Very little information is available regarding the Rippey saw mill. The history of the Rippey family can be told, and in it, fragments of the history of the saw mill are revealed.

The Rippey saw mill was located about two miles south of Gerrardstown on a tributary of Mill Creek. It was furthest upstream of all the Mill Creek mills. The dam for the mill was located where the present highway crosses Mill Creek about three miles south of Gerrardstown. From this dam, the water flowed through a mile long mill race to the mill site. An oddity of this race is that apparently it began on the west side of Mill Creek, crossed over Mill Creek via a wooden aqueduct-like structure, and continued its course to the mill site on the east side of Mill Creek. The mill race is plainly visible to this day; a few stones mark the foundation of the old saw mill.

Undoubtedly, the Rippey saw mill was seasonal in operation; only in spring could there be sufficient water in this tributary of Mill Creek to turn a mill wheel.

The Rippeys were prominent Presbyterians so they quite likely were of Scotch-Irish extraction. When they came to Berkeley County is not known, but Mathew Rippey (Sr.) was one of the original elders of the old Cool Spring Presbyterian Church, which was built in 1764, and became the Gerrardstown Presbyterian Church in 1793. Mathew Rippey Sr. was born in 1738 and died in 1822, and is buried at Gerrardstown Presbyterian Cemetery. Mathew Rippey Sr. was also one of the first elders of the Gerrardstown Presbyterian Church.

Berkeley County land records indicate the land on which the saw mill stood was devised by deed to a Joseph Rippey in 1761, and devised to Mathew Rippey Sr. by will of Joseph Rippey (Berkeley County Deed Book 20, page 212). Mathew Rippey Sr. died in 1822 and his son Mathew Rippey Jr. owned the land till his death in 1838. When Mathew Rippey Jr. died, he willed that all his property be sold by his executor, Ebenezer Coe. The property was advertised as follows in the Martinsburg Gazette of August 22, 1838, and were it not for this sale advertisement, no written record of a saw mill would be available (with the exception of the saw mill's notation on the 1847 map).

Public Sale

At the late residence of Mathew Rippey near Gerrardstown, all property of said deceased - 10-12 horses, 10-12 milch cows, 60-70 sheep, large lot of hogs, Wagon which is strong and but little worn. Oats, rye, and corn in the ground.

Farm contains upwards of 400 acres, a branch of Mill Creek runs through it. A good proportion of the farm is excellent plough land, well adapted to the culture of wheat, corn, or any other crop usually grown in this section of the country - fruit trees, a dwelling house, a barn nearly new, a saw mill, and other necessary and convenient out buildings.

Nothing else can be learned of this saw mill, Rebecca Rippey, the daughter of Mathew Rippey Sr., owned the land until her death in 1847, whereupon it was purchased by Washington Gold. Turner Pitzer later owned it, and the property presently is owned by Granville Shirley.

Mr. Shirley states that the old Rippey home was on the east side of Mill Creek. It was a two-story log house and was torn down some time ago. There are two old houses presently on the property, a large brick house, apparently built by Washington Gold after 1847, and a small log house near it, which was built in the mid-18th century.

The one and half story log cabin was built in 1761 by Joseph Rippey on a 310 acre tract of land that Joseph Rippey had purchased from John Bozeoth August 4, 1761. The 200 acre tract of land had been granted by Lord Fairfax April 5, 1755 to John Bozeoth. The land was surveyed for Bozeoth October 10, 1751 (see survey plat). There is a site of an early double log house cabin on this property which was torn down several years ago, which may have been the early Bozeoth house.

Joseph Rippey died in February 1774. He left to his wife Ellen Rippey for her natural life "my present dwelling house, and one half of my land and plantation whereon I now live" also a Negro man named Tom and my Negro woman called Hannah, 2 horses and what other live stock she wanted. "to my beloved son Mathew Rippey, the one half of all that tract or parcel of land and plantation whereon he now lives." Son Mathew was to receive the other half of the plantation after the decease of Ellen Rippey. The will proves that there were two separate houses on the plantation when Joseph Rippey died. Two sons-in-law, Samuel Parks and John Snodgrass, were named in the will. (WB 1, p. 25).

Plantation sale notices in old newspapers have indicated that Berkeley County plantation owners irrigated their land. The following is a copy of an agreement in the possession of Virginia Gold between Thomas Faulkner and Mathew Rippey which proves that irrigation was in use in Berkeley County in 1799.

On March 6, 1822, Matthew Rippey gave a Deed of Trust on the plantation that he had inherited from his father Joseph Rippey to Samuel K. Wilson and John Park, to secure the sum of $1,706.80 with interest, that he owed William Wilson of Prospect Hill. Previous to this date, on the 14th of July 1809, Matthew Rippey wrote his will. He left sons David Rippey, John Rippey, Joseph Rippey and Samuel Rippey money; to daughter Sarah Lowry's heirs money; daughter Mary Reed's heirs money; daughter Jane Lowry money. To daughter Betsy a bed and bedding; to daughter Nancy a negro, horse, saddle, two cows, bed and bedding and a chest of drawers and the same to daughter Rebecca. Note that all three of the last named daughters were unmarried. To son Matthew Rippey, Jr. the rest of his estate which included the 210 acre plantation.

The same day Matthew Rippey, Sr. gave the Deed of Trust on his plantation (March 6, 1822) he added a codicil to his will stating that the Deed of Trust should not be construed as a revocation of his will. He had added a supplement to his will in 1817 stating there should be an equal division of all household and kitchen furnishings between his daughter Rebecca and son Matthew Rippey (WB 6, p. 468). The following is a list of the Matthew Rippey children and their marriages:

Mathew Rippey, Sr. signed the Petition of Dissenters of the Tuscarora Congregation in 1776 (see Berkeley Journal Issue 2, page 28-29). The Rippeys were members of the Gerrardstown congregation. Matthew Rippey furnished supplies during the Revolutionary War (West Virginia Revolutionary Ancestors by Anne Waller Reddy, page 67).

In May 1835 Matthew Rippey, Jr. died and left a will devising to his sister Nancy Sank $200.00. All his personal property and real estate were to be sold with all the money from the sale of his estate to sister Rebecca Rippey (WB 12, p. 430). Both personal property and real estate of Matthew Rippey, Jr. were offered for sale by Ebenezer Coe who had qualified as executor of the estate. The following advertisement appeared in The Martinsburg Gazette, August 22, 1838

The Farm, late the property of Matthew Rippy dec'd, will be exposed for sale on Tuesday the 18th day of September next. This farm is situated in the vicinity of Gerardstown, Berkeley County, Va., and contains upwards of

400 ACRES,

from 70 to 90 of which is well clothed with fine thrifty timber, pleasant, and healthy. A branch of Mill Creek runs through the farm, which is also otherwise well watered, there being, besides a large spring of pure limestone water at the dwelling house several springs of never failing water in the.

The land is at present in a good state of cultivation, and the fields well set in grass. A good proportion is excellent plow land, well adapted to the culture of wheat, corn, or any other crop usually grown in this section of the country. The farm is also well adapted to the raising of Stock, having fine extensive meadow ground, while a portion of the land is well calculated for grazing. The FRUIT TREES ARE mostly young and thrifty, and seldom fail of producing as abundant supply and considerable variety of choice fruit. The improvements are, a comfortable and convenient DWELLING HOUSE, a Barn, Nearly New, a SAW MILL, and other necessary and convenient Out Buildings.

Terms will be accommodating and made known on the day of sale.

Any person desirous of viewing the property can apply to Rebecca Rippey, living on the premises, or to the Executor, residing in Gerrardstown - Title indisputable.

On the same day, commencing at an early hours, will be sold, all the PERSONAL PROPERTY of said deceased. For particulars, see a separate advertisement in the Charlestown Free Press, and the Winchester Republican. The Farm will be offered early in the day.

Garardstown, August 22, 1838

Will be sold at public auction on TUESDAY, the 18th of September next, at the late residence of Matthew Rippey dec'd, near Garardstown, Berkeley county, Va., all the personal property of the said deceased. The stock is valuable, in good condition, and well worthy the attention of those wishing to purchase. It consists of 10 or 12 head of HORSES, Ten or Twelve head of prime MILCH COWS, a number of Young Cattle, some of which are fit for the butcher; 60 or 70 SHEEP, among which are a number of

and a large lot of HOGS of different sizes. The Farming Utensils embrace all in general use on a farm. The wagon is strong and but little worn. Also a lot of Household and Kitchen Furniture; a quantity of Oats, Rye, and Corn by the bushel, ant the present growing crop of corn on the ground; a lot of good wool; a quantity of prime Hay, well secured in the Barn, several Hives of Bees, and various other articles.

Terms. - The Grain will be sold for Cash. On all other sales a credit of nine months will be given on all sums of $5. and upwards, the purchaser giving bond and approved security; under that sum, Cash on the day of sale.

Sale to commence at 9 o'clock A.M.

Garardstown, Aug. 22, 1838

The Rippey plantation was not sold but kept by Rebecca Rippey. In January 1847 Rebecca Rippey brought a suit in Chancery against the executor of William Wilson and the heirs of Samuel K. Wilson and John Park's trustees. It was stated that Dr. Ebenezer Coe had paid off the old Deed of Trust to John Park Wilson of Cumberland Co., Va., executor of William Wilson. Both trustees in the 1822 deed were deceased. The heirs of Samuel K. Wilson were James Wilson, Washington Tabb and Mary his wife and the widow Mary Wilson who were all non-residents of the State. The heirs of trustee John Park were Samuel Park, John Park and Mary Park. Object of the court suit was to obtain a release on the Deed of Trust and recovery of the land (Old Chancery Case No. 687, Rebecca Rippey vs John P. Wilson).

Special Commissioner David Holmes Conrad gave a new deed on the plantation to Rebecca Rippey (DB 51, p. 108). After the death of Zacharia Sanks, his widow Nancy Sanks, returned to Berkeley County and resided with her sister Rebecca Rippey. When she died in 1846 she left everything to her sister Rebecca Rippey (WB 15, p. 197). Rebecca Rippey died in 1847. She appointed Dr. Ebenezer Coe her executor and directed that all real estate and personal property be sold. She made the following bequests: to Rev. David Lowry $1,000.; to grand nephew Lewis Oler Lowery $200.00; to Elizabeth Jane and Samuel Reed children of deceased Mary Reed $200.00; to sister Elizabeth Hoge $1,000.00; to her daughter Tebecca S. McIntire and Nancy R. Hoge $200.00 each; to Matilda Lloyd and Margaret R. Hickman also daughters of Elizabeth Hoge $150.00 each; to John Rippey son of deceased brother John Rippey $600.00. Everything else went to the Winchester Old School Presbyterian Church (WB 15, p. 415).