Thomas Shippey, Pioneer Settler Honored

Thomas Shippey, Pioneer Settler, is Honored

Oneonta Star, June 29, 1955

  

A Revolutionary War marker in honor of Thomas Shippey, a pioneer settler of the White Store section, has been unveiled and dedicated on his grave in White Store Cemetery.

 

He was a great-great-grandfather of three Oneontans--Frank M. Shippey of 69 East St., Jesse Leal and his sister, Mrs. Lena Ryndes of 72 Ford Ave.  A resident of New Berlin, Dwight Pope, is a sixth generation descendant.  Dwight Linger of New Berlin, another sixth generation Shippey, unveiled the marker.

 

The dedication conducted by Capt. John Harris Chapter DAR, Norwich, was attended by a large number.  Mrs. Grace Johnson, a teacher in South New Berlin Central School, and a delegation of her "Yorkers," together with descendants from a wide area were present.

 

Thomas Shippey fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill and served a total of seven years and seven months in the American Revolution.  His father, Joseph Shippey, at the age of 58, also fought in the war for Independence.  Joseph was a son of David Shippey who settled in Rhode Island prior to 1664.  On Narragansett Bay near East Greenwich is "Shippee Hollow" where there are Shippeys still carrying on a family residence of nearly 300 years. 

 

Many Rhode Island soldiers who had done service in New York State were fascinated by the opportunities here, and they began a westward movement.  By 1806, a large company of relatives and friends of the Shippeys packed all their possessions.  It took Thomas Shippey four weeks to drive an ox team to Chenango County.  The region where this company settled has always been called the "Rhode Island Settlement." 

 

A mile and a half south of White Store, Thomas Shippey bought a large, productive farm and there lived until death March 20, 1823.  Thomas Shippey had married Hannah Matthewson on Sept. 3, 1770, in Gloucester, R.I., and they had 12 children.  The youngest was Ezekiel, who served in the War of 1812.  Ezekiel's grandson, George P. Shippey, was born in New Berlin,.  George was the father of Frank M. Shippey, circulation manager of the Star. George's sister, Jennie R. Shippey, was married to Leonard H. Leal.  Her two children are Mrs. H.A. (Lena) Ryndes and Jesse Leal.  Mr. Leal recently retired after 43 years as foreman of the Star's commercial printing department.

 

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Dedication Speech Delivered by Miss Louise Scoutten

At Gravesite of Thomas Shippey, Evergreen Cemetery, White Store, NY

June 1955

 

 

Thomas Shippey

Died March 12

1823 in the 76

year of his age

 

Madam Regent, Daughters of the American Revolution, Descendants of Thomas Shippey, and Friends:

 

We are gathered here today in this beautiful old cemetery to honor the memory of an old soldier, and to pay tribute to our great great grandfather, Thomas Shippey, who fought for seven years and seven months in the American Revolution.

 

Very early in the struggle of the colonies with England for their independence, Thomas Shippey took an active part.  According to his pension record in Washington, D.C., he entered the service of his country in May, 1775, and was mustered out of the service December 15, 1782.  During this history making period of our country, Thomas Shippey served long and faithfully.

 

100 years after the fighting of the Battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775, the first battle of this Great War, a series of centennial anniversaries were held throughout the Nation.  Evidently such an event was observed in Norwich, N.Y., because in a newspaper of that village published May 25, 1876, we find the following; and I quote:  "A short time previous to the Battle of Bunker Hill, Thomas Shippey, with some of his Rhode Island neighbors, volunteered their services to the cause of freedom. They also provided themselves with ammunition with which to fight the enemy.  These men hurried from their homes and entered the adjoining state of Massachusetts, where they fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775."  End of the quote.

 

It was when General George Washington heard of how bravely the American boys had fought in this battle at Bunker Hill that he exclaimed, "The liberties of our country are safe."

 

Again quoting from the Norwich newspaper of May 25, 1876, we find the following:  "Ezekiel Shippey of New Berlin, the youngest son of the old soldier, owns an ancient musket manufactured in Holland. This gun was carried by Thomas Shippey through the war."

 

Yes, this old patriot has left us, his descendants, a noble heritage, the great American heritage.  May we who follow after him not only preserve this heritage but may we transmit it to succeeding generations improved and its possibilities increased.

 

The descendants of Thomas Shippey and Hannah Matthewson, his wife, have increased greatly since September 3, 1770, when they were married in Gloucester, R.I.  Doubtless today there are thousands of their offspring living in many of the 48 states of the union.  Among them may be found successful farmers prominent business men, many skilled mechanics, law-makers, ministers of the Gospel and, in the three Great World Wars, there were many soldiers, sailors and fliers and some officers.

 

It has been said, "We best serve the interest to Posterity by treasuring the memory of our ancestors."

 

In the summer of 1941, Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Pope visited the State of Rhode Island, the land of their forebears.  While there they drove to the old and ancient town of East Greenwich on999 the shore of Narragansett Bay.  Here they found living William F. Shippey, the son of William W. Shippey and Mercy Card.  This family and progenitors had lived in the vicinity of Shipee Hollow for approximately 300 years.

 

The emigrant, David Shippey, came to Rhode Island before 1664.  On August 15th of that year he was married to Margaret Scranton, daughter of Thomas Scranton.  The marriage was performed by Walter Todd.  There were present at this wedding the bride's sisters, her brother, her brother-in-law and neighbors.  Of this marriage were born seven children, four sons and three daughters.

 

On May 25, 1699, David Shippey and family left Shippey Hollow and moved to the town of Gloucester in the northern part of the state.  There, in 1717, their grandson, Joseph Shippey, was born.  He was 58 years old when the war broke out.  As every male citizen between the ages of 16 and 60 years was expected to bear arms and serve his country, Joseph Shippey became a soldier in the Revolutionary War.  He was a Private in Captain Benajah Shipple's Company; Colonel Archibald Cary's Regiment; from February 1st to March 18, 1778.

 

On August 2, 1744, Joseph Shippey married Bethia Herendeen and to them in 1752, was born Thomas Shippey, our Revolutionary soldier.  He married Hannah Matthewson September 3, 1770, and to them were born twelve children.

 

Many soldiers who had done service in New York State were fascinated by the opportunities to be had here, and they began to long to follow their friends and relatives to New York.  By 1806, quite a company of relatives and friends of the Shippeys packed all their possessions on to huge sleighs and they started out on the new adventure.  It is said that it took four weeks to drive an ox team from Gloucester, Rhode Island, to Chenango County, New York.  The region were this company settled has always been called the Rhode Island settlement.  One and one-half miles southwest of White Store, Thomas Shippey bought a large, productive farm, and here he lived until his death March 20, 1823.  Here he is buried in this beautiful old cemetery in the valley of the Unadilla.

 

We do take pride in being descendants of this patriotic old soldier who did so much to make America FREE.  May all of us honor him in the only way he would understand -- by practicing the Democracy he fought to maintain.

 

In appreciation we, his descendants, have made it possible to place this bronze marker on his grave today.

 

The names of the twelve children of Thomas Shippey and Hannah Matthewson:

 

1 - Dorcas Shippey, b. Nov. 16, 1771 (m. Emer Aldrich)

2 - John Shippey, b. May 31, 1773 (no record)

3 - Freelove Shippey, b. Nov. 10, 1775 (m. -?- Harrington)

4 - Sabra Shippey, b. Mar. 23, 1778 (m. -?- Cady)

5 - Eliakim Shippey, b. Aug. 18, 1782 (m. Lydia Phillips)

6 - David Shippey, b. Oct. 13, 1784

7 - Paul Shippey, b. Aug. 21, 1787

8 - Rhoda Shippey, b. May 17, 1788 (m. Wilmarth Peters)

9 - Philemon Shippey, b. Apr. 8, 1789 (Sally Sheffield)

10-George Shippey, b. Aug. 18, 1792

11-Deuteronomy Shippey, b. Jan. 24, 1795

12-Ezekiel Shippey, b. July 21, 1797 (m. Rachel Houck)

 

Marriages listed in parentheses were added by Claribel Aldrich Mickle, great-granddaughter of Dorcas and Emer Aldrich, who was present at this dedication ceremony.