Ruth May Tripp (1872–1934)

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Ruth May Tripp, 1890 New Bedford photo album — John O’Neil, photographer (New Bedford, Massachusetts), Ruth May Tripp, ca. 1890; privately held by the Faulkner-Hull Collection.

Ruth May Tripp was born on 6 January 1872 in Tiverton, Newport County, Rhode Island , the first child born to Abner Green Tripp and Hannah H. Gray.¹

[Open Endnotes in separate tab]

Ruth had three known siblings, all also born in Tiverton: Mary Brownell “Mamie” born on 26 April 1873, Walter Stanley born on 8 Oct 1875, and Elizabeth Sherman Tripp, born on 12 April 1878.² During Ruth’s childhood, she lived with her parents, siblings, and aunt Louise R. Gray, in Tiverton.³ Sadly, Ruth’s sister, Mamie, died in 1881 at the age of seven.⁴ Mamie is buried in Hillside Cemetery in Tiverton, Newport County, Rhode Island.⁵

The Tripp family moved to New Bedford in the 1880s, where Ruth attended Parker Street Grammar School, then New Bedford High School, graduating in 1890.⁶

Annual Report of the School Committee of the City of New Bedford, with the Superintendent’s Annual Report, for the Year 1889, (New Bedford : E. Anthony and Sons, 1890), p. 44-46, New Bedford High School Graduation Exercises, 27 June 1889. — *Annual Report of the School Committee of the City of New Bedford, with the Superintendent’s Annual Report, for the Year 1889*, (New Bedford : E. Anthony and Sons, 1890), p. 44-46, New Bedford High School Graduation Exercises, 27 June 1889.

“New Bedford High School Class of 1890”; photograph held by the New Bedford Free Public Library photograph collection, New Bedford, Massachusetts; published online at Digital Commonwealth Massachusetts Collection Online. — “New Bedford High School Class of 1890”; photograph held by the New Bedford Free Public Library photograph collection, New Bedford, Massachusetts; published online at *Digital Commonwealth Massachusetts Collection Online*.

Ruth’s mother, Hannah H. Gray Tripp, died on 24 Nov 1892 in New Bedford.⁷ Hannah is buried in Hillside Cemetery in Tiverton, Rhode Island.⁸

“Hannah H. Tripp,” funeral notice, The Evening Standard (New Bedford, Massachusetts), 25 Nov 1892, p. 4, col. 6. — “Hannah H. Tripp,” funeral notice, *The Evening Standard* (New Bedford, Massachusetts), 25 Nov 1892, p. 4, col. 6.

At the turn of the century, Ruth was working as a school teacher and living with her sister, Elizabeth, in New Bedford.⁹

In 1909, Ruth’s father, Abner, who had moved back to Rhode Island, married Alice Eldridge Kendrick in Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island.¹⁰ A few years later in 1912, Abner died just before Christmas in Tiverton.¹¹ Abner is also buried in Hillside Cemetery in Tiverton, Rhode Island.¹²

“Tiverton, Abner G. Tripp,” obituary, Fall River Globe (Fall River, Massachusetts), 18 Dec 1912, p. 8, col. 3. — “Tiverton, Abner G. Tripp,” obituary, *Fall River Globe* (Fall River, Massachusetts), 18 Dec 1912, p. 8, col. 3.

Ruth, who never married, lived in New Bedford and taught school her entire adult life.¹³ In August 1924, Ruth traveled to Bermuda, returning to New York about the S.S. Fort St. George.¹⁴

"Ocean Steamship Lines, Bermuda 8 Days $90," advertisement, The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 14 Aug 1924, p. 21, col. 4. — “Ocean Steamship Lines, Bermuda 8 Days $90,” advertisement, *The Boston Globe* (Boston, Massachusetts), 14 Aug 1924, p. 21, col. 4.

Ruth’s brother, Walter Stanley Tripp, died in 1931 in Weymouth, Norfolk County, and is buried in Hillside Cemetery in Tiverton, Rhode Island.¹⁵

Ruth May Tripp died at the age of 62 on 21 April 1934 in New Bedford.¹⁶ Ruth also is buried in the Tripp family plot in Hillside Cemetery in Tiverton, Rhode Island.¹⁷

"Miss Ruth Tripp," obituary, Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts), 22 Apr 1934, p. 22, col. 8. — “Miss Ruth Tripp,” obituary, *Boston Herald* (Boston, Massachusetts), 22 Apr 1934, p. 22, col. 8.

Elizabeth Sherman Tripp, the last survivor of the Tripp siblings, died in 1960 and is buried in the Tripp family plot in Hillside Cemetery in Tiverton, Rhode Island.¹⁸

Endnotes

1. State of Rhode Island, 1872 Births, Tiverton, Newport County, p. 126, Male [error] Tripp, 6 Jan 1872. 1st child born to parents. Place of birth: Tiverton, Rhode Island. Parents: Abner G. Tripp, age 24, and Hannah H. Gray, age 25, both born in Tiverton, Rhode Island. Father’s occupation: Carpenter.
Note: Birth record states child was male, believed to be an error. Census records indicate Ruth May Tripp was the 1st born child of Abner and Hannah Gray Tripp and that she was born in 1872 (1900: Jan 1872).

Full name of Ruth May Tripp is listed in Annual Report of the School Committee of the City of New Bedford, with the Superintendent’s Annual Report, for the Year 1890, (New Bedford : Mercury Publishing Company, 1891, p. 23, New Bedford High School Graduating Class of 1890, Ruth May Tripp.