A VERY AMERICAN IRONY

Thomas Willing was the first President of the Bank of North America and the first President of the First Bank of the United States. His mother was Anne Shippen.

In Treason In America by Anton Chaitkin one branch of the very influential Shippen family are shown as traitors. They were known as Loyalists to the British Crown.

Anne had several brothers and sisters but her eldest brother Edward married Sarah Plumley and they had lots of children (like they all seemed to do in that era), one of whom was called Edward. Edward the son married Margaret Francis and they also had lots of children, one of whom was called Margaret. And it is this branch of the Shippens that Chaitkin brings into question.

During the British occupation of Philadelphia this branch of the Shippens, known as Loyalists to the British, had very cordial relationships with the British occupiers, collaborators some might say. The allegedly beautiful Margaret began a relationship with an alleged dashing and handsome British soldier Major John Andre, an aide to General Sir William Howe, so no ordinary soldier. The relationship had barely time to blossom before the British were chased out of Philadelphia by the American revolutionaries. These Shippens then became cautious friends with the Americans. Margaret still kept in touch with Andre but began a relationship with revolutionary war hero General Benedict Arnold who she later married. Margaret then acted as a conduit between Arnold and Andre who were plotting Arnold's surrender of West Point, which Arnold commanded. Arnold escaped. Andre was hung. Margaret somehow managed to convince George Washington and his aide Alexander Hamilton of her innocence.

And not only that, Aaron Burr who shot Hamilton dead and was a traitor along with Andrew Jackson, was raised by the Shippens! As an orphan both he and his sister Sally were brought up by Dr William Shippen...who was the younger brother of Thomas Willing's mother Anne!

So Anne Shippen, the mother of Thomas Willing, the first President of the Bank of North America and the first President of the First Bank of the United States, was also the Grand Aunt of the traitor Margaret Shippen, wife of Benedict Arnold, AND also the Aunt of Aaron Burr!

WHAT A FAMILY!

The Shippens have to be the most influential family in revolutionary America.

Who were they?

But on top of all this, Thomas Willing himself does not have an attractive background. His wealth can be attributed in part to slavetrading. Willing also had private business with the Barings of London. Two of Willing's Granddaughters marry sons of Francis Baring, co-founder of Barings Bank. Barings were made bankers for the USA in Europe, and remained so until Andrew Jackson replaced them with the Rothschilds.

This is all highly suspicious.