[4] His earliest ancestor Ralph Wheelock arrived to Massachusetts Bay Colony from England around 1636 during the Great Migration.

Soldiers from the regiment took part in several battles, including York (in which Ripley was wounded),[4] Sacketts Harbor, Crysler's Farm.

Ripley was appointed to command the Second Brigade (which included the 21st Infantry) of Major General Jacob Brown's Left Division on the Niagara River.

[4] At the Battle of Lundy's Lane, Ripley's brigade captured and held the British guns until the American withdrawal.

However, he was blamed by Brown for losing the guns during the withdrawal and later demanded a court martial to clear his name.

As a result of this decision, Ripley owed the United States a sum of money that he had expended while serving as a Major General by brevet.