Husband Samuel Allen Rippey 1
AKA: [Unk] Rippey 2
Born: 1767 - Shippensburg, Cumberland Co, PA 1
Christened:
Died: 1812 3
Buried: - Beulah Cemetery
Marriage: 16 May 1797 3
• Business: Rippey's Tavern: Wilkinsburg, Allegheny Co, PA.
Wife Sutia Stewart 1
AKA: Statira McNair,2 Sutiah Murry 4
Born: 7 Oct 1777 - Doyle's Mills, Juniata Co, PA 3
Christened:
Died: 2 Sep 1857 - ? Allegheny City, Allegheny Co, PA 5
Buried:
Father: Col. George Stewart (1736-Abt 1786) 6
Mother: Margaret Harris (Abt 1736-1815) 6
Other Spouse: Jeremiah Murry (Abt 1759-1835) 2 7 8 - 1820 3
Children
General Notes: Husband - Samuel Allen Rippey
He was a great-grandson of Hugh Rippey, who with two brothers, John and Johnston, and twelve other men founded in 1730, the first settlement west of the Susquehanna River, and named it Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The Rippey brothers opened a tavern which became distinguished and widely known under the name of The Branch Tavern. This house was maintained by the Rippey family through several generations.
He married and accompanied his brother-in-law, Robert Stewart, when he, with his family, emigrated west. Robert Stewart settled for a time in McNairstown and then moved to a part of Allegheny County, which was afterwards organized as Butler County. The Rippeys proceeded directly to that section and bought a tract of 200 acres; afterwards they increased their holdings by a purchase of 500 acres on Beaver Creek. Just when they moved to McNairstown is not known, nor why, but being to the manner born in tavern keeping, he availed himself of an opportunity to take over an establishment on the Great Road in McNairstown. Mr. Rippey did not give up his business of surveyor, however, as his bright, capable wife proved a helper of superior quality.
He died when only 45 years of age, and left a widow with seven children, ranging in age from one month to fourteen years.
General Notes: Wife - Sutia Stewart
Six of the Rippey children died before 1835, and the remaining one shortly afterwards. Only one of her children married; he had but one child who died in early childhood. Sutia often said of herself that she was left like a solitary tree stripped of every leaf and branch. She survived her last brother 21 years and her husband Jeremiah 22 years.
Squire Murry was a man of considerable wealth. He made a will in 1833, two years before his death, in his own handwriting, but it was neither dated nor signed. In it he declares himself to be "of sound disposing mind and memory" and the document was said to be a model will, but as Sutia's widow's rights were contravened by it, she contested its validity. The case came up before the Common Pleas Court of Westmoreland County, and afterwards, on appeal, before the Supreme Court of the state of Pennsylvania. Both decided in her favor, and against the validity of the will. The chief ground for the decision was that from the wording of the document, it was evident that the testator's intention was not fully expressed. The Court's decision resulted in Sutia Murry obtaining a yearly dowry that enabled her to live comfortably the remainder of her days and also to accumulate some property. After Mr. Murry's death she departed from the substantial brick house in Murrysville. In later life she made her home in Allegheny City with a favorite nephew, John Harris Stewart.