Homestead of John Ripley and Margaret Donkin: River Philip, Oxford
According to the papers of Ernest Coates, Robert and Isabella’s son John Ripley purchased 275 acres in River Philip from William Berry in 1802 that was part of 1000 acres originally granted to Mary Delesdernier. However, my research shows that the original grant was actually 2500 acres made to Moses rather than Mary Delesdernier. And, on 27 November 1802 William Berry and his wife Phebe sold 875 acres to John Ripley (Deed Book G, p. 416, Document #503709272, registered 1821). A post to the Cumberland County Genealogy forum at Yahoo by Frank Mosher indicates that Moses Delesdernier first sold the property to John Oxley and William Berry acquired the property from Oxley. In 2017 I was able to obtain both deeds. In 1795, Moses Delesdernier and children of Sackville sold to John Oxley 1000 acres of the original 2500 acres granted to them in February of 1787. (Deed Book F, p. 57, Doc # 503708490, Registered 1795). In 1799, John Oxley sold to William Berry, 875 acres of this property. (Deed Book E, p. 37, Document 503707615. Registered 1799). According to Oxford: Recollection of a Small Town 1791-1991 by Wendy Hunter, p. 2, on 1 Apr 1791 Moses Delesdernier, then living in Petitcodiac New Brunswick, also sold 500 acres of the original grant to William Allan of Baie Verte.
The timing of John Ripley's purchase coincides roughly with the expiry of The Fletcher Lease, where John Ripley had likely been living with his mother Isabella after his father Robert Ripley's death. The property is described as follows: "a certain Tract or parcel of land situate on the River Philip aforesaid containing eight hundred and seventy five acres more or less bounded on the southwest by land now belonging to Richard Thompson and on the northeast by land now belonging to Nathaniel Niles being part of one thousand acres purchased from Moses Delesdernier and his children." It is possible that the purchase of 275 acres mentioned by Ernest Coates was a different transaction as John Ripley later sold 200 acres and then mortgaged a further 850.
2500 acres granted to a Moses Delesdernier and children are viewable on Crown Land Index Map 69. The property straddles the River Phillip just north of Oxford. Hwy 301 from Oxford towards Kolbec runs through this grant from Oxford to about the Mt. Pleasant Road turnoff. Neighbouring properties were granted to Thompson, Brundige, Morse, Oxley and others. Richard Thompson is considered to be the founder of Oxford. According to an online family history by Gretchen Clara Thompson, Richard relocated to Oxford from Point de Bute in 1791 and in 1792 he purchased 1500 acres from William Allan for 70 Pounds Sterling. This was part of the Allan Family land grant of 1785. It is now the location of the Town of Oxford NS. Ralph Thompson was his son.
The timing of John Ripley's purchase coincides roughly with the expiry of The Fletcher Lease, where John Ripley had likely been living with his mother Isabella after his father Robert Ripley's death. The property is described as follows: "a certain Tract or parcel of land situate on the River Philip aforesaid containing eight hundred and seventy five acres more or less bounded on the southwest by land now belonging to Richard Thompson and on the northeast by land now belonging to Nathaniel Niles being part of one thousand acres purchased from Moses Delesdernier and his children." It is possible that the purchase of 275 acres mentioned by Ernest Coates was a different transaction as John Ripley later sold 200 acres and then mortgaged a further 850.
2500 acres granted to a Moses Delesdernier and children are viewable on Crown Land Index Map 69. The property straddles the River Phillip just north of Oxford. Hwy 301 from Oxford towards Kolbec runs through this grant from Oxford to about the Mt. Pleasant Road turnoff. Neighbouring properties were granted to Thompson, Brundige, Morse, Oxley and others. Richard Thompson is considered to be the founder of Oxford. According to an online family history by Gretchen Clara Thompson, Richard relocated to Oxford from Point de Bute in 1791 and in 1792 he purchased 1500 acres from William Allan for 70 Pounds Sterling. This was part of the Allan Family land grant of 1785. It is now the location of the Town of Oxford NS. Ralph Thompson was his son.
On the 19th of Oct 1808, John Ripley mortgaged to Titus Knapp in consideration of 100 pounds owing to Titus Knapp, 875 acres originally granted to Moses Delesdernier where John Ripley then resided. The payment was to be made by January 19th. (Deed Book F, p. 187, 188, Document #503708243) The boundaries of the property were not described.
It is likely the debt was paid because on 1 April 1812, John Ripley and his wife Margaret sold to John W. Oxley and Andrew N. Stevens a 200-acre parcel of land in River Philip that had been part of the 1000 acres originally granted to Moses Delesdernier for 200 pounds. The property is described as follows:
“beginning at the lower line of Ralph Thompson’s land on the said River Philip and running thence down the river to a Hemlock tree standing on the bank of said river and from thence running at right angles to said River until it comes to the lower line of John Ripley’s land being the boundary between said Ripley and John Oxley and from thence along said line until it comes to the Northwestern corner of said land from thence by the back line of said grant of the River Philip southeasterly until it comes to Ralph Thompson’s line first mentioned containing by estimation two hundred acres more or less being part and parcel of the land originally granted to Moses Delesdernier and children.” (Deed Book F, p. 349 Document #503708393)
On 22 July 1815, John Ripley and his wife Peggy sold a lot of unspecified size on the north side of the River Philip to William Pipes (1777-1830) of Nappan for 22 pounds. (Book H, p. 320, Document #503709878).
On Feb 5, 1821 John Ripley mortgaged 850 acres in River Philip to John Morse for 115 pounds to be paid by 15 Jan 1822. (Deed Book H, p. 104, Document #503709777).
On 9 Feb 1821, John Ripley mortgaged 725 acres in River Philip to John and Joseph Black for 631 Pounds 10 shillings plus interest to be paid in one year. This property was part of the original grant to Moses Delesdernier. (Deed Book G, p. 424 Doc #503709278). This is a very strange pair of transactions, happening so close together. Perhaps the Feb 5 deal fell through or the mortgage was discharged very quickly. 631 pounds is a large sum of money, so perhaps John lost the land as a result of this mortgage.
On February 14, 1821, John Ripley and his second wife Mary sold 2 acres of the 1000 acres originally granted to Moses Delesdernier to Levi Brundige for 40 pounds. (Deed Book H, p. 5, Document #503710023). This deed helps to confirm Mary Baker as John's second wife as it would be quite a coincidence if there were two John Ripleys who had both purchased land originally granted to Moses Delesdernier. John Ripley married Mary Baker 3 Jan 1821 ( Source: NSHVS marriage bond).
According to Ernest Coates, John Ripley also petitioned for land in River Philip in 1807 and 1809. (Papers of Ernest Coates (05-050-04-R04#1313). In 1807, John Ripley petitioned for land at River Philip on the west wide of the river at the back of land laid out for Mr. Delesdernier stating that he was a settler at River Philip and had a wife and three children. In 1809 John again petitioned for 300 acres of land stating that he “emigrated from Englands upwards of 30 years ago, and has lived for the last five years at River Philip, has a family of four children. On 27 Dec 1814 he received the grant of 300 acres on the River Philip just a short distance east of the Delesdernier grant. (Grant Book E, p. 52, Family Search Film 8453640, Img 179). The grant includes a drawing of Ripley's grant with adjacent grants given to 4 others. On the Crown Index Map, the lot is crosshatched with red ink, probably indicating it was escheated back to the crown.
John received a bequest in his mother Isabella's will of 1830. He also appeared personally before the probate court in 1834 to receive an unusual settlement from the estate of his brother-in-law Robert Read. In 1827, John Ripley of River Philip had bonded his son James to Robert Read for 6 years. James had died mid-way through the service and John was paid for the 2 years and 8 1/2 months service already rendered. To view the original documents, see Estate Files #1710-#1892 on this website. According to Early Settlers of Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, John died in June of 1853 but no reference is provided.
While it may seem surprising that John Ripley lived at Oxford rather than River Philip, it does make sense when you consider that the entire region was then known as River Philip and that his children also have connections to this area. John Ripley's daughter Isabella's death certificate lists Oxford as her birthplace. John's son Robert received a grant at Mount Pleasant, just northeast of John's property. Robert and his first wife Elizabeth are both buried in the Trinity Pioneer Cemetery in Oxford. John's sons Joseph Black Ripley and Thomas Ripley received a grant in West Hansford on Gray's Road. Joseph Black Ripley and his wife Charlotte later sold their portion of the grant to Henry Mayne, the future husband of Joseph's sister Esther. Joseph and Charlotte relocated to Williamsdale and settled on the Belle Johnson property. Joseph and Charlotte are buried in the Williamsdale Cemetery along with many of his descendants. John's son Thomas and his wife Priscilla apparently stayed on their portion of the grant and Gray's Road was given as the birthplace for several of their children on marriage and death records. Many of John's descendants still live in the Oxford/River Philip area.
It is likely the debt was paid because on 1 April 1812, John Ripley and his wife Margaret sold to John W. Oxley and Andrew N. Stevens a 200-acre parcel of land in River Philip that had been part of the 1000 acres originally granted to Moses Delesdernier for 200 pounds. The property is described as follows:
“beginning at the lower line of Ralph Thompson’s land on the said River Philip and running thence down the river to a Hemlock tree standing on the bank of said river and from thence running at right angles to said River until it comes to the lower line of John Ripley’s land being the boundary between said Ripley and John Oxley and from thence along said line until it comes to the Northwestern corner of said land from thence by the back line of said grant of the River Philip southeasterly until it comes to Ralph Thompson’s line first mentioned containing by estimation two hundred acres more or less being part and parcel of the land originally granted to Moses Delesdernier and children.” (Deed Book F, p. 349 Document #503708393)
On 22 July 1815, John Ripley and his wife Peggy sold a lot of unspecified size on the north side of the River Philip to William Pipes (1777-1830) of Nappan for 22 pounds. (Book H, p. 320, Document #503709878).
On Feb 5, 1821 John Ripley mortgaged 850 acres in River Philip to John Morse for 115 pounds to be paid by 15 Jan 1822. (Deed Book H, p. 104, Document #503709777).
On 9 Feb 1821, John Ripley mortgaged 725 acres in River Philip to John and Joseph Black for 631 Pounds 10 shillings plus interest to be paid in one year. This property was part of the original grant to Moses Delesdernier. (Deed Book G, p. 424 Doc #503709278). This is a very strange pair of transactions, happening so close together. Perhaps the Feb 5 deal fell through or the mortgage was discharged very quickly. 631 pounds is a large sum of money, so perhaps John lost the land as a result of this mortgage.
On February 14, 1821, John Ripley and his second wife Mary sold 2 acres of the 1000 acres originally granted to Moses Delesdernier to Levi Brundige for 40 pounds. (Deed Book H, p. 5, Document #503710023). This deed helps to confirm Mary Baker as John's second wife as it would be quite a coincidence if there were two John Ripleys who had both purchased land originally granted to Moses Delesdernier. John Ripley married Mary Baker 3 Jan 1821 ( Source: NSHVS marriage bond).
According to Ernest Coates, John Ripley also petitioned for land in River Philip in 1807 and 1809. (Papers of Ernest Coates (05-050-04-R04#1313). In 1807, John Ripley petitioned for land at River Philip on the west wide of the river at the back of land laid out for Mr. Delesdernier stating that he was a settler at River Philip and had a wife and three children. In 1809 John again petitioned for 300 acres of land stating that he “emigrated from Englands upwards of 30 years ago, and has lived for the last five years at River Philip, has a family of four children. On 27 Dec 1814 he received the grant of 300 acres on the River Philip just a short distance east of the Delesdernier grant. (Grant Book E, p. 52, Family Search Film 8453640, Img 179). The grant includes a drawing of Ripley's grant with adjacent grants given to 4 others. On the Crown Index Map, the lot is crosshatched with red ink, probably indicating it was escheated back to the crown.
John received a bequest in his mother Isabella's will of 1830. He also appeared personally before the probate court in 1834 to receive an unusual settlement from the estate of his brother-in-law Robert Read. In 1827, John Ripley of River Philip had bonded his son James to Robert Read for 6 years. James had died mid-way through the service and John was paid for the 2 years and 8 1/2 months service already rendered. To view the original documents, see Estate Files #1710-#1892 on this website. According to Early Settlers of Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, John died in June of 1853 but no reference is provided.
While it may seem surprising that John Ripley lived at Oxford rather than River Philip, it does make sense when you consider that the entire region was then known as River Philip and that his children also have connections to this area. John Ripley's daughter Isabella's death certificate lists Oxford as her birthplace. John's son Robert received a grant at Mount Pleasant, just northeast of John's property. Robert and his first wife Elizabeth are both buried in the Trinity Pioneer Cemetery in Oxford. John's sons Joseph Black Ripley and Thomas Ripley received a grant in West Hansford on Gray's Road. Joseph Black Ripley and his wife Charlotte later sold their portion of the grant to Henry Mayne, the future husband of Joseph's sister Esther. Joseph and Charlotte relocated to Williamsdale and settled on the Belle Johnson property. Joseph and Charlotte are buried in the Williamsdale Cemetery along with many of his descendants. John's son Thomas and his wife Priscilla apparently stayed on their portion of the grant and Gray's Road was given as the birthplace for several of their children on marriage and death records. Many of John's descendants still live in the Oxford/River Philip area.