The Family Bible of Robert S. and Hannah E. Ripley
It is somewhat ironic that Robert Salter Ripley, who had served as a Justice of the Peace and census taker in the Springhill area, neglected to register the births of most of his children. My mother recalls that my grandmother, Alice Malinda Ripley, sent for the family Bible from back east in order to prove her date of birth and obtain a border crossing card. Alice's sister Florence obtained a birth certificate in the same way. Included in her application is a hand-written record of the names and births of all the children of Robert Salter Ripley and Hannah Elizabeth Ripley copied from the family Bible. This interesting document can be viewed online at Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics.
Florence's application was made in 1940; her father had died in 1928. An affidavit sworn by Florence's husband says he was familiar with the handwriting of Robert Salter Ripley and confirmed that the entries in the Bible were made by him.
Register of Births
R. Barry M. Ripley
Born August 13th 1871
Emma R. Ripley
Born October 28th 1874
Nellie E. Ripley
Born January 11th 1876
Florence Isabell
Ripley. Born August 23rd 1879
Mary Louise Ripley
Born October 28th 1882
William Rowland Ripley
Born November 22nd 1884
Anna Esther Ripley
Born January 2nd 1886
James Trueman Ripley
Born August 11th 1887
Morley Dalton Ripley. Born Oct 12th 1889
Alice Malinda Ripley Born Feb 11th 1893
I certify the above to be a true copy of the record appearing
in a Bible produced to me as the former property of Robert S. Ripley.
A letter in the papers of Ernest Coates provides a clue as to the whereabouts of the family Bible. (05-050-04-R04-#1188). The letter, dated 6 Jan 1974, was written by Robert D. Ripley of Truro and states that the Bible passed first to his father James Trueman Ripley and then to him. I have recently made contact with a descendant of Robert D. Ripley and his wife Edith Seaman who confirms the Family Bible is still in their possession.
Florence's application was made in 1940; her father had died in 1928. An affidavit sworn by Florence's husband says he was familiar with the handwriting of Robert Salter Ripley and confirmed that the entries in the Bible were made by him.
Register of Births
R. Barry M. Ripley
Born August 13th 1871
Emma R. Ripley
Born October 28th 1874
Nellie E. Ripley
Born January 11th 1876
Florence Isabell
Ripley. Born August 23rd 1879
Mary Louise Ripley
Born October 28th 1882
William Rowland Ripley
Born November 22nd 1884
Anna Esther Ripley
Born January 2nd 1886
James Trueman Ripley
Born August 11th 1887
Morley Dalton Ripley. Born Oct 12th 1889
Alice Malinda Ripley Born Feb 11th 1893
I certify the above to be a true copy of the record appearing
in a Bible produced to me as the former property of Robert S. Ripley.
A letter in the papers of Ernest Coates provides a clue as to the whereabouts of the family Bible. (05-050-04-R04-#1188). The letter, dated 6 Jan 1974, was written by Robert D. Ripley of Truro and states that the Bible passed first to his father James Trueman Ripley and then to him. I have recently made contact with a descendant of Robert D. Ripley and his wife Edith Seaman who confirms the Family Bible is still in their possession.