Background
Shippen was born in Philadelphi, Pennsylvania, United States around February 16/26, 1728/29. He was the son of Sarah (Plumley) and Edward Shippen of Lancaster and the great-grandson of Edward Shippen.
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Relating-Chiefly-Provincial-Pennsylvania/dp/1372711392?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1372711392
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Acquittal-Esquires-Assistant-Justices-Commonwealth/dp/1371918538?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1371918538
Shippen was born in Philadelphi, Pennsylvania, United States around February 16/26, 1728/29. He was the son of Sarah (Plumley) and Edward Shippen of Lancaster and the great-grandson of Edward Shippen.
He went to school in Philadelphia. He also studied law in the office of Tench Francis.
He went to London, probably not before 1748, read law in Middle Temple, and was called to the English bar on February 9, 1750. He also studied law in the office of Tench Francis.
On September 25, 1750, he was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the common council of Philadelphia, 1755-56, and on May 27, 1758, was elected clerk of the council and clerk of the city court. He was prothonotary of the supreme court from about 1762 until 1776 and a member of the provincial council from 1770 to 1775.
He was also a judge of the court of vice admiralty from 1752 until 1776, although the position had "little or no value" after the court was reorganized in 1768. For a time he was practically interned on his country estate near the falls of the Schuylkill. In a letter of July 12, 1777, he pled the Test Act as an excuse for not visiting his father at Lancaster.
On August 15, 1777, however, he and several other Loyalists who were willing to maintain an attitude of neutrality had "the bounds prescribed in their respective paroles enlarged to the whole state of Pennsylvania". He must have been successful in the role of neutral because he and his family were prominent in the social life of Philadelphia during both the British occupation and the military administration of General Arnold.
His career was not seriously handicapped even by the treason of his son-in-law. He was president of the court of common pleas of Philadelphia County, 1784-91, justice of the peace, 1785-86, and president of the court of quarter sessions and general jail delivery, 1785-86.
On September 14, 1784, he was also appointed a judge of the high court of errors. He was a member of the supreme court from 1791 until 1805, as an associate justice until 1799 and then as chief justice.
His health was failing, and later he resigned from the bench. He died at his home in Philadelphia.
Being one of the leaders of the provincial bar, Edward Shippen became a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Council. He also was appointed a judge of the high court of errors and appeals, which was at that time the highest appellate court in Pennsylvania, and he served on this court as a special judge more then a decade.
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
He was born and bred in a Presbyterian atmosphere, his father being one of the founders of the College of New Jersey (Princeton), but in his early manhood he joined the Church of England.
He did not support the extension of royal authority and was therefore not a Loyalist, but he also opposed the radically democratic Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776, which sought to reduce the hold on government by powerful families like the Shippens.
Although he was a Federalist, he did not take an active part in politics, and his opinions were free from political bias. He and two of his associates were, however, impeached by the Democratic assembly in 1804 under charges growing out of the Passmore case, but they were acquitted by the Senate of the Commonwealth in January 1805.
He was also a member of the American Philosophical Society.
Edward was noted for his kindness and generosity and for the courtesy and dignity of his manners.
He married Margaret Francis on November 29, 1753. They had nine children, one of whom, Margaret, married Benedict Arnold.
