when dunmore county (modern shenandoah county) was created from frederick in 1772, tipton was appointed justice of the peace in the new county by governor lord dunmore. in june 1774, tipton was elected to the county's committee of safety and helped craft the woodstock resolutions, which denounced the british crown's actions in closing the port of boston. he was also elected to the county's seat in the house of burgesses. during dunmore's war later that year, tipton served as a captain under andrew lewis and saw action at the battle of point pleasant in october.