Ripley, Sarah Alden, 1793-1867

Sarah Alden Bradford Ripley was born on July 31, 1793, in Boston, the daughter of Gamaliel Bradford III and Elizabeth Hickling Bradford. She was the oldest of nine children and, as her mother's health was poor, was largely responsible for her siblings' upbringing. Though the family lived in Boston, Sarah spent much time in Duxbury, where her grandfather Bradford lived and where she formed a lifelong friendship with Abba B. Allyn (later married to Convers Francis, brother of Lydia Maria Francis Child). Abba's father, Dr. John Allyn, taught both girls Latin and Greek; another instructor of Sarah's was a Mr. Cummings in Boston, but much of her store of knowledge of the classics, modern languages, philosophy, botany, chemistry and astronomy she acquired on her own.

In 1810-1811 the family lived in Duxbury for a year; in 1813 they moved to Charlestown, where Gamaliel Bradford was warden of Charlestown State Prison.

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