Why was Capt. John Whipple called Captain?
It isn’t entirely clear exactly what John did militarily to merit the designation “Captain.” It seems related to King Phillip’s War, however. “King Phillip” was a Wampanoag Indian chief who tried to drive the white settlers out of Providence. In the year 1675, John and about 25 others met in a Providence town meeting to decide whether to flee to Newport in order to avoid King Phillip. Most of the residents of Providence accepted the offer and fled to Newport, leaving Providence nearly deserted. John was one of a small number who “staid and went not away” to Newport, choosing instead to remain and defend Providence. In 1676, King Phillip attacked Providence, burning many houses and injuring those who had remained in Providence. John Whipple’s house survived the attack. It appears that the Rhode Island General Assembly must have given John the designation “Captain,” in 1679. That was the year the General Assembly appointed John to a committee to report on King Phillip’s War. From that ti
It isn’t entirely clear exactly what John did militarily to merit the designation “Captain.” It seems related to King Phillip’s War, however. “King Phillip” was a Wampanoag Indian chief who tried to drive the white settlers out of Providence. In the year 1675, John and about 25 others met in a Providence town meeting to decide whether to flee to Newport in order to avoid King Phillip. Most of the residents of Providence accepted the offer and fled to Newport, leaving Providence nearly deserted. John was one of a small number who “staid and went not away” to Newport, choosing instead to remain and defend Providence. In 1676, King Phillip attacked Providence, burning many houses and injuring those who had remained in Providence. John Whipple’s house survived the attack. It appears that the Rhode Island General Assembly must have given John the designation “Captain,” in 1679. That was the year the General Assembly appointed John to a committee to report on King Phillip’s War. From that ti
