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Ripley papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0101

Scope and Contents Note

This collection contains financial, legal, and personal documents for several families tied to Ripley.

This collection is arranged into eight Series: Boardley family papers; Brown family papers; Miscellaneous; William Skinner papers; Smyth family papers; Alpheus Wheelock papers; Abraham Woodland papers; and James Woodland papers.

Dates

  • Creation: 1659-1938

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Publication rights

Copyright has not been assigned to Washington College. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Washington College as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical Information

Ripley in Church Hill, Maryland, has been part of the Brown/Bordley family since the late 17th century. One of the first Browns in Queen Anne’s County was James Brown (approx. 1690-1756). Both he and his son, Joel Brown (approx. 1735-1878), were farmers. Lt. Col. James Brown (1767-1822) fought in the War of 1812 and helped expand the family’s land holdings. He married Elizabeth Hackett (1779-1796), and they had a son, John Brown (1793-1822). John married Eliza G. Bonsal (1799-1859) and had a child, James Brown (1838-1926). His daughter, Helen, married Madison Bordley and continued to run the farm named “Ripley.” The farm remains in the family. The Bordley family has also been in Chestertown since Thomas Bordley (1682-1726) emigrated from England in 1694 to join his brother, Rev. Stephan Bordley. Several Bordleys are alumni of Washington College.

Extent

2.56 Cubic Feet (4 boxes, 2 os folders, 1 volume)

Language of Materials

English

Physical and technical access restrictions

None.

Custodial History

Papers were in the possession of the family, they were then purchased, along with the Commodore Collection, from Dixon's Auction House in Crumpton.

Acquisition information

Purchased, 2020.

Related Materials

Materials related to African Americans are located in MS 0102, The Commodore Collection.

Title
Finding Aid to the Ripley Papers
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Washington College Archives & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown MD 21620