Oliver Cromwell

Enlisted as a private at age 20, Cromwell gallantly served under General George Washington in numerous battles, including the crossing of the Delaware and at Yorktown, where he saw the last American killed in the Revolution. Despite a dedicated six-year tour of volunteer duty, Cromwell died a pauper at the age of 100, without even a marker for his grave.

Prince Whipple

Prince Whipple was born in Amabou, Africa, of comparatively wealthy parents. When about ten years of age, he was sent by them, in company with a cousin, to America to be educated. An elder brother had returned four years before, and his parents were anxious that their child should receive the same benefits. The captain who brought the two boys over proved a treacherous villain, and carried them to Baltimore, where he offered them for sale. Prince was bought by General William Whipple. Prince was much esteemed by the general  and was once entrusted by him with a large sum of money to carry from Salem to Portsmouth. Prince was attacked on the road, near Newburyport, by two highway-men; one, he struck with a loaded whip, the other he shot. 

As was customary, Prince took the surname of his owner, William Whipple, who would later represent NH in the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Like many prominent whites,, William Whipple was a slave owner. He married Catherine Moffatt and they lived in her father's mansion on the river in downtown Portsmouth, today one of the city's surviving historic houses. The slave quarters, where Prince, his cousin (or brother) Cuffy, and others most likely lived, can still be seen today.

When William Whipple joined the revolution as a captain, Prince accompanied him and was in attendance to General Washington on Christmas night 1776 for the legendary crossing of the Delaware. The surprise attack on Trenton, New Jersey was a badly needed victory for America, and for Washington's sagging military reputation.

NOTE:  The German painter Leutze, used the Rhine River as a backdrop for his painting and he depicted Washington crossing the River on "Long Boats." Washington and his troops actually crossed the river using large flat-bottomed craft called "Durham Boats."  Durham Boats were made in various sizes and were capable of carrying from 30 to 60 men.

In 1777 Prince's white owner was summoned to Exeter, promoted to Brigadier General. and ordered to drive British General Burgoyne out of Vermont. According to the story popularized by Portsmouth reporter Charles Brewster in the mid-1800s, Prince Whipple protested. "You are going to fight for your liberty," he reportedly said to his master, "but I have none to fight for." General Whipple agreed to free Prince after the military campaign. Historians differ on whether William Whipple made good on his promise. Local researcher Valerie Cunningham asserts that Prince was kept in service to the Whipple family for another seven years before his eventual release.

Prince married an emancipated woman from New Castle named Dinah in 1781. They and their children (including Ester Mollenoux, well known in 19th century Portsmouth) and relations eventually lived in a renovated two-story house on a lot just behind the Moffatt mansion. That house too survives and is privately owned. Prince's popularity may have come from being a jack-of-all-trades and master of ceremonies at local social functions where Cuffy was a popular musician.

In 1789, then President, George Washington toured New Hampshire and attended a party on his final night in Portsmouth. Brewster speculates that Cuffee Whipple performed on his fiddle and that Prince probably was in attendance. Washington makes no mention of seeing the Whipples in his journal. In fairness to Washington, although Prince crossed the Delaware in the same boat with him in popular paintings, there were 2,500 other soldiers in attendance at the actual battle in 1776.

Prince Whipple died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire at the age of thirty-two leaving a widow and children.