Ohio History Journal

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COMMODORE ABRAHAM WHIPPLE

COMMODORE ABRAHAM WHIPPLE.

A PAPER BY HIS GREAT-GRANDSON, DAVID FISHER.

MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN - From the

printed circular I hold in my hand, I read, "the seventh

of April, 1888, is a day in which the immediate descend-

ants of the first settlers of Marietta principally have an

interest."

As a descendant of Commodore Whipple, it is with

emotions of reverence, pleasure, and pride that I am per-

mitted to be present at the Centennial Celebration of Mar-

ietta, and pay respect to the memory of those resolute,

determined, fearless pioneers, who founded this beautiful

city, from which has extended the civilization, growth,

prosperity, and influence of the " Great Northwest." How

many, or who of these descendants there may be present,

I am not aware, but to all such I extend a hearty greeting.

The little I may have to say will have reference particu-

larly to Commodore Whipple and incidents in his earlier

life, leaving to other and more competent persons the

eulogies of Putnam, Cutler, Varnum, Parsons, Tupper,

Sproat, Devol, Meigs, and others.

Commodore Abraham Whipple was born near Providence,

R. I., September 26, 1733. At the age of thirteen, his

father having sold his farm, he, with his parents, removed

to Providence. In 1761, August 2, Whipple married Sarah

Hopkins, a niece of Governor Hopkins. By this marriage

they had two daughters, Catherine, who married Lieuten-

ant Colonel Sproat, and Polly, who married Dr. Ezekial

Comstock, of Smithfield, R. I. By this last marriage

there were two children, Dr. W. W. Comstock, who died a

few years since at Middleboro, Mass., and Sarah Ann, who

was my mother, and who died at Wrentham, Mass., in

September, 1855. Colonel Sproat died at Marietta, August

29, 1819, his wife having died October 15, 1818.

The close of the Revolutionary war found many, who

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