Eldest daughter of Jonathan and Anna Mordaunt Shipley. Franklin befriended the Shipley family while living in England and corresponded with them throughout his life.

Married in 1783 to Sir William Jones, the celebrated Orientalist, lawyer, linguist, scholar, and judge of the high court in Calcutta. Sister of Georgiana (Shipley) Hare-Naylor and of Catherine Louisa Shipley.