Draft:Thomas Gilpin

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Thomas Gilpin (1728–1778) was a Philadelphia-based Quaker who distinguished himself as a naturalist, surveyor, merchant, and manufacturer.

Early life and family

Thomas Gilpin was born in 1728 to Samuel Gilpin and Jane Parker. He was the brother of Joseph and George Gilpin and the father of Thomas Gilpin Jr. and Joshua Gilpin. His uncle, also named Thomas Gilpin, bequeathed him a mill located on the Brandywine Creek. This mill later became a paper mill operated by his sons, Thomas Jr. and Joshua. ^[1] Gilpin’s mercantile activities eventually brought him to Philadelphia, where he became acquainted with the family of Joshua Fisher. This connection led to his marriage to Fisher’s second daughter, Lydia.^[2]

Genealogical records and family histories identify Thomas Gilpin, his brother Joseph Gilpin, and Colonel George Gilpin, as direct descendants of Richard de Gylpyn of Kentmere. Richard de Gylpyn is traditionally said to have been granted an estate in the early 1200s for killing a Wild Boar of Westmorland that had terrorized the region, an event memorialized in the boar’s head depicted on the Gilpin family crest.

Gilpin Coat of Arms

The family’s migration to North America in the late 17th century established this branch that would play notable roles in the political and social life of the colonies. ^[3]

Associations and contributions

In Philadelphia, Gilpin developed a close relationship with Benjamin Franklin, with whom he maintained frequent correspondence.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]} During this period, several societies dedicated to the advancement of knowledge were founded: the Philadelphia Library (established in 1731) and, later, the American Philosophical Society (founded in 1769 under Franklin’s leadership). Gilpin was among the earliest members of the American Philosophical Society and actively contributed, notably by providing useful papers and research.^[17][18]

Scientific and agricultural endeavors

Gilpin conducted experiments resulting in a successful remedy for the wheat fly, a pest affecting crops in Maryland and surrounding southern states. He presented his method to the Maryland Legislature, and instructional pamphlets were distributed to regional farmers. Subsequently, he shared his findings with the American Philosophical Society.^[19][20]

As a naturalist, Gilpin showed particular interest in several subjects around 1766, ^[21][22] including:

• The American locust
• The gar-fish (Esox osseus), a species of pike found in the Chesapeake Bay
• The Clupea encrasicolus (anchovy) in the bay
• Extensive fossil shell strata on both shores of the Chesapeake, especially near Choptank and Upper Marlborough

Though many of his papers and collected specimens have since been lost, Gilpin’s work contributed to early American natural history.^[23]

Surveying and canal proposals

Gilpin devoted considerable effort to the concept of a navigable canal connecting the Delaware River with the Chesapeake Bay. He identified a potential route from the Head of Chester to Duck Creek and began surveying it, first independently and later with assistance from local gentlemen, including his brother Joseph.^[24]

Additional surveys expanded to routes from the Sassafras and Bohemia Rivers to the Appoquinimink, from Back Creek to St. Georges, onward to Red Lion Creek, and across the peninsula from the Elk River to Christiana Bridge. His survey data were presented to the American Philosophical Society, which became a central forum for public improvement projects.^[25]

Following a subscription raised by Philadelphia citizens to fund a re-survey, the Society appointed a committee—including Gilpin—to carry out this work. Subsequently, a canal route was charted from the Susquehanna River below the Conewago Falls to Philadelphia by Gilpin, David Rittenhouse, and Samuel Reeves. A comprehensive map of the region was prepared for the Society and published with their report; this map remains among Gilpin’s papers.^[26]

Though widely discussed, further progress on the canal project was halted due to public unrest and the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.^{[27] [28][29]}

Engineering innovation

In 1768, Gilpin presented an essay and model of a hydraulic machine to the American Philosophical Society. This device used a single crank, driven by horizontal wings, to operate three pumps or cylinders for raising water. His essay was published in the Society’s Transactions. Gilpin sent the model and essay to Dr. Franklin, with surviving correspondence between them beginning on January 29, 1769.^{[30] [31]}

Arrest and imprisonment

In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, Thomas Gilpin was arrested along with nineteen other members of the Society of Friends (Quakers), including his brothers-in-law Thomas, Samuel, and Meirs Fisher.^[32] They were detained because they refused to swear an oath of allegiance to the United States—a common Quaker stance based on religious pacifism.

The arrests were part of Pennsylvania’s efforts to suppress Quaker opposition to the new state government, which many Quakers considered illegitimate. On September 11, 1777, the Second Continental Congress and Pennsylvania authorities exiled seventeen Quakers to Winchester, Virginia.^[33]

The exiles faced hostility, including physical threats and social ostracism. Conditions were harsh, and two prisoners died during confinement. Colonel George Gilpin was sent by General Washington to assess Thomas Gilpin’s situation and to offer his release. However, Thomas and his fellow exiles chose to remain united in asserting their innocence. Tragically, Thomas Gilpin, along with fellow exile John Hunt, died during this imprisonment. ^[34]

Death

Thomas Gilpin died in Winchester on April 30, 1778. His death was noted in the Philadelphia press, alongside reports of declining health among other exiled Quakers.^[35][36][37]

Gilpin’s imprisonment and death highlight the challenges faced by Quakers during the Revolution, who—despite their pacifist principles—were frequently persecuted as suspected Loyalists. His life reflects the intersection of scientific innovation, public service, and conscientious dissent in colonial America. ^{[38] [39][40] [41][42]}

References