Sideroads: The Remarkable Ripley's; Generation 2

As I mentioned in my last post, I am following two of the Ripley lines through the generations. Each line took startlingly different routes through history. John and Joshua, both sons of John I and grandsons of William, the patriarch settler (but not the first) in America, were each reared in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts where William had been granted four acres of land, some of which was owned by the Ripley's for generations afterwards. Their father John owned property in Hingham and was if not well-off, well-placed and respected.

Built in 1692, the Ripley Homestead  is made up of
three sections, each added as the family grew. It sits on .61 
acres in near town center at 347 Main St.

John II (as we'll refer to him here), was the first-born of John I and Elizabeth Hobart, born 20 Feb 1656  in Hingham. He married Miss Jane Whitmarsh, born 08 Apr 1664 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, on 13 Oct 1686 in Hingham. According to records, he resided on Main Street, near Bull's Pond with his family.

"Commencing at his (Lt Smith's) house and thence extending south to the present location of Pleasant Street and cast to that of Spring street and bounded north by Leavitt, and west by Main Street, was a large common or training-field in which, probably not far from where is now the Public Library, was Hingham's third fort, doubtless under the immediate charge of Lieutenant Smith ; and which in connection with his garrison house, provided a fair means of defence to most of the houses on the plain. Around this field were the lots of many of the first settlers, and the homes of their descendants formed at this time a village. Among them on Main Street was that of Matthew Hawke, afterwards the third town clerk. From him is descended Col. Hawkes Fearing, whose house is upon the same spot. Matthew, one of the first settlers, was by occupation a schoolmaster. His granddaughter married John Fearing, Colonel Fearing's paternal ancestor. James Hawke, son of Matthew, also resided at Hingham centre and probably with his father,—he too becoming town clerk in 1700, succeeding Daniel Gushing ; and was himself succeeded in the same office by his son James, also a resident of this part of the town, and with whom the name ceased. He left two daughters, one becoming the mother of John Hancock. Next them was Francis James, and but a short distance further south, about where David Hersey's house now is, was the homestead of the Ripleys, and on or near it were located John Ripley and Jolin junior and his brother Joshua. Their nearest neighbor, John Bull, " Goodman Bull," was the progenitor of many of the present inhabitants of the town. Bull's Pond, a small bit of water opposite Grand Army Hall, takes its name from the old settler, and marks the location of his property."
~  History of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts, by Bouve, Thomas, Bouve, Edward Tracy; Long, John Davis; Bouve, Walter Lincoln; Lincoln, Francis H; Lincoln, George; Hersey, Edmund; Burr, Fearing; Seymour, Charles. 1893.

The second son of John II, Hezekiah, was born on 29 Mar 1693 in Hingham to John II and his wife Elizabeth. Hezekiah married Sarah Garnet (also listed as Gardner and daughter of Stephen and Sarah Warren Garnet), who was born 31 Jul 1691 in Hingham, on 16 Feb 1716 in Hingham. Hezekiah, too, remained in Hingham until his death. Not much is known about Hezekiah, but he managed to have a number of children and live a long life.

Joshua was born 09 Nov 1658 in Hingham, the second of John I's sons. Joshua scored big when he married into the family of America's first settlers at Plymouth Rock and would set the tone for their upward mobility. Hannah Bradford was the daughter of Major William and Alice Richards Bradford and granddaughter of  William G Bradford, Plymouth Colony colonial governor.

Of Hannah: "She was a noble and useful woman, remarkable for her skill in the art of healing, she was the first, and for a long time the only physician in the settlement, and it is said that the first male physician, Dr. Richard Huntington, received much of his medical knowledge from her." She married Joshua Ripley at Plymouth, MA on 28 November, 1682. They made their way from Plymouth first to Norwich, Connecticut in 1688 (where Jeremiah and Hezekiah also traveled) and then to Windham in 1691, where he made his name.

"After a land dispute, a large tract of land was apportioned in the territory of Windham, Mansfield, Chaplin, Hampton, and Scotland in Windham. On May 1, 1686, the legatees assembled to receive their allotments, and "after prayer for direction and lessing" they drew lots, some receiving one, others several shares, according to the decision of Uncas (regarding the land dispute). On May 26, 1688, Richard Bushnell sold lot II, with thousand acre rights for ten pounds, ten shillings to Jeremiah Ripley, of Hingham and Daniel Wetherell sold an allotment to Joshua Ripley. In the autumn of 1688 John Cates built the first house in the new plantation in 1689. In 1691 Joshua and Jeremiah Ripley, John Crane and others built houses in the "Hitherplace." now the west side of old Windham street. 

May 12, 1692, the new settlement was made a new township and named Windham. Eleven names were signed to the petition asking the creation of the new town, and the name of Joshua Ripley headed the list. The first public town meeting was held June 12, 1692. Joshua Ripley was chosen town clerk. It was voted to petition the general court for liberty to portion town charges, and that Joshua Ripley should manage it. In 1693 Jonathan Ginnings and Joshua and Jeremiah Ripley were allowed to set up a saw mill with the privileges of a dam at No Man's Acre Brook. Joshua Ripley was elected in 1698 town clerk, and was also the first justice of the peace appointed in Windham County. He was the first deputy sent by the town of Windham to the general court. This was in May 1699 and he held this office until 1721. 

He was one of the members of Rev. Mr. Whitney's church, formed December 10, 1700. Joshua Ripley, John Backus and three others were a committee to direct the building of the first church. 1702. Mr. Ripley was repeatedly chosen to arrange town boundary lines. In 1704 there was trouble with the Indians and a train band was organized and a watch maintained. Messrs. Whiting, Joshua Ripley and Crane were appointed a committee for the proprietors of town lands with power "to order any meetings, put to vote any matters to be acted upon, and sign the acts." New lands were added to the town and Joshua Ripley was one of those employed to divide them and lay out a highway. 

In 1713 a new meeting house was built and Joshua Ripley with three others again arranged the seating, and two of them, Joshua Ripley and John Fitch, received "the chief seat in front." In 1725 Joshua Ripley was chosen one of the representatives of the brethren to act with the deacons, thus "forming one of the seven pillars," or counsellors, so dear to the early settlers, and the pastor was requested to consult with them "on all emergent occasions. 

The first court of pleas which met in Windham County was held at Windham Green. Joshua Ripley was justice of the quorum for Windham. Joshua Ripley Jr. was a juryman. Joshua Ripley at one time owned the iron works, but these were not remunerative, and were sold in 1 73 1. Joshua Ripley died after fifty years of active public life. It has been written of him "He was a man of sterling sense and sound judgment, widely known and respect," and "often called to public services in different parts of the colony." ~
Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts; by Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, b. 1848, joint ed, Vol IV

Next up, Hezekiah and Joshua II and the next generation.