Robert Ripley and Rebecca Vickery: The Old Place
Ripley Homestead at Maccan
The Ernest Coates papers at the Cumberland County Genealogical Society include a page (05-050-04-R04#1024) entitled Ripley Homestead at Maccan, N.S. Ernest had the following to say about the property of Robert Ripley and Rebecca Vickery and three of their sons:
"Robert and Rebecca (Vickery) Ripley resided at Maccan, Cumb. Co., N.S. in the house still standing in 1984 that is today occupied by HEDLEY RIPLEY on the left-hand side of the paved highway going from NAPPAN-to-MACCAN VILLAGE, this house is a short distance past a white (white is crossed out) house on the RIGHT-HAND side of the same road that was the home of JONATHAN RIPLEY some years ago.
The three sons of Robert and Rebecca (Vickery) Ripley lived in Maccan, N.S. as follows:
James Ripley lived on the homestead where Hedley Ripley lives today (1874). This is also where Jonathan was born.
Jonathan Ripley lived on the opposite side of the paved road a short distance back towards Nappan, this he sold to Carl Ripley and moved to Amherst, N.S.
William Ripley lived in on the "TRIDER ROAD a short distance back along the paved road towards Nappan and off the gravel road known as the Trider Road in site of the present paved road. These homes were apparently all on the original homestead of William Ripley and his wife Hannah (Coates) Ripley."
Ernest's information confirms what I had learned during my July 2013 trip from residents about the house at 3376 which is Hedley's old house on the east side of the road and Carl Ripley's former house which is on the west side of the road.
The Ernest Coates papers at the Cumberland County Genealogical Society include a page (05-050-04-R04#1024) entitled Ripley Homestead at Maccan, N.S. Ernest had the following to say about the property of Robert Ripley and Rebecca Vickery and three of their sons:
"Robert and Rebecca (Vickery) Ripley resided at Maccan, Cumb. Co., N.S. in the house still standing in 1984 that is today occupied by HEDLEY RIPLEY on the left-hand side of the paved highway going from NAPPAN-to-MACCAN VILLAGE, this house is a short distance past a white (white is crossed out) house on the RIGHT-HAND side of the same road that was the home of JONATHAN RIPLEY some years ago.
The three sons of Robert and Rebecca (Vickery) Ripley lived in Maccan, N.S. as follows:
James Ripley lived on the homestead where Hedley Ripley lives today (1874). This is also where Jonathan was born.
Jonathan Ripley lived on the opposite side of the paved road a short distance back towards Nappan, this he sold to Carl Ripley and moved to Amherst, N.S.
William Ripley lived in on the "TRIDER ROAD a short distance back along the paved road towards Nappan and off the gravel road known as the Trider Road in site of the present paved road. These homes were apparently all on the original homestead of William Ripley and his wife Hannah (Coates) Ripley."
Ernest's information confirms what I had learned during my July 2013 trip from residents about the house at 3376 which is Hedley's old house on the east side of the road and Carl Ripley's former house which is on the west side of the road.
Former Homestead of Robert Ripley and Rachel Vickery
The first house mentioned by Ernest Coates is located at 3376 Hwy 302. It was purchased by its current owner from the estate of Hedley James Ripley (1919-1987) and is now vacant. Hedley acquired it from his father Harold Garfield Ripley (1882-1949) who also owned the house next door. Harold acquired it from his father James Crosscomb Ripley (1856-1934), the son of Robert Ripley and Rebecca Vickery.
James Crosscomb Ripley told his grandson that the house was built when he (James) was 9 years old. James was born in 1856, so the house was built around 1865. It's likely that James's father Robert Ripley built the house as Robert Ripley died in November of 1865. On the 1871 census Robert's widow Rebecca was living with all of the unmarried children including sons William Coates Ripley, James Crosscomb Ripley, and Jonathan Vickery Ripley, her sister Rachel Vickery and her brother-in-law James Coates Ripley. By 1879 William and Jonathan were heads of their own households, living nearby, and on the 1881 census Rebecca was living with the remaining unmarried children and newly-married James Crosscomb Ripley and his wife Ada to whom the property eventually passed.
On the 1873 A. F. Church map, there is an R. Ripley living down by the Maccan River east of the railroad tracks just up from the current Tidal Bore Park which is probably the field today where the old well is located. If Jonathan Vickery Ripley was born in the house, according to the Ernest Coates information, both Robert and Rebecca lived there because Jonathan was born in 1858, several years before Robert's death in 1865. Personally, I don't think the house is that old although Jonathan might have been born in the older house that had been attached to the new structure as a shed. After Rebecca's death in 1903 the house passed to James Crosscomb Ripley and then to his descendants Harold Garfield Ripley and Hedley James Ripley.
Several octogenarians who live in the area have told me that before they were born the house was dragged from a field beside Highway 302 across the road to its current location by a team of bulls while Rebecca remained inside the house cooking. The bulls dragged the house in circles before they finally got back on track. The house was well-built but extremely cold in the winter. The porch was added later and is not visible in earlier photographs. If you looked at the ceiling in many of the rooms you could see that some of the original walls had been removed, the original rooms having been much smaller to accommodate the many family members. In addition to the two floors, the house had an attic which had been fixed up for Rebecca. Hedley was living alone in the house in 1986 and the family Bible of Robert and Rebecca Ripley was removed from that home when Hedley died. There were also many old glass plate photographs that unfortunately weren't saved. The entire contents of the home were put up for auction after Hedley's death.
The current owner, who also owns the field across the street where the house was originally located, confirms the house was moved across the road and is definitely over a hundred years old. When I visited in 2014, he showed me an old well on his property and the original location of the house. He also said there are signs of even earlier habitation including an old well down by the Maccan River behind his place near the present Maccan Tidal Bore Wetlands Park. He has not discovered any old foundations but says in the old days houses were built on piles of rocks rather than proper foundations. Another well down by the Maccan River was about 20 feet deep and was located in a cherry orchard.
The first house mentioned by Ernest Coates is located at 3376 Hwy 302. It was purchased by its current owner from the estate of Hedley James Ripley (1919-1987) and is now vacant. Hedley acquired it from his father Harold Garfield Ripley (1882-1949) who also owned the house next door. Harold acquired it from his father James Crosscomb Ripley (1856-1934), the son of Robert Ripley and Rebecca Vickery.
James Crosscomb Ripley told his grandson that the house was built when he (James) was 9 years old. James was born in 1856, so the house was built around 1865. It's likely that James's father Robert Ripley built the house as Robert Ripley died in November of 1865. On the 1871 census Robert's widow Rebecca was living with all of the unmarried children including sons William Coates Ripley, James Crosscomb Ripley, and Jonathan Vickery Ripley, her sister Rachel Vickery and her brother-in-law James Coates Ripley. By 1879 William and Jonathan were heads of their own households, living nearby, and on the 1881 census Rebecca was living with the remaining unmarried children and newly-married James Crosscomb Ripley and his wife Ada to whom the property eventually passed.
On the 1873 A. F. Church map, there is an R. Ripley living down by the Maccan River east of the railroad tracks just up from the current Tidal Bore Park which is probably the field today where the old well is located. If Jonathan Vickery Ripley was born in the house, according to the Ernest Coates information, both Robert and Rebecca lived there because Jonathan was born in 1858, several years before Robert's death in 1865. Personally, I don't think the house is that old although Jonathan might have been born in the older house that had been attached to the new structure as a shed. After Rebecca's death in 1903 the house passed to James Crosscomb Ripley and then to his descendants Harold Garfield Ripley and Hedley James Ripley.
Several octogenarians who live in the area have told me that before they were born the house was dragged from a field beside Highway 302 across the road to its current location by a team of bulls while Rebecca remained inside the house cooking. The bulls dragged the house in circles before they finally got back on track. The house was well-built but extremely cold in the winter. The porch was added later and is not visible in earlier photographs. If you looked at the ceiling in many of the rooms you could see that some of the original walls had been removed, the original rooms having been much smaller to accommodate the many family members. In addition to the two floors, the house had an attic which had been fixed up for Rebecca. Hedley was living alone in the house in 1986 and the family Bible of Robert and Rebecca Ripley was removed from that home when Hedley died. There were also many old glass plate photographs that unfortunately weren't saved. The entire contents of the home were put up for auction after Hedley's death.
The current owner, who also owns the field across the street where the house was originally located, confirms the house was moved across the road and is definitely over a hundred years old. When I visited in 2014, he showed me an old well on his property and the original location of the house. He also said there are signs of even earlier habitation including an old well down by the Maccan River behind his place near the present Maccan Tidal Bore Wetlands Park. He has not discovered any old foundations but says in the old days houses were built on piles of rocks rather than proper foundations. Another well down by the Maccan River was about 20 feet deep and was located in a cherry orchard.
Former Home of Carl Ewart Ripley
The second home mentioned by Ernest Coates is a few houses to the north on Hwy 302. When the current owners purchased the home in 1975 they were told that the house was 108 years old so probably built around 1867. When the owners acquired it, the home had no indoor plumbing; they have done an extensive restoration. The house was previously occupied by Carl Ewart Ripley (1885-1958) who died in the living room of the house in his rocking chair. Relatives recall that Carl was a short, thin guy who had a small dairy farm on the property and delivered milk for 8 cents a quart by horse and wagon in the area. He used to put the milk down the well to keep it cool. One night a pair of fellows asked if they could sleep in the barn and the kind-hearted Carl told them they could sleep in the house. The next morning he woke up to the smell of bacon cooking and he kept the fellows on to work for him. Unfortunately one of them later drowned in the Maccan River down behind the house.
According to Ernest Coates, Jonathan Vickery Ripley (1858-1950), son of Robert Ripley and Rebecca Vickery, had sold the house to Carl and moved to Amherst. Jonathan Vickery Ripley is indeed buried in the Amherst Cemetery. Carl may also have acquired the house from his father William Coates Ripley (1849-1917), the eldest son of Robert Ripley and Rebecca Vickery. According to a family story, Jonathan built the house but he didn't want to live there so he gave it to his brother William whose son Carl inherited it. On a hand-drawn map, Ernest Coates supplies the following information for the house at this location: "Robert Ripley 1774-Robert (G.S.) Wm-Carl Ripley-Rented now."
The deed for the current owner's purchase of the home contained the names of all of William C. Ripley's descendants and where they were living at the time of the sale. "The above named being all the heirs-at-law of the late William C. Ripley of Maccan aforesaid, who died intestate many years ago." The deed also referred to Carl's property as land portioned to William Coates Ripley and Jonathan Vickery Ripley from the estate of their father, Robert Ripley.
Another house located on William and Hannah's original homestead but not mentioned by Ernest Coates is known as the Blenkhorn Place. This house was sold by William Coates Ripley to his sister Hannah Elizabeth Ripley and her husband Robert Salter Ripley, my great grandparents, who raised their family on the property and later sold it to Frank Blenkhorn.
The second home mentioned by Ernest Coates is a few houses to the north on Hwy 302. When the current owners purchased the home in 1975 they were told that the house was 108 years old so probably built around 1867. When the owners acquired it, the home had no indoor plumbing; they have done an extensive restoration. The house was previously occupied by Carl Ewart Ripley (1885-1958) who died in the living room of the house in his rocking chair. Relatives recall that Carl was a short, thin guy who had a small dairy farm on the property and delivered milk for 8 cents a quart by horse and wagon in the area. He used to put the milk down the well to keep it cool. One night a pair of fellows asked if they could sleep in the barn and the kind-hearted Carl told them they could sleep in the house. The next morning he woke up to the smell of bacon cooking and he kept the fellows on to work for him. Unfortunately one of them later drowned in the Maccan River down behind the house.
According to Ernest Coates, Jonathan Vickery Ripley (1858-1950), son of Robert Ripley and Rebecca Vickery, had sold the house to Carl and moved to Amherst. Jonathan Vickery Ripley is indeed buried in the Amherst Cemetery. Carl may also have acquired the house from his father William Coates Ripley (1849-1917), the eldest son of Robert Ripley and Rebecca Vickery. According to a family story, Jonathan built the house but he didn't want to live there so he gave it to his brother William whose son Carl inherited it. On a hand-drawn map, Ernest Coates supplies the following information for the house at this location: "Robert Ripley 1774-Robert (G.S.) Wm-Carl Ripley-Rented now."
The deed for the current owner's purchase of the home contained the names of all of William C. Ripley's descendants and where they were living at the time of the sale. "The above named being all the heirs-at-law of the late William C. Ripley of Maccan aforesaid, who died intestate many years ago." The deed also referred to Carl's property as land portioned to William Coates Ripley and Jonathan Vickery Ripley from the estate of their father, Robert Ripley.
Another house located on William and Hannah's original homestead but not mentioned by Ernest Coates is known as the Blenkhorn Place. This house was sold by William Coates Ripley to his sister Hannah Elizabeth Ripley and her husband Robert Salter Ripley, my great grandparents, who raised their family on the property and later sold it to Frank Blenkhorn.
Sources:
Ernest Coates, Ripley Homestead at Maccan, N.S., (05-050-04-R04#1024) Cumberland County Genealogical Society.
Ernest Coates, Ripley Homestead at Maccan, N.S., (05-050-04-R04#1024) Cumberland County Genealogical Society.