Peggy Shippen - Courtship and Marriage To Benedict Arnold

Courtship and Marriage To Benedict Arnold

In 1777, the British captured Philadelphia. The Shippen family, in keeping with their political interests and stations, held social gatherings at their home. A frequent guest was John André, an officer in General William Howe's command. André paid particular attention to Peggy. In June 1778, following France's entry into the war, the British withdrew from the city. André left Philadelphia with his fellow troops, but the two of them remained in contact.

When Philadelphia was occupied by the Continental Army under Benedict Arnold, the Shippen family evacuated to a farmhouse in New Jersey. They later returned to Philadelphia after passage of a New Jersey law under which anyone who refused to pledge support for the revolution could be arrested; Judge Shippen thought they would be safer in their city home, since the countryside was dangerous and had been the scene of numerous battles and skirmishes.

Peggy then met Arnold, the Continental military commander and military governor of Philadelphia. In spite of the differences in their political alliances, the two began a courtship. Shortly after Elizabeth Shippen, oldest sister of Peggy, became engaged to her first cousin Edward Burd (m. Dec 1778) Benedict Arnold sent Peggy's father a letter asking for her hand. Edward Shippen was skeptical of Arnold; in 1779, the Council of Pennsylvania had laid eight formal charges of corruption and malfeasance with the money of the federal and state governments. Arnold was subsequently convicted on two relatively minor counts. Despite this, Edward Shippen eventually granted permission for Arnold and Peggy to marry. On 8 April 1779, Benedict Arnold (age 38) and Peggy Shippen (age 18) were married.

Arnold purchased Mount Pleasant, a manor home built in 1762 for Captain John Macpherson, on 22 March 1779 for his bride, and specifically made the property over to her ownership and that of their future children. The couple occupied the property as their country estate in 1779 and 1780; Arnold's defection to the British in September 1780 ended their use of the estate.

The couple honeymooned at family homes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They returned to Philadelphia, taking up residency in the city's military headquarters. Arnold's quarters were in the occupied home of Richard Penn at Fifth and Market Streets, which had also been the military headquarters of General Howe prior to the British withdrawal.