Peggy Shippen
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Peggy Shippen, or Margaret Shippen (1760 - August 24, 1804), was the second wife of General Benedict Arnold, (following Margaret Mansfield, who died in 1775). She was the daughter of Judge Edward Shippen of a prominent Philadelphia family.
In 1779, the 18 year old Shippen married the 37 year old Arnold. Due to her social position, Arnold began living beyond his means and was subsequently court-martialed for misusing government wagons and issuing a pass improperly to a ship.
It is now believed that Peggy Shippen may have instigated the correspondence between Arnold and Major John Andre, her friend and aide-de-camp to General Henry Clinton. She may also have been sending information to the British before she married Arnold.
After Arnold fled to escape capture, Shippen remained for a short time at West Point long enough to convince George Washington and his staff that she had nothing to do with her husband's betrayal. After leaving West Point she returned briefly to her parents' home in Philadelphia and then joined her husband in New York City. New evidence suggests that she confided to her friend Theodora Prevost, the widow of a British officer, that she always hated the American cause and actively worked to promote her husband's plan to switch allegiance.
Peggy Shippen rejoined Arnold and followed him to London, New Brunswick, and back to London again. Shippen remained loyally at her husband's side in spite of financial disasters and the cool reception he received in Britain and New Brunswick. After his death, she used his estate to pay off his bad debts.
In 1784 Shippen returned to the United States for two years to care for her parents and then returned to England.
the children of Benidict Arnold
- -- by Margaret Mansfield:
- Benedict Arnold VI (1768 - 1795)
- Richard Arnold (1769 - 1847)
- Henry Arnold (1772 - 1826)
- -- by Peggy Shippen:
- Edward Shippen Arnold (1782 - 1813)
- James Robertson (Lt Gen) Arnold (1783 - 1852)
- George (Lt Col) Arnold (1784 - 1828)
- William Fitch Arnold (1786 -?)