THOMAS RIPPER (c1600-1661)

Thomas Ripper of Crohall or Crawle was born about 1600, probably in the small cottage on the tenement that was farmed by his father, John. John Ripper had married Constance Squire in Breage church on 29th January 1586/7 and obtained the lease of Crawle around the same time and this was to become their family home. John and Constance had at least six children and Thomas was probably the fourth child but their first son.

Thomas' line of descent comes from William Ripper, the eldest of the three sons shown in the family structure. on the "history of the Surname" page on this website. William was a miner at the Polladras mine as evidenced on the mine accounts dated 1590. It would be usual for the mining activity to be passed from father to son and it is likely, therefore, that Thomas inherited the tin mine and workings.

When John died in 1612 the family remained at Crawle which was farmed under the control of Constance until here death in 1632. Thomas, as the eldest son, inherited the occupation of Crawle. Thomas was listed as a tenant in 1640 and took on various roles within the manor. It was customary for roles such as reeve or viewer of repairs within the manor to be rotated amongst the tenants, according to the control of the lord of the manor. At this time it was the influential Arundell family that held the manor of Carminow, of which Crawle formed a part.

"In the name of God Amen I Thomas Ripper of the parish of Breague within the County of Cornwall yeoman do in Consideration of my mortality make this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following.
"First I commend my soule unto the hands of my blessed saviour Jesus Christ who hath redeemed itt with his precious blood and my body to Christian burial
"Item I give and bequeath unto the poore of the parish of Breague Forty shillings
Item I give unto Edward Ripper my eldest sonne the Table board which is in the Hall of my dwelling house
"Item I give unto every child of my said sonne Edward the summe of twenty shillings
"Item all the rest of my goods and chattels mouvable and immouvable with all my bounds of Tin and Tin works and all things thereunto belonging or in anywise appurtaining I give and grant unto Daniell Ripper my sonne who I make and ordayne to be my full whole and Lawfull Executor of this my last will and Testament
"Item I do reclaim recall and utterly disallow all former wills by me att any time formerly made in Testimony whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale yeoman the twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and sixty one.
"The sign of Thomas Ripper
Signed and sealed in presence of
Rich. Fowler
William Christopher signe
Dextar Christopher signe"

The reverse of the will has four separate notations:

• The cover of the will, written on the back after it had been folded ready for filing, reads "Breague; Marti 1661; Testatum Ripper dec[essit] p[ro]bad etc", signifying that probate had been granted.
• On another part of the back of the will it states "Tho Ripper Will".
• A third notation says "A Copie of Thomas Rippers will of the p[ar]ish of Breage deceased".
• The fourth notation is the address "To the hono[ur]ed John Seyntaubin Esqr att his St Michaells mount". This is signed but the signature is unreadable but includes "humbly" and perhaps "s[er]vant".

The St Aubyn family were local landed gentry and lived on St Michael's Mount. It would have been usual for a person of this status to have authority at a Stannary Court.

The following letter accompanies the will and would seem to be addressed to:

"John Seyntaubin Esq: 12th February 1678
"Honourable Sir
"According to your order I have sent you a true coppy of the will of Thomas Ripper, with an abstract of the p[ro]bate, which I have examined by the record. I humbly begge your leave to subscribe my selfe as I really am
"Honorable Sir
"your devoted and humble servant
"John Anstis"

An additional document accompanies the will:

"Dated the 22th of June 1683
"Whereas John Anstis Register of the Archdeaconry of Cornwall at the speciall instance and request of Mr William Lampeere hath delivered into my hands the originall will of Thomas Ripper late of the p[ar]ish of Breague dec[ease]d to be made use of for evidence att a tryall in the Stannary Court of Penwith & Kirrier on the behalf of John Seyntaubin Esq I doe hereby p[ro]mise to redeliver unto the s[ai]d John Anstis the s[ai]d original will safe and uncancelled on the 6th day of July next.
"Witness my hand
"Wm Lampeere
"witnessed by Roger Landrye
"Lewis Kendall"

At the foot of the will there is this piece of writing in Latin which appears to be in a hand similar to that which wrote the address on the front page. This is a record of the grant of probate by the Archdeaconry of Cornwall to Daniel Ripper, the son of the Thomas Ripper who was nominated as the executor to the estate:

Testatum ... probata ... Curia Archinals Cornubrie 4th die monsis Marty 1661. ... Daniel Ripper filio ... executor ... nominat primitas

This will and appertaining documents do not mention Crawle by name but do refer to Thomas' two sons, Edward and Daniel.