Amherst Cemetery
The Amherst Cemetery is a very large cemetery located at the corner of Church Street and East Pleasant Street in Amherst, Nova Scotia. The cemetery is adjacent to the St. Charles Catholic Cemetery which can make it very confusing to locate graves if you are looking for a particular section number.
Robert Salter Ripley (1846-1928), wife Hannah Elizabeth Ripley (1851-1910), and daughter Nellie E. Barclay (1876-1897)
The family plot in Amherst Cemetery was purchased by Robert Salter Ripley on June 28, 1897 according to records at the Cumberland County Genealogical Society. The plot was purchased following the death of Robert's daughter Nellie E. (Ripley) Barclay from complications of childbirth. Nellie's child, Basil Earle Ripley, born June 7, 1897, survived to marry and have children. Robert Salter Ripley's wife Hannah, who was also a Ripley by birth, died in 1910 and later Robert married Edith Hyatt. However, according to his obituary, after Robert's death in 1928, his remains were brought by train to Amherst where he was buried with his first wife Hannah and their daughter.
To find Robert Salter Ripley's stone, do not enter at the corner of Church Street and East Pleasant at the main cemetery gate. Instead, continue along Church Street and take the next lane instead, making a right turn into the cemetery. Turn left on the 3rd lane and begin looking for Robert's stone on the left hand side back toward Church Street. The stone has a distinctive triangular top, but the engraving faces toward Church Street which made it difficult to locate as it faces away from the lane. When we visited in 2013, we finally enlisted the help of caretaker Joe Holland to locate Robert's grave. Joe pointed out a small metal tag on the back of the gravestone and estimated that the stone was installed about 1965, replacing older stones.
I was not able to determine who provided the newer stone as the company that supplied local gravestones went out of business and the new owner of the building took the records to the local dump. It's extremely interesting that the person(s) who designed the stone decided to add the Ripley Coat of Arms at the top of the stone. This may simply be an indication that the person had an interest in genealogy since the stone also mentions that Robert Salter Ripley was the first mayor of New Waterford. The same design appears on the cover of Edith Seaman Ripley's family history. Edith's son and I believe that his father Robert Douglas Ripley made the arrangements for the new gravestone.
Robert Salter Ripley (1846-1928), wife Hannah Elizabeth Ripley (1851-1910), and daughter Nellie E. Barclay (1876-1897)
The family plot in Amherst Cemetery was purchased by Robert Salter Ripley on June 28, 1897 according to records at the Cumberland County Genealogical Society. The plot was purchased following the death of Robert's daughter Nellie E. (Ripley) Barclay from complications of childbirth. Nellie's child, Basil Earle Ripley, born June 7, 1897, survived to marry and have children. Robert Salter Ripley's wife Hannah, who was also a Ripley by birth, died in 1910 and later Robert married Edith Hyatt. However, according to his obituary, after Robert's death in 1928, his remains were brought by train to Amherst where he was buried with his first wife Hannah and their daughter.
To find Robert Salter Ripley's stone, do not enter at the corner of Church Street and East Pleasant at the main cemetery gate. Instead, continue along Church Street and take the next lane instead, making a right turn into the cemetery. Turn left on the 3rd lane and begin looking for Robert's stone on the left hand side back toward Church Street. The stone has a distinctive triangular top, but the engraving faces toward Church Street which made it difficult to locate as it faces away from the lane. When we visited in 2013, we finally enlisted the help of caretaker Joe Holland to locate Robert's grave. Joe pointed out a small metal tag on the back of the gravestone and estimated that the stone was installed about 1965, replacing older stones.
I was not able to determine who provided the newer stone as the company that supplied local gravestones went out of business and the new owner of the building took the records to the local dump. It's extremely interesting that the person(s) who designed the stone decided to add the Ripley Coat of Arms at the top of the stone. This may simply be an indication that the person had an interest in genealogy since the stone also mentions that Robert Salter Ripley was the first mayor of New Waterford. The same design appears on the cover of Edith Seaman Ripley's family history. Edith's son and I believe that his father Robert Douglas Ripley made the arrangements for the new gravestone.
Jonathan Vickery Ripley(1858-1950) and wife Isabella B. Coates (1853-1924)
Jonathan was the son of Robert Ripley and Rebecca Vickery and lived to the age of 91. According to information supplied by Ernest Coates, Jonathan was born at the "old place." Jonathan also sold a property east of the Maccan River to Jephtha Harrison when he moved to Amherst.
Jonathan was the son of Robert Ripley and Rebecca Vickery and lived to the age of 91. According to information supplied by Ernest Coates, Jonathan was born at the "old place." Jonathan also sold a property east of the Maccan River to Jephtha Harrison when he moved to Amherst.