On October 17, 1777, the Saratoga Campaign of the American Revolutionary War ended when British general John Burgoyne surrendered his forces to American general Horatio Gates.
A couple of weeks later, on October 31, Jonathan Whipple and Mary Whipple (née Jennison) of Massachusetts welcomed twin boys.
What were they named? Liberty and Independence.
Why? Because Mary’s father, Dr. William Jennison, “was a zealous supporter of the Revolution.” The twins, born “while the country was rejoicing over the surrender of Burgoyne,” were “named in accordance with their grandfather Jennison’s urgent request.”
The failure of the Saratoga Campaign didn’t just boost American morale and inspire a pair of baby names. It was also a turning point in the war, as it helped convinced France to support of the rebels. The combined American and French forces finally defeated Great Britain in the early 1780s.
Sources:
- Wall, Caleb Arnold. Reminiscences of Worcester from the Earliest Period. Worcester, MA: Tyler & Seagrave, 1877.
- Saratoga campaign – Wikipedia
Image: Surrender of General Burgoyne (1821) by John Trumbull
[Latest update: 6/2023]
Wow, they were certainly ahead of the trends.