Phipps

fips William (1651-1695), a governor of Massachusetts. He was born at Pemaquid, now Bristol, Maine, and died in London. In his youth he learned the ship-carpenter's trade. Later he learned to read and to write and engaged in trading. He married a Boston widow of wealth, and built himself a ship in which he made successful ventures. Learning of a sunken Spanish ship off the Bahamas, reputed to contain treasure, he went to England and obtained permission to search for the wreck. A first attempt was not successful. A second, undertaken with ships and funds provided by the Duke of Albemarle, resulted in the recovery of treasure to the value of $1,500,000. Phipps' share was $80,000. He was made a knight. In 1690 the colonial authorities made him commander of a fleet of eight vessels with which he captured Port Royal. A second expedition against Quebec was without result save the loss of nine ships. Through the influence of Increase Mather, the king appointed him governor of Massachusetts. One of his early official acts, if not his first, was the organization of a special court to try witches. When accusation was brought against Lady Phipps, he appears to have lost faith in the popular delusion and to have decided upon the termination of the witchcraft trials then disgracing the colony. Charges of arbitrary conduct having been made, he went to London to clear himself, and died there.