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Sir William Pepperrell of Kittery Point, Maine (1696-1759), was perhaps the most famous colonial hero few people remember. It is said that when George Washington was a boy, he wanted to be Sir William Pepperrell. Husband, father, the richest man in colonial America, land baron, ship builder, judge, military hero, politician, owner of enslaved people. This is his unvarnished story Sir William Pepperrell: His Unvarnished Story a video created, and released on YouTube, by Jim White of Spruce Creek TV.
William was born on June 27, 1696[1] the son of William Pepperrell and Margery Bray.[2]
William married Mary Hirst, the daughter of Grove and Elizabeth (Sewall) Hirst of Boston, on the 16 March 1723[3] in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony. They had four children but only the first two survived infancy.
William was a Colonel of the militia and following the declaration of war between France and England in 1744 it was agreed that Louisburg must be captured from the French to provide safety to trade and navigation. Governor Shirley appointed Col. Pepperrell as Commander of the expedition with the promotion to Lieutenant-General. The expedition sailed on 24 March 1745 with the fall of Louisburg happening in the following July. He was created a Baronet of Great Britain, the first native of America to receive the patent, in 1755 he was commissioned Major-General by King George II, in 1756 he was appointed Commander of Castle William in Boston Harbour, and of the whole military forces of Massachusetts, with the rank of Lieutenant-General.[4]
General Sir William Pepperrell died at his home, in Kittery, on 6 July 1759 in his 63rd year, notice in the New York - Mercury. [5]
Written fourth Day of July 1759. To wife Mary the Income of the Half of my real Estate to Hold for the Term of her natural Life. Named Daughter Elizabeth Sparhawk. Grandson William Pepperrell Sparhawk. Grandson Andrew Pepperrell Sparhawk. Grandson Nathaniel Sparhawk Jr. Grandson Samuel Hirst Sparhawk. Son in Law Nathaniel Sparhawk Esq. Sister Miriam Tyler. Sister Dorothy Newmarch. Sister Mary Prescot. Sister Margery Gunnison. Kinsmen Iohn & Andrew Philips. kinswoman Sarah Frost my Dec'd Brother's eldest Daughter. Children of my kinswoman Margery Wentworth Dec'd et al. Nominated Wife Mary, Jeremiah Moulton Jr Esq. & Mr Benjamin Greenleaf, Executors. Probated 24 July 1759; 14 July 1759 Mr. Greenleaf declines the trust. [6]
He is widely remembered for organizing, financing, and leading the 1745 expedition that captured the French garrison at Fortress Louisbourg during King George's War.[7]
For published sources
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Categories: This Day In History June 27 | Massachusetts Bay Colonists | Siege of Louisbourg (1745) | Notables | United States, Pepperrell Name Study
https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/2623/slideshow/1620/display?format=list&prev_object_id=4227&prev_object=page
The profile Pepperrell-2 was an orphan profile that I have adopted as part of my Pepperrell Surname Study.