James Wheelock Ripley (March 12, 1786 – June 17, 1835) was an American attorney and Jacksonian politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the Massachusetts House of Representatives during the 1800s.

James W. Ripley
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1814–1819
Member of the United States House of Representatives
from Maine's 5th district
In office
September 11, 1826 – March 12, 1830
Preceded byEnoch Lincoln
Succeeded byCornelius Holland
Personal details
Born(1786-03-12)March 12, 1786
Hanover, New Hampshire
DiedJune 17, 1835(1835-06-17) (aged 49)
Fryeburg, Maine
Resting placeVillage Cemetery, Fryeburg, Maine
Political partyJacksonian
SpouseAbigail Osgood
RelationsEleazar Wheelock Ripley
Alma materFryeburg Academy
ProfessionAttorney
Politician

Early life and career

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Ripley was born in Hanover, New Hampshire the son of Sylvanus Ripley and Abigail Wheelock Ripley. He attended the common schools and Fryeburg Academy, studied law and was admitted to the bar.[1] He began the practice of law in Fryeburg, Maine, (which was a part of Massachusetts until 1820).

He served in the War of 1812 and was elected a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, serving from 1814 to 1819.[2] He was elected from Maine to the Nineteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Enoch Lincoln. On the same day he was elected to the Twentieth Congress.[3] He was reelected to the Twenty-first Congress, serving in Congress from September 11, 1826, to March 12, 1830, when he resigned.

After leaving Congress, Ripley resumed the practice of law and was a collector of customs for the district of Passamaquoddy, Maine, from December 16, 1830, until his death in Fryeburg on June 17, 1835.[4] He is interred in the Village Cemetery in Fryesburg.

Personal life

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Ripley married Abigail Osgood, and they had eight children.[5] Ripley was the brother of Eleazar Wheelock Ripley, a brigadier general in the War of 1812 and a U. S. Representative from Louisiana.[6]

References

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  1. ^ United States Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1913. p. 957.
  2. ^ "Ripley, James W." Maine An Encyclopedia. 9 March 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  3. ^ "Ripley, James W." Maine An Encyclopedia. 9 March 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  4. ^ Cogswell, William (1846). The New Hampshire Repository, Volumes 1-2. Alfred Prescott. p. 112.
  5. ^ "James Wheelock Ripley". Ancestry.com. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  6. ^ Baylies, Nicholas (1890). Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, of the War of 1812. Brewster & Company. p. 12.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Vacant
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maine's 5th congressional district

1826–1830
Succeeded by
Vacant