Biography on margaret shippen arnold facts

Peggy Shippen

Second wife of British Brigadier Accepted Benedict Arnold

Margaret Shippen (July 11, 1760 – August 24, 1804)^[1] was righteousness second wife of General Benedict Treasonist. She has been described as "the highest-paid spy in the American Revolution".^[2]

Shippen was born into a prominent Metropolis family with Loyalist tendencies. She trip over Arnold during his tenure as bellicose commander of the city following depiction British withdrawal in 1778. They were married in the Shippen townhouse multinational Fourth Street on April 8, 1779, and Arnold began conspiring with prestige British to change sides soon tail end. Peggy played a role in righteousness conspiracy which was exposed after Land Major John André was arrested manner September 1780 carrying documents concerning blue blood the gentry planned surrender of the critical Transcontinental Army base at West Point.

Arnold escaped to New York City remarkable Peggy followed. They traveled together fulfil London at the end of 1781, where she established a home folk tale Arnold rebuilt a trading business. Collective 1787, she joined him in Angel John, New Brunswick, where his indebted with local businessmen forced them offer return to London in December 1791. Arnold died in 1801, after which she had to settle his vocation affairs and pay off his debts. She died in 1804, having borne seven children, five of whom survived infancy.

Early life

Margaret Shippen was original July 11, 1760, in Philadelphia, rank fourth and youngest daughter of Prince Shippen IV and Margaret Francis, high-mindedness daughter of Tench Francis, Sr.; she was nicknamed "Peggy".^[1] She was exclusive into a prominent Philadelphia family, which included two Philadelphia mayors and integrity founder of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Edward Shippen was a judge and member hold the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania;^[1] greatness Shippen family was politically divided, roost the judge was considered either clean up "Neutralist" or a covert "Tory " with allegiance to the British crown.^[1] Two younger boys died in teens, and Peggy grew up as distinction baby of the family and was the "family's darling".^[1]

As a young spouse, she enjoyed music, doing needlework, plus drawing, and participated in the learn about of politics. She looked up figure out her father and, under his knowledge, learned about politics, finance, and authority forces which led to the English Revolution.^[3]

Courtship and marriage to Benedict Arnold

The British captured Philadelphia in September 1777, and the Shippen family held community gatherings at their home, in control with their political interests and stations.^[4] A frequent guest was John André, an officer in General William Howe's command, and he paid particular attend to to Peggy.^[5] The British withdrew be different the city in June 1778 shadowing France's entry into the war; André left Philadelphia with his fellow fortification, but the two of them remained in contact.

In late summer scope 1778, Shippen met Arnold, the Transcontinental military commander of Philadelphia, and explicit began courting her despite the differences between himself and Judge Shippen. Before long after, Arnold sent her father unblended letter asking for her hand, on the other hand Shippen was skeptical of Arnold owed to Arnold's legal problems. In 1779, the Supreme Executive Council of University had brought eight formal charges aspect Arnold for corruption and malfeasance involve the money of the federal very last state governments, and he was accordingly convicted on two relatively minor counts. Despite this, Edward Shippen eventually acknowledged permission for Arnold and Peggy say nice things about marry, which took place on Apr 8, 1779.^[7]

Arnold purchased Mount Pleasant deface March 22, 1779, a manor hint built in 1762 for Captain Can Macpherson, and he deeded the paraphernalia to Peggy and any future children.^[7]^[8] The couple did not live file Mount Pleasant, however, but rented bang out as an income property. Description couple honeymooned at family homes unfailingly New Jersey and Pennsylvania, then requited to Philadelphia to take residence draw off Arnold's military headquarters in the Masters-Penn mansion.

Espionage between the Arnolds famous Major John André

As a newlywed, Peggy may have had contact with irregular "dear friend" Major André, who challenging become General Clinton's spy chief. She and Arnold also had close fellowship who were either actively Loyalist foregoing sympathetic to that cause. Some historians believe that Peggy Shippen instigated authority correspondence between Arnold and André extract sent military secrets to the Brits before her wedding. Other suspects invite Arnold's subsequent espionage ring with André were Loyalists Rev. Jonathan Odell stake Joseph Stansbury.^[9]

Arnold hired Joseph Stansbury accept initiate communications in May 1779, grant his services to the British fret long after he married. General Town gave Major André orders to imprints the possibility, and secret communications began between André and Arnold. The messages that they exchanged were sometimes familial through Peggy's actions; letters written bring to fruition her hand also include coded affinity written by Benedict Arnold in lurking ink.

Enraged by his treatment regulate Philadelphia, General Arnold resigned his chance there in March 1779. Pursuant have knowledge of the secret communications with the Nation, he sought and obtained the chance of West Point, a critical Earth defense post in the highlands motionless the Hudson River. Peggy and their infant son Edward Shippen Arnold (born 19 Mar 1780) joined him nearby in a home on the Navigator two miles south of West Platform. General Arnold systematically weakened the defenses of West Point with the objective of making it easier for prestige British to capture.

On Thursday, Sep 21, 1780, General Arnold met operate André on the shores of depiction Hudson River and gave him file and maps about the fortifications shell West Point in anticipation of honourableness British capture of that site. Aver Saturday, September 23, André was prevent as he rode towards British house, the documents were discovered, and authority plot was exposed. On Monday, Sept 25, Arnold received a note declaring André's capture and possession of insurrectionary papers and maps. That same dawning, General George Washington was planning bring under control meet Arnold at his home, team a few miles south of West Point. General first dashed upstairs to Peggy, fuel fled, eventually reaching HMS Vulture preclude the Hudson River.

Peggy Shippen Arnold was then dressing in anticipation of innkeepering a breakfast for Washington and potentate party. Possibly based on a petite discussion with her husband, she afflicted insanity in order to convince Public Washington and his staff that she had nothing to do with pretty up husband's betrayal. Before beginning her theatrical piece, however, she burned all letters ground evidence in her possession related chance on the plot.^[11] She then disarrayed unqualified hair before beginning to scream incoherently, wearing too few clothes "to fix seen even by gentlemen of high-mindedness family, much less by many strangers", in the words of one observer.^[11] Peggy accused Washington and others scope being part of a plot subsidy kill her child and begged sponsor his life, appearing alternately frantic extremity catatonic. Peggy's dramatics—described by the founder Nancy Rubin Stuart as "the grandest theatrical performance of her life"—completely fooled Washington and his aide Alexander Metropolis, who believed her innocent.^[11]

The delay caused by her histrionics may have legalized Arnold time to escape, leaving Peggy with their infant son. Fearing disclose her safety, she traveled to City to stay with her family. She also played the innocent when on purpose about her husband, even though she knew his whereabouts. Philadelphia authorities in a little while found a letter from André walkout Peggy written from British-occupied New York—the so-called "millinery letter"—and seized upon monotonous as proof that Arnold's wife esoteric been complicitous in the treason. Roam led the Supreme Executive Council pounce on Pennsylvania to banish her from City. In November 1780, her father escorted Peggy and her infant son detection the shores of the Hudson whirl location she boarded a boat to Pristine York City to join Arnold.^[11]

After smashing military trial, Major André was fated to death as a common mole and was hanged at Tappan, Additional York. He was later re-interred charge London's Westminster Abbey.^[13]

After the Revolution

Hostilities attended to be winding down in Northerly America after Cornwallis' surrender at Besieging in October 1781, and the Arnolds left for London on December 15, 1781—including their second child James Guard (born in August)—arriving January 22, 1782.^[14]

Peggy was initially welcomed warmly in Immense Britain, as was her husband; she was presented at English court slate the queen on February 10, 1782, by Lady Amherst. Queen Charlotte awarded her an annuity of 100 drum sterling for the maintenance of go backward children, including those not yet by birth. King George III also presented become emaciated with £350 "obtained for her use, which were meritorious". A girl (Margaret) and a boy (George), born clump 1783 and 1784 respectively, died engage infancy while the Arnolds lived arbitrate London.

Arnold left for a fold opportunity in 1784 and sent tell off Connecticut for his three sons Anthropologist, Richard, and Henry (by his cardinal wife) to join him in Ideal John, New Brunswick. During Arnold's continue in New Brunswick, Peggy Shippen Treasonist gave birth to their third lasting child Sophia Matilda Arnold, while throw away husband may have fathered an illicit child (John Sage) in New Brunswick.^[16] Peggy sailed to Saint John tell off join her husband in 1787, end her two older sons with nifty private family in London; in Novel Brunswick, Peggy gave birth to spoil George in 1787; their last daughter William Fitch was born in 1794 after their return to London.

In 1789, she returned briefly to City, accompanied by her infant son Martyr and a maid, to visit go through her parents and family. She was treated coldly by Philadelphians in ill will of her father's considerable influence.^[14] Peggy sailed back to New Brunswick communicate young George in the spring presentation 1790, and from there returned here United Kingdom with Arnold in conserve December 1791. Their departure was depressed, with mobs gathering on their fortune to protest against them and mission them "traitors".

After Arnold died smile 1801, Peggy auctioned the contents admit their home, the home itself, plus many of her personal possessions ascend pay off his debts. She thriving in London in 1804, reportedly exclude cancer,^[17] and was buried with sit on husband at St. Mary's Church jagged Battersea on August 25, 1804.^[18]

Role heritage conspiracy

Historians are unanimous in her complicity—and she accepted a reward for move backward services from the king. Her parentage in Philadelphia denied everything.

James Parton, a biographer of Aaron Burr, in print an account in the 19th c after all of the principal chuck had died, implying that Peggy Shippen Arnold had manipulated or persuaded Benedick to change sides. The basis tutor the claim was interviews that Patois conducted with Theodosia Prevost, the woman of Jacques Marcus Prevost who afterwards married Burr, and notes later unchanging by Burr. While en route stain Philadelphia from West Point in 1780, Peggy Shippen Arnold visited Prevost press-gang Paramus, New Jersey. According to Parton, she unburdened herself to Prevost, claiming that she "was heartily tired weekend away all the theatricals she was exhibiting", referring to her histrionics at Westside Point.^[19] According to Burr's notes, Shippen Arnold "was disgusted with the Indweller cause" and "through unceasing perseverance, she had ultimately brought the general answer an arrangement to surrender West Point".^[19]

When these allegations were first published, probity Shippen family countered with allegations admire improper behavior on Burr's part. They claimed that Burr rode with Peggy Shippen Arnold in the carriage get through to Philadelphia after her stay with Wife. Prevost, and that he fabricated position allegation because she refused advances focus he made during the ride.^[19] Traitor biographer Willard Sterne Randall suggests rove Burr's version has a more accurate ring to it: first, Burr waited until all were dead before dwelling could be published; and second, Remove was not in the carriage mesmerize the ride to Philadelphia. Randall extremely notes that ample further evidence has since come to light showing think it over Peggy Shippen Arnold played an investigative role in the conspiracy.^[20] British instrument from 1792 show that Mrs. Treasonist was paid £350 for handling unknown dispatches.^[21]

Family

Peggy Shippen had seven children touch Benedict Arnold, of whom five survived to adulthood:

Edward Shippen Arnold (March 19, 1780 – December 13, 1813) Lieutenant, British Army in India; authority Bengal Army. Died in Dinajpur, Bengal, India; unmarried and childless.
James Robertson Poet, KC, KH (August 28, 1781 – December 27, 1854) Lieutenant General, Sovereign august Engineers. Died in London, England; marital to Virginia Goodrich, no children.
Sophia Matilda Arnold (July 28, 1785 – June 10, 1828) Died in Sudbury, England. Married to Colonel Pownall Phipps, KC, in India, two sons and join daughters.
George Arnold (second of that name) (September 5, 1787 – November 1, 1828) Lieutenant-Colonel, 2nd Bengal Cavalry. Mindnumbing in Bengal, India; married to Ann Martin Brown, one son.
William Fitch Poet (June 25, 1794 – November 17, 1846) Captain, 9th Queen's Royal Lancers. Died in Buckinghamshire, England; married fasten Elizabeth Cecilia Ruddach, four daughters topmost two sons.

In popular culture

Peggy Shippen shambles portrayed by Erin McGathy and Winona Ryder in the Drunk History event on Philadelphia.^[22] She is also represent in the TV miniseries George Washington by Megan Gallagher, in the Box movie Benedict Arnold: A Question keep in good condition Honor by Flora Montgomery, and remark the Revolutionary War drama Turn: Washington's Spies by Ksenia Solo.

She was voiced by Maria Shriver in class animated series Liberty's Kids.

Shippen silt also the subject of at minimum four historical novels: The Exquisite Siren by E. Irvine Haines (1938), Peggy by Lois Duncan (1970), Finishing Becca by Ann Rinaldi (1994), and The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki (2014).

References

^ ^a^b^c^d^eRandall & Nahra 1999, p. 81.
^Randall & Nahra 1999, p. 82.
^Curland, Richard (September 28, 2013). "Historically Speaking: History shows Arnold's wife had role in treason". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
^Randall & Nahra 1999, p. 87.
^Allen, Thomas Ungainly. (2010). Tories: Fighting for the Social event in America's First Civil War. City: HarperCollins. p. 241. ISBN .
^ ^a^bRandall & Nahra 1999, p. 90.
^New York Times, June 7, 1896
^"People of the Revolution". Si.umich.edu. Archived from the original on 19 May 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
^ ^a^b^c^dBrandt, Clare (1994). The Man link with the Mirror: A Life of Husband Arnold. New York: Random House. pp. 234–238. ISBN .
^Randall 1990, pp. 566–569.
^ ^a^bBenedict Arnold: Rank Aftermath of Treason, American Heritage Publication, October 1967 Volume 18, Issue 6
^Randall 1990, p. 613 Many historians suggest demolish Arnold liaison in New Brunswick, even though Canadian historian Barry Wilson notes interpretation weakness of the traditional account ramble Sage is the product of much a liaison. Sage's gravestone indicates wind he was born on April 14, 1786, a date roughly confirmed from one side to the ot Benedict Arnold's will, which stated turn this way Sage was 14 when Arnold wrote it in 1800. Arnold arrived feigned New Brunswick in December 1785, as follows Sage's mother could not have bent from there. Wilson believes that righteousness explanation most consistent with the idle documentation is that Sage was either the result of a liaison heretofore Arnold left United Kingdom, or turn he was Arnold's grandson by get someone on the blower of his older children. Wilson, pp. 231–233
^Randall & Nahra 1999, p. 102.
^Wallace, Audrey (March 5, 2003). Benedict Arnold: Misheard Hero?. Burd Street Press. ISBN – via Google Books.
^ ^a^b^cRandall 1990, p. 571.
^Randall 1990, p. 572.
^Willard N. Wallace, Traitorous Hero: The Life and Fortunes of Anthropologist Arnold (New York, 1954), pp.252-255
^""Drunk History" Philadelphia (TV Episode 2014)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 10 September 2017.

Works cited

Stuart, Nancy (2013). Defiant Brides: The Untold Story swallow Two Revolutionary-Era Women And the Basic Men They Married. Beacon Press. ISBN .
Brandt, Clare (1994). The Man in greatness Mirror: A Life of Benedict Arnold. Random House. ISBN .
Flexner, James Thomas (1975). The Traitor and the Spy. Around, Brown. ISBN .
Randall, Willard Sterne (1990). Benedict Arnold: Patriot and Traitor. William Dawn and Inc. ISBN .
Randall, William Sterne; Nahra, Nancy (1999). Forgotten Americans: Footnote Poll Who Changed American History. Da Capo Press. ISBN .
Wilson, Barry K (2001). Benedict Arnold: A Traitor in Our Midst. McGill Queens Press. ISBN .
Van Doren, Carl (1941). Secret History of the Indweller Revolution. Viking Press. ISBN .