Ripley, Ezra, 1751-1841

Unitarian minister. A.B. Harvard, 1776. Installed as minister of the First Parish in Concord, Mass. in 1778. Remained minister there for 63 years, until his death in 1841.

Sermon delivered by Ripley--Unitarian clergyman, pastor of the First Church in Concord, Mass., step-grandfather of Ralph Waldo Emerson--on Nov. 16, 1828, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination.

Ripley was minister of the First Parish in Concord, Mass.

Ezra Ripley (1751-1841) was born in Woodstock, Connecticut. He graduated from Harvard College in 1776 and in 1778 he was ordained to the First Parish of Concord, Massachusetts, a position he held for the rest of his life. In 1780 he married Phebe Bliss Emerson, the widow of the parish's previous minister, William Emerson, and in turn, became step-grandfather to Ralph Waldo Emerson. He founded the Concord Lyceum and the Temperance Society in Concord. In 1828 he preached in the Congregational Meetinghouse of Washington, D.C., before President John Quincy Adams, his cabinet, and numerous members of Congress. He interviewed veterans of the 1775 battle with the British at Concord, and these interviews were published as History of the Fight at Concord in 1827.

Ezra Ripley (1751-1841) graduated from Harvard College in 1776. In 1778 he was ordained to the First Parish of Concord, Massachusetts, a position he held for the rest of his lifetime. He founded the Concord Lyceum and the Temperance Society in Concord. In 1828 he preached in the Congregational Meetinghouse of Washington, D.C., before President John Quincy Adams, his cabinet, and numerous members of Congress. He interviewed veterans of the 1775 battle with the British at Concord, and these interviews were published as History of the Fight at Concord in 1827.

Senior pastor of First Church in Concord, Mass.

Unitarian clergyman.

Unitarian clergyman; pastor of First Parish in Concord, Mass., 1778-1841; step-grandfather of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Born in Woodstock, Conn., 5/1/1751; died in Concord, 9/21/1841. Graduated from Harvard College 1776. Ordained & installed as pastor of First Parish 11/7/1778. On 11/16/1780, married Phebe (Bliss) Emerson, widow of William Emerson, Ripley's predecessor at First Parish. Living in Old Manse, the Ripleys had.

(Cont.) two sons & a daughter in addition to raising the children of Phebe & William Emerson. On 11/16/1828, the 50th anniversary of his ordination, Ripley delivered his Half century discourse, which was printed in 1829. Member of Concord's School Committee, founding member of Library Company in Concord (1784), member of Corinthian Lodge of Freemasons, temperance advocate, & agitator for erection by town of.

(Cont.) monument commemorating Battle of Concord. Ripley proposed placing monument near site of North Bridge & gave land on which to build it. Battle Monument was constructed in 1836 & dedicated in 1837.