Five Generations of John Whipples

Matthew Whipple of Bocking, Essex County, England, died about 1618 and was the father of early Ipswich settlers Deacon Matthew Whipple and his brother John Whipple, leading citizens of the town. By 1638, in addition to their house lots in Ipswich, Matthew and John Whipple were granted neighboring farms totaling over 200 acres in the Hamlet, which is now the town of Hamilton, where descendants of the two brothers bear the traditional family names Matthew, John, and Joseph.

In Ipswich, The Capt. John Whipple House is one of America’s finest First Period houses. In Hamilton, the Matthew Whipple House is at the intersection of Rt. 1A and Cutler Road. The land was conveyed to Matthew Whipple by his father, Capt. John Whipple, on June 25, 1680.

Five Generations of Men Named John Whipple

Matthew Whipple (c.1590–1647)

• Lieutenant John Whipple (1632–1695)
• Captain John Whipple (1660–1722)
• Captain John Whipple, son of Captain John Whipple (1695-1769)

Elder John Whipple (1596–1669)

• Captain John Whipple (1625–1683) (built the Whipple House in Ipswich)
• Major John Whipple (1657–1722) (expanded the Whipple House)
• John Whipple Sr. (1689-1781), son of Major John Whipple’s brother Matthew
• John Whipple Jr. (1717-1794), son of John Sr.

Deacon Matthew Whipple

Deacon Matthew Whipple was granted a house lot at the intersection of North Main and Summer Streets in Ipswich. His children were by Anne Hawkins, his first wife. After her death, he married Rose Chute, believed to be the widow of Lionel Chute, the schoolmaster. Matthew Whipple’s will was made May 7, 1645, before his second marriage, but he made a codicil giving back to his wife Rose the estate she owned before their marriage. The will was proved September 28, 1647. His children were: John, Joseph, Matthew, Mary, who married Richard Jacob, Anna, and Elizabeth, who married Jacob Perkins.

First Generation of Deacon Matthew’s Descendants

Lieutenant John Whipple, son of Deacon Matthew Whipple, was baptized in England on September 6, 1632, and died at Ipswich on November 22, 1695. He married, first, Sarah Kent, who died June 14, 1658; a year later, he married Elizabeth Woodman, then third, Mary Reyner or Stevens in 1663. He was a lieutenant of the Ipswich company, and deputy to the General Court for four years. His will was dated August 15, 1687, and proved December 23, 1695, mentioning the children Sarah, John, Elizabeth, Matthew, Joseph, Hannah, Cyprian and Anna.

Second Generation of Deacon Matthew’s Descendants

Captain John Whipple¹, son of Lieutenant John Whipple, was born in Ipswich, March 30, 1660, and died there June II, 1722. He married (first) Hannah, who died October 20, 1701, and second, Joanna Potter in 1703. His estate was granted to his son John on August 28, 1722.

Third Generation of Deacon Matthew’s Descendants

Captain John Whipple ², son of Captain John Whipple, was born at Ipswich on December 16, 1695, and died on January 16, 1769. His children were John Whipple, William, Samuel, Thomas, and Benjamin.

Elder John Whipple

Elder John Whipple (1596–1669), the immigrant and Deacon Matthew Whipple’s brother, was granted a house lot near the intersection of Market and Saltonstall Streets. His wife Sarah died in 1658; he left a widow, Janet. In his will, he mentions his son John Whipple (who was also called Captain), Susanna, Mary Stone, Sarah Goodhue, and son-in-law Anthony Potter.

First Generation of Elder John Whipple’s Descendants

Captain John Whipple (1625–1683) built the historic Whipple House in Ipswich, which originally sat on his father’s lot. In the early 20^th century, the Ipswich Historical Society moved the house to its present location facing the South Green. His children were Major John Whipple, Matthew Whipple, Susanna (Whipple) Lane, Joseph Whipple, and Sarah (Whipple) Wainwright.

Second Generation of Elder John Whipple’s Descendants

Major John Whipple (1657–1722) expanded the Whipple House. He married Katharine Leighton and was the father of six daughters: Katherine, Elisabeth, who died early, Sarah, Martha (Whipple) Brown, Mary (Whipple) Crocker, and Susannah (Whipple) Rogers. He had no sons.

Major Matthew Whipple (1658-1738). The Matthew Whipple House (built 1680-1682) at the intersection of Rt. 1A and Cutler Road was conveyed to Matthew Whipple (1658-1738) by his father, Capt. John Whipple, on June 25, 1680. Major Matthew Whipple was the father of Matthew Whipple, John Whipple 1, William Whipple, and Joseph Whipple.

Third Generation of Elder John Whipple’s Descendants

John Whipple 1 (called Senior, 1689-1781) was the son of Major Matthew Whipple. His mother’s name was Hannah. He probably inherited his father’s home.

Fourth Generation of Elder John Whipple’s Descendants

John Whipple II (called Junior, 1717-1794) was the son of John Whipple 1. He married Dorothy Moulton in 1737 in Ipswich. In 1762, a mulatto woman, Jenny Slew, worked for John Whipple Jr. of the Hamlet. When he claimed she was his slave, she successfully sued for her freedom. His son, John Whipple III was appointed administrator. The estate was deemed insolvent.

Sources and Further Reading:

• 15 generations of Whipples: descendants of Matthew Whipple of Ipswich, Massachusetts, abt. 1590-1647: an American story, by Whipple, Blaine, 1930-
• History and Genealogy of “Elder” John Whipple of Ipswich, by Whipple, Blaine, 1930-
• Matthew Whipple of Ipswich, Massachusetts, abt. 1590-1647: Vol. 1
• Whipple One-Name Study