Owen Fitzpen facts for kids
Owen Fitzpen (also known as Owen Phippen) was an English merchant from the 1600s. He was captured by pirates and forced into slavery. But Owen was brave! He managed a daring escape and is still remembered today. You can find a special plaque for him in St. Mary's Church in Truro, Cornwall, England.
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Owen's Early Life
Owen Fitzpen was born in 1582, either in Weymouth or Melcombe Regis, Dorset, England. This was during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. His parents were Robert Fitzpen and Cecily Jordon.
When Owen was just 7 years old, his father passed away. At this time, England's navy was becoming very powerful after a big victory against the Spanish Armada in 1588. This meant that English ships could travel and trade more easily around the world.
As the oldest son, Owen decided to become a merchant and work at sea. He became very successful in this business. His older sister, Cecily, helped their mother take care of Owen's younger brothers, Robert, David, and George.
Life as a Seaman
We don't know exactly when Owen started working on ships, but he left home a few years after his father died. He quickly learned the ropes and became a successful merchant seaman.
In 1603, Owen married Annie Coinie. Their wedding was quite fancy for the time, showing how well Owen was doing in his career.
Owen's success helped his family. His brother George became the headmaster of the Truro Grammar School and later a church leader (called a Rector) at St. Mary's Church in Truro. He worked there for 26 years. Owen's other brother, David, moved all the way to America. Many of David's family members later fought in the American Revolution.
Captured by Pirates
The most exciting part of Owen's life happened on March 24, 1620. He was on a trading trip in the Mediterranean Sea when Turkish pirates captured him. These were most likely Barbary pirates, who were well-known at the time for capturing ships and people.
Owen and other Christian captives were forced to be slaves for seven years near a place called Algiers (which is in modern-day Algeria).
Their chance to escape finally came on June 17, 1627. Owen and 10 other Christian captives (from Holland and France) were put on a pirate ship with 65 Turkish pirates. Owen and the other captives decided to fight for their freedom! They battled the pirates for three hours. Five of the captives were sadly killed, but the remaining pirates finally gave up.
Owen and his brave crew then sailed the captured ship to Cartagena, Spain. News of their amazing escape reached the King of Spain.
Meeting the King
The King of Spain asked Owen to come to Madrid. The King was so impressed that he offered Owen a job as a captain and special favors. But there was a condition: Owen had to change his religion to Catholicism. Owen politely said no.
He then sold the pirate ship for a lot of money – 6,000 pounds sterling! After that, he returned to England and settled near his brother George in Cornwall. Owen Fitzpen passed away on March 17, 1636, at the age of 54. Soon after, his brother George placed a special memorial plaque for him in St. Mary's Church.
Memorial Plaque
The plaque in St. Mary's Church tells Owen's story. It says he "most Valiantly freed himself from the Turks." It describes how he and his friends escaped after seven years of being held captive.
The plaque also says: "Glory to God in the Highest... to the pious and well-deserved memory of Owen Fitzpen alias Phippen, who travelled over many parts of the world and on 24 Mar, 1620 was taken by the Turkes and made Captive in Algier. He planned many ways for his freedom and on 17 June 1627 with 10 other Christian captives, Dutch and French (convinced by his advice and bravery) he began a cruel fight with sixty-five Turkes in their own ship - which lasted three hours in which five of his company were slain yet God made him conquer and so he brought the ship in Cartagene being of 400 tons and 22 guns. The king sent for him to Madrid to see him - was offered a captain's place and a King's favor if he would turn Papists, which he refused. He sold all for 6000 L returned to England, and died at Lamorran 17 Mar 1636. Melcomb in Dorset was his place of birth. Age 54 and here lies Earth in Earth."
You can find copies of this inscription in old books like Lysons' Magna Britannia, Vol. III, Cornwall, p. 312.
Owen's Family Legacy
The family name "Fitzpen" later changed to "Phippen." It's thought that Owen's brother David changed it when his family moved to America, to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Many of David's descendants later fought in the American Revolutionary War.
Owen and his wife, Annie, had at least three children born in Ireland before Owen was captured. One of their sons changed the family name again, this time to "Thigpen." Owen's grandson, James Thigpen, was the first of his direct family to settle in America, in North Carolina.
Some of Owen's descendants include famous athletes, like former National Football League player Yancey Thigpen and former Major League Baseball pitcher Bobby Thigpen.
Owen Fitzpen is also a distant cousin to three U.S. presidents: Zachary Taylor, Rutherford B. Hayes, and John F. Kennedy.
See also
- List of slaves
