Samuel E. Ripley Papers (1829-1850)

Scope and Content: The Collection includes seven letters written by Samuel E. Ripley to his wife, Sarah Cushman Ripley as well as five letters from other family members.  There is one letter, addressed to “the ship joiner” (1831) that gives details into a ship’s building specifications.

Biographical Information:  Samuel E. Ripley (1800-1892) was a joiner in Duxbury, MA.  In 1828 he married Sally Cushman (1805-1894), the daughter of David and Betsy Cushman.  David Cushman was a blacksmith for Ezra Weston. The couple had four children: Cyrus White (b. 1830); Obed (b. 1834); Lucy (b. 1836); and Ardelia (b. 1839-1899).  Samuel was a member of the Masons and served as Master of Duxbury’s Cornerstone Lodge in 1858.

 In 1830 Samuel Ripley bought property at 36 Cove Street in Duxbury and built his home.  This house was featured in an article in The House Beautiful entitled “The Little Gray House with the Pale-Green Door; One of the Aristocrats o the Cape Cod House.” (1925). Eventually, this house passed to Samuel’s daughter, Ardelia Ripley Cushman, and then to his granddaughter Lura Cushman Hall.

 Organization: The Collection consists of two folders.

 Folder 1: Correspondence from Samuel E. Ripley to Sally Cushman Ripley (1837-1850)

1. Samuel E. Ripley (Oswego, NY) to Sally Cushman Ripley (Duxbury, MA), May 4, 1837
2. Samuel E. Ripley (Oswego, NY) to Sally Cushman Ripley (Duxbury, MA), June 18, 1837.
3. Samuel E. Ripley (Oswego, NY) to Sally Cushman Ripley (Duxbury, MA), July 25, 1837
4. Samuel E. Ripley (Oswego, NY) to Sally Cushman Ripley (Duxbury, MA), Aug 22, 1837
5. Samuel E. Ripley (On board ship off Peru) to Sally Cushman Ripley (Duxbury, MA), March 1,[1850]
6. Samuel E. Ripley (San Francisco, CA) to Sally Cushman Ripley (Duxury, MA), July 11, 1850
7. Samuel E. Ripley (San Francisco, CA) to Sally Cushman Ripley (Duxbury, MA), [1850]

 Folder 2: Correspondence to Samuel E. Ripley (1829-1844)

1. E. M. Ripley (New York) to Samuel E. Ripley (Duxbury, MA), March 20, 1829
2. H. Bennett & Rich (Boston, MA0 to “The Ship Joiner”, Sept. 2, 1831
3. George Soule Cushman to Samuel E. and Sarah C. Ripley (Duxbury, MA), Jan. 1, 1836
4. Sarah Cushman Ripley (Duxbury, MA) to Samuel E. Ripley (Oswego, NY), Aug. 15, 1837
5. George Soule Cushman (Boston, MA) to Samuel E. Ripley (Duxbury, MA), April 25, 1841
6. C. Sampson (Duxbury, MA) to Samuel E. Ripley (Duxbury, MA), June 1, 1844