Peggy shippen siblings

Margaret "Peggy" Shippen was born Margaret Shippen on July 11, 1760, to one of the most prominent families in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother was Margaret Shippen, who was the daughter of the prominent lawyer, Tench Francis, and her father was Edward Shippen IV, who was the grandson of the first mayor in Philadelphia and the founder of Princeton University. Her father is best known as being an admiralty judge and a member of Pennsylvania's Provincial Council and the Pennsylvania Supreme Council. She had three sisters: Sarah, Elizabeth, and Mary, and three brothers: Edward, John Francis and James. Altogether, the Shippens were a well-known loyalist family during the Revolutionary Movement. As a young girl, Peggy enjoyed learning music, drawing, and needlework. However, her main interests were newspapers and political jargon. She lovingly admired her father, and she learned about politics and the Revolution from him. Because they were from a prosperous family, Peggy and her sisters were often invited to many social gatherings and special events.

At one of these gatherings af

Peggy Shippen

(1760-1804)

Who Was Peggy Shippen?

During the American Revolution, Peggy Shippen and her husband, Benedict Arnold, became traitors to the American colonists, sharing with the British confidential information about military strategy. Peggy was long thought to be innocent of any wrongdoing — just another victim of her husband’s deceit — but historians have become convinced that she not only committed treason with Benedict but quite possibly helped initiate the plan.

Early Life

Margaret Shippen, known as Peggy, was born on July 11, 1760, in colonial Philadelphia, the youngest daughter in a wealthy family. Her father was a well-respected lawyer and judge; her mother was the daughter of a prominent lawyer. Among her ancestors were two mayors of Philadelphia. Peggy had three older sisters and an older brother. Two younger brothers died during childhood, leaving Peggy as the youngest in the family.

Marriage to Benedict Arnold

Peggy came of age during the American Revolution, in which she eventually played a significant role. An intelligent, charismatic and beaut

Peggy Shippen

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Margaret “Peggy” Shippen was born to Edward Shippen IV and Margaret Francis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1760. The Shippen's were among Philadelphia’s most prominent families, although their loyalties were divided with the coming of the American Revolution. Edward, a prominent Philadelphia merchant and judge, held moderate tory sympathies but remained outwardly neutral when the war broke out, while her elder sister Elizabeth married a colonel in the Continental Army.

Peggy’s own political views became obvious during the British occupation of Philadelphia. Peggy met a British officer by the name of John Andre, whose sketch of the young lady provides a glimpse into her life and personality. Peggy would eventually conspire with Andre at the time of her husband, Benedict Arnold’s, treason later in the war. Although it has been speculated that Peggy pursued a romance with Andre during the British occupation of Philadelphia, little evidence exists to support the claim, aside from a sketch that Andre made of Peggy. Regardl

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