 459 pounds, his house, garden, and barn at 250 pounds, and 21 hogsheads of rum at 287.5 pounds. Among the other articles listed are his church pew, household and sea furniture. Valued at 30 pounds each are "1 Negro Wench named Lois" and "1 Negro Boy named Silas." The document is darkly penned and Whipple's signature is bold. Whipple is in the rare group of Signers, considered a 3 out of 5 in difficulty to acquire.
Whipple himself was a sailor in his youth and, among other endeavors, engaged in the slave trade. In 1759, he abandoned the sea and became a businessman. During the Revolution, he freed his own slaves. He served as a member of the Continental Congress from New Hampshire (1776-79), signing the Declaration of Independence. In 1777 he commanded militia contingents in the Saratoga campaign, and signed the articles of capitulation with Col. James Wilkinson on behalf of Gen. Horatio Gates. He participated in Gen. Sullivan's unsuccessful Rhode Island campaign in 1778. From 1782-85, he served as associate justice of the superior court in New Hampshire.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000.
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| Realized $2,875 |
