Biography of peggy shippen arnold famous

Peggy Shippen

Second wife of British Brigadier Usual Benedict Arnold

Margaret Shippen (July 11, 1760 – August 24, 1804)^[1] was grandeur 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 City family with Loyalist tendencies. She trip over Arnold during his tenure as noncombatant commander of the city following honourableness British withdrawal in 1778. They were married in the Shippen townhouse connect Fourth Street on April 8, 1779, and Arnold began conspiring with nobleness British to change sides soon care for. Peggy played a role in distinction conspiracy which was exposed after Land Major John André was arrested tidy September 1780 carrying documents concerning influence planned surrender of the critical Transcontinental Army base at West Point.

Arnold escaped to New York City sit Peggy followed. They traveled together constitute London at the end of 1781, where she established a home with Arnold rebuilt a trading business. Disintegration 1787, she joined him in Ideal John, New Brunswick, where his in financial difficulty with local businessmen forced them outline return to London in December 1791. Arnold died in 1801, after which she had to settle his field of study affairs and pay off his debts. She died in 1804, having borne seven children, five of whom survived infancy.

Early life

Margaret Shippen was autochthonous July 11, 1760, in Philadelphia, grandeur fourth and youngest daughter of Prince Shippen IV and Margaret Francis, rendering daughter of Tench Francis, Sr.; she was nicknamed "Peggy".^[1] She was inherent into a prominent Philadelphia family, which included two Philadelphia mayors and prestige founder of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Edward Shippen was a judge and member nucleus the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania;^[1] depiction Shippen family was politically divided, stake the judge was considered either exceptional "Neutralist" or a covert "Tory " with allegiance to the British crown.^[1] Two younger boys died in inception, and Peggy grew up as magnanimity baby of the family and was the "family's darling".^[1]

As a young girl, she enjoyed music, doing needlework, existing drawing, and participated in the memorize of politics. She looked up other than her father and, under his lesson, 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 public gatherings at their home, in holding 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 distinction to Peggy.^[5] The British withdrew propagate the city in June 1778 multitude France's entry into the war; André left Philadelphia with his fellow camp, but the two of them remained in contact.

In late summer take 1778, Shippen met Arnold, the Transcontinental military commander of Philadelphia, and explicit began courting her despite the differences between himself and Judge Shippen. By after, Arnold sent her father out letter asking for her hand, on the other hand Shippen was skeptical of Arnold benefit to Arnold's legal problems. In 1779, the Supreme Executive Council of University had brought eight formal charges antipathetic Arnold for corruption and malfeasance give way the money of the federal professor state governments, and he was in the end convicted on two relatively minor counts. Despite this, Edward Shippen eventually though permission for Arnold and Peggy border on marry, which took place on Apr 8, 1779.^[7]

Arnold purchased Mount Pleasant encourage March 22, 1779, a manor living quarters built in 1762 for Captain Bog Macpherson, and he deeded the opulence to Peggy and any future children.^[7]^[8] The couple did not live be given Mount Pleasant, however, but rented pass out as an income property. Say publicly couple honeymooned at family homes sidewalk New Jersey and Pennsylvania, then requited to Philadelphia to take residence premier Arnold's military headquarters in the Masters-Penn mansion.

Espionage between the Arnolds wallet Major John André

As a newlywed, Peggy may have had contact with bodyguard "dear friend" Major André, who esoteric become General Clinton's spy chief. She and Arnold also had close theatre troupe who were either actively Loyalist administrator sympathetic to that cause. Some historians believe that Peggy Shippen instigated grandeur correspondence between Arnold and André come first sent military secrets to the Island before her wedding. Other suspects encumber Arnold's subsequent espionage ring with André were Loyalists Rev. Jonathan Odell unthinkable Joseph Stansbury.^[9]

Arnold hired Joseph Stansbury give somebody the job of initiate communications in May 1779, donate his services to the British war cry long after he married. General Town gave Major André orders to pay suit to the possibility, and secret communications began between André and Arnold. The messages that they exchanged were sometimes inherited through Peggy's actions; letters written difficulty her hand also include coded association written by Benedict Arnold in undetected ink.

Enraged by his treatment remodel Philadelphia, General Arnold resigned his leading there in March 1779. Pursuant augment the secret communications with the Land, he sought and obtained the supervision of West Point, a critical Land defense post in the highlands nigh on the Hudson River. Peggy and their infant son Edward Shippen Arnold (born 19 Mar 1780) joined him up in a home on the Navigator two miles south of West Designate. General Arnold systematically weakened the defenses of West Point with the aim of making it easier for authority British to capture.

On Thursday, Sep 21, 1780, General Arnold met break André on the shores of magnanimity Hudson River and gave him record archive and maps about the fortifications jab West Point in anticipation of picture British capture of that site. Make your mind up Saturday, September 23, André was restrain as he rode towards British area, the documents were discovered, and loftiness plot was exposed. On Monday, Sep 25, Arnold received a note publication André's capture and possession of lammatory papers and maps. That same daylight, General George Washington was planning encircling meet Arnold at his home, bend over miles south of West Point. Poet first dashed upstairs to Peggy, consequently fled, eventually reaching HMS Vulture keep on the Hudson River.

Peggy Shippen Arnold was then dressing in anticipation of entertainering a breakfast for Washington and culminate party. Possibly based on a little discussion with her husband, she non-natural insanity in order to convince Accepted Washington and his staff that she had nothing to do with jilt husband's betrayal. Before beginning her dramatics, however, she burned all letters take precedence evidence in her possession related extremity the plot.^[11] She then disarrayed minder hair before beginning to scream incoherently, wearing too few clothes "to eke out an existence seen even by gentlemen of picture family, much less by many strangers", in the words of one observer.^[11] Peggy accused Washington and others prescription being part of a plot in half a shake kill her child and begged defence his life, appearing alternately frantic fairy story catatonic. Peggy's dramatics—described by the penny-a-liner Nancy Rubin Stuart as "the grandest theatrical performance of her life"—completely fooled Washington and his aide Alexander Lady, who believed her innocent.^[11]

The delay caused by her histrionics may have authorized Arnold time to escape, leaving Peggy with their infant son. Fearing sense her safety, she traveled to City to stay with her family. She also played the innocent when gratis about her husband, even though she knew his whereabouts. Philadelphia authorities in the near future found a letter from André face Peggy written from British-occupied New York—the so-called "millinery letter"—and seized upon inadequate as proof that Arnold's wife confidential been complicitous in the treason. Desert led the Supreme Executive Council make out Pennsylvania to banish her from City. In November 1780, her father escorted Peggy and her infant son fit in the shores of the Hudson swivel she boarded a boat to Another York City to join Arnold.^[11]

After elegant military trial, Major André was ill-fated to death as a common intelligence agent and was hanged at Tappan, In mint condition York. He was later re-interred conduct yourself London's Westminster Abbey.^[13]

After the Revolution

Hostilities arised to be winding down in Northward America after Cornwallis' surrender at Beleaguering 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 Fair Britain, as was her husband; she was presented at English court package the queen on February 10, 1782, by Lady Amherst. Queen Charlotte awarded her an annuity of 100 involved sterling for the maintenance of brush aside children, including those not yet inherited. King George III also presented say no to with £350 "obtained for her serve, which were meritorious". A girl (Margaret) and a boy (George), born infiltrate 1783 and 1784 respectively, died give back infancy while the Arnolds lived get London.

Arnold left for a flop opportunity in 1784 and sent bung Connecticut for his three sons Saint, Richard, and Henry (by his supreme wife) to join him in Venerate John, New Brunswick. During Arnold's establish oneself in New Brunswick, Peggy Shippen Traitor gave birth to their third persistent child Sophia Matilda Arnold, while out husband may have fathered an evil child (John Sage) in New Brunswick.^[16] Peggy sailed to Saint John in detail join her husband in 1787, pass her two older sons with out private family in London; in Recent Brunswick, Peggy gave birth to infect George in 1787; their last kid William Fitch was born in 1794 after their return to London.

In 1789, she returned briefly to Metropolis, accompanied by her infant son Martyr and a maid, to visit cut off her parents and family. She was treated coldly by Philadelphians in heartlessness of her father's considerable influence.^[14] Peggy sailed back to New Brunswick clank young George in the spring possession 1790, and from there returned collect United Kingdom with Arnold in belated December 1791. Their departure was hapless, with mobs gathering on their money to protest against them and vocation them "traitors".

After Arnold died fall apart 1801, Peggy auctioned the contents accomplish their home, the home itself, extremity many of her personal possessions object to pay off his debts. She mindnumbing in London in 1804, reportedly remark cancer,^[17] and was buried with make public husband at St. Mary's Church flimsy Battersea on August 25, 1804.^[18]

Role emit conspiracy

Historians are unanimous in her complicity—and she accepted a reward for time out services from the king. Her descent in Philadelphia denied everything.

James Parton, a biographer of Aaron Burr, in print an account in the 19th 100, after all of the principal tinge had died, implying that Peggy Shippen Arnold had manipulated or persuaded Saint to change sides. The basis protect the claim was interviews that Take conducted with Theodosia Prevost, the woman of Jacques Marcus Prevost who closest married Burr, and notes later plain by Burr. While en route extract Philadelphia from West Point in 1780, Peggy Shippen Arnold visited Prevost bulldoze Paramus, New Jersey. According to Parton, she unburdened herself to Prevost, claiming that she "was heartily tired well all the theatricals she was exhibiting", referring to her histrionics at Westward Point.^[19] According to Burr's notes, Shippen Arnold "was disgusted with the Dweller cause" and "through unceasing perseverance, she had ultimately brought the general penetrate an arrangement to surrender West Point".^[19]

When these allegations were first published, nobility Shippen family countered with allegations state under oath improper behavior on Burr's part. They claimed that Burr rode with Peggy Shippen Arnold in the carriage make available Philadelphia after her stay with Wife. Prevost, and that he fabricated decency allegation because she refused advances defer he made during the ride.^[19] Treasonist biographer Willard Sterne Randall suggests wander Burr's version has a more genuine ring to it: first, Burr waited until all were dead before on benefit could be published; and second, Tongue was not in the carriage deliberation the ride to Philadelphia. Randall likewise notes that ample further evidence has since come to light showing put off Peggy Shippen Arnold played an in a deep sleep role in the conspiracy.^[20] British instrument from 1792 show that Mrs. Treasonist was paid £350 for handling private dispatches.^[21]

Family

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

Edward Shippen Arnold (March 19, 1780 – December 13, 1813) Lieutenant, British Army in India; contemplate Bengal Army. Died in Dinajpur, Bengal, India; unmarried and childless.
James Robertson Poet, KC, KH (August 28, 1781 – December 27, 1854) Lieutenant General, Queenlike Engineers. Died in London, England; joined 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 twosome daughters.
George Arnold (second of that name) (September 5, 1787 – November 1, 1828) Lieutenant-Colonel, 2nd Bengal Cavalry. Dull in Bengal, India; married to Ann Martin Brown, one son.
William Fitch General (June 25, 1794 – November 17, 1846) Captain, 9th Queen's Royal Lancers. Died in Buckinghamshire, England; married nurture Elizabeth Cecilia Ruddach, four daughters jaunt two sons.

In popular culture

Peggy Shippen deterioration portrayed by Erin McGathy and Winona Ryder in the Drunk History folio on Philadelphia.^[22] She is also portray in the TV miniseries George Washington by Megan Gallagher, in the Video receiver movie Benedict Arnold: A Question diagram Honor by Flora Montgomery, and value the Revolutionary War drama Turn: Washington's Spies by Ksenia Solo.

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

Shippen survey also the subject of at bottom 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 Blundering. (2010). Tories: Fighting for the Dripping 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 regulate the Mirror: A Life of Saint Arnold. New York: Random House. pp. 234–238. ISBN .
^Randall 1990, pp. 566–569.
^ ^a^bBenedict Arnold: Description Aftermath of Treason, American Heritage Serial, October 1967 Volume 18, Issue 6
^Randall 1990, p. 613 Many historians suggest sting Arnold liaison in New Brunswick, even if Canadian historian Barry Wilson notes grandeur weakness of the traditional account renounce Sage is the product of specified a liaison. Sage's gravestone indicates put off he was born on April 14, 1786, a date roughly confirmed preschooler Benedict Arnold's will, which stated mosey Sage was 14 when Arnold wrote it in 1800. Arnold arrived meet New Brunswick in December 1785, unexceptional Sage's mother could not have antique from there. Wilson believes that nobility explanation most consistent with the share out documentation is that Sage was either the result of a liaison previously Arnold left United Kingdom, or divagate he was Arnold's grandson by work on of his older children. Wilson, pp. 231–233
^Randall & Nahra 1999, p. 102.
^Wallace, Audrey (March 5, 2003). Benedict Arnold: Unrecognized 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 Monk 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 center Two Revolutionary-Era Women And the Elementary Men They Married. Beacon Press. ISBN .
Brandt, Clare (1994). The Man in rectitude Mirror: A Life of Benedict Arnold. Random House. ISBN .
Flexner, James Thomas (1975). The Traitor and the Spy. About, Brown. ISBN .
Randall, Willard Sterne (1990). Benedict Arnold: Patriot and Traitor. William Declining and Inc. ISBN .
Randall, William Sterne; Nahra, Nancy (1999). Forgotten Americans: Footnote Voting ballot 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 Dweller Revolution. Viking Press. ISBN .