American Revolutionary War Sword (Shippen)

American Revolutionary War Sword

Iron mounted, American made officer’s sword carried by Colonel Joseph Shippen, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He served as a Brigade Major in the Pennsylvania Regiment under General Forbes in the expedition that captured Fort Duquesne on November 25, 1758. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1759.  Colonel Joseph Shippen, Jr. (1732–1810), graduated from Princeton in 1753.  Shippen entered the Provincial Service of Pennsylvania as a Captain in the regiment commanded by Colonel William Clapham. From 1762 -1775, Shippen served as secretary of the Pennsylvania Council. In1786, he was judge of the Lancaster County Court. In June, 1775 Joseph Shippen dined in Lancaster, PA with George Washington discussing the ways and means of supplying ammunition and military stores to the colonies (Washington Papers, June 1, 1775). The “Joseph Shippen Papers”, are archived in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania which includes the surveyed route of Gen. Forbes’ expedition against Fort Duquesne. Joseph married Jane Galloway (1745-1801) of Maryland on September 29, 1768. Mr. Shippen was a cultured gentleman that filled his military and civic duties with ability and honor. Joseph died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on 10 February, 1810.  (See Cannon – Lt. Shippen – Fort Duquesne)

Provenance:
Shippen Family, Lancaster, Pennsylvania;
John Scott, Monroeville, Pennsylvania;
Walter O’Connor, Lancaster, Pennsylvania (Greenburg PA Gun Show -1963);
Gordon Barlow, Swoope, Virginia (1994).