Robin Willis, Author at Digging Up Dead Relatives:

Genealogy 101: a Primer on Legal Stuff Every Family History Researcher Needs to Know

This morning, a friend asked a legal question about a recent post of mine. Her question made it obvious that I had failed properly to explain a legal issue affecting a family history analysis. It seems I have a bad habit of throwing around legal terms and principles as though they are familiar to everyone, which is both unfair and thoughtless.

To help remedy that, here is a short and sweet primer of legal stuff that every family history researcher needs to know. My emphasis is on law prior to the twentieth century. Some of these concepts don’t lend themselves to a prose discussion that flows logically from point to point. In those cases, I have simply provided a list of terms with explanations. In other cases, I have carried on as usual.

Disclaimer #1: every colony (and then state) passed its own laws, so the law was not the same in every colony/state. We are talking general concepts here.

Disclaimer #2: I am not going to use the cumbersome “his or her” in this discussion, at least not with respect to laws concerning estates. For my reason why, let’s start with a discussion of women’s legal status prior, for the most part, to the twentieth century.

Laws Concerning Women

Here’s a real golden oldie: the concept of coverture. That refers to the condition or state of a married woman or, alternatively, the legal “disabilities” that attached to a married woman. A single woman had some legal rights: she could own property, enter into a contract, and sue/be sued in her own name.

The “disabilities” of a married woman, on the other hand, were total; states only gradually removed these legal disabilities. The bottom line: a married woman had no legal existence whatsoever apart from her husband. Property ownership? Are you kidding? Absent a prenuptial agreement, anything a woman owned prior to marriage became her husband’s property the moment she said “I do.” If she inherited something while married, it immediately became her husband’s property. If a woman inherited something from, say, her father, the phrase generally used in the records was that the husband owned it “in right of his wife.”

Having no legal existence, a married woman could not sue or be sued in her own behalf. Her husband had to be named as a party. For example, if there was a lawsuit concerning the estate of a married woman’s father, the list of parties would usually include the names of all her brothers (although not the names of the brothers’ wives) and the names of all her sisters (and the names of their husbands). Knowing this sometines helps to sort out the relationships among parties in lawsuits concerning estates.

Moreover, since a married woman had no legal existence apart from her husband, she had no right to enter a contract on her own. A bid at an auction is an offer to enter into a contract to purchase the item being auctioned. When the auctioneer knocks off an item to a bidder, he is accepting the bidder’s offer; a contract of sale and purchase is formed when the hammer comes down.

Consequently, if you see a woman’s name listed as a buyer at an estate sale through (roughly) the entire 1800s, you can rest assured that she was an unmarried woman or a widow.

Dower right: the right of a widow to a life estate in the real property (land) of her husband who died without a will. Keep in mind here: when someone leaves a valid will, the will governs. Absent a will, the law provides the rules. Usually, a widow’s dower right was to one-third of the husband’s land. When you see an entry in a court record or a deed book stating that a woman was “privily examined” regarding her husband’s sale of some of his land, that means she had formally acknowledged her agreement to the sale (even though she had no right to convey land herself). She was thereafter precluded from asserting any dower right to that particular tract of land. This was, of course, to protect the buyer – not the wife.

A widow’s dower right was a life estate, only during her lifetine – i.e., her ownership interest ended the instant she died. After the widow died, ownership of the land passed to the husband’s heirs according to the colony’s (or state’s) laws of intestate descent and distribution if he died without a will. See discussion of laws concerning estates, below.

Some colonies (I’m thinking Virginia) at one time gave a married woman a right to disavow her husband’s will if he devised to her less than the dower life estate allotted by law. So you will see records in which a widow accepts or rejects such a will. If she rejected it, then she received the jurisdiction’s dower allotment.

Many colonial and 19^th-century men who left a will devised to his wife all or some portion of his land “for life or until she remarries” — not wanting his property to fall into the hands of a new husband. Occasionally, although not very often, one finds an eighteenth or nineteenth century will in which a man left everything to his wife to “dispose of as she chooses,” which did not limit her ownership in any way. I am always tickled pink to be descended from one of those enlightened gentlemen. There weren’t very many.

Laws Concerning Estates

Here it is more straightforward to begin by listing a few definitions.

Estate: property of whatever kind that is owned by someone who has died. “Real property” means land and any improvements – houses, orchards, whatever. “Personal property” means everything else. When an estate inventory was taken, only personal property was listed – not real property. Likewise, a record of a sale of a decedent’s estate typically included only personal property. Under the English common law, adopted by all the colonies, real property – land, the source of all wealth prior to the industrial revolution – had a special place in estate distributions. [Note: once tobacco became the cash crop in Virginia, land – which was absurdly cheap, a way to attract immigration – wasn’t nearly as valuable as the people who worked it. Enter slavery, an institution which might not have become the colonial norm but for tobacco.]

Probate: matters and proceedings pertaining to estates. Used as a verb, as in “to probate a will,” it generally means to present a will and prove it to a court. An estate was probated in the county where the decedent resided. Still is, at least in Texas.

Testator: a person who has left a will. When a decedent leaves a valid will, the estate is distributed in accordance with the wishes of the testator as expressed in the will. Of course, there was no need to name all one’s children in a will. Frequently, colonial men “provided for” their children as they came of age or married with gifts of cash, land, or other property. The ones already “provided for” might not be mentioned at all in a will, or might be left a token gift, such as a shilling. This was not because Dad was cheap, or didn’t like the child who received one shilling (although that happened, too). It was just to prevent a challenge to the will based on the theory that, hey, I was his child, too, and he just forgot to mention me! He must have been unduly influenced … or non compos mentis …

Executor or executrix: a man or woman (sometimes more than one) named by a testator in his or her will to handle the matters of the estate in accordance with the will.

Intestate: a person who dies without leaving a will. In genealogy, it is often better (especially if there are good estate records for the county) to find an intestate among your ancestors than an ancestor who left a will. As noted above, there is no need to name all one’s children in a will. The distribution of an intestate’s estate, however, went to all his “heirs at law” according to the “laws of intestate descent and distribution,” see below. There was therefore potentially a great deal more information to be obtained from a distribution of an intestate’s estate than a testator’s estate.

Administrator or administratrix: a person appointed by the court to handle estate matters of an intestate decedent. Usually, an administrator/trix was a member of the intestate decedent’s family – wife, father, son – who applied for “letters of administration.”

Laws of intestate descent and distribution: let’s call it “law of intestate distribution” for short. This refers to either statutory law (rules passed by a legislature) or common law (principles estabished by common usage and court decisions) governing the distribution of the estate of an intestate decedent.

This is where the law gets really fun as it applies to genealogical research. Remember, every state had its own laws governing the distribution of an intestate’s estate … so there are no hard and fast rules. However, the old English principle of primogeniture – the rule that the eldest son inherited everything – didn’t have much application in its purest form in the colonies, so far as I have seen. Makes sense, because the colonies were populated by, inter alia, some of those younger sons who didn’t inherit.

Some colonies had variations on the notion that the eldest male was entitled to a greater share than other heirs, sometimes with different rules regarding who received how much real property versus personal property. If you are dealing with an intestate distribution, check the applicable law.

Most states passed intestate distribution laws that required a division of an estate between all of the intestate decedent’s heirs. You may have seen the phrase “heirs at law” in court or probate records. That means persons who inherit a decedent’s estate under the laws of intestate distribution. “Heirs at law” are different than “beneficiaries,” who inherit under a will. Be aware that colonial clerks of court did not always make such fine distinctions.

As a general rule, all of a man’s children were his heirs at law. If a child had predeceased his father, then any of his or her children – grandchildren of the intestate decedent – were heirs. If a man had no children, then his parents and his siblings were his heirs. (Reminder: every state has variations). All of these heirs will be named in the distribution of the estate, if you are lucky enough to have those estate records survive. FYI: there are virtually no abstracts of detailed estate records. You have to go to the county courthouse (or wherever the county keeps probate records), or the state archives, or to film available from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City to get those records. If you are a serious family history researcher, those records are well worth it.

Sometimes there are lawsuits concerning an estate, which are (believe it or not) even better. Frequently, an administrator of an estate wanted to sell some land in order to pay debts, or because one of the heirs wanted his money, or because there wasn’t enough land to divide among 13 children in decently-sized tracts. An administrator had to ask the court for permission to sell an intestate’s land, and he had to join all of the heirs – each of whom had an interest in the land (or its proceeds) – as parties to a lawsuit. You will occasionally see lawsuits in such circumstances in which an administrator sues a widow and her children. Those aren’t necessarily unfriendly lawsuits; they were just what the law required to make sure everything was kosher.

Those lawsuits nearly always recited whether any heirs were underage, because any underage children had to be represented by a guardian or guardian ad litem (meaning guardian “for the day,” or for the purpose of the lawsuit). Petitions (or complaints, depending on the jurisdiction) also recited the locations of adult children who may have moved away, because due process requires that all parties to a lawsuit be given notice that they have been sued.

I now see that I have passed 2,000 words, which is more than enough for any one article. So let’s rate this as a “to be continued.” I will make notes of legal issues as they occur to me and will post another article like this when it seems worthwhile.

Shalom!

Part 3 of 5: James Trice of Caroline Co., VA, b. by 1712, d. Orange Co., NC by 1789

This post doesn’t really deal with James Trice of Caroline/Orange, notwithstanding the title. Rather, it concerns the line of James Trice of King William County, VA, whose estate was appraised there in 1769. Two Louisa County chancery court files in the Library of Virginia contain documents about a dispute among two grandsons of James Trice of King William. I relied on evidence from those files in Part 2 of this Trice series, which did deal with James Trice of Caroline/Orange. I also promised to provide abstracts of these files.

This article contains two things: (1) a summary of the Louisa County chancery court dispute and (2) abstracts of the documents contained in the two files, indexed by the Library of Virginia as Louisa County #1804-006 and #1804-011.

The chancery files contain some duplication; I did not abstract any document twice. I have omitted many documents that do not appear to have useful genealogical information concerning the Trice family. I also omitted lists of items in estate inventories. There are several in those 2 files, including the estates of William Anderson (Dorothy Dabney Anderson Trice’s first husband), James Trice of King William (Dorothy’s second husband), and Dabney Anderson (a son of Dorothy and William Anderson and a stepson of James Trice). You know where to find them if you’re interested in details: see links provided in Part 2. Finally, I’ve also omitted most of the testimony and allegations in pleadings specifically concerning the slaves at issue in the two cases – Bess and her son Dick. I may have omitted some relevant documents. There are 116 pages in the two files, some of which are written in an almost incomprehensible hand. Attorneys also succumb to MEGO.

I have numbered and titled the documents, see below, although they are neither numbered nor titled in the actual Library of Virginia files. These are therefore my own numbers and descriptions. My comments are in italics and do NOT reflect what is in the actual file – the italicized comments contain my own clarifications or conclusions.

Summary of the cases

The dispute concerns the ownership of a slave named Dick, who was the son of a slave named Bess. Dick was convicted of a felony in Hanover County and hanged. Under the colonial law of Virginia, if a slave was executed by the state, Virginia compensated the owner for his or her value. Learning this set me on my heels, since I still recoil whenever I see something involving the equation “human = property.” That’s the way it was, America’s original sin.

The court cases divide into two procedural parts. First, William Trice, son of John Trice and grandson of James Trice of King William, sued Charles Crenshaw in Charles’ capacity as executor of his father, Joseph Crenshaw. Joseph had been the administrator of the estate of James Trice, who was Joseph’s father-in-law. The parties to these cases – William Trice and Charles Crenshaw – were first cousins, both being grandsons of James Trice and his wife Dorothy Dabney Anderson Trice.

William apparently filed his claim in 1799, or perhaps late 1788. William sought an accounting of the estate of James Trice from Charles, saying that he (William) hadn’t received his share of the estate. Charles responded that the claim was old and stale and should be dismissed, an equitable defense known as “laches.” William won, and the court ordered an accounting of James Trice’s estate.

Sometime after that, Charles turned up what appeared to be new evidence (it was, it just turned out not to be relevant). He asked that the earlier order be set aside and the case reheard. Charles also filed a cross-claim against William, saying that William had received more than his fair share of James Trice’s estate. The court allowed a rehearing, and the case was tried. William Trice won, and the court ordered an accounting of the estate of James Trice, with the entire value of Dick (plus interest) to be credited in William Trice’s favor.

The archivists at the Library of Virginia created two files for these cases, one reflecting William Trice’s original claim and the other reflecting Charles Crenshaw’s cross-claim. As a practical matter, the two cases concern a single dispute and set of facts, and one needs to review both files to get the entire story.

Here is a summary of the general facts.

In 1720, Dorothy Dabney Anderson, widow of William Anderson, deeded a slave named Bess to her son William Anderson, a minor. The deed provided that ownership of Bess would revert to Dorothy if William died without issue and Dorothy were still alive. William did die as a child, with no children of his own. Ownership of Bess thus reverted to Dorothy.

Dorothy married secondly James Trice of King William County. James apparently did not consider Bess or her children to be his property in fee simple, although that would have been the case under colonial Virginia law. In a lawsuit after Dorothy died, James claimed only a life estate in Bess and her issue. James apparently considered them the property of Dabney Anderson – the only other son of William and Dorothy Anderson, presumably with ownership to revert to Dabney after the expiration of James’ life estate.

Dabney Anderson must also have thought the slaves were his, because he devised them in his will to his stepbrother John Trice. John Trice died intestate. William Trice was John’s only child, so William inherited John’s entire estate. James Trice, Dabney’s executor and the administrator of John Trice, apparently considered the slaves William’s property, as he reportedly said at one point that he wished William would come get his slaves.

William Trice based his claim for Bess’s child Dick (or his value as determined in the wisdom of the Colony of Virginia) on (1) Dabney Anderson’s devise of Bess to John Trice in Dabney’s will and (2) William’s inheritance of all of his father John’s estate. Charles, bless his heart, threw lots of factual issues at the court – e.g., Bess wasn’t listed in the inventory of James Trice’s estate, nor was she listed in the inventory of Dabney’s estate, and other matters, all to no avail. He lost. When the facts are on your side, pound the law; when the law is on your side, pound the facts; when neither is on your side, pound the table. Charles Crenshaw was in the unenviable position of having neither the facts nor the law on his side.

With that introduction, here are the abstracts. They contain more genealogical information than included in the above summary.

File # 1804-006

Cross-complaint of Charles Crenshaw dated April 1802?

Charles Crenshaw was the executor of the will of Joseph Crenshaw.
Slave Bess was a gift (sic, a devise in a will) from Dabney Anderson (son of Dorothy Dabney Anderson and William Anderson) to John Trice (son of Dorothy Dabney Anderson Trice and James Trice).
There is a gift deed in King William Co. by Dorothy Anderson giving Bess to her son William Anderson. However, if William died without children, and Dorothy was still alive, then Bess reverted to Dorothy. Deed dated 15 Feb 1720.
William Anderson died without children in Dorothy’s lifetime.
Asserts that William Trice (named as defendant) has received more than his just share from the estate of James Trice.
Joseph Crenshaw married the sister of John Trice. Plaintiff Charles Crenshaw, “in right of Joseph, being entitled to one moiety thereof” (e., one half of the estate of James Trice), because “the said James Trice, the father of them both (i.e., both John Trice and Joseph Crenshaw’s wife) died intestate.”
Seeks an accounting of James Trice’s estate.

Deposition of Henry Edwards and wife Mary Edwards dated 14 Sep 1802.

John Trice died at less than twenty years old. Summary of this deposition in the other case says that he died less than age 21.
James Trice was John Trice’s father.
William Trice of Louisa County was a son of Mary Edwards and John Trice. William was their only child. Mary LNU Trice remarried to Henry Edwards after her husband John Trice died.
Mary Trice is age 77. She met James Trice when she was 9. Some researchers believe that Mary was probably nèe Anderson, a daughter of William and Dorothy Dabney Anderson. For what it’s worth, I agree.
Henry Edwards (Mary’s husband) was guardian of William Trice. Henry once sued James Trice on William’s behalf in a dispute concerning slaves. Henry did not recover Bess, because James Trice prevailed on his claim that he owned a life estate in Bess.
James Trice’s wife had died before that suit.
Joseph Crenshaw was the administrator of James Trice when James died.
Bess, the slave into dispute, came into the estate of James Trice by virtue of his marriage to Dorothy Anderson.

Deposition of Susanna Crenshaw, 28 Oct 1802.

Dorothy Anderson who married James Trice was living in King William County about December 1742.

Appraisal of the estate of James Trice, dec’d, dated 22 Feb 1769 and recorded in King William Co., April 1769.

Appraisers were Thomas Crenshaw, George Dabney Jr., and Thomas Baker.

Answer of Defendant William Trice to Charles Crenshaw’s Cross-Complaint dated 11 May 1802.

Admits to 1720 gift deed of a slave from Dorothy Anderson to William Anderson and that William Anderson died without issue.
James Trice married Dorothy Anderson and took possession of the slave during his life.
About five years before William Trice was born, Dabney Anderson died leaving a will that was proved in Caroline County, James Trice, executor. Dabney Anderson’s will was presented for probate by the executor James Trice (Dabney’s stepfather) on 13 Feb. 1735/36, see Caroline Co. Order Book 1732-40 at 319.
Dabney Anderson’s will devised a slave to John Trice, the son of James Trice.
William Trice is the only child of John Trice, who died intestate at less than age 21.

Gift deed dated 15 Feb 1720.

Deed signed by Dorothy D. Anderson, widow of William Anderson, dec’d, of St. Johns Parish, King William County.
Gift of slave to son William Anderson, a minor.
If William dies without issue and Dorothy survives him, then the slave reverts to Dorothy.

Deposition of Dorothy Hicks in Albemarle Co., 23 Sep 1799.

Dorothy lived with James Trice from the time she was a child until a grown woman.
Her parents were Godney Trice and Judith Trice. Judith Trice was nèe Anderson (see receipt from Godney and Judith in File #1804-011) and was a child of William and Dorothy Dabney Anderson. Some researchers speculate that Godney Trice was a son of James Trice. However, Godney (who also appears in records as “Goodwin”) was not one of the heirs of James Trice, which means either (1) he wasn’t a son of James or (2) he did not survive James and left no children. However, Godney’s father was definitely not James Trice of King William because Godney left at least one child – Dorothy Trice Hicks – who survived James Trice. If Godney had been James’ child, Dorothy (and any other children of Godney) would have been heirs of James Trice since James died intestate. I don’t know who Godney/Goodwin’s parents were and can’t even speculate intelligently.
Dorothy was about 10 – 12 years old when Dabney Anderson died. That would make her b. abt. 1722-23. She is now about 67. That would make her b. abt. 1732. There is clearly some inconsistency in her testimony.

Deposition of Gravet (?) Edwards, 25 Oct. 1802. Dorothy Trice was alive 5 or six years after 1727. Another deponent testified she was still alive in 1742. Another deponent testified that she died before James Trice, so she clearly died by 1769.

File #1804-011

Complaint of William Trice v. Charles Crenshaw as Executor of Joseph Crenshaw

Plaintiff William Trice (called William Trice Sr. in various other records in these two files) was the only child of John Trice, dec’d, who was the son of James Trice.
Dabney Anderson of Caroline County died sometime in 1735, will dated 16 Dec 1735. Dabney appointed James Trice (the father of John Trice and grandfather of William Trice) executor of his will.
Dabney Anderson devised to John Trice 3 slaves in fee, including Bess. John Trice died intestate and William Trice claims the slaves under Dabney’s will.
James Trice administered the estate of his son John Trice.
John Trice, father of William, died under age (less than 21) and intestate, so that William Trice became entitled as John’s heir at law to the slaves bequeathed to John.
Joseph Crenshaw was administrator of James Trice’s estate. Joseph Crenshaw died and Charles Crenshaw was Joseph’s executor.
William Trice names Charles Crenshaw the defendant in this lawsuit.

Sale, estate of James Trice.

Answer of Charles Crenshaw to the complaint of William Trice dated 12 Mar 1799.

Admits that he is the executor of Joseph Crenshaw, who was the administrator of James Trice, who was the executor of Dabney Anderson.

Inventory of the estate of Dabney Anderson dated 13 Feb 1735.

Signed by Joseph Woolfolk, Jos. Martin, Jacob Burrus, and James Trice. Recorded 12 Mar 1735.

Two receipts on one piece of paper, both dated 25 Feb. 1736

Godney Trice and Judy Trice acknowleded receipt from James Trice of a slave who was a legacy given them by Dabney Anderson. Evidence that Judith Trice was Dabney’s sister.
Joseph Ashburn and Sarah Asburn acknowledged receipt from James Trice of “our part of Dabney’s estate,” a slave who was a legacy from “our brother Dabney Adnerson dec’d.” Evidence that Sarah Ashburn was Dabney’s sister.

Part 2 of 5: James Trice of Caroline Co., VA, b. by 1712, d. Orange Co., NC by 1789.

Yesterday, I posted an introduction to a series of articles about the James Trice who first appeared in the Virginia records in a 1733 road order as a resident of Caroline County. James married as his second wife Ruth Booth (widow of Daniel Booth), and moved to Orange County, NC, where he died in late 1788 or 1789. We’re calling him James Trice of Caroline/Orange for short.

In that introduction, I posed several questions about James, all of which address what I think are misconceptions/misinformation about James Trice of Caroline/Orange. The questions begin with these two:

Was Dorothy (nèe Dabney) Anderson married to James Trice of Caroline/Orange? The answer is “NO,” beyond any doubt. Dorothy was married to a different James Trice.

Was the James Trice who was married to Dorothy (nèe Dabney) Anderson the father of James Trice of Caroline/Orange? Again, the answer is “NO.” There is no doubt about that, either.

Here is one initial note before we get to the evidence. Writing this article reminded me again of some of the rules of genealogical research, to wit …

Rule #1: follow the land. If there is one thing British common law is finely honed to accomplish, it is to keep track of who owns which piece of earth. If you want to prove, e.g., that Dorothy Dabney married William Anderson about 1700, Virginia land records will do it for you.

Rule #2: keep track of county creation history. If an ancestor suddenly disappears from the records of, say, Pike County, Alabama, it might be because he moved away. Or it might be that he begins appearing instead in the records of Barbour County, which had been created from Pike County.

Rule #3: if you find a chancery court case involving your research targets, consider it golden. Cherish it. Almost everything in this article is conclusively proved by two chancery court files located in the Virginia State Library in Richmond. A very nice researcher named Rubyann Thompson Darnell pointed me toward them.

Rule #4: you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a charming prince.

OK, back to the Trice questions. Let’s start with Dorothy Dabney Anderson’s family of origin and husband.

Dorothy was the daughter of Cornelius Dabney, who acquired land on Pouncey’s Swamp (or Pownce’s, or several other variant spellings) in the Pamunkey Neck of what was then St. John’s Parish, King & Queen County, Virginia. A committee of the Virginia Assembly “confirmed” this land to Cornelius in 1699, and also named four children who apparently claimed it under Cornelius Dabney’s will.[1] The Dabney children were James, George, Dorothy and Sarah Dabney.

In April 1701, official Virginia land patents were issued for that land to the four Dabney children.[2] By then, Dorothy had married William Anderson. The Anderson patent names both William Anderson and his wife Dorothy in a grant of land in Pamunkey Neck, St. John’s Parish, Pownce’s Swamp, adjacent land of Sarah Dabney. Sarah’s patent expressly states that her tract was adjacent to James Dabney and “land of her sister Dorothy.”

Those particular land records prove, among other things, that Dorothy Dabney, daughter of Cornelius, married William Anderson some time between 1699 and 1701, and that they owned land in St. John’s Parish in what was then King & Queen County. See Rule #1.

By early 1720, Dorothy was a widow. In February that year, she signed as “Dorothy D. Anderson” a deed of gift to her son William. The deed, which was the gift of a slave,[3] was recorded in St. John’s Parish, King William County. Dorothy Anderson had probably not moved. Instead, the county in which she and William lived had just changed when King William was created from King & Queen County in 1700. See Rule #2.

This deed, as well as numerous other records on which this article relies, can be found in two chancery court case files from Louisa County, VA. Both files concern essentially the same controversy, a claim and cross-claim between first cousins. The subject of the controversy, originally filed (as nearly as I can tell) about 1798, was the son of the slave named in the 1720 gift deed from Dorothy to her son William. The Library of Virginia, bless its heart, has digitized those records and made them available online. See Rule #3.

I will summarize my abstracts of relevant records from those files in the next article in this Trice series. If you are interested in them and can’t wait for abstracts, the files are designated Louisa County Chancery cases, index number 1804-006 and 1811-011. Be advised that you will wade through a considerable amount of dross while searching for the gold. See Rule #4.

The files are available online here: #1804-006. And here: #1804-011

Here are two things the chancery court dispute conclusively proves.[4]

Dorothy Dabney Anderson, widow of William Anderson, married as her second husband James Trice of King William County. Let’s call him James Trice of King William.[5]
Dorothy’s husband James Trice died intestate and his estate was appraised on 22 February 1769 in King William County.

There is no doubt that James Trice of King William was not the same man as James Trice of Caroline/Orange, who died in Orange County in 1788-89.[6] James Trice of Caroline/Orange had left Virginia some time in 1756, when he last appeared in the Caroline County records.[7] He was definitely a resident of North Carolina by no later than 1759.[8] He was still living in North Carolina when the other James Trice died in Virginia.

To turn this into a syllogism:

James Trice of King William (d. by 1769) was not the same man as James Trice of Caroline/Orange (d. by 1789);
James Trice of King William was indisputably the husband of Dorothy Dabney Anderson;
Therefore, James Trice of Caroline/Orange did not marry Dorothy Dabney Anderson. The answer to Question #1 is “NO.”

There is more that the chancery court records prove.

James and Dorothy Dabney Anderson Trice had two, and only two, children who have any descendants: John Trice and a daughter, probably Martha Trice.
John Trice married Mary LNU and died intestate before age 21. John and Mary had only one child, William Trice, who was one of the claimants in the Louisa county chancery court dispute.
James and Dorothy’s other child was a daughter, possibly named Martha, who married Joseph Crenshaw. Joseph and Martha’s son Charles Crenshaw was the cross-claimant in the Louisa chancery court case.

If James and Dorothy Trice had any children besides John and Martha, that child (or children) must have died before 1769 and cannot themselves have had any children who were still alive as of 1769. James Trice’s 1769 King William estate was equally inherited by Joseph Crenshaw (“in right of his wife” Martha) and John Trice’s son William. Because James Trice died without a will, the Virginia law of intestate descent and distribution required that all of his children (or children of a deceased child) share in his estate. Thus, Joseph and Martha Crenshaw (daughter of James Trice) and William Trice (son of John Trice and grandson of James Trice), the only heirs, were James Trice’s only surviving heirs.

Because James Trice of Caroline/Orange was not one of the heirs of James of King William, James Trice of Caroline/Orange cannot have been a son (or grandson) of James Trice of King William and Dorothy Dabney Anderson. The answer to Question #2 is also “NO.”

And that’s all the news that’s fit on print on the first two Trice issues. Please don’t go away, though. As far as Trice controversies are concerned, we have just begun to fight.

[1] Louis des Cognets, Jr., English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records (Princeton, NJ: 1958).

[2] Marion Nell Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers Volume 3: 1695-1732 (Richmond: Virginia State Library,1979) at 46 (abstract of VA Patent Book 9 at 350, 351 and 352).

[3] It pains me considerably to type words showing that some human beings were considered property and could be given by one owner to another.

[4] State Library of Virginia, online chancery court records, Louisa County files indexed as #1804-006 and #1804-011. Records in the two files include the complaint of William Trice and the cross-claim of Charles Crenshaw, William’s answer to the cross-claim, Charles’ answer to the original complaint, 1720 gift deed from Dorothy D. Anderson to her minor son William Anderson, inventory and appraisal of the estate of William Anderson dated 25 Jun 1719, deposition of Henry Edward and his wife Mary (who married John Trice, son of James Trice of King William, and was the mother of William Trice, the plaintiff), appraisal of the estate of James Trice (22 Feb 1769, King William County), 1735 Caroline County inventory of the estate of Dabney Anderson (James Trice, executor), and numerous other deposition notices and the usual detritus of lawsuits.

[5] In addition to the Louisa Co. chancery files, there is other proof that Dorothy Dabney Anderson married James Trice. See will of Susanna Anderson (widow of Cornelius Dabney who remarried to a Mr. Anderson after Cornelius died) dated 4 Mary 1722 and recorded 5 Feb 1724, Hanover Will Book I: 632. The original will book was lost, but a copy of the will was re-filed in 22 Dec 1868. Susanna’s will names her grandson William Anderson (the donee in Dorothy’s 1720 gift deed), William Anderson’s stepfather James Trice, and Susannah’s children Cornelius Dabney, Dorothy Trice (identified as the wife of James Trice), and Mary Carr (wife of Thomas Carr).

[6] Feb 1788 or Feb 1789 (year not clear) entry in Orange County, NC Minute Book IV: 98, original viewed by R. Willis at the NC Archives.

[7] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1755 – 1758, Part One, 1755 – 1756 (Washington, D.C.: 1976), abstract of 8 Apr 1756 entry mentioning lease and release from James Trice and wife Ruth, at p. 160 of the Order Book.

[8] Weynette Parks Haun, Orange County, North Carolina, Court Minutes 1752 -1761, Book I (Durham, NC: 1991), abstract of Sep 1759 court minutes, jury ordered to lay out a road from the Great Road to Cape Fear where James Trice lives. Jury included James Trice, Edward Trice and John Trice.

James Trice of Caroline Co., VA, b. by 1712, d. Orange Co., NC 1789: Part 1 of 5

Not long ago, a man who learned from his FTDNA “Family Finder” autosomal DNA test that we are related through our Trice lines contacted me. It turned out that we have the same Trice great-great-grandparents, so we are (as they say in north Louisiana) gen-u-wine cousins. Because of him, I have to cast yet another vote in favor of DNA testing, if for no other reason than to meet very nice relatives who were previously unknown to you.

Meanwhile, email conversations with my newfound cousin caused me to look again at the Trice family. My own last conclusively proved Trice Ancestor is the James Trice who first appeared as a resident of Caroline County, VA in a 1733 road order, married as his second wife Ruth Booth (widow of Daniel Booth), and moved to Orange County, NC, where he died in 1789. Let’s call him JAMES TRICE of Caroline/Orange to distinguish him from at least one other James Trice who made a brief appearance in the records of Caroline County.

There is a great deal of bad information floating around the internet about this man. This isn’t surprising. Trices began appearing in Virginia in the 1670s, and they did not choose their locations wisely. They appeared in New Kent, King & Queen, King William, Hanover, and Caroline counties. All of those counties have suffered serious losses of records. Moreover, “Edward” and “James” were favorite Trice given names from the time they started appearing in the colonies, which makes the job of distinguishing among them – with few records available – even more difficult.

Here are a few issues that jump out …

Was Dorothy (nèe Dabney) Anderson married to James Trice of Caroline/Orange? The answer is “NO,” beyond any doubt. Dorothy was married to a James Trice whose estate was appraised in February 1769 in King William County, VA.

Was the James Trice who died in King William County and who was married to Dorothy (nèe Dabney) Anderson the father of James Trice of Caroline/Orange? Again, the answer is “NO,” and there is no doubt about that, either.

Who were the two wives of James Trice of Caroline/Orange? Answer: (1) I don’t know, but wish I did; and (2) Ruth Booth, nèe May.

James Trice of Caroline/Orange had a son by his first wife named Edward Trice (b. abt. 1737, Caroline Co., d. 1800, Orange Co.). Edward’s wife was named Tabitha. What was her maiden name? The conventional wisdom is that she was nèe Harrison. I cannot find any evidence for that assertion, nor can I find anyone who is willing to share any evidence they have on the issue. On the other hand, there is some convincing circumstantial evidence that Edward’s wife Tabitha was Tabitha Booth, the daughter of Ruth May Booth Trice and her first husband, Daniel Booth.

Addressing these issues with references to actual evidence in county and other records is going to require more than one post in order to avoid inflicting the MEGO syndrome on the reader: “my eyes glaze over.”

Please stay tuned. There is considerably more information about these Trices to come shortly. And Happy New Year, y’all!!!

David Rankin, died Iredell Co., NC, 1789

One of the many fun things about genealogy is meeting really nice people, including (in my case) some who are named Rankin. This includes a Rankin in Iredell County, NC, his wife, and his brother in Guilford County, NC. Unfortunately, we aren’t related. That’s a shame. We have adopted each other nonetheless.

David Rankin of Iredell County, their Rankin ancestor, was one of my early research targets when I was trying to find the family of origin of my last proved Rankin ancestor. I had high hopes for David, to no avail, as Y-DNA has conclusively proved.

Y-DNA from David’s line establishes a match, although not a close one, with the line of Joseph Rankin of New Castle County, DE. David was neither Joseph’s son nor his grandson, although David might be Joseph’s nephew. There is no evidence of any connection, however, so David and Joseph most likely share a common ancestor on the other side of the Atlantic. David’s line is also a match with descendants of Robert and Rebecca Rankin of Guilford County, NC. David might be Robert and Rebecca’s son, or a nephew. I don’t know whether the Y-DNA evidence is sufficient to draw that conclusion. We can conclude that Robert Rankin of Guilford and David Rankin of Iredell are closely related. Moreover, David is more closely related to Robert of Guilford than he is to Joseph of Delaware.

Meanwhile, I want to share my research on David’s line, because some Rankin out there might find it useful. Here it is. I’ve included a great deal of documentation, as well as links to other sources, so this is verrrrry long. Please tell me if you spot problems.

1 David Rankin, b. unknown (circa 1725?), d. 1789, Iredell Co., NC. Will written 15 Mar 1781. Wife Margaret LNU.

Here is my abstract of the will of David Rankin made from the original located at the NC State Archives and Library. The will is dated 15 March 1782 and was proved Dec 1789. No recitation that he is sick or weak. Leaves to beloved wife Margret, one third of the “plantation on which I now live for life, choice of my horses … her own clothing,” etc. Beloved son Robert, “plantation where I live plus the third in which my wife has a life estate, livestock, plantation utentials, wagons, residue of household goods.” Beloved grandson David McCreary, £5 to be paid by my son Robert before he [David] comes of age. Also to my beloved grandson David Rankin, £5 to be paid him by my son Robert before he arrives at the age of 21. Also to my beloved grandson James Rankin, £20 to be paid him by his father my son Robert. And the above sums to be made as good as money was in the year 1763. Son Robert, executor. Signed 15 Mar 1782, David Rankin. Witnesses Wm Kerr, Isabella Falls?

As to his children, David’s will expressly names a son Robert who has a son James. It also implies (1) a daughter who married a McCreary and had a son David and (2) a son who is not named but was the father of “grandson David Rankin.”

In that regard, there was a James Rankin who died in 1780 at the Battle of Ramsour’s Mill who was almost certainly David’s son. See more below under 2 James Rankin m. Miss Alexander, probably Susannah. James and Miss Alexander definitely had a son named David Rankin, proved by Lincoln Co. court records.

2 Elizabeth Rankin m. Samuel McCreary. Both left wills in Iredell County naming a son David, among other children.

3 David McCreary, b. bef. 15 Mar 1782.

2 Robert Rankin, b. circa 1745-1750 (based on proved birth dates of sons), probably b. 1748. Disappeared from Iredell/Lincoln County records by 1826. Probably went to Gibson Co., TN and died 1838-40. See my article about Robert Rankin of Gibson Co. at this link. Wife Jean LKU, possibly Jean Denny from Guilford Co.?, b. 1755 – d. 10 Dec. 1779, age 24. Some Robert Rankin married some Jean Denny on 28 Feb 1775 in Guilford. Most Rankin researchers think the groom was a Robert Rankin of Guilford who died in 1795, although that Robert Rankin was probably Jean’s uncle. Jean Rankin is buried in Centre Presbyterian Church, Iredell Co. She and Robert definitely had a son named Denny Rankin.

3 James Rankin, b. 1777-78 – d. 22 Feb 1854, age 77. Wife Elizabeth McMin, b. abt. 1779. James’ Iredell Co. will names all eight daughters and a son James, who was apparently their only surviving son. I have found no extant marriage bond for James and Elizabeth, but they were probably married in Lincoln Co., NC because Elizabeth’s sister Sarah McMin and James’ brother Denny Rankin were married there. James’ Iredell will was witnessed by James D. Rankin, a nephew who lived adjacent James (James D. was a son of Denny and Sarah McMin Rankin). Note: a beneficiary of the will would not have been a witness, which establishes that James Rankin, son of James and Elizabeth, was not the man who called himself James D. Rankin. There is apparently no extant tombstone, but James was buried in the Centre Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Mooresville. The Historic Cemetery Directory shows his year of death as 1855. However, his will appears to have been recorded 6 Jan 1854. One of those two dates is obviously incorrect.

1820 Iredell census has a listing for James Rankin (2 listings apart from Denny Rankin), although the profile doesn’t appear to fit with James’ surviving children: 320010-2101. That profile includes a male and female 26 < 45, 3 young females, and 5 young males. I can’t explain this.

1840 Iredell census, James Rankin, 000000001-000230001. James is listed as 60 < 70, b. 1770-1780, as is his wife Elizabeth. Five daughters were still living at home, three of whom are listed as age 20 < 30 (b. 1810-1820), which would include Ann, Sarah, and one other daughter. Two are shown as age 15 < 20 (b. 1820-1825), which would include Nancy and one other.

1850 Iredell census, James Rankin, 72, b. NC abt 1778, Elizabeth Rankin, 71, b. NC abt 1779, Ann Rankin, 35, b. NC abt 1815, Sarah Rankin, 31, b. NC abt 1819, and Nancy M? Rankin, 28, b. NC abt 1822.

Here is my abstract of the will of James Rankin, made from the original located at the NC State Library and Archives, Raleigh, NC, file box C.R.054.801.11. The will is undated and there is no recitation of residence. It appears to have been recorded 6 Jan 1854.

To my dear wife Elizabeth, all real and personal property including land where I live, slave Henry, household and kitchen furniture, livestock, farming tools, grain fodder and other provisions. Also carriage, notes and money. All a life estate, remainder at her death to my three single daughters Ann, Sarah and Nancy [Rankin] to be theirs jointly and absolutely. If any of my daughters marries (either before or after death of her mother), then the married child “shall be allowed to take and hold” one bed and furniture, one cow and calf, one horse and saddle worth $85 and kitchen furniture “such as my other married daughter received.” After the death of their mother, no division of property between my 3 daughters Ann, Sarah and Nancy “so long as two of them remain unmarried for it is my will and desire that this should be a home to the single daughter both after the death of their mother as well as during her life time, but in the event that any two of them should marry then … the property sold and equally divided.” Son James, large dictionary and my rifle gun. I have already given and divided off to my other daughters Ruth, Rachel, Jane, Elizabeth and Lucinda “all the property I design to [be] given them as their portion.” Daughter Ann, my large Bible and the side saddle of my wife Elizabeth. Signed James (x) Rankin. Witnessed Robt J. McDowell, James D. Rankin.

4 Ruth Rankin

4 Rachel Rankin

4 Jane Rankin m. Alexander Williams

4 Elizabeth Rankin

4 Lucinda Rankin

4 James Rankin, b. abt 1807, d. 1890. Married #1 Frances (“Frankey Mayhew”), #2 Patsey Little, Lincoln Co., 17 Mar 1858.

1840 Iredell census, James Rankin, 200001-200001001. James is in the 30 < 40 age category, b. 1800-1810. Two sons < 5, b. 1835-1840. Female in the 60< 70 category may be his mother-in-law Susannah Mayhew, who was living with the family in 1850.

1850 Iredell census, James Rankin, 43, Frankey Rankin, 42, John D. Rankin, 19, George L. Rankin, 16, Nancy L. E. Rankin, 13, Rachel E. Rankin, 11, Franklin J. C.? Rankin (Frankie Caroline? See 1860 census), 8, James A. Rankin, 6, Hester A. Rankin, 5, and Susannah Mayhew, 74, b. MD. All others b. NC.

1860 census, James Rankin, 53, farmer, $1000/2000, b. NC, Iredell Sch Dist 60, Patsey Rankin, 54, Lee Rankin, 26, b NC abt 1834, (George Lee Rankin?), Eleanor Rankin, 23 (Nancy L. Eleanor Rankin), Rachel Rankin, 20, Caroline Rankin, 19, James Rankin, 16, Hester Rankin, 15, and Osborn Rankin, 8, all b. NC.

5 John Denny Rankin, b. 10 May 1831, Statesville, Iredell Co., d. 19 May 1912, Galveston, Galveston Co., TX. Buried Riddle Cemetry, Rockdale, Milam Co., TX. Preacher, doctor and schoolteacher. Wife Mary M. S. Sechler, Rowan Co., NC marriage bond dated 18 Feb 1862, daughter of Abraham Sechler and Mary M. Freeze.

1870 census, Washington Co., TX, John D. Rankin, 39, minister and carpenter, Mary M. S. Rankin, 35, McKenzie Rankin (male), 7, James Rankin, 6, Charles G.? Rankin, 5, and Agnes E. Rankin, 1, all b. NC.

1880 census, Milam Co., TX, John D. Rankin, 49, preacher, wife Mary M., 46, son Jackson M. (Jackson McKenzie) Rankin, 17, son James G. Rankin, 15, son Charlie L. Rankin, 14, daughter Agnes E. Rankin, 11, daughter Flora I. or J. Rankin, Rowan D. Rankin, 6, daughter, and Rosadalis Rankin, 5, daughter. All b. NC and parents b. NC except Flora, Rowan and Rosadalis were b. TX.

1900 census, Milam Co., TX, D. Rankin, 69, b. May 1831, farmer, b. NC, parents b. NC, wife Emma Rankin, 55, b. Feb 1845, married 9 years, b. AL, parents b. NC, son J. G. Rankin, b. Apr 1864, b. NC, parents b. NC, daughter-in-law Thula Rankin, b. Jan? 1875, TX, parents b. GA, granddaughter Thula Rankin, b. Aug 1899, granddaughter Alice Noff, b. Dec 1885, b. TX, parents b. TX.

In 1910, James D. was living with his son Charles L. Rankin in Bell Co., TX.

TX death certificate in Galveston, Galveston Co., TX gives his dates of birth and death, lists his occupation as “preacher, doctor, schoolteacher;” born Statesville, NC, son of James Rankin, b. Iredell, and Susanna [sic] Mayhew, b. Statesville. Usual residence Florence, TX, buried Rockdale, TX.

6 Jackson McKenzie Rankin, b. 9 Jan 1863, NC, d. 9 Apr 1944, Abernathy, Hale Co., TX. Wife Sarah Alice Mayfield, married 16 Jun 1888 in Milam Co., TX. He was a Baptist preacher.

1900 census, Milam Co., TX, Jackson M. Rankin, Jan 1863, NC, parents b. NC, “preaching,” wife Sarah A. Rankin, b. Dec 1869, MO, son Dennie Rankin, b. Aug 1889, TX, daughter Maggie E. Rankin, b. Feb 1891 TX, son James E. Rankin, b. Oct 1892 TX, daughter Mary Rankin, b. Mar 1894 TX, son Harvey Rankin, b. Apr 1896 TX, daughter ______, b. Mar 1898, TX.

1910 census, Garza Co., TX, Jackson M. Rankin, 47, married 21 years, b. NC, parents b. NC, minister, Gospel Baptist Church, wife Sarah A. Rankin, 40, has had 10 children, all living, b. MO, parents b. MO, son Dennie Rankin, 20, b. TN, daughter Emma Rankin, 10, TX, son James Rankin, 17, TX, daughter Mary B. Rankin, 16, TX, son Harvey L. Rankin, 14, TX, son Willie H. Rankin, 12, TX, son McKenzie S.? Rankin, 9, TX, son Gambrell Rankin, 7, TX, son John Rankin, 4, TX, daughter Alice Rankin, 2, TX.

1920 census, Lubbock Co., TX, M. Rankin, 57, farmer, b. SC [sic], wife Sarah Alice Rankin, 50, MO, daughter Mary Rankin, 26, TX, son Kennedy (McKenzie?) Rankin, 19, TX, son Gambrell Rankin, 17, TX, son John Rankin, 15, TX, son [sic, the “sex” column has her identified as a female] Alice Rankin, 12, TX, daughter Rosa Lee Rankin, 6, TX.

1930 census, Crosby Co., TX, Jackson M. Rankin, 67, Baptist Minister, with wife Alice Rankin, 60 and daughter Mary Rankin, 36. Adjacent M. H. Rankin. In the 1840 census, Jackson M. and Sarah Alice are with their son McKenzie in Abernathy, Hale Co., TX.

TX death certificate gives dates of birth and death and identifies his parents as John D. Rankin, b. NC, and Mary Sechlar, b. PA. Informant was M. H. Rankin. Buried in the Abernathy Cemetery, Hale Co., TX.

7 Jackson Dennie Rankin, b. 16 Aug 1889, Rockdale, Milam Co., TX, d. 2 Aug 1939, Lubbock, Lubbock Co., TX. Occupation given as “teacher” on his son’s birth certificate, “bookkeeper” on his death certificate, and “singer” on his draft registration card. Wife Virgie Alice Dodson, b. Coryell Co., TX.

WW I draft registration card dated Jun 1917 for Jackson Dennie Rankin, 27, b. 16 Aug 1889, Rockdale, TX. Occupation “Evangelistic Singer, Baptist Church, San Augustine, TX.” Resides Petersburg, TX. Medium height and build, brown eyes, light brown hair, slightly bald. Single, no dependents.

1930 census, Lubbock, TX, Jackson Rankin, 40, married at age 31, b. TX, father NC, mother TX [sic], wife Argie Rankin, 36, b. TX, son Jackson Rankin Jr., 6, b. TX.

Death certificate identifies his parents as J. M. Rankin, b. NC, and Sarah Alice Mayfield, b. MO. Informant on death certificate was J. M. [sic] Rankin Jr. of Slaton, TX.

8 Jackson David Rankin, b. 25 Mar 1924, Brownfield, Terry Co., TX, d. 11 Dec 2005, Cambria, San Luis Obispo Co., CA. Corporal, US Army Air Corps, WW II. Went to Texas Tech in Lubbock. Buried in Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA.

7 Maggie Emma Rankin, b. 24 Feb 1891, TX, d. 17 May 1979. Resided in Lorenzo, Crosby Co., TX; died in Lubbock, Lubbock Co., TX.

TX death certificate identified her as Emma Rankin O’Rear, a widow. Names her parents, Jackson M. Rankin and Sarah Alice Mayfield. Informant was James O’Rear.

7 James Mathew Rankin, b. 19 Oct 1892, Milam Co., TX, d. 9 Mar 1974, Lubbock, Lubbock Co. Resided in rural Crosby Co., TX. Schoolteacher, school superintendent, and Crosby Co. judge. Wife Maude Benton (b. 17 Dec 1892 in Red River Co., TX, d. 21 Jan 1967 in Lubbock). They married on 12 May 1920. He was an army Private, WW II. Both are buried in the Ralls Cemetery, Ralls, Crosby Co., TX.

TX death certificate states he was married and identifies his parents as Jackson M. and Sarah Alice Mayfield. Informant was Joe Rankin. Maude’s obituary identified two surviving sons.

8 Joe David Rankin, 8 May 1929 – 24 Dec 2002. 2^nd Lieutenant, USAF, Korea. Buried Ralls Cemetery, Crosby Co., TX.

8 Jean McKenzie Rankin, 8 May 1929 – 4 Aug 1995. Doctor. Wife Marianne Clark.

7 Mary Elmore Rankin, b. 13 Mar 1894, TX, d. 21 Dec 1971, Ralls, Crosby Co., TX. Never married. Schoolteacher. Buried Abernathy Cemetery, Hale Co., TX. Death certificate identified her parents as Jackson M. Rankin and Sarah Alice Mayfield. Informant J. M. Rankin.

7 Harvey Carroll Rankin, b. 4 Apr 1896, TX, d. 9 Feb 1982, Falls Church, Fairfax Co., VA. Resided in Springfield, VA. Baptist minister. Wife Irene Hettie Dleozier. Virginia death certificate identifies his parents as McKenzie Rankin, b. TX, and Alice Mayfield. Obituary identifies survivors.

8 Robert Carroll Rankin, b. 26 Aug 1930, Lubbock Co., TX, d. 25 Apr 2006.

8 Nelda I. Rankin, b. 2 Mar 1933, Clovis, Curry Co., NM, d. 1 Oct 1995, Clovis. Attended Bob Jones University. Married Donald Albert Cowette 26 Jun 1953, Pasquotank, NC. Buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Curry Co., NM beside her mother.

7 Willie H. Rankin, b. abt 1898, TX.

7 McKenzie Hix Rankin, b. 1 Nov 1901, TX, d. 28 Dec 1960, Abernathy, Hale Co. TX. Death certificate lists “postal clerk: as his occupation. Wife Marion B. Peston (1904-1991). Buried in the Abernathy Cemetery.

1940 census, Abernathy, Hale Co., TX, McKenzie Rankin, 39, b. TX, dairy manager, wife Marion Rankin, 35, b. VT, daughter Bernice Rankin, 13, TX, son Charles Rankin, 5, b. NM, father Jackson Rankin, 77, b NC, mother Sarah Rankin, 70, b. TX [sic].

7 Charles Gambrell Rankin, b. 19 Nov 1902, TX, d. 15 Feb 1991, last resided in LaPorte, Harris Co., TX. Wife Madie Agnes Walker (1904-1977).

7 John Stephen Rankin, b. 8 Aug 1905, TX, d. 14 May 1982, Lorenzo, Crosby Co., TX. Wife Martha Christine Holcomb (1909-1965). U.S. Army, WW II, enlisted 14 Oct 1942, released 14 Feb 1946. Minister. Buried in the Abernathy Cemetery, Hale Co., TX. TX death certificate identifies parents as Jackson M. Rankin and Sarah Alice Mayfield.

7 Alice Rankin, b. 20 Nov 1907, d. 16 Apr 1964. Husband James Francis Barron (1910-1994) on 24 Dec 1933. Buried Terrace Cemetery, Post, Garza Co., TX.

7 Rosa Lee Rankin, b. abt 1914, TX.

6 James G. Rankin, 24 Apr 1864 – 12 Sep 1922. Preacher. Had four daughters and a son who died at 13. TX death certificate for J. G. Rankin identifies father as J. D. Rankin, b. NC, mother Mary? Sechler. Buried New City Cemetery, Rockdale, Milam Co., TX.

6 Charles Lee Rankin, b. 8 Oct 1865, NC, d. 14 Jun 1935, Houston, Harris Co., TX. Wife Annie M. Dean. Texas death certificate identifies him as a son of John Denney Rankin and Mary M. Sechler. Buried Hollywood Cemetery in Houston, 3506 South Main.

1910 census, Belton, Bell Co., TX, Charles L. Rankin, 43, b. NC, parents b. NC, merchant, furniture, Annie M. Rankin, wife, 34, daughter Mary L. Rankin, 15, son Karnes M. Rankin, 14, son Charlie D. Rankin, 9, son John G. Rankin, 3, daughter Annie B. Rankin, 6 months, and father John D. Rankin, 78 (married 3 times), b. NC, parents b. NC.

7 Mary L. Rankin, b. 1895, TX.

7 Karnes McKenzie Rankin, 1896 – 1960s. 1940 census, Houston, 4802 Ave. I, Karnes Rankin, wife Ruth Pearl Hill, (she d. 1974, Madison Co. TX), daughter Ruth N. Rankin, 5, son Harold Rankin, 2.

8 Ruth N. Rankin, b. abt 1935.

8 Harold Lee Rankin Sr., b. 31 Jul 1937.

7 Charlie Dean Rankin, 25 Oct 1899 – 11 Mar 1931. Worked for the Houston Chronicle. Father C. L. Rankin, mother M. Dean. 1900 census (Milam Co., TX), 1910 census (Belton, Bell Co., TX) and 1920 census (Harris Co., TX). Informant on death certificate: C. L. Rankin of Willis, TX. Buried Forest Park Cem., Houston, wife’s name was Chloe.

7 John G. or F. Rankin, b. 1907/08. Appeared in the 1910 census, Bell Co., no further record.

7 Annie B. Rankin, b. 1910.

7 George W. Rankin, b. 27 Jul 1912, d. 18 Nov 1997, buried Willis Cemetery, Montgomery Co., TX. Spouse Martha N. Rankin, 8 Mar 1912 – 2 Jan 2005, married 27 Sep 1931. 1940 census, Houston, Harris Co., TX, 4806 Ave. I., bookkeeper, bank.

6 Agnes E. Rankin, b. NC abt 1869.

6 Flora I. or J. Rankin, b. TX abt 1872.

6 Rowan D. Rankin (female), b. TX abt 1874.

6 Rosadalis Rankin, b. TX abt 1875.

5 George Lee (or Leroy) Rankin, b. NC 5 Nov 1833 or 34 – d. 23 Feb 1909. Married Margaret Ruth Mills (1840 – 1921). Company I, 7^th Regiment, NC Troops, enlisted 26 Feb 1862.

1870 census, Davidson, Mount Mourne, Iredell Co. NC, George L. Rankin, 37, b. abt. 1833, farm hand, NC, Margaret R. Rankin, 29, NC, Aaron M., 8 months, NC and Mary V., 8 months (twins).

1880 census, Davidson, Iredell Co., NC, L. Rankin, 46, b. NC, parents b. NC, Mag. R. Rankin, wife, 40, A. M. Rankin, son, 10, M. V. Rankin, daughter, 10, J. L. Rankin, 7, son, Geo W. Rankin, 5, son, Martha A. Rankin, daughter, 3.

1900 census, Davidson, Iredell, George L. Rankin, b. NC Nov 1833, 66, m. 31 years, parents b. NC, Margaret R. Rankin, b. Apr 1840, NC, Mary V. Rankin, daughter, b. Dec 1869 (Mary Virginia), James L. Rankin, son, b. Jan 1873, Martha? Rankin, daughter, b. Dec 1876, Maggie E., daughter, b. Feb 1881.

Tombstone in the Rocky Mount United Methodist Church Cemetary, Iredell, George Lee Rankin, 5 Nov 1833 – 23 Feb. 1909. Margaret Ruth Rankin, same cemetery, 12 Apr 1840 – 1 Jan 1921.

See 1910 census, Davidson, Iredell Mooresville, Margaret R. Rankin, 59, widowed, has had 6 children, all still living, with James L. Rankin, son, 37, Mattie Rankin, daughter, 30, Elma Rankin, daughter, 27, all b. NC, parents b. NC. See also 1920 census, Davidson, Iredell, Margaret R. Rankin, dwl #17, age 78, widowed, with M. Elma Rankin daughter, 37; James L. Rankin in adjacent household.

6 Aaron Marshall Rankin, b. 3 Dec 1868, d. 30 Jan 1935. Wife Lillian Emma Kerr, married 21 Apr 1897. NC death certificate for Aaron Marshall Rankin, Route 1, Troutman, Iredell, NC, has dates of birth and death and identifies him as a retired farmer, a son of Lee Rankin and Maggie Mills. Informant: Mr. E. R. Rankin.

7 Edgar Reid Rankin, b. 31 May 1898, d. 1962. Also buried New Perth Cemetery. Married Mary L. Windcoff (1899-1987) on 3 Jan 1920. 1930 census, Fallston, Iredell, dwl #39: Edgar R. Rankin, age 31, m. #1 at 21. Wife Mary E. L. Rankin, 30, daughter Vivian G. Rankin, 8, father Aaron M. Rankin, 60.

8 Vivian Geraldine Rankin, m. Harold Collins, 24 Dec 1939.

6 Mary Virginia Rankin, b. 3 Dec 1869, d. 1948. Married Thomas Jefferson Conger, 19 Mar 1902.

7 Margaret Conger, Duke University. Schoolteacher.

7 Luther Conger m. Amelia Watkins.

8 Luther Conger Jr. m. Louise McLendon.

8 Thomas Conger m. Frances Douglas.

8 James Conger m. Dottie Plyler.

8 George Conger m. Nancy Grau.

6 James Lee Rankin, 31 Jan 1873 – 6 May 1954, buried Rocky Mount Cemetery, Iredell. Wife Annie Freeze (26 Jun 1890 – 13 Sep 1924), married 17 Dec 1911. NC death certificate states his dates of birth and death and identifies his parents as George Rankin and Margaret Mills. Informant was Miss Elma Rankin (his sister).

1920 census adj. mother Margaret Rankin: James L. Rankin, dwl #18, age 47, married, but wife isn’t listed. Daughter Margie R. Rankin, 6, son Marion K. Rankin, 4?, and E. J. Rankin, son, 8 months, b. 1919.

1930 census, Davidson, Iredell, dwl #73, James L. Rankin, 54, widowed, Elma Rankin, sister, 48, single, Margaret Rankin, daughter, 16, Mary Rankin, daughter, 14? (should be son Marion K.), E. J. Rankin, son, 10.

1940 census, Davidson, Iredell, James L. Rankin, 67, M. K. Rankin, son, 24, Marjorie Rankin, daughter, 23, Emma Rankin, sister, 58.

7 Margie or Marjorie Rankin, b. 1914.

7 Marian Kermit Rankin, b. 9 Apr 1915, d. 9 July, 2002, Mooresville, Iredell, NC. Buried Glenwood Memorial Park, Mooresville, NC. Obit in Charlotte Observer 11 Jul 2002. First wife Thelma Overcase, 1915-1993. Second wife Rachel Owens, 1922-2001.

7 Edgar James Rankin, b. 22 Apr 1919, d. 9 May 1985. Wife Rosa Jane Freeze (1920-1977). Buried Rocky Mount United Methodist Church Cemetery, Mooresville, Iredell. WW II draft registration card IDs father as J. L. Rankin, Mooresville.

1940 census, Davidson, Iredell, J. Rankin, 20, Rosa F. Rankin, 19 and Jimme Rankin, 5 months (adj. father J. L. Rankin).

8 James John Rankin, b. 12 Oct 1939, Iredell, lived in Lincolnton.

8 JoAnn Rankin m. Tommy Fann.

8 Linda Rankin m. Joel Cook.

6 George Whitfield Rankin, b. 11 Sep 1874, Iredell, d. 17 Dec 1942, Troutman, Iredell Co., buried New Perth Cemetery. Wife Sara Jane Parker, married 16 Aug 1896.

1910 census, Fallstown, Iredell, Sherill’s Ford Road, George W. Rankin, 35, first marriage, married 13 years; wife Sarah Jane Rankin, 33, has had 6 children, all still living; daughter Mary Louise, 12, son William L. Rankin, 10, daughter Reitta May Rankin, 8, son Thomas F. Rankin, 6, daughter Ruby E. Rankin, 4, and son Charles A.? Rankin, 2.

1930 census, Fallstown, Iredell, NC, dwl #62, George W. Rankin, 55, 1^st married at age 21, Sarah J. Rankin, wife, Edna Rankin, daughter, 23, Katherine Rankin, daughter, 12, Charles R. Rankin, son, 22, m. 2 years, and his wife Mildred Rankin, 20.

7 Mary Louise Rankin, b. abt 1898.

7 William Lee Rankin, 1899-1952. Married Edna Lawrence. 1940 census, Statesville, Iredell, age 40, with wife Willie E. Rankin, 39, and Jewel Rankin, 12. Will proved 21 May 1952.

7 Rita May or Mae Rankin, b 1902, m. Lathan Smith.

7 Thomas Fred Rankin, b. 7 Nov 1904, Iredell, d. 9 Dec 1972, resided Landis, Rowan Co., at 210 Rankin Road. Retired Barber. Spouse Elzora McCombs. Buried Carolina Memorial Park, Concord, Cabarrus Co., NC.

7 Ruby Edna Rankin, b. 1906-07, m. Mr. Gillian.

7 Charles Rnette (this is not a typo) Rankin, b. 2 Feb 1908, d. 23 Jul 1991. Wife Mildred Marie Hardline. WWII draft registration card calls him Charles Rneet Rankin, of Troutman, Iredell Co., NC. The NC birth index calls him Charles Rnette Rankin, son of George Whitfield Rankin and Sarah Jane Parker. NC death index also calls him Charles Anette Rankin. Buried New Perth Cemetery, Troutman, Iredell County.

8 Norman Dean Rankin, b. abt 1935, d. 11 Oct 2015, age 80, in Troutman, NC, Iredell. Husband Bobby Carroll Murdock.

8 Charles Allen Rankin, b. 24 Apr 1932, Troutman, Iredell, d. 10 Mar 2000. Wife #1 Peggy Stewart, wife #2 Sally Josey. Resided Iredell. Died in Surry Co., NC, work accident. Buried in Memorial Gardens, Statesville.

8 Peggy Joy Rankin m. Jim Templeton.

7 Katherine Rankin, b. abt. 1918, m. Mr. Hartsell.

6 Martha Ann Rankin, b. 21 Dec 1876 – d. 1963. Married Christopher Samuel Elihu Hart on 4 Dec 1913, he was b. 21 Dec 1876, d. 2 Apr 1963.

7 Spruce Rankin Hart, 17 Nov 1914 – 22 Feb 1967. First wife Mary Louise Brawley, second wife Mary Doris Keever, m. Sep 1953.

8 Charlotte Kay Hart, 3 Aug 1941. Schoolteacher.

8 Martha Bernice Hart, b. 28 Jan 1943. Married Lonnie Carroll Harmon 18 May 1969.

6 Maggie Elma Rankin, b. 25 Feb 1881, d. 1962?

5 Nancy L. Eleanor Rankin, b. NC abt 1837.

5 Rachel E. Rankin, b. NC abt 1839-40

5 Francis Isabella Caroline Rankin, b. NC abt 1841-42, d. 1897, m. James M. Rumple.

5 James Aaron Rankin, b. NC abt 1844. Company I, 7^th Regiment, NC Troops. Enlisted 22 Jul 1861. Killed at Chancellorsville on 3 May 1863.

5 Hester A. Rankin, 1845-1920, m. William Marshall Mills.

5 Osborne Tatum Rankin, b. 20 Apr 1852, Iredell Co., d. 1918, Rowan Co., NC, m. Amanda Isabella Shuford.

1870 census, Davidson, Iredell Co., dwl 103: James Rankin, 63, farmer, b. NC, Louisa Rankin, 51, Osborne T. Rankin, 18, b. NC abt 1852.

1880 census, Atwell, Rowan Co., NC: James Rankin, 73, farmer, Louise Rankin, 63, wife; Osborne Rankin, 28, son, farmer, Amanda Rankin, 26, son’s wife (Amanda J. Shuford, b. 1853, m. 1873); James Rankin, 3, son Lee Rankin, 10 months (b. Aug-Sep 1879, son of Osborne and Amanda). In 1900 census, add son Charles W. Rankin, b. 1887.

NC death certificate for Osborne Tatum Rankin, barber, Unity Twp, Rowan Co., NC. Born 20 Apr 1852, d. 20 Aug 1918, age 66, wife Amanda. Father James Rankin, b. Beaties Ford, Iredell Co., NC; mother Franky Byrd Mayhew, b. Iredell.

6 James Daniel Rankin. b. 8 Jun 1875, d. 16 May 1966 in Boone, Watauga Co., NC. Wife Tula Roberta Abernathy of Boone, NC.

7 Ruth S. Rankin, 1904-2003, Denton Co., TX, m. Paris Milton Rutherford.

7 Charles Elmer Rankin, 1908-1996, m. Mildred McDade.

7 Winton Blair Rankin, b. 1916, Boone Co., d. 2015, Wake Co., NC, m. Edith Dora Griffin.

6 Robert Lee Rankin, b. 8 Aug 1879 – d. 31 Jan 1940. Wife Susie Mae Belk. NC death certificate identifies his father as O. T. Rankin, b. NC, mother Amanda Shuford. Informant Mrs. R. L. Rankin.

1930 census: Robert Lee Rankin, 50, Susie Mae Rankin, daughters Bessie, Lucille and Rosa Lee Rankin; sons Grey Rankin, 17, Flake Rankin, 23, and Billy Rankin, 7.

7 Bessie Rankin, b. 1907.

7 Lucille Rankin, b. 1909.

7 Robert Grey Rankin, b. 27 Oct 1912, Salisbury, Rowan Co., d. 21 Jan 1976, Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC. Buried Rowan Memorial Park Cemetery. Wife Eileen Jones, 29 Aug 1914 – 17 Jul 2003.

7 Rosalie Rankin, 1915-1975, m. Thomas H. Jackson.

7 Osborne Flake Rankin, 10 Jan 1918 – 16 Jul 1978, buried Lebanon Lutheran Church Cemetery, Cleveland, Rowan Co., NC. Spouse Helen L. Miller.

7 William Benjamin (“Billy”) Rankin, 7 Sep 1922 – 2 Oct 1981. Wife Margaret Sharpe Linebarger, 1925 – 2001 buried Hollybrook Cemetary, Lincolnton, NC.

6 Etta Elmora Rankin, 1882-1970, m. James A. Peeler.

6 Charles Wesley Rankin, b. NC 11 Sep 1886, d. 14 Jun 1918. Buried Greenlawn Cemetery, China Grove, Rowan Co., NC. Wife Lurline Ray Graham.

7 Charles Wesley Rankin, Jr., 1913 – 1981, d. in Lynchburg, VA. Wife Alice Johnston, 1910-1986.

7 Edward Ray Rankin, 1917-1972.

7 Josephine Rankin, 1918-2003, m. Edwin Pionowski.

4 Ann Rankin, b. 1816, m. James Reid.

4 Sarah Rankin, b. 1820, m. J. F. Brawley.

4 Nancy M. Rankin, b. abt 1822, NC, m. James S. Beatty.

3 Denny Rankin, 1775 – 1823, Iredell Co., NC. Wife Sarah McMin, marriage bond dated 4 Jan 1803 in Lincoln Co., NC. Will proved 1823. Sarah’s petition to have dower set aside mentions 126 acres on the Catawba River. Estate papers identify John M. Rankin as the guardian of minor children Sarah Aseaneth Rankin, Rachel Elizabeth McMin Rankin, and James D. Rankin. Only James was still a minor as of 20 Aug 1838. Both Denny and his wife Sarah are buried in the Centre Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Mooresville, Iredell Co., NC. A total of eight children are proved by a 1837 deed from two of the heirs to their mother, see Iredell Deed Book T: 394.

1810 census, Iredell Co., NC, Denny Rankin, 1 male 26 < 45 (b. 1765-1784), 1 female same age range, 3 males and 1 female less than ten (b. 1800-1810) (John M. b. 1803, Samuel b. 1806, and possibly William; daughter uncertain).

1820 census, Iredell Co., NC, Denny Rankin, 220010-32110. One male 26 < 45 (b. 1775 -1794), female same age, 1 female 16 < 26, 2 females 10 < 16, 3 females < 10, 2 males 10 < 16 (John M. and Samuel) and 2 males < 10 (Robert A. and James Denny?)

Denny’s tombstone inscription reads as follows: “Dennie Rankin born 1775 died 1823/Farewell father who lies here/This stone erected by his loving son Samuel Rankin/Honor thy Father and Mother.” An abstract of Iredell Co. cemeteries notes that the stone was made in Memphis, TN.

Sarah McMin Rankin’s tombstone is inscribed “Sarah wife of D. Rankin born 1781 died 1843,” with the remainder of the inscription identical to her husband’s (except substituting “mother” for “father”).

4 John M. Rankin, 13 Oct 1803 – 7 Sep 1884. Wife #1 Dorcus LNU (1802-1858). Married wife #2 Catharine Nixon (16 Aug 1815-11 Aug 1866) in Lincoln Co., 5 Jan 1859. She appears in 1860 census with 5 children born before 1860, all apparently children of Dorcus. In 1870 census, wife #3 is Elizabeth LNU. Buried United Presbyterian Church, Lincoln Co., NC.

5 Catharine Rankin, 1833-1908, m. Mr. Nixon

5 Jane Rankin, 1835 – 1887

5 Dorcas Cherry Rankin, 1837 – 1922

5 Rachel Rankin

5 John N. Rankin, b. abt 1843. Enlisted 20 Aug 1862, age 18, Co. K, NC 23^rd Inf. Mustered out 25 Oct 1862 at Winchester, VA.

5 Aseneth M. Rankin, 1844-1874

5 Robert R. Rankin, 1848-1855

4 Samuel Rankin, b. 22 Jun 1806, Iredell Co. – d. 27 Apr 1886, Shelby Co., TN. I believe (some Rankin researchers disagree) that he is the Samuel enumerated in the census during 1840-1880 in Shelby Co., TN. Denny and Sarah’s son Samuel bought stones for his parents’ Iredell County graves that were carved in Memphis, which is in Shelby Co. Wife Marcella LNU.

1840 census, Shelby Co., TN, Samuel Rankin, 200001-11001. Oldest male 30 < 40, b. 1800-1810. Two sons b. 1835-1840 (Marcus and George), a daughter b. 1835-1840 (Rachel), and a daughter b. 1830-1835 (Sarah).

1850 census, 2^nd, Shelby Co., #615: Samuel Rankin, 44, carpenter, b. NC, Marcilla Rankin, 43, VA, Sarah Rankin, 16, TN, Rachel Rankin, 14, TN, Marcus Rankin, 11, TN, George Rankin, 7, TN, and William Rankin, 6, TN.

1860 census, 2^nd, Shelby Co.: Samuel Rankin, 54, farmer, b. NC, Marcilla, 51, VA, Rachel, 23, TN, Marcus L. or S., 22, TN, George L. or S., 20, TN, Jamey?, 17, female, TN, Wm. D., 15, TN, and Samuel D., 7, TN.

1870 census, Shelby Co., #17: Samuel Rankin, 64, b. NC, Marcella Rankin, 63, VA, Rachel E. Rankin, 24, b. TN, George L. Rankin, 31, b. TN, James Rankin, 28, b. TN, Samuel D. Rankin, 18, TN.

1880 census, 2^nd, Shelby Co., TN: Samuel Rankin, 74, b. NC, parents b. NC, Marsella Rankin, 73, b. VA, parents b. VA. West Union Cemetery, Shelby Co., TN: Samuel Rankin, b. 22 Jun 1806, d. 20 Jul 1890, and Marcella Rankin, 18 Oct 1806 – 27 Apr 1886.

5 Sarah Rankin, b. TN abt 1834, d. 19 Jul 1882, married Mr. Van Fleet.

5 Rachel E. Rankin, b. TN 26 Jan 1836 – 25 Jun 1910, husband M. L. McEncroe. Buried West Union Cemetery, Shelby Co., TN.

5 Marcus D. Rankin, b. TN abt 1838-39. Wife Carolyn Brazil?

1870 census Dist. 4, Shelby Co., TN, D. Rankin, 33, b. TN, H. C. Rankin, female, 28, b. TN, Mary T. Rankin, 9, b. TN, and Joseph C. Rankin, 2, b. TN.

6 Joseph C. Rankin, b. 7 Feb 1868 d. 29 Aug 1956, buried West Union Cemetery, Shelby Co. Death certificate identifies his parents as Mark Rankin and Carolyn Brazil Rankin and wife as Eva Corbitt Rankin (1872 – 1937).

1910 census, Dist. 2, Shelby Co., TN, Joe Rankin, 42, b. TN, parents b. TN, married 19 years, wife Eva, 39, has had 8 children, 4 living; son Terrell, 15, TN, son Louis, 9, TN, daughter Amanda, 6, TN, daughter Rachel, 1, TN, and brother-in-law Lawrence Corbit, 27.

7 Terrell Rankin, b. TN abt 1895

7 Louis Rankin, b. TN abt 1901

7 Amanda Rankin, b. TN abt 1904

7 Rachel Rankin, b. TN abt 1909

6 Luther E. Rankin, b. Oct 1880, d. 5 Jun 1929, buried West Union Cemetery, Shelby Co., single, according to death certificate. Parents identified as M. D. Rankin, Amie Bazoa.

5 Jamey (female) Rankin, b. TN abt 1842

5 George L. Rankin, b. TN abt 1843

5 William D. Rankin, b. TN abt 1844-45

5 Samuel D. Rankin, b. Shelby Co., TN abt 1853. Married Mary Jane McMurray, a widow. 1880 census, Dist. 2, Shelby Co., TN, D. Rankin, 27, b. TN, father b. NC, mother b. ?, wife M. Jane, TN, son Phelan M. Rankin, 5 months, and stepdaughter Othella McMurray, 7, TN.

6 Phelan M. Rankin, b. 1880.

4 William Rankin, probably b. 1800-1810.

4 Rachel Elizabeth McMin Rankin, b. abt 1818, Iredell Co., NC

4 Jane D. Rankin m. ______ Porter

4 Robert A. Rankin, d. 1844, Shelby Co., TN, m. Tabitha Leggett, Gibson Co., TN.

4 Sarah Aseaneth Rankin, b. abt 1816, Iredell Co., NC

4 James Denny Rankin, b. 1820, d. by 1857, wife Evaline or Emerline York.

1850 census, James D. Rankin, 30, b. NC, Evaline Rankin, William L. Rankin, 3, Sarah E. Rankin, 1, and Sarah A. Rankin, 34 and Rachel E. M. C. Rankin, his sisters Sarah Aseaneth and Rachel Elizabeth McMin Rankin.

1860 census, Evaline Rankin, 40, farmer, Leroy Rankin, 15, Bettie Rankin, 13, Harriet Rankin, 11, and Emma Rankin, 2.

5 William Leroy Rankin, b. NC abt 1846.

5 Sarah Elizabeth Rankin, b. NC abt 1847.

5 Harriet Rankin, b. NC abt 1849.

5 Emma Isabella Rankin, b. 10 Jul 1856, d. 26 Jan 1928, Mooresville. Born in Iredell County. Death certificate identifies her father as Denny Rankin, b. Iredell, and Emerline York?, also b. Iredell.

2 James Rankin, d. June 1780 at the Battle of Ramsour’s Mill, m. Miss (Susannah?) Alexander.

3 David Rankin b. by 1781, Lincoln Co., NC.

3 Margaret (“Peggy”) Rankin m. Thomas Witherspoon, 6 Jul 1801, Lincoln Co.

3 William Rankin m. Mary Lourance/Lawrence, 17 Jan 1810.

4 Jane/Jean Rankin m. William Crays.

Line of Robert & Rebecca Rankin of Guilford Co., NC

THIS ARTICLE IS OUTDATED AND NEEDS TO BE REVISED. MORE YDNA RESULTS ARE IN.

This is a descendant chart for yet another line of Rankins: Robert and Rebecca Rankin of Guilford Co., NC. I cannot say anything positive about Y-DNA results concerning this line … yet. Y-DNA test results for one of their descendants should be available by the end of March 2017. More then. Meanwhile, I hope this chart has something of value for someone with a Rankin ancestor in North Carolina in the last half of the 18th century.

1 Robert Rankin and wife Rebecca (last name unknown) of Guilford County emigrated from Letterkenny Parish, Donegal County, Ireland to Pennsylvania about 1750.[1] Robert was part of the Nottingham Company, which acquired Granville grants in that part of North Carolina that became Guilford County. Robert and his son George were listed in the 1753 West Nottingham Township tax list for Chester County, PA.[2] Robert and Rebecca and some of their children migrated to NC in 1755. Because the family used the same men’s given names repeatedly – particularly Robert, George and John – I have adopted some shorthand designations or nicknames to distinguish among them. Here are the main ones:

Robert Rankin with wife Rebecca: “R&R” or “Robert Sr.’”
R&R’s son Robert: “Robert d. 1795.”
“George d. 1851” was the only proved son of Robert d. 1795, although there may have been others. George d. 1851 married Nancy Gillespie and went to McNairy Co., TN. A gift deed proves that they had a son named Robert:
“Robert (1792? – 1845?).” As the question marks indicate, it is not certain where this Robert went and my opinion is speculative.
R&R’s son George who married Lydia Steele: “George d. 1760.” Proved sons of George d. 1760 and Lydia:
Shaker Rev. John, born in Guilford in 1757, was an ordained Presbyterian minister who became a “Shaker” and died in Logan Co., Kentucky.
Rev War Robert, born in Guilford in 1759, was a Revolutionary War veteran who moved to McNairy Co., TN and died there in 1840.

Robert Sr. left no will, despite bad information to the contrary in Gregg Moore’s compiled Rankin history. Moore claims that Robert Sr. died testate in 1795.[3] That is demonstrably incorrect, see my article on the subject here.

According to Rev. S. M. Rankin, Robert Sr. died in Guilford County about 1770.[4] Rev. Rankin also asserted in another part of his book that Robert died before the church started keeping minutes, which was in 1773. Rev. Rankin says that Robert and Rebecca’s children were George, Robert, Rebecca, John and others. I would add a daughter Ann Rankin Denny, who is established by strong circumstantial evidence. I would discount Rebecca because I didn’t find any evidence of her, although a daughter by that name would obviously be likely.

There are several family trees on Ancestry.com that identify R&R as the parents of both (1) David Rankin who died in Iredell Co., NC in 1789 and (2) Samuel Rankin (1734 – 1816) who married Eleanor (“Ellen”) Alexander Rankin and lived in Lincoln Co., NC. So far, I have not found anyone who cites any evidence for that information except for other Ancestry family trees. I have found no evidence in county or other records that either David or Samuel was a son of R&R. Two descendants of David of Iredell have tested, and neither matches Samuel Rankin. At minimum, this proves that David of Iredell and Samuel of Lincoln cannot possibly have been brothers.

R&R’s children appear in this chart with a “2” preceding their names. R&R’s grandchildren are numbered “3,” their great-grandchildren are “4,” and so on, in standard outline genealogy format, except that I have included more information than is usual in the outline format. Citations are contained in footnotes.

2 John Rankin was a son of R&R, according to Rev. Rankin. There was a John Rankin in some early Rowan/Guilford records involving other people in the line of R&R. That John was too old to be Shaker Rev. John, born in 1757, the elder son of George d. 1760 and Lydia Steele Rankin.[5] Based on such records, Rev. Rankin is probably right about R&R having a son John. I found no evidence of land ownership or identities of any of John’s children except in Rev. Rankin’s book, which says that John had a son John. I have been unable positively to identify this line after Guilford County.

3 John Rankin

2 Rebecca Rankin was a daughter of R&R according to Rev. Rankin. She reportedly married James Denny. I found no evidence of a James and Rebecca Denny in Guilford, and I haven’t tried to find them elsewhere.

2 Ann Rankin married William Denny. R&R gifted land to their son George Rankin and to William Denny on subsequent days in April 1755. Both transactions were for five shillings, the traditional gift deed price.[6] Rev. Rankin’s book asserts that Robert & Rebecca “sold” William Denny his land, although the price clearly marks it as a gift. That virtually guarantees that William Denny was a son-in-law. William and Ann Rankin Denny’s children are proved by his 1766 will, which names his wife Ann and the following children:[7]

3 James Denny, of age by 1766

3 William Denny, of age by 1766

3 Hannah Denny, unmarried in 1766

3 Agnes Denny, unmarried in 1766

3 Jane Denny, unmarried in 1766. Many Rankin researchers believe this is the Jean Denny who married, in 1775, Robert d. 1795 — a son of R&R. However, R&R’s son Robert would have been Jane/Jean Denny’s uncle, if I am correct that Ann and Robert were siblings. It is definitely correct that some Jane/Jean Denny married some Robert Rankin in Guilford County in 1775. Who was the Robert in question? Not (1) Robert Sr. (who died by 1773 and was married to Rebecca LNU), (2) probably not Robert d. 1795, who was most likely Jane Denny’s uncle, and (3) not George and Lydia’s son Rev. War Robert, who was only 16 in 1775. Perhaps there was more than one Jane/Jean Denny in Guilford, which is quite possible. Or perhaps Jane/Jean Denny’s husband was the Robert Rankin of Iredell Co., son of David, who had a son named Denny Rankin. I suspect that is correct.

2 Robert Rankin – Robert d. 1795 — left a will proving five children. He may have had others, of course. He had three daughters and one son still living when he wrote his will.[8] The will identified by name a son George (George d. 1851), deceased daughter Mary Rankin Wilson’s three sons, and a daughter Isobel. Further, the will gave a 1/5^th share of his estate to “each of my daughters now living,” implying two more living daughters in addition to Isabel. Thus, the will left 1/5^th of the estate each to (1) George d. 1851, (2) the Wilson grandchildren (divided among the three of them), (3) Isobel, (4) an unnamed daughter, and (5) another unnamed daughter. One of the two unnamed daughters was the Rankin woman who married yet another William Denny, because the second William Denny died in 1825 and named his brother-in-law (identified as such) George d. 1851 as executor of his will.[9]

Rev. S. M. Rankin identified John, Robert and William Rankin as “sons of Robert [Robert d. 1795] and grandsons of Robert Sr.,” citing Caruther’s “Life of Caldwell” — but inexplicably omitting George d. 1851, proved in his father’s will. Elsewhere in the book, Rev. Rankin identifies John, Robert and William Rankin as sons of Rev. War Robert (making those three men great-grandsons of Robert Sr.). Rev. Rankin probably confused his Roberts, a very easy mistake to make in Guilford, and the latter is most likely correct. I am not including those three here as sons of Robert d. 1795, because I found no evidence for them in the Guilford records. Instead, this chart includes only the children proved by the will of Robert d. 1795: George d. 1851, Mary Rankin Wilson, Isabel, and two unnamed daughters, one of whom was the wife of William Denny who died in 1825.

3 George Rankin (George d. 1851) was born in Guilford Co., NC, 22 Mar 1767 and died in McNairy Co., TN, 15 Sep 1851.[10] George d. 1851 married Nancy Gillespie on 28 Jan 1791 in Guilford.[11] He sold 443 acres on the south side of Buffalo Creek in Guilford on 22 Aug 1832, and then moved to McNairy.[12] He and his wife Nancy (1773 – 30 Jul 1843) are buried at Bethel Springs Cemetery in McNairy. The census records for George in Guilford and McNairy support the possibility of 11 possible, but I haven’t been able to prove that many. This chart shows only seven children, and I’m not entirely sure about a couple of those.

4 Some Robert Rankin was a son of George’s, which is proved by a gift deed.[13] George d. 1851’s son was (if I have the right man) born in 1792 and died 1845 – the man whom I call Robert (1792? – 1845?).[14] It is possible — ** and this is speculative ** — that George d. 1851 and Nancy’s proved son Robert was the same man as the Robert Rankin who married Isabel Rankin, daughter of Rev. War Robert and Mary (“Polly”) Cusick Rankin. Isabel was b. 1791 – d. 1861, per her tombstone; she and her husband Robert Rankin would have been great-grandchildren of R&R and therefore second cousins. Their pedigrees, in short (if my speculation is correct: (1) Isabel’s pedigree would be R&R > George d. 1760 & Lydia > Rev. War Robert & Polly Cusick > Isabel Rankin, while (2) her husband’s would be R&R > Robert d. 1795 > George d. 1851 m. Nancy Gillespie > Robert (1792? – 1845?). Some Robert and Isabel definitely married in Guilford in December 1812.[15] See their line under Isabel. I have put their line under Isabel because her identity as a daughter of Rev. War Robert and Mary Cusick is reasonably certain, while the identity of her spouse Robert is speculative.

4 Rebecca Rankin, who was almost certainly the Rebecca who m. Jedediah Rankin in 1811. He was a son of Rev. War Robert and Polly Cusick. They went to Perry Co., AR, see their line under Jedediah.

4 Margaret (Peggy) Rankin, b. 1796, Guilford, d. 1875, Lincoln Co., TN, m. Joseph H Wallace, Guilford, 6 Jan 1818.

4 Daniel G. Rankin? m. Elizabeth Hanner 1823.

4 Thankful Rankin Wharton? 1803-1885.

4 David Caldwell Rankin, b. 1808, Guilford Co., NC, married #1 Mary M. C. F. _______ (d. 1847, McNairy Co., TN), married #2 Nancy Wilson. David was almost certainly still in his parents’ household in the 1830 Guilford Co., NC census. He was listed in his own household in the 1840 and 1850 census for McNairy Co., TN, with his father George enumerated in his household.

5 William Rankin, b. abt 1834

5 Nancy Rankin, b. abt 1838

5 George Washington Rankin, b. abt 1840

5 Angelina Rankin, b. abt 1842, may have married A. J. Minton, 23 Jun 1863, McNairy

5 Marion Rankin, b. abt 1847

4 John D. Rankin, b. Guilford 1816-17, d. McNairy 1870, m. Mary (“Polly”) Kerby (1820-1883). Buried Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Finger, McNairy Co., TN.[16]

5 Francis Marion Rankin, b. 1836, d. 25 Jun 1890, buried Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Finger, McNairy Co. Wife Louisa Elizabeth James, 19 Aug 1834 – 25 Oct 1926.[17]

6 Julia Ann Rankin, 1858 – 1906.

6 Robert W. Rankin, b. 12 Mar 1860 TN, d. 15 Nov 1919. Wife Margaret J. ______ (1868-1958).[18]

7 Perry P. Rankin, b. Feb 1889, d. _____

7 Letta V. Rankin, b. abt. 1893

7 Robert L. Rankin, b. Mar 1895

7 Franklin Rankin, b. 13 Sep 1899, d. 24 Apr 1979. Per his TN death certificate, Franklin was a son of R. W. Rankin & Margaret J. Rankin. Franklin’s wife was Winnie Essie Patterson. Per marriage certificate, they were m. 18 Dec 1921 in Chester Co., TN. Both are buried in the Cave Springs Cemetery, Henderson, Chester Co., TN. Winnie’s obituary (she died November 28, 2001) identified her husband as Frank, d. 1979, and identifies her children as follows …

8 Herman Rankin, predeceased his mother. Death certificate says he was b. 20 Jul 1923, d. 9 Aug 1998, son of Frank Rankin and Winnie Essie Patterson, buried Shelby Co., TN.

8 Daughter Bernice Rankin McDaniel of Memphis.

8 Son Glenn Rankin of Selmer, TN.

8 Son Aaron Rankin of Gallatin, TN.

6 William Sherman Rankin, 1866 – 1937

6 Mary F. Rankin, 1868 – 1937, m. Mr. Maness

6 F. M. Rankin, Jr., 1871 – 1894

6 Louisa Rankin, 1873 – 1949

6 John B. Rankin, b. 1877, d. ____

5 Nancy Rankin, b. 1838-39, d. 1923?

5 Sarah E. Rankin, b. 1842, d. 1915?

5 Lucy E. Rankin, 1843-44, d. ____

5 Mary J. Rankin, b. 1845, d. 1934?

5 Robert Neal Rankin, b. 1847, d. 1922?

5 Thankful Caroline Rankin, b. 1850, d. ?

5 Margaret S. Rankin, b. 1852, d. 1927?

5 Julia A. Rankin, b. 1854, d. ?

5 Elizabeth E. Rankin, b. 1857, d. 1943?

5 George D. Rankin, b. 1860, d. ? May have gone to Oklahoma.

5 Hugh Kerby Rankin, b. 1865, d. 1946? Ditto. McNairy estate records mentions Elizabeth, George and Hugh Rankin, heirs and minors, by their guardian ad litem. So the estate was administered prior to 1876.

3 Mary Rankin m. Andrew Wilson, d. by 1795. Some of these Wilsons went to McNairy Co., TN, but I have not attempted to track them or sort them out.

4 William Rankin Wilson, b. 1787, Guilford Co., NC, d. 1855, reportedly m. Lydia Rankin — the Lydia who was a daughter of Rev. War Robert and Polly Cusick. I haven’t seen proof.

4 Andrew Wilson

4 Maxwell Wilson

3 Isobel Rankin

3 Daughter Rankin, possibly Rebecca? Not identified by name in her father’s 1795 will, but see will of William Denny dated 12 Dec 1824 proved Feb 1825. Will mentions brother-in-law George Rankin. See also Guilford DB 8: 230, 1803 deed witnessed by William Denny and Rebeckah Denny.

4 Rebeckah Denny m. Mr. Black

4 Pamela Denny m. Mr. Wilson

4 Nancy Denny

4 Isabel Denny

4 James Denny

4 William Denny

4 Allen Denny

3 Unnamed daughter Rankin.

2 George Rankin, b. 1729, Letterkenny Parish, County Donegal, Ireland. Emigrated to Pennsylvania about 1750 with father Robert.[19] Died 1760, Guilford Co., NC, m. Lydia Steele, from County Derry. George’s will, dated and proved 1760, names their sons John (“Rev. Shaker John”) and Robert (“Rev War Robert”).

3 Rev. Shaker John Rankin, b. 27 Nov 1757, Guilford Co., NC, d. 1850, Logan Co., KY. Married Rebeccah Rankin, 5 Dec 1786, a daughter of John Rankin and Hannah Carson (per Old Buffalo Church and Rev. John’s autobiography). He was ordained by Rev. Caldwell. He left NC in October 1796 and arrived in Gallatin, Sumner Co., TN, in Nov. 1796. In Dec. 1798, he moved to Gasper River, Logan Co., KY.

See http://digitalcommons.wku.edu.theses/1243. My listing of his children is entirely from the census records in Logan Co., KY.

4 George Rankin, 1787-1880. If birth date correct, he was b. NC.

4 Hannah Rankin, 1789-1826. Ditto.

4 Robert Rankin, date unknown, reportedly second eldest son, if so … b. 1790.

4 James Rankin, 1791-1884

4 Solomon Rankin, 1796-1882

4 John N. Rankin, 1798-1870

4 Jesse Rankin, 1799-1882.

4 William Rankin, 1803-1880

3 Robert Rankin (“Rev War Robert”), b. 1759 in Guilford (per pension application), m. #1 Polly Cusick (date unknown), m. #2 Mary Moody in 1803, both marriages in Guilford. Polly Cusick evidently died about 1801. Robert and Mary Moody moved from Guilford to McNairy, TN about 1832. He died there in 1840.[20] She died after 1850, when she appeared in the census in a son’s household.

Children of Rev War Robert and Polly Cusick. Three daughters (Lydia, Isabel and Thankful) are proved by the Guilford Co. 1816 will of their grandfather, William Cusick, who identified his granddaughters as children of Robert Rankin and his deceased daughter Polly. [21]

4 Lydia Rankin, b. before 1803. Reportedly married her cousin William Rankin Wilson (a grandson of Robert Rankin d. 1795 in Guilford) and d. 1862 in Arkansas. I haven’t found proof. I (blush) haven’t seriously looked yet.

4 Isbel/Isabel Rankin, b. 1791, m. Robert Rankin 9 Dec 1812 in Guilford. I ** speculate ** he was her second cousin Robert, a proved son of George (1767-1851) and Nancy Gillespie Rankin. Isabel and her husband Robert went to Arkansas, d. Pope Co. They are buried in the Old Kinslow Cemetery (about 1 mile west of Appleton, AR, now abandoned). Tombstones are inscribed “Robert Rankin d. 1845 aged 53” (which puts his birth year at 1792), “Isabelle Rankin died 1861 aged 70 years” (so born abt 1791), and “George W. Rankin died 1843 aged 22 yrs. 9 mo.” George was their son.

5 Margaret D. Rankin, 1813 –

5 Susan Rankin, 1814 –

5 George W. Rankin, 1821 – 1843

5 Malinda Rankin, 1823-1880, or possibly Salenda

5 Isabell Jane Rankin, b. 1825–26, d. 1899, married Joseph Poe

5 Robert M. Rankin, 1827 – 1894

5 Anthony Lambert Rankin, 1830-1892, m. Patience Ann Jones

6 Evert Rankin

7 Alta Rankin m. Ed Wilson

5 William Rankin?

5 Jasper N. Rankin, 1832-1862

5 Julia Ann Rankin

5 Carolina Rankin

5 Reuben Burr Rankin, b. 4 May 1834, d. 17 Aug 1909, Ozark, Franklin Co., AR. Married Nancy Elizabeth Nash, b. 1836, on 8 Dec 1853, marriage recorded in the minutes of the Glass Village Presby Congregation in Appleton, AR.[22]

6 John James Rankin, b. AR 8 Oct 1854, d. 22 Jan 1931, Perryville, Perry Co., AR. Married Margaret Ann Lemley, 7 Apr 1862 – 20 Oct 1948, Perryville.

7 Mollie Rankin, d. bef. 1961

7 Lee Lester Rankin m. May Hamilton, d. bef. 1961

8 Ruby Rankin

8 Lowell Rankin

7 Sibley Arthur Rankin, b. 1882, Appleton, AR, m. #1 Mayme Bunn, m. #2 Mary Estella Rankin, Morrilton, AR.

8 L. D. Rankin, Nachez, MS m. ????

9 Michael Rankin, b. abt. 1939, wife Carolyn, lived in Natchez on Rankin St.

9 John Patrick Rankin, b. abt 1943, Ole Miss, geological engineering

9 Lee Dennis Rankin, b. abt 1946.

7 Reuben Anderson Rankin, m. #1 Mae Bowie, m#2 Dollie Gentry, d. bef. 1961

7 Rulen? Nulen? Ephriam Rankin m. LaVada McGehee

8 John Edward Rankin of Tulsa, OK as of 1961

7 Jesse Parke Rankin m. Pearl Thedford, d. bef. 1961

8 Cleburne Rankin, lived in Perryville, AR as of 1961

8 Ida Rae Rankin m. Mr. Henry, lived in Little Rock as of 1961

7 Maudie Ethel Rankin, m. R. E. Richey, lived in Tulsa as of 1961

7 Odie Ella Rankin, m. #1 Ed Bland, m. #2 Jake Tulp, lived Little Rock

7 John Leland Rankin m. Maudie Luella Rankin, twin sister of the Mary Estella who m. Sibley Arthur Rankin, lived in Cutler, CA

7 Cecil Farrar Rankin, Perryville, AR, never married.

6 Mary M. Rankin, 1856-1871

6 Rosetta A. Rankin, 1857-1947, “Zett,” married Henry Templeton

6 Nancy Isobel Rankin, 1858-1947, m. Anderson Bartlett

6 Sarah Fina? Fine? Rankin, 1859-1934, m. Henry Bartlett

6 Laura Alice Rankin, 1865-1948

6 George Alver Rankin, 1868 – 1938, b. Mulberry AR, d. Lone Elm, Franklin, AR, m. Ollie Delana Francis, b. 1869

7 William Edgar Rankin, 1890-1946

7 Thomas Fay Rankin, 1892-1920

7 Phoebe Lois Rankin, 1895-1970

7 Jasper Francis Rankin, 1897-1988

7 George Argus Rankin, 1900-1993 m. Grace L.

7 Rollie Burr Rankin, b. 1905, AR, d. 1995, San Pablo, Contra Costa, CA, m. Hazel Melissa Mackey, 1904-1995. Kit #207504 in the Rankin DNA project.

4 Thankful Rankin, b. before 1803, m. Hance McCain in Guilford, 4 Feb 1818.

4 John Rankin, b. 17 Feb 1797 d. 24 Mar 1846, buried Bethel Springs Cem., McNairy Co., TN.

4 Jedediah Rankin is proved as a son of Rev. War Robert by an 1815 Guilford gift deed.[23] Born abt 1783-84, Guilford Co., NC, d. 1862. Appeared in the Guilford census in 1820.[24] Went to Perry Co., AR about 1832, says one source; another says he was there by 1830. Appears in the Perry Co. census in 1850 and 1860 in the household of his son George M. Rankin.[25] Jedediah was married twice. He married wife #1, Rebecca Rankin, 4 Dec 1811, Guilford Co., NC, Robert Rankin Jr., bondsman. [Note: Robert JUNIOR in 1811 was Robert, a proved son of George and Nancy Gillespie. Rebecca was almost certainly also a daughter of George and Nancy.] Rebecca died in 1827. Jedediah m. wife #2 was Elizabeth _______.

5 Catherine Rankin, b. 1812, married Mr. Kidd, to Texas.

5 Polly Ann Rankin, m. Capt. Wilson of Arkansas, she died in 1863.

5 George M. Rankin, b. abt 1822, Guilford Co., NC, m. Elizabeth Jane Alexander, 28 Dec 1841. See 1880 census.[26] Died 1896, Perry Co., AR. They had 14 children, per Goodspeed’s.

6 Robert N. Rankin, b. AR 10 Jun 1844, d. Corinth, MS, 1863

6 George W. Rankin, b. AR 15 Sep 1846, lived in Perryville

6 Rebecca Rankin, b. 1848, d. infant

6 William H. C. (or H. R.,?) Rankin, b. AR 4 Mar 1850, Perryville merchant, m. Mollie E. Swaggerty 7 Feb 1875 (she was b. GA)

6 Polly Ann Rankin, b. Apr 1851, d. 1863

6 Lucinda C. Rankin, b. AR abt 1854, might be the Lucinda Catherine b. Apr 1853, m. John Bland.

6 John J. Rankin, b. AR Apr 1855, d. Dec 1880

6 Isbel or Isabella C. Rankin, b. AR 1857, d. Jan 1877

6 Henry M. Rankin, b. AR 1859

6 Lousetta Rankin, b. AR 25 Dec 1861, m. George Bland, to California

6 Edmund (“Eddie”) Rankin, b. AR 26 Dec 1864, d. TX 1886

6 Elizabeth (“Betsey”) J. Rankin, b. AR Mar 1867, m. E. B. Rorer of Perry Co.

6 Monroe Madison Rankin, b. 3 Mar 1869, AR. See 1910, 1920 and 1930 census. Married Maggie Edwards 14 Jul 1895, Moab, Perry Co., AR. He was 26, she was 16. A SSI claim identifies spouse as Margaret M. Edwards, a child as Faye Edith Filkins. Children from census:

7 Lyle Rankin, b. abt 1898

7 Fay Rankin, b. abt 1905, married Mr. Filkins.

7 Roy Rankin, b. abt 1907-08 (seems to be “Ray” in the 1930 census)

7 Ruben N. Rankin, b. 1909. See 1930 census, living with parents Madison & Maggie. Married Eunice Bell Lane, 13 Jan 1929, Saline Co. AR. They have one child in that census: Ruben C. Rankin.

8 Reubin Cecil Rankin, 1930-1992. Tombstone in Smith-Rosemont Cemetery, Saline, Benton Co., AR. Wife Frances Louise Samples. SS death index mentions Reuben N. Rankin and Eunice J. Lane, his parents.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=RAN&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=4&GScntry=4&GSsr=1601&GRid=44304504&

7 Sybil Rankin, b. abt 1915

4 George Rankin, b. Guilford Co., NC (reportedly 1782), d. 1828, went to Pulaski Co., AR. Married Ann McMurray, 22 Nov 1803. See Pulaski County census, 1840 … Ann Rankin, 0001-00000001. She is 50<60, b. 1780-1790, fits with likely birthdate of George, son of Rev War Robert and Polly Cusick. She is listed on the same page as Wiliam D. Rankin in the 1840 census, suggesting he is her son. See also 1830 tax list, Pulaski Co., Ann Rankin (also listed 1836, 1839). Jedediah Rankin is listed on the 1830 tax list along with Robert Rankin. In the 1835 tax list, there is Robert Rankin, William Rankin (1835 and 36) and William D. Rankin (1839).

5 Probable son: John J. Rankin, b. abt 1822. In the 1850 census, Pulaski Co., AR, he is listed in the dwelling next to Ann Rankin, probably his mother.[27]

6 Dores, probably Doris, Rankin, b. AR abt 1845

6 Frances Rankin, b. AR abt. 1846

6 George Rankin, b. AR abt. 1849-50.

5 William D. Rankin, b. 1800-1810, AR. Married Minerva Payne, 12 Jul 1832, Pulaski Co., AR. Land grant, 1838, 160A, Section 29, T3-N, R15-W. 1840 census suggests two sons born 1835-40, one son born 1833-1840, plus two daughters. [28] His wife is 20 < 30 in 1840, born 1810-1820.[29] Children from 1850 census.[30]

6 Thomas Rankin, b. AR abt 1831

6 Julia Ann Rankin, b. AR abt 1834

6 James W. Rankin, b. AR abt 1836, married Sarah LNU.[31]

7 William D. Rankin, b. AR 1859-60

7 Franklin Rankin, b. AR abt 1861

7 Texas? Rankin, female, b AR abt 1862

7 Elmira Rankin, b. AR abt 1867

7 Julia Rankin, b. AR abt 1869

6 Sarah Rankin, b. AR abt 1841

6 William? Henry Rankin, b. abt 1843 per 1850 census, abt. 1842 per 1870 census. Rankin descendant says he was b. 1839, d. 1906.[32]

7 George Emory Rankin, 1866-1931, m. Sophronia Evelena Coley, 29 Mar 1894, Faulkner Co., AR. She died 1926 in Ouachita Parish, LA. Obit said her husband was “of Caldwell Parish.”[33]

8 Chester Clyde Rankin of Ceres, CA, b. 27 Dec 1894, Conway Co., AR per draft registration card, d. 11 Jul 1977, Ceres, CA.

8 William Henry Rankin, b. 1898, Howard Co., AR, d. 1981, Columbia, Caldwell Par., LA.

8 Rollie R. Rankin, b. 1902, Howard Co., AR, d. 1984, Caldwell Parish, LA

8 Alberta Rankin, b. abt 1905, Howard Co., AR

8 Bertie L. Rankin, b. abt 1907, Howard Co., AR

8 Laura Dee Rankin, b. abt 1909, Howard Co., AR

8 Harry B. Rankin, b. abt 1909, Howard Co., AR

8 Fred D. Rankin, b. 10 Feb 1913, Howard Co., AR, d. 11 Feb 1975, Winnsboro, Franklin Parish, LA. His obituary names his surviving sons and a couple of his brothers.

9 George E. Rankin of Bossier City.

9 Fred Allen Rankin, b. 1944, lives in Benton, Bossier Parish, LA.

6 Enneline? Rankin, b. AR abt 1845

6 George Rankin, b. AR abt 1847

5 Robert Rankin, b. 1805, NC, d. 1863, Perry Co., AR, m. Frances Hogan.[34] Buried in Antioch Cemetery, Perryville, AR. Double headstone with Frances. His tombstone says “Killed by Jayhawkers.” http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSiman=1&GScid=52846&GRid=28734817&

6 W. G. Rankin, b. 2 Mar 1830, m. #1 Parmelia Ellsberry Mar 1852, two subsequent wives.

6 Martha A. Rankin, b. abt 1832, AR

6 Edmund Hogan Rankin, 5^th child of 12, b. 31 Mar 1837 – d. 25 Jun 1917, m. #1 Nancy Jane Spears Jan 1863 (she d. 1883); m #2 Sarah Elizabeth Camp. Buried Antioch Cemetery, Perryville, Perry Co., AR.[35]

7 George W. Rankin, b. abt 1863, probably d. abt. 1881, age 18, buried Antioch Cem.

7 John A. J. Rankin, b. abt. 1864

7 Henry C. Rankin, b. abt. 1865

7 Elizabeth J. Rankin, b. abt. 1869

7 Charles C. Rankin, b. 11 Feb 1872, d. 15 Apr. 1901, buried Antioch Cemetery.

7 Edmond Filmore Rankin, b. 25 Jun 1873, d. 10 Aug 1947, wife Nancy Annie Rankin, 1872 – 1944. Buried Antioch Cemetery, Perryville.

7 Alice L. Rankin, b. abt 1874

7 Julie E. Rankin, b. abt 1878

7 William Alexander Rankin, b. 21 Sept. 1879, d. 1965, m. Zora Mae _____.[36] See also WWII Draft Registration card giving birth date, Zora’s name, and middle name.

8 Otto Harris Rankin, b. 5 May 1904, Perry Co., AR, d. 5 Dec 1977, AR. Married Novie Brown, Morrilton, Conway Co., AR, 14 Oct 1923, both age 19. Both buried Ada Valley Cemetery in Conway Co., AR.[37]

9 Marie Rankin, b. abt 1925

9 Paul Rankin, b. abt 1927

9 Juanita Rankin, b. abt 1929

9 Harold Leon Rankin, b. 2 Oct 1931, d. 20 Aug 2013, buried in Ada Valley Cemetery. Obituary names his survivors, including two sons. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSiman=1&GScid=2162879&GRid=115842083&

8 Edward C. Rankin, b. abt 1906

8 Pearl E. Rankin, b. abt 1908-09

8 Lloyd M. Rankin, b. 22 Jun 1910, d. 18 May 1963. Buried Antioch Cemetery. Married #1, Conway Co., Lorene Paul, 12 May 1935. Married #2 Pearl McClain, 29 Mar 1941.

8 Violet Rankin, b. abt 1912

8 Dollie Rankin, b. abt 1916

8 Rayburn Rankin, b. abt 1920

Grandsons of William A. and Zora, not sure of father, positive about grandfather:

9 Don Rankin, b. abt 1933

9 Ronnie Rankin, b. abt 1936

6 Harriet J. Rankin, b. abt 1840, AR

6 Julia E. Rankin, b. abt 1842, AR

6 Luzetta E. Rankin, b. abt 1844, AR

6 John S. Rankin, b. abt 1847, AR

6 Charles C. Rankin, b. AR abt. 1849

6 Frances J. Rankin, b. abt. 1851

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Some more info, from one of those old “Heritage” books for Perry County, Page 689-690. *** Which George? (1) not George, son of R&R, died 1760; (2) not George d. 1851, because he stayed in TN and died there;

W.G. Rankin, a prominent stock dealer residing in Perryville, is a son of Robert Rankin and Frances Hogan of Tennessee and Georgia, respectively, the former a son of George Rankin of Guilford County, North Carolina … George Rankin*** and his son Robert, in company with several others, traveled up the Arkansas River as far as Cane Hill, Washington, looking for a suitable location, but finally returned to Little Rock and shortly afterward settled on the Maumelle River, about fourteen miles southeast of Perryville, where he resided until his death. His wife died in 1858, a few years after his decease. … Robert Rankin moved with his father to the settlement on Maumelle River, where he entered eighty acres of land … Robert was married when quite young, being only twenty two years old on that occasion. He sold forty acres of land which he had previously entered and entered 120 acres more in the neighborhood of his eighty acres upon which he made his home and resided until his death in the fall of 1863, being murdered by a bushwhacker. His wife lived five years afterward and followed him to the grave. W.G. Rankin was born March 2, 1830, in what is now Faulkner County, and received all the advantages to be derived from the schools of that period. He remained at home and worked on the farm with his father until March 1852, when he married to Miss Parmelia Ellsberry, by whom he has had three children: C.C. (who resides in Perryville), Edmund H. (also of Perryville), and Margaret (wife of Robert Long, who resides eight miles from that town). Mr Rankin lost his wife on November 7, 1868 and in November 1871 he was again married, his second wife being Miss Julia Bagly, by whom he had one child: Mary Josephine. This wife died in 1878 and about one year and nine months later Mr Rankin married #3 Mrs Missouri Brazeale, by whom he has had two children: Egbert and Quinlen. After his first marriage he bought forty acres of land and entered 160 acres more eight miles east of Perryville where he resided from 1853 to 1876, and then moved to Perryville where he has lived ever since. During the war he enlisted in the army, but after three months’ service, the long marches, exposure and hard life of a soldier affected his health and he was forced to return home and hire a substitute to fill his place for the remainder of the war. Mr Rankin has made industry and good management accumulate a comfortable amount of property. He owns land east of block 14 in the town of Perryville, also forty acres just across the river with twenty acres under cultivation, besides having a half interest in 215 acres ten miles down the Fourche, of which twenty five acres are under cultivation. He is a member of the Masonic order and belongs to the Perryville Lodge. In politics he is a Democrat and has always voted that ticket. He is one of the old landmarks of the county and any history of the State of Arkansas would be incomplete without his name. Besides himself, Mr Rankin has two brothers and one sister still living: Edmund H. (residing in Perry County on the old homestead), Charles (residing 3 miles south of Perryville), and Martha (now the wife of Willis Y. Russell, living in Effingham County, Ill.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Source for the following: The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Central Arkansas (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press reprint, 1978; original publisher The Goodspeed Publishing Co. of Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis, 1889).

Goodspeed says that Jedediah Rankin came to Perry Co., AR in 1832. Jed was the father of G. M. Rankin, “who was born within one-half mile of the famous Guilford Court House … August 1, 1821.” “The grandfather, Robert Rankin, was a Revolutionary Soldier, and took part in the battle of Guilford Court House.”

…. “Jedediah Rankin and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom 2 died when very young. The oldest, Catherine, was born in 1812 and married a man named Kidd, now residing in Texas. The next was Polly Ann, who married a Capt. Wilson, of Arkansas, [where] she died in 1863; and G. M. Rankin, who, after his mother’s death, in 1827, lived with an uncle named Robert Rankin, until 1837, when he moved to Arkansas, and joined his father … the elder Rankin [died] in 1862 at the age of 79 [thus born 1783, that would be Jedediah]… his wife [died in 1882, age 81].

… G. M. Rankin m. Elizabeth Jane Alexander 28 Dec 1841. They had 14 children, 7 still living (as of 1889, I suppose)…(1) Robert N. Rankin (b. 10 Jun 1844, killed at Corinth, 1863); (2) Wash. (b. 15 Sep 1846, lives in Perrybille); (3) Rebeca (b. 1848, d. infant); (4) W. H. R. Rankin (b. 4 Mar 1850, a merchant in Perryville, m. Mollie E. Swaggerty 7 Feb 1875, she from GA); (5) Polly Ann (b. Apr 1851, d. 1863); (6) Catherine (b. Apr 1853, m. John Bland of Perryville); (7) John Rankin (b. Apr 1855 d. Dec 1880); (8) Isabella (b. 1857, d. Jan 1877); (9) Henry (b. 1859); (10) Lousetta (b. 25 Dec 1861, m. George Bland, to CA); (11) Edmund (b 26 Dec 1864, d. TX 1886); (12) Betsey J. (b. Mar 1857, m. E. B. Rorer of Perry Co.); (13) Madison M. (b. 3 Mar 1869).

(Note on #4, William H. R. Rankin m. Mollie Swaggerty: they had 4 kids, (1) Hallie (Feb 1876), (2) Sibyl (Dec 1879), (3) Fay (Nov 1883) and (4) Joe (Jan 1886).

Another Rankin family, but I’m on a roll here … same source…

“W. G. Rankin …[of] Perryville is a son of Robert Rankin and Frances (Hogan) Rankin … Robert being a son of George Rankin of Guilford Co., NC… George Rankin and his son Robert …settled on the Maumelle River about 14 miles SW of Perryville … Robert … married … when only 22, d. fall of 1863, “being murdered by a bushwhacker” … W. G. Rankin was b. 2 Mar 1830 in what is now Faulkner county…m. Parmelia Elsberry in March 1852. W. G. and Parmelia had 3 children: (1) C. C. Rankin (Perryville); (2) Edmund H. (ditto); (3) Margaret m. Robert Long. Parmelia d. 7 Nov 1868 and W. G. married w#2 Julia Bagly, one dau (4) Mary Josephine. Julia d. in 1878 and W. G. married Mrs. Missouri Brazeale, two children: (5) Egbert and (6) Quinlen.

…W. G. Rankin has 2 brothers and one sister still living: Edmund H. Rankin (Perry Co. on old homestead), Charles (3 miles south of Perryville) and Martha m. Willis Y. Russell, Effingham Co., IL.

…about Edmund H. Rankin (b. 1 Mar 1837, Perry Co., the 5^th of 12 children), son of Robert and Frances (Hogan) Rankin, m. Nancy Jane Spears, and they had 10 children, 9 still living: (1) George W., (2) Andrew J., (3) Henry Clay, (4) Frances Jane, (5) Charles C., (6) Edmond F., (7) Laura Alice, (8) Julian E. and (9) William A. … “the paternal grandfather” fought in the Battle of Guilford Court House…” I think Goodspeed’s may have omitted a generation … “the paternal great-grandfather came to America before the Rev War.” (ditto).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[1] The source for the migration information is the autobiography of one of Robert and Rebecca’s grandsons, “Shaker Reverend John Rankin” who went to Union Co., KY. Excerpts from it are available in some family trees at ancestry.com. I would love to have a complete copy if anyone has one or can send a link.

[2] J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, History of Chester County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1881), reproduction facsimile by Chester County Historical Society (Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, Inc., 1996).

[3] A. Gregg Moore & Forney A. Rankin (as added author), The Rankins of North Carolina : A Genealogy and History of Those Who Can Trace Their Ancestry to One of the Several Rankin Families Native to the Tar Heel State (Marietta, GA: A. G. Moore, 1997) (two volumes). Moore confused Robert d. 1795 with his father Robert Sr. m. Rebecca.

[4] Rev. S. M. Rankin, History of Buffalo Presbyterian Church and Her People (Greensboro, NC: Jos. J. Stone & Co., 1931).

[5] See, e.g., Rowan County, NC Order Book 3: 200 and Will Book A: 31, will of William Denny dated 1766, witnessed in 1766 and proved in 1770 by John Rankin.

[6] Rowan Deed Book 2: 67, 14 Apr 1755 deed from Robert Rankin to William Denny, 5 shillings, 640 acres adjacent the corners of Nottingham Company tracts No. 14 and 15; Rowan Deed Book 2: 70, 13 Apr 1775 deed from Robert and Rebecca Rankin to George Rankin, 480 acres on the south side of Brushy Fork.

[7] Guilford or Rowan County Will Book A: 31, Order Book 3: 200, will of Wm Denny naming wife Ann, dated 10 Aug 1766 proved May 1770.

[8] Will of Robert Rankin Sr. (who was then called “Sr.” since Robert m. Rebecca had died earlier) dated May 1795, proved Nov 1795. Guilford Co., NC, WB A: file #312.

[9] Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 (database online).

[10] Albert Brown, Cemeteries, 1824 – 1986 McNairy County, TN (1993).

[11] Frances T. Ingmire, Guilford County North Carolina Marriage Records 1771-1868 Volume III Names O-Z (Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing Co., 1984).

[12] A. B. Pruitt, Abstracts of Deeds Guilford Co, NC Books 19, 20, & 21 (1825-1836) (2007), abstract of Deed Book 19: 688.

[13] A. B. Pruitt, Abstracts of Deeds Guilford Co, NC Books 14, 15, & 16 (1819-1826) (2005), abstract of Deed Book 14: 11, deed of 23 Mar 1819 from “George Rankin Sr. to his son Robert Rankin Jr.,” both of Guilford, 110.5 acres on the south side of North Buffalo Creek. By 1819, the man designated as Robert Rankin Senior would be Rev. War Robert, son of George and Lydia Steele Rankin.

[14] See the 1820 federal census for Guilford Co., 1830 census for McNairy, and the 1840 census for Pope Co., AR.

[15] Ingmire, Guilford County North Carolina Marriage Records.

[16] 7 Mar 1870, McNairy Co., TN, administrator’s bond on estate of J. D. Rankin, administrator F. M. Rankin, bond Francis Kirby. Book B: 88.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSiman=1&GScid=15910&GRid=99472727&

[17] 1860 census, Purdy P.O., McNairy Co., TN, Frank Rankin, age 23, b. TN, Elizabeth Rankin, 24, July A. Rankin (sic, Julie or Julia), 2, and Robert W. Rankin, 3 months. Two households down from Frank Kerby. 1870 census, McNairy Co., Frances Ranken, 34, Sarah (?) E. Rankin, 35, Julia A. Rankin, 12, Robert W. Rankin, 10, William S. Rankin, 4, Mary F. Rankin, 1. The adjacent household is Mary F. Rankin, his mother (widow of J. D. Rankin). In 1870, he was the administrator on the estate of J. D. Rankin, with Francis Kirby, bondsman. 1880 census, McNairy Co., TN, F. M. Rankin, b. TN, parents b. NC, wife Louisa E. Rankin, son R. W. Rankin, 20, daughter Mary F. Rankin, 11, son F. M. Rankin, Jr., daughter Louisa Rankin, 7, and son John B. Rankin, 3. Headstone application for military veterans says that he was a Chief Master Sgt., 6^th Tennessee Cavalry. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6039779

[18] 1900 census, Chester Co., TN, Robert W. Rankins, 40, b. TN Mar 1860, wife Margaret J. Rankins, 32, b. TN Feb 1868, son Perry P. Rankin, 10, b. TN Feb 1889, dau Letta V. Rankins, 7, b. TN _____, son Robert L. Rankins, 5, b. TN Mar.1895, son Franklin Rankins, 8 months, b TN Sep 1899. Plus Louisa E. Rankin, 65, b. TN Aug 1835. Buried in Cave Springs Cemetery, Henderson, Chester Co., TN: Robert W. Rankin, 12 Mar 1860 – 15 Nov 1919, and Margaret J. Rankin, 13 Feb 1868 – 16 Mar 1958.

[19] William R. Black, “Went off to the Shakers: The First Converts of South Union” (2013), Masters Theses and Special Projects. Paper 1243. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu.theses/1243. Cites the autobiography of Shaker Rev. John Rankin, son of George and Lydia, for the immigration facts.

[20] Tombstone in Bethel Springs Cem., McNairy Co., TN: “Private Robert Rankin, 29 May 1759 – 21 Dec 1840.”

[21] Will of William Cusick dated 4 May 1816 proved May 1817 naming children of Robert Rankin “Sr.” and deceased daughter Polly: Lydia, Isbel and Thankful. Guilford Co. WB B: 435.

[22] From Jackie Gillie’s 1961 letter, the organizational minutes of the Sulphur Springs Congregation (now the Appleton Presbyterian Church, Appleton, AR): church was organized 23 Mar 1856, “Bros. Jno. M. Poe and Reuben B. Rankin were duly elected and ordained to the office of Ruling Elders. List of charter members included R. B. (Reuben Burr) Rankin, his wife Elizabeth Rankin, R. M. Rankin (Robert, Reuben’s brother), A. L. Rankin (Anthony Lambert), Isabel J. Poe (Reuben’s sister Isabel who m. Jo. S. Poe) and their mother Isabel Rankin, who was #1 on the list.

[23] Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 12: 312, deed dated 24 Oct 1815 from Robert Rankin to his son Jeddediah Rankin, both of Guilford, for natural love & affection, 150A on the waters of North Buffalo Cr. adjacent the northeast corner of Robert Rankin’s old tract. Acknowledged by grantor August 1816.

[24] Federal census, 1820, Guilford Co., NC, Jedediah Rankin, p. 96, 000110-20010. Eldest male (Jedediah) is 26<45.

[25] 1850 census, Perry Co., AR, household of George M. Rankin, 28, b. NC abt 1822, farmer, Elizabeth Rankin, 22, b. AR, Robert Rankin, 6, b. AR, George W. Rankin, 4, b. AR, and Jedediah Rankin, 65, b. NC abt 1785 and with Elizabeth Rankin, 54, NC; 1860 census, Fource LaFave Twp., Perryville PO, Perry Co., AR: household of George M. Rankin, 38, farmer, b. NC abt 1822, Elizabeth Rankin, 32, b. AR, Robert N.? Rankin, 16, AR, George W. Rankin, 14, AR, William H. C. Rankin, 10, AR, Lucinda C. Rankin, 6, AR, John J. Rankin, 4, AR, Isbel C. Rankin, 2, AR, Henry M. Rankin, 3 months?, AR, Jeddiah S. Rankin, 74, b. NC, and Elizabeth Rankin, 63, NC.

[26] 1880 census, Fourch LaFave Twp., Perry Co., AR, household of George M. Rankin, 58, farmer, b. NC about 1822, parents b. NC, wife Elizabeth J. Rankin, 54, b. AR, parents b. VA, son John J. Rankin, 24, b. AR, son Henry Rankin, 20, AR, son Eddie? Rankin, 15, b. AR, daughter Elizabeth J. Rankin, 13, AR, son Monroe Rankin, 11, b. AR.

[27] 1850 census, Big Rock Pulaski Co., p. 340, dwl. 369: John J. Rankin, 28, Elizabeth, 26, Dores, 5, fem., Frances, 4, fem., and George 6 mos, all b. AR. Next dwelling Ann Rankin, 70, b NC, 1780.

[28] 1840 census, Pulaski Co., AR, 210001-11001, he is 30 < 40, born 1800-1810. One Rankin researcher says Wm. D. Rankin, s/o George, lived 1806-1846.

[29] Minerva Rankin m. George Abbott, 13 Oct 1855, Conway Co., AR, age 42 (b. abt. 1813). She appeared in the 1860 census in Conway Co., dwelling #257, in the household of Chas Adams, 38, as a cook, name of Minerva Abbott, 46, b. TN abt 1814, with Nancy Sexton, 15, b TN, George Rankin, 12, b. AR (Minerva’s son). In the adj. dwelling is J. W. Rankin (James), also Minerva’s son, 25, farmer, b. AR, Sarah Rankin, 22, b. TN, and Wm. D. Rankin, 6 mos., b AR.

[30] 1850 census, Conway Co., AR, #390, Minerva Rankin, 36 (b. abt. 1814), farmer, b TN, with Thomas Rankin, 19, b. AR, Julia Ann Rankin, 16, b. AR, James Rankin, 14, b. AR, Sarah Rankin, 9, b. AR, Henry Rankin, 7, b. AR (abt. 1843, is this William Henry???), Enneline? Rankin, 5, b. AR, and George Rankin, 3, b. AR (abt 1847).

[31] See 1850, 1860 and 1870 census. In 1870, he is listed in Conway Co., AR, dwl #89: J. W. Rankin, 35, b. AR abt 1835, with Susan, 30, MS, William, 11, AR, Franklin, 9, AR, Texas?, female, 8, b AR, Elmira, 4, b AR, and Julia, 1, b AR.

[32] 1870 census, Clark, Pope Co., AR, #342: Henry W. H. Rankin, 28, b AR abt 1842, Elizabeth H. Rankin, 20, b. AR abt 1850, and George E. Rankin, 4, b AR abt 1866.

[33] 1900 census, Suplhur Springs, Howard Co., AR, George E. Rankin, b. May 1866, m. 7 years, b AR/AR/AR, with wife Fromia E., b. July 1891, age 28, m. 7 years, AL/AL/AL, with sons Chester C., b. Dec 1894 and William H., b. Oct 1898. 1910 census, Duckett, Howard Co., AR, George Rankin, 44, AR/AR/AR, Saphronia Rankin, AL/TN/TN, Chester Rankin, son, 14, Wm. H. Rankin, 11, son, Rolly Rankin, 7, son, Elberta Rankin, 5, daughter, Bertie L. Rankin, 3, daughter, Laura Dee Rankin, 2, daughter, Harry Bee, 2, son.

[34] 1850 census, Perry Co., AR, household of Robert Rankin, 47, farmer, b. TN about 1803, so TN is wrong, Frances J. Rankin, 37, b. AR, William G. Rankin, 20, b. AR, Martha A. Rankin, 18, b. AR, Edward H. Rankin, 13, b. AR, Harriet J. Rankin, 10, b. AR, Julia E. Rankin, 8, b. AR, Luzette E. Rankin, 6, b. AR, John S. Rankin, 3, b. AR, Charles C. Rankin, 1, b. AR 1849.

[35] 1880 census, Fourche Lafave Twp., Perry Co., AR: Edmond H. Rankin, 43, farmer, b. AR, father b. NC; wife Nancy J. Rankin, 39; son George W. Rankin, 17; son John A. J. Rankin, 16; son Henry C. Rankin, 15; daughter Elizabeth J. Rankin, 11; son Charles C. Rankin, 9; son Edmond F. Rankin, 6; daughter Alice L. Rankin, 6; daughter Julie E. Rankin, 2; son William A. Rankin, 8 months.

[36] 1910 census, Rankin, Perry Co., AR: William A. Rankin, b. AR/AR/AR, farmer; wife Zora M. Rankin; son Otto H. Rankin, 6; son Edward C. Rankin, 4; daughter Pearl E. Rankin, 2. See also 1920 census, Maumelle, Rankin Twp., Perry, AR: Will A. Rankin, 40, b. AR, parents b. AR; wife Zora Rankin, 35; son Otto Rankin, 16; son Eddie Rankin, 14; daughter 1910 Pearl Rankin, 11; son Loyd Rankin, 10; daughter Violet Rankin, 8; daughter Dollie Rankin, 4; son Rayburn Rankin, 9 months. See also 1940 census, Rankin, Perry Co., AR: William A. Rankin, 60, b. AR; Zara Rankin, wife, 53, has had 8 children, all living; son Loyd Rankin, 29; daughter Violet Rankin, 27; grandsons Don Rankin, 7, and Ronnie Rankin, 4.

[37] 1940 census, Higgins Twp., Conway, AR: Otto Rankin, 35, farmer; wife Novie Rankin, 34; daughter Marie Rankin, 15; son Paul Rankin, 13; daughter Juanita Rankin, 11; son Harold Rankin, 8; daughter Thelma Rankin, 4; daughter Evaline Rankin, 7 months.

Part Two: Expanded Chart for James Rankin, son of Samuel and Eleanor Alexander Rankin

This is “part two” of an outline of the family tree of James Rankin, one of the sons of Samuel and Eleanor (“Ellen”) Alexander Rankin. It is an expanded outline that includes notes containing census records and other information, all shown in italics. I initially included citations to specific records (e.g., death certificates), although the sources became so repetitive that I abandoned that effort.

For a list of the primary sources I used in preparing this chart, see Part One HERE.

And now, for anyone who is an absolute sucker for detail, is the lonnnngggg expanded chart …

1 Samuel Rankin (1734 – 1816) and Eleanor (“Ellen”) Alexander Rankin (1740 – 1802). Samuel’s will, dated 16 Dec 1814 and proved April 1826, names inter alia their son James. (1) These dates of birth and death disagree with those given by most Rankin researchers. They are from Goshen Grove Presbyterian Cemetery inscriptions transcribed on FHL Microfilm #882,938. The film contains a pre-1914 cemetery inscription survey; the Historical Records Survey Service Division of the WPA prepared the transcription. Samuel Rankin’s tombstone has long since disappeared, but his wife Eleanor’s was still standing in the late 1990s. (2) North Carolina State Archives File Box C.R.060.801.21, original will of Samuel Rankin. Recorded in Lincoln County Will Book 1: 37. Will names children William, Jean Hargrove/Hartgrove, Samuel, David, Robert, Alexander, Ann Rutledge, Eleanor Dickson and James. A tenth child, Richard Rankin, predeceased Samuel but is proved by strong circumstantial evidence.

2 James Rankin (b. 1775-1780, d. 1832-1833). Wife Mary (“Polly”) Johnson, marriage bond 26 Aug 1812, Lincoln Co. Will named wife Mary, youngest child Mary Ann, and sons Richard and Robert. Provided all property to be equally divided among his children, without naming them. However, his estate records identify eight children. (1) 1820 census, Lincoln Co., NC, p. 350, James Rankin, 30001-10011. Male 26 < 46, female > 45, female 26 < 45, 3 males < 10, 1 female < 10. James, the eldest male, was b. 1775-1794. (2) 1830 census, Lincoln Co., NC, p. 231, James Rankin, 12020011-101001, shows James in the age 50 < 60 bracket, b. 1770-1780. Combining the 1830 and 1820 census info, James was born 1775-1780. (3) North Carolina State Archives, File Box C.R.060.801.21, “Lincoln County Wills, 1769 – 1926 Quickle – Reep,” file folder labeled “James Rankin 1832.” Folder contains the original will of James Rankin dated 27 Nov 1832, proved Jan 1833. Recorded in Lincoln Co. Will Book 1: 273. (4) File folder labeled “James Rankin 1832” also contains a document showing the division of his estate in eight lots to his heirs Robert Rankin, Rufus Rankin, Caroline Rankin, James Rankin, Louisa Rankin, Samuel Rankin, Richard J. Rankin, and Mary Rankin.

3 Robert Rankin, b. abt 1815, Lincoln Co., NC, d. after 1880, Crawford Co., AR. He is probably the Robert Rankin who appeared in the 1850 and 1860 census in Gaston Co., NC and then in the 1870 and 1880 census in Crawford Co. AR. Wife Harriet D. Alexander. (1) 1850 census, p. 404, Gaston Co., NC, dwelling #193, Robert Rankin, 35, merchant, b. NC, Harriet D. Rankin, 21, b. NC. (2) 1860 census, Woodlawn PO, Gaston Co., NC, Robert Rankin, 46, farmer, b. Lincoln Co., NC, Harriet Rankin, 30, b. Mecklenburg Co., NC, Amzi Rankin (male), 7, Charles Rankin, 4, and Robert Rankin, 2. Listed adjacent to James Alexander. (3) In the 1870 census, this family appears in Crawford Co., AR, Richland Twp., Van Buren, PO, dwelling 98: Robert Rankin, 55, farm labor, b. NC, Hariet Rankin, 42, b. NC, Emsly? Rankin (male, most likely Amzi?), 19, b. NC, Charles Rankin, 13, b. NC, Mary Rankin, 10, b. NC, Alice Rankin, 8, b. NC, Ada Rankin, 6, b. NC, and Robert Rankin, 2, b. NC. (4) 1880 census, Alma, Crawford Co., AR, dwelling 35, Robert Rankins, 65, farmer, b. NC, parents b. NC; H. D. Rankin, wife, 51, Charles Rankin, 23, son, Alice W. Rankin, daughter, 17, Ada D.? Rankin, 15, daughter, Robert E. Rankin, 12, son, and Richard A. Rankin, 3, son. (5) 1900 census, Crawford Co., AR, Alma Twp., dwelling #48, Harriet D. Rankins, b. Apr 1920, age 71, widowed, has had 10 children, 6 living, b. NC, parents b. NC; son Amzi A. Rankin, b. Mar. 1853 in NC, age 47, single, saloon keeper. Same dwelling, family of Ada B. Cason, daughter (of Harriet Rankin), b. Sep 1863 NC, age 36, married 9 years, has had 5 children, 4 living, Thomas E. Cason, (Harriet’s) son-in-law, b. Jul 1860, MS, 39, married 9 years, chief of police; Robert W. Cason, grandson, b. Apr 1894 AR, age 6, Delia A. Cason, granddaughter, b. Apr 1894 AR, age 6, Edw. E. Cason, grandson, b. Dec 1895, AR, age 4, Caude Cason, grandson, b. Nov 1899, and Richard A. Rankin, son, b. May 1871, age 29, b AR.

4 Amzi Alexander Rankin, b. 14 Mar 1853, Woodlawn, Gaston Co., NC, d. 23 Jun 1914, Muskogee, Muskogee Co., OK. Findagrave website has obituary identifying Woodlawn as his birthplace. He apparently never married. Buried Greenlawn Cemetery, Checotah, McIntosh Co., OK. (1) 1910 census, Checotah, McIntosh Co., OK, West Gentry Ave: Amsie [sic] A. Rankin, 53, single, b. NC, parents b. NC, Mary D. Holt, sister, 49, widowed, and Boy [?] G. Holt, nephew, 25, b. AR, father b TX, mother b NC. (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69677109&ref=acom

4 Charles Rankin, b. abt 1856-57, Gaston Co., NC. Died before 1900.

4 Robert Rankin, b. abt 1858, Gaston Co., NC. Died before 1870.

4 Mary D. Rankin, b. abt 1860-61, Gaston Co., NC. Married a Mr. Holt, no marriage record found. According to her brother Amzi’s obituary, she lived in Checotah, McIntosh Co., OK as of 1914. She was listed there in the 1930 census with her brother Robert. (1) Listed in brother Amzi’s household in 1910 census, see above. (2) 1930 census, Checotah, McIntosh Co., OK, 703 W. Gantry St., D. Holt (female), 69, widowed, b. NC, parents b. NC, and brother R. E. Rankin, 63, widowed, b NC., parents b. NC.

4 Alice W. Rankin, b. 1863, Gaston Co., NC, d. 1945, McIntosh Co., OK. Husband William Thomas McNeely (1860-1914), married 23 Oct 1883 in Crawford Co., AR. Both are buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Checotah, McIntosh Co., OK. (1) Alice’s tombstone: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McNeely&GSiman=1&GScid=98551&GRid=79087030& (2) Tom’s tombstone: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=79608448&ref=acom

4 Ada B. Rankin, b. Sep 1863, Gaston Co., NC. Husband Thomas E. Cason, married about 1891, Crawford Co., AR. See 1900 census with her mother Harriet Rankin, above.

4 Robert E. Rankin, b. Sep 1866, Gaston Co., NC. Appeared with sister Mary D. Rankin Holt in the 1930 census, Checotah, McIntosh Co., OK, widowed. Wife Rose Thursten/Thuston, m. 31 Dec 1891, Crawford Co., AR. (1) 1900 census, Indian Territory, Creek Nation, Checotah: Robert E. Rankin, b. Sep 1866, age 33, married 8 years, b. NC, parents b. NC, hardware salesman; wife Rose Rankin, b. Apr 1867, has had one child, b. AR, parents b. AR; Wiley E. Rankin, son, b. Dec 1896, Indian Territory, Creek Nation, father b. NC, mother b. AR. (2) 1910 census, Denver, CO, 2215 Clarkson St., Robert E. Rankin, 42, 1^st marriage, b. NC, parents b. NC, salesman, furniture store; wife Rose, 43, b. AR, parents b. AR, son Wylie E., 13, b. OK, father b. NC, mother b. AR.

5 Wiley Edward Rankin, b. 31 Dec 1890, Checotah, OK, d. 1945. Buried in the Crown Hill Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, Jefferson Co., CO. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=47089970&ref=acom

4 Richard Arthur Rankin, b. May 1871, Crawford Co., AR. Lived in McIntosh Co., OK as of 1914; Muskogee, OK, in 1934; rural Muskogee Co., in 1940. Buried Sperry Rest Haven Cemetery, Osage Co., OK. Wife Bernice, LNU. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15941441&ref=acom

3 Caroline Rankin.

3 James Rankin, b. abt. 1829. He might be, and probably is, the James Alexander Rankin (25 Jun 1829 – 2 Aug 1881) buried in the Rankin Cemetery in Upton Co., TX. James Rankin, son of James and Mary Johnson, identified himself as a carpenter in both the 1850 Gaston Co. census (in the household of his brother Samuel Rankin) and the 1860 census in Bowie Co., TX in the household of Robert Beaty, probably his brother-in-law. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSfn=James&GSby=1829&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=1881&GSdyrel=in&GSst=46&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=55136923&df=all&

3 Louisa Rankin, b. abt 1827-28. She might be the L. R. Rankin (female), age 32, in the 1860 census for Bowie Co., TX along with J. A. (James Alexander?) Rankin, 31, carpenter, Robert Beaty, 32, carpenter, and M. A. Beaty (female, perhaps Louisa’s sister Mary?), 29. All were born in NC.

3 Samuel Rankin, b. abt. 1821. Identified his occupation as “miner” in the 1850 census. To my surprise, gold was mined in Gaston Co. (1) 1850 census, Gaston Co., NC. Listing for Samuel Rankin with his siblings Rufus, Louisa and James Rankin. Samuel Rankin, 29, “miner,” Rufus Rankin, 27, farmer, Louisa Rankin, 23, James Rankin, 20, carpenter. Rufus’ first wife, Mary, died in March 1850, and his three eldest children (William, 6, Laura, 4, and James, 4 months) are also enumerated in the household.

3 Richard J. Rankin.

3 Mary Rankin. May be the Mary who married Robert Alexander Beaty on 22 Apr 1849, see the 1860 census, Bowie Co., TX and the 1850 census, Gaston Co., NC, listings for Robert Beaty.

3 William Rufus Rankin, b. 7 Mar 1823, Gaston Co., d. 17 Nov 1883, Gaston Co. He is buried in Goshen Grove Cemetery, Belmont, Gaston Co., NC. Major, Confederate Army. Married twice: #1 Mary Ann (possibly Capps?, 23 Feb 1826 – 6 Mar 1850); #2 Sarah Elizabeth Stowe (8 Apr 1840 – 28 Aug 1892). (1) 1850 census, Gaston Co., NC. Listing for Samuel Rankin with his siblings Rufus Rankin, Louisa Rankin, James Rankin, and Rufus Rankin’s eldest three children. Rufus’ first wife, Mary, died in March 1850, and the census was taken in August 1850. The three children of Rufus and Mary are listed in the household: William, 6, Laura, 4, and James Rankin, 4 months. (2) 1860 census, Woodlawn PO, Gaston Co., NC, dwelling 979, Rufus Rankin, 37, farmer, $1500/$3078, Sarah Rankin, 20, NC, William Rankin, 16, NC, Laura Rankin, 14, NC, James Rankin, 10, NC, Whiten Rankin, 3, NC, Andrew Rankin, 2, NC, J. Pinkney Stowe, 25, and Eliza W.? Stowe, 51. (3) 1870 census, River Bend, Gaston Co., dwelling 192, Rufus Rankin, 48, farmer, $2000/$1000, b. NC, Sarah Rankin, 28, NC, Mack Rankin, 20, NC, Whiten Rankin, 13, NC, Andrew Rankin, 9, NC, Pinckney Rankin, 7, NC, Robert Rankin, 5, NC, Mary Rankin, 3, NC, Larkin Rankin, 2 months, NC. (4) 1880 census, South Point, Gaston Co., William R. Rankin, 57, b. NC, parents b. NC. Wife Sarah Rankin, 40, son Andrew Rankin, 21, son Pinkney Rankin, 18, son Robert Rankin, 14, daughter Mary Rankin, 12, son Larkin Rankin, 10, daughter Jane Rankin, 8, son Albert Rankin, 6, son Price Rankin, 4, and mother-in-law Eliza A. Stowe, 71. (5) Adjacent tombstones in Goshen grove for William Rufus Rankin, CSA, Mary A. Rankin, wife of W. R. Rankin, and Sarah E. Rankin, wife of W. R. Rankin. “Wife of” is inscribed on the tombstones of both Mary and Sarah. Goshen Grove Presbyterian Church is located at 380 Woodlawn Avenue, Belmont, NC. The cemetery is past the church on the right, just before you get to the railroad tracks. William Rufus Rankin’s tombstone gives his dates of birth and death and has a “CSA” inscription. Military marker indicates that he was a Major in the 37^th NC Infantry Regiment. See image at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=66750474. William Rufus Rankin’s first three children (William Gamewell, Laura and James) were children of his first wife Mary Ann. The remaining 9 children (Whiten through Price) were children of his second wife, Sarah Elizabeth Stowe.

4 William Gamewell Rankin, 9 Mar 1844 – 12 Feb 1900. Wife Elvira A. Leeper (16 May 1840-11 Feb 1916). Buried New Hope Presbyterian Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1870 census, River Bend, Gaston Co., William Rankin, 26, b. NC, Elvira Rankin, 29, NC, Sallie Rankin, 6, NC, Wiley Rankin, 2, NC and Mary Rankin, 1, NC. (2) 1880 census, Gaston Co., William Rankin, 36, farmer, b. NC, parents b. NC, wife Elvira A. Rankin, 40, son Wiley T. Rankin, 12, NC, daughter Mary A. Rankin, 9, NC, son Edward J. Rankin, 7, NC, and daughters Laura B. Rankin, 4, NC, and Emma F. Rankin, 1, NC. (3) 1900 census, Gaston Co., NC, Elvira A. Rankin, 60, Leona L. Rankin (Laura?), 24, Emma F. Rankin, 21, John R. Rankin, 18, and Rufus A. Rankin, 17. (4) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=44671755 (5) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=44672427

5 Sallie Rankin, b. abt 1864, Gaston Co.

5 Wiley Theodore Rankin, 24 Sep 1867 – 18 Dec 1929. All children were by first wife, Lula Ford. Second wife Lillie Johnston, married 24 Sep 1902, Gaston Co. Wiley and Lillie died in Ft. Lauderdale, Broward Co., FL, but are buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1910 census, 501 W. Main, Gastonia, Wiley T. Rankin, 42, 2^nd marriage, President, Insurance and Realty, wife Lillie J. Rankin, 35, first marriage, married 8 years, has had no children, daughter Mildred, 16, daughter Elener, 13, son Wiley [sic] T., 11, daughter Lula, 9. (2) 1920 census, 501 W. Main St., Gastonia, Wylie T. Rankin, 53, b. NC, parents b. NC, President, Cotton Mills, wife Lillie Rankin, 44, son Theodore Rankin, 21 (President, Cotton Mill), daughter Lula Rankin, 19, and sister Emma Rankin, 42. (3) 1927 Gastonia city directory, Wiley T. Rankin (wife Jillie [sic] J.), mayor and councilman, City of Gastonia, Pres. Gastonia Insurance and Realty Co., and Pres-Treas Osceola Mills (Inc), residence 501 W. Main Ave. (4) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Lillie J. Rankin, widow of Wiley T., residence 501 W. Main Ave. (5) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=83290875&ref=acom (6) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSiman=1&GScid=48278&GRid=83290874&

6 Mildred Rankin, b. 17 Jun 1893, Gaston Co., d. 2 Feb 1941, Gastonia, NC. Husband Haddon Spurgeon Mackie (1891-1970). http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=84273713&ref=acom

7 Wiley Theodore Mackie, b. 13 Jul 1920 – 11 Sep 1943. Annapolis. Lt., U.S. Navy, WW II. Served on the U.S.S. Rowan, torpedoed off the coast of Italy.

7 Mary Lou Mackie, a. abt. 1922, m. Alton F. Bryant, 19 Nov 1946, Gaston.

6 Elma or Emma? Rankin, b. 24 Sep 1896, Gastonia. Husband John D. Kennedy, married 1930 in Brevard Co., FL. (1) 1940 census, Ft. Lauderdale, Broward Co., FL, John D. Kennedy, 35, lawyer, b. FL, wife Elma R., 37 (?), b. NC.

6 William Theodore Rankin, b. 24 Nov 1898, Gastonia, d. 4 Apr 1952, Gastonia. Wife Mary Payne, m. Gastonia 25 Apr 1929. (1) 1927 Gastonia city directory listing for Wiley [sic] T. Rankin Jr., VP-Supt. Osceola Mills Inc., residence at 501 W. Main Ave. (2) 1930 census, Gastonia, 609 South Street, William T. Rankin, 30, President, Cotton Mill, Mary P. Rankin, wife, 24. (3) 1940 census, Gastonia suburbs, T. Rankin, 41, b. NC, salesman, completed 4 years college, wife Mary Rankin, 34, b. NC, and son Wiley, 9, b. NC. (4) Death certificate lists his occupation as “V.P. Textiles, Inc.,” usual address at 1305 York Road, Gastonia. (5) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=83290871&ref=acom

7 Wiley Theodore Rankin, 7 Oct 1930 – 14 Dec 1999. Wife #1 Jeanette Adams; wife #2 Hally Lee. (1) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13044757&ref=acom (2) College yearbook picture: http://search.ancestry.com//cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=YearbooksIndex&h=252573731&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=twY46&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&rhSource=1265 (3) Obituary: GREENSBORO — Wiley Theodore Rankin III, 69, died Dec. 14, 1999. He was a native of Gastonia, son of the late William Theodore and Mary Payne Rankin, husband of the late Jeanette Adams Rankin, attended Gastonia High School, NCSU School of Textiles where he was a brother in the Sigma Chi fraternity, worked for Goodyear, America Enka for 27 years, retired from American Rayon, served in the Air Force where he was a cryptographer stationed in Germany, continued service locally as the vice president for the Greensboro Optimist Club, ran its junior golf outing the past two years, volunteered with Greensboro Safety Town run by the Greensboro Police Department. SURVIVORS: Wife, Hally Lee Rankin; sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. David Simel and Dr. Joanne Piscatelli, Durham, Bruce and Kristal Simel, New Bern, Dr. William T. Rankin III and Gena Rankin, Mebane; daughters and sons-in-law, Dr. Dana Simel and Michael Herrinton, Palo Alto, Calif., Mary Rankin Vowell and Capt. J.B. Vowell, Columbus, Ga.; grandchildren, Lauren, Michael, Raphael, Drew, Brian and Dylan Simel and Adam Vowell

6 Lula Rankin, 6 Nov 1900 – 2 Feb 1985, buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. Schoolteacher. (1) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Lula Rankin, teacher, West School, residence 501 W. Main Ave. (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=83290878&ref=acom

5 Mary A. Rankin, 1870 – 22 Aug 1919. Married Charles Clyde Craig 19 Nov. 1895, Gaston. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=96744276&ref=acom

5 Edward Jenkins Rankin, 26 Dec 1872 – 28 Aug 1950, buried Oakwood Cemetery. Wife Emma Mary or Mary Emma Stowe, married 1 Apr 1898. Owner and/or manager of a furniture store. (1) 1934 Gastonia city directory, “Rankin-Armstrong Co., Inc.,” Edward J. Rankin, President-Treasurer. Furniture, refrigerators, household goods, at 124-132 S. Marietta; wife Emma J., residence at 315 Highland. (2) Edward’s family has consistent census records from 1900 through 1940, inclusive. They lived at 605 South Main in 1900, 601 W. Airline I 1910 and 1920, and 315 N. Highland St. in 1930, 1940 at the time of his death in 1950. The census records prove 2 daughters.

6 Annie Lucille Rankin, 23 Feb 1900 – Nov 1992, Gastonia. Apparently never married. (1) 1936 Gastonia city directory, A. Lucille Rankin, steno, County Welfare Department, residence 315 N. Highland (her parents’ home from at least 1930 to 1950). (2) Profession given as “Steno, Welfare” and “Steno, Municipal” in the 1930 and 1940 census, respectively. (3) Delayed birth certificate gives her father’s middle name as Jenkins. (4) She was the informant on her father’s and her Aunt Emma’s death certificates, suggesting she was perhaps the family caretaker.

6 Margaret S. Rankin, b. 19 July 1909.

5 Laura Luna Rankin, 12 Dec 1875 – 17 Jan 1945. Married John Taylor Harrison, 10 Apr 1901, Gaston Co. Buried New Hope Presbyterian Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=34081310&ref=acom (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=34081336

5 Emma F. Rankin, b. 6 Oct 1878, d. 22 Feb 1957, lived in Gastonia her entire life. Resided 702 S. Chester St. when she died. Buried at New Hope Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Gastonia. Sales clerk. (1) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Emma F. Rankin, saleswoman, Matthews-Belk Co., residence 702 S. Chester.

5 John Ralph Rankin, 6 May 1881 – 2 Oct 1920. Married Victoria May Grischy 24 May 1906. Buried in New Hope Presbyterian Church Cemetery. (1) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSiman=1&GScid=2155069&GRid=125401880& (2) 1910 census, Spokane, WA, John R Rankin, 28, married 4 years, b NC, parents b NC, salesman; wife Victoria M., 24, m. 4 years, has had two children. Sons James R., 3, and William, 2 months.

6 James Robert Rankin, b. 15 Apr 1907, Gastonia, d. Mar 1982, Gastonia. Wife Eugenia White, 1908 – 1996. Buried Gaston Memorial Park.

6 William Rankin, b. 1910.

5 Rufus Andrew Rankin (Sr.), b. 15 Oct 1882, Gaston, d. 11 Jan 1933. Wife Minnie Jane Armstrong, married 21 Mar 1906, Gaston Co. Buried at Hollywood Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1910 census, 507 South St., Gastonia, Rufus A. Rankin, 27, m. 4 years, proprietor of furniture store, wife Minnie J. Rankin, 22, daughters Evalyn, 3 and Mary R., 17 months. (2) 1920 census, same address, Rufus A. Rankin, 37, proprietor of a furniture store, Minnie J., wife, 32, daughters Evelyn, 12 and Mary R., 11, son Rufus A. (), 8, daughter Alice E., 6, & son Robert W., 2. (3) 1927 Gastonia city directory, Rufus A. Rankin, wife Minnie, President of Piedmont Oil Co., Inc., residence at 507 South St. (4) 1930 census, same address, Rufus A Rankin, 47, proprietor, “oil jobber,” son Rufus A. Jr., 18, daughter Alice E., 16, son Robert W., 12, daughter Helen F., 9, and son Samuel A. Rankin. (5) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=96744014&ref=acom

6 Evelyn Rankin, 16 Jan 1907 – 30 Aug 1999. Married John Paul Stowe, Gaston Co., 29 Nov 1934. Registered nurse, 4 years of college. Buried Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery, Mt. Holly. (1) 1927 Gastonia city directory, Miss Evelyn Rankin, student, residence at 507 South St. (2) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Evelyn Rankin, secretary, County Health Dept., residence 315 N. Highland. (3) Find-a-grave website has her obituary identifying parents, siblings, children. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13091819&ref=acom

6 Mary Ruth Rankin, 6 Nov 1908 – 1 Jul 1977. Married Henry W. Jordan 3 Nov 1933 in Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC. Buried Pine Hill Cemetery, Burlington, Alamance Co., NC. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13091819&ref=acom

6 Rufus A. Rankin Jr., b. 1 Aug 1911, Gastonia, d. 6 Jan 1985, Kilmamock, Lancaster Co., VA. Wife Dorothea Edwards Higgins, married 15 Apr 1939, Richmond, Henrico Co., VA. Worked in the Credit Department at Exxon (previously Humble Oil., previously Standard Oil Co.). Buried in the Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Weems, Lancaster Co., VA. (1) 1927 Gastonia city directory, Rufus A. Rankin Jr., residence 507 South St. (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=76928863&ref=acom

7 Rufus A. Rankin III, 25 Sep 1940 – 26 May 1994. Buried Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Weems, Lancaster Co., VA. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=76929098

7 Henry L. Rankin. Serving in U.S. Navy when his father died in 1985.

6 Alice Elvira Rankin, b. 16 Nov 1913, Gaston, d. 8 Feb 2003, Gastonia. Married Wilson Alexander Forbes 10 May 1938, Gaston. Both are buried at Olney Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Gastonia. (1) 1936 Gastonia city directory, Alice E. Rankin, schoolteacher, residence 507 S. South St. (her parents’ house). (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=24914716&ref=acom

6 Robert Wray Rankin, 10 Sep 1917 – 22 Jul 1958. Wife Jane Elizabeth Boren, married 18 Oct 1941. Military service, WW II, PFC. Buried Hollywood Cemetery, Gastonia. In 1947, he was the Gastonia City Tax Collector. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=96744131&ref=acom

6 Helen Franklin Rankin, b. about 1921. B.S., Secretarial Administration, Womens College, UNC. Married Harry Tracy Westcott, 21 Mar 1942, in Randolph Co., NC.

6 Samuel Armstrong Rankin, b. 12 Aug 1923, Gastonia, d. 29 Oct 1994. Married Cornelia Stevens Lowe, 23 Feb 1946 in Chester, Washington Co., VA. Buried in Sunset Knoll Cemetery, Ramseur, Randolph Co,. NC.

4 Laura Rankin, 29 Mar 1846 – 10 Jan 1906. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=132162139

4 James (“Mack”?) Rankin, b. Mar. 1850.

4 Whiten Robertus Rankin, b. 3 Feb 1857, d. 19 Jul 1946, South Point, Gaston Co. Wife Judith Elizabeth McKee, married 6 Nov 1879, Gaston Co. (1) 1910 census, South Point, Gaston Co., Whiten R. Rankin, 53, m. 30 years, b. NC, parents b. NC, wife Elizabeth, 53, and daughters Katie, 22, Georgia, 15, and Lydia, 11. (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=139473336

5 Thomas Pinkney Rankin, b. 19 Aug 1880 – 15 Feb 1963. Married Vivian Pearl Leonhardt 18 Mar 1903, Gaston. Buried Edgewood Cemetery, Lowell, Gaston Co. (1) 1910 census, South Point, Gaston, Thomas P. Rankin, 29, m. 7 years, merchant, wife Vivian, 27, daughter Roberta, 5. (2) 1930 census, Lowell, Gaston, Thomas P. Rankin, 49, m. 27 years, bank cashier, wife Pearl, 47, son Thomas, 19, daughter Vivian, 15, son Charles (?), 10. (3) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=155873762&ref=acom

6 Roberta Rankin, 1904-1976, m. George Blakey Smith. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=126811468

6 Thomas Pinkney Rankin Jr., b. 25 Jun 1910, Lowell, Gaston Co., d. 18 Jun 1978. Buried Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=155873970

6 Bennie Vivian Rankin, b. 18 Mar 1918, Lowell, d. 28 Jan 1995, Malvern, Hot Springs Co., AR. Husband Glenn Baker. Buried Shadowlawn Cemetery, Malvern. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=155873970

6 Eugene Malcom Rankin, b. 17 Aug 1922, Lowell, d. 31 Jan 2016, Greenwich, Conn. Buried Edgewood Cemetery, Lowell. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=161485810

5 Zada Rankin, b. 17 Aug 1882, Gaston Co.

5 John Robert Rankin, b. 14 Mar 1885, Gaston Co., d. Feb 1970. Married Clara E. Sloan, 25 Nov 1913, Gaston. (1) 1920 census, Gastonia, 514 S. York St., John R. Rankin, 34, Gastonia postmaster, wife Clara S., 31, son James W., 5, daughter Sarah E., 3. (2) 1930 census, Gastonia, 304 W. 5^th, John R. Rankin, 45, VP bank, wife Clara D., 42, son James W., 15, daughter Sarah E., 13, and son R. Sloan, 10.

6 James W. Rankin, b. 20 Oct 1914, Gastonia, d. Feb 1987, Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC. Married Susan Porter Calder 16 Jul 1938, Mecklenburg Co., NC. Duke University mid 1930s, Business Administration. (1) 1942 Gastonia city directory, James W. Rankin, VP-Sec, New Way Laundry and Asst Office Mgr, FCM. (2) By 1957 at the latest, living in Greensboro, NC, listed in city directories. 1957, James an accountant with Burlington Industries.

6 Sarah E. Rankin, b. abt 1917, Gastonia.

6 Robert Sloan Rankin, b. 23 Feb 1920, Gastonia, d. 14 Aug 1998, Hilton Head Island, SC. (1) 1940 census, Robert S. Rankin, midshipman, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, age 20, from Gastonia, NC.

5 Sarah Katie Rankin, b. 20 Dec 1887, Gaston Co.

5 Annie Minerva Rankin, b. 4 Feb 1891, Gaston Co.

5 Georgia May Rankin, b. 17 May 1894, Gaston Co.

5 Lyda Violet Rankin, b. 5 Dec 1898, Gaston Co.

4 Andrew Johnson Rankin, b. 21 Jan 1859, Gaston Co., d. 11 Nov. 1936, Gastonia. Lived at 414 W. 5^th Avenue, Gastonia. Sec./Treas. Building & Loan at retirement; earlier, salesman, general merchandise store. Married Emily Ann Smith (7 May 1858-27 Dec 1937) on 13 Dec 1883 in Gaston Co. Buried Hollywood Cemetery along with wife and all three daughters. (1) 1900 census, South Point, Gaston Co., Andrew J. Rankin, b. Jan 1859, age 41, m. 16 years, b. NC, parents b. NC, salesman, general merchandise; wife Emma, b. Mar. 1858, age 42, m. 16 years, has had 3 children, all living; daughters Margaret E. Rankin, b. Nov 1884, age 15, Ida M. Rankin, b. Mar 1888, age 12, and Sarah E. Rankin, b. Jul 1889, age 10. (2) 1910 census, South Point, Gaston Co., Andy J. Rankin, 51, first marriage, 26 years, merchant, general store; Emily A. Rankin, wife, 52, has had 3 children, all living, and daughters Ida, 22, saleslady, general store, and Edna, 20, public school teacher. (3) 1920 census, Gastonia, 414 West 5^th, Andrew J. Rankin, 60, Sec. & Treas., Building & Loan; wife Emily A., 61, daughter Sarah E. 30, teacher, grade school. (4) 1930 census, Gastonia, 314 West 5^th, Andrew J. Rankin, 71, Sec/Treas, Building & Loan, wife Emily, 72, and daughter Edna, 45, steno, Building and Loan. (5) 1936 Gastonia city directory, Andrew J. Rankin (Edna, his daughter also living there; Emily has died), Secretary-Treasurer, Gastonia National Farm Loan Association, 414 W. 5^th(6) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=96972792 – Andrew’s grave. (7) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSiman=1&GScid=47713&GRid=96972754& – Emily’s grave.

5 Margaret Elva Rankin, 29 Nov 1884 – 2 May 1981, Gastonia. Husband John Pinchback Chandler (1887-1929), married 21 Aug 1907, Gaston Co. Both buried Hollywood Cemetery, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=96972874&ref=acom

5 Ida Myrtle Rankin, 24 Mar 1888 – 14 Feb 1981, Gastonia. Husband Samuel Sidney Shuford (1880-1957), married 1 Oct. 1914, Gaston Co. Both buried Hollywood Cemetery, Gastonia.

5 Sarah Edna Rankin, 6 Jul 1889 – 20 Jul 1987, never married. Edna was a public grade school teacher from at least age 20 until sometime before age 41. After that, she was a stenographer at a Building & Loan, presumably the same place where her father was Secretary-Treasurer. Informant on her father’s death certificate. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Rankin&GSiman=1&GScid=47713&GRid=97014253&

4 Rufus Pinkney Rankin, b. 16 Feb 1862, Belmont, Gaston Co., d. 1 Nov 1910, Gastonia. Wife Zoe Anna Hand (Mar 1867 – 24 Jan 1929), married in Gaston Co. 20 Oct 1887. Buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1900 census, Gastonia, P. Rankin, b. Feb 1862, age 38, m. 12 years, manufacturer; wife Zoe, b. Mar 1869, 31, m. 12 years, has had 4 children, all living; son Grady Rankin, b. Feb 1891, age 9, daughter Violet, b. Jun 1894, age 6, son Henry, b. Oct 1895, age 5, and son Laurence, b. Mar 1898, age 2. (2) 1910 census, Gastonia, 209 E. Long? Avenue, Rufus P. Rankin, 48, first marriage, 22 years, Pres., cotton mill and bank; wife Zoe A., 41, has had 5 children, all living, son Rufus G., 19, bookkeeper, bank, daughter Sarah V., 16, son Henry, 14, son Lawrence S., 12, and son Pink, 8. (3) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17145813&ref=acom – R.P.’s grave. (4) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17145830&ref=acom – Zoe’s grave

5 Rufus Grady Rankin Sr., b. 25 Feb 1891, Gastonia, d. 13 Jun 1976, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC. Married Ruth Boyce, 22 Jan 1913, Gaston Co. Quite an extraordinary career, starting as a bookkeeper in Gastonia National Bank at 18, became a Director 4 years later (see his father’s occupation), then President of Pinkney Cotton Mills (plus positions in many other cotton mills), eventually a director of Duke Power Co. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1920 census, Gastonia, Grady R. Rankin, 28, President, Cotton Mills; wife Ruth, 26, daughter Anna B., 6, and son Grady R. Rankin Jr., 1 ½. (2) 1930 census, Gastonia, 317? S. York St., Grady Rankin, 39, first marriage at age 21, President, Cotton Mills, wife Ruth, 37, first marriage age 20, daughter Anna B., 16, son R. Grady Jr., 11, son David, 7, and son George, 5 ½. (3) 1940 census, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, Eastover Road, Grady Rankin, 49, Executive, Public Utilities, Ruth B., wife, 47, and sons David H., 17, and George M., 15. (4) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17145854

6 Anna Boyce Rankin, b. 18 Jan 1914, Gastonia, d. 10 Feb 2011, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co.. Husband Joseph William Lineberger, married 30 July 1938 at Blowing Rock, Watauga, NC, where her father owned a home. Went to Hollins College 1932; belonged to the Riding Club. Buried at Lutheran Chapel Cemetery, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=120900848&ref=acom

6 Rufus Grady Rankin Jr., b. 3 Jul 1918, Gastonia, d. 12 May 1997. Married Margore Louise Crist, 17 May 1941, in Caldwell Co., NC. Second marriage in Collier Co., FL, Nov 1967, name not given in marriage index. Died 12 May 1997, Lake Wales, Polk Co., FL, buried in Naples, Collier Co., FL, UCC Memorial Gardens. (1) WWII draft registration gives his address as 180 Prospect St., Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC; employed by self, “commission agent,” Sinclair Refining. Person who would know his whereabouts: Mrs. R. G. Rankin, 322 Eastover Rd., Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC. (2) Went to UNC, late 1930s.

6 David Holland Rankin, b. 18 Jul 1922, Gastonia, d. 28 Dec 2013, Charlotte, NC. U.S Naval Academy, Annapolis. He was on the first ship into Tokyo Bay after the surrender to clear the harbor. Married Nancy Fidelia O’Herron, 26 Feb 1946. Retired as President and CEO of Eckerd Drugs. Captain of the golf team at Annapolis. There is a lengthy and detailed obituary at this link: http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=David-Rankin&lc=2734&pid=168779754&mid=5793005

7 David Holland Rankin Jr.

7 Betty Rankin, m. Richard Hecenbleikner.

7 Samuel Boyce Rankin, wife Susan.

7 Michael O’Herron Rankin, wife Kay.

6 George Mason Rankin, b. 18 May 1924, Gastonia, d. 12 Jun 1969, Asheville, Buncombe Co. Went to UNC at Chapel Hill, B.A. Spanish, Navy ROTC, Phi Beta Kappa; graduated in three years. Married Ann Rawley Long, 1 Apr 1950, Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC. When he died, he resided at 14 Lynwood Road, Asheville, NC. President, Rankin Oil Co. Buried in Lewis Memorial Park, Asheville, Buncombe Co., NC. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19804947&ref=acom

5 Sarah Violet Rankin, b. 16 Jun 1893, d. 16 Jan 1969, Gastonia. Married George B. Mason, Gaston Co., 29 Oct. 1913. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=74261337&ref=acom

5 Henry Rankin, b. 26 Oct 1895, Gaston Co., NC, d. 21 Oct 1964, Durham, Durham Co., NC. Married Mary Olive Reed abt 1918. College graduate. (1) 1920 census, Gastonia, Henry Rankin, 24, VP & Treasurer, cotton mill, wife Olive R. Rankin, 22, and son Henry, 15 months. (2) 1930 census, Gastonia, Henry Rankin, 34, first married at age 22, Sec. & Treas., cotton mill, wife Olive R., 31, son Henry Jr., 11, and daughter Preterssia [sic], 9. (3) 1940 census, Gastonia suburbs, Henry Rankin, 44, VP of Textiles Inc., cotton mill, wife Olive, 42, son Henry Jr., 21, and daughter Patricia, 19.

6 Henry Rankin, b. abt 1919, Gastonia.

6 Patricia Rankin, b. 21 Mar 1921, Gastonia.

5 Lawrence Samuel Rankin, b. 20 Mar 1898, Lowell, Gaston Co., d. 6 Feb 1978, Gastonia. Wife Sadie Love Thomson. Lived at 602 S. York St., Gastonia. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Lawrence S. Rankin, wife Sadie T., Vice President Gastonia Insurance Agency Inc. and Agent, Sinclair Refining Co., residence 408 W. 6^th(2) 1940 census, Gastonia, Lawrence Rankin, 42, distributor, Sinclair Oil, wife Sadie, 39, son Lawrence Jr., 15, son James, 12, son Robert, 10, and mother-in-law Statia Thomson. (3) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17145779

6 Lawrence Rankin Jr., b. 3 Sep 1924, Gaston Co., d. 12 Jan 1998. Enlisted in the Army Air Corps Reserves 24 Feb 1943 in Miami, had one year of college.

6 James Thomson Rankin, 12 May 1927 – 29 Mar 1992. Spouse Barbara Grigg, 17 Jan 1930 – 13 Dec 2015. Both buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia.

6 Robert Hand Rankin, b. 12 May 1929, Gastonia, d. 18 Sep 1998, buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia.

5 Rufus Pinkney Rankin Jr., b. 23 Jan 1902, Gaston Co., d. 26 May 1992, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC. Married Jessie Gray Boggs, 27 Dec 1922. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. (1) 1930 census, Gastonia, Pinkney Rankin, 339 York Road, age 28, cotton broker, wife Jessie G., 28, son Pinkney Jr., 4. (2)http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=140642755&ref=acom

4 Robert Franklin Rankin, b. 17 Jan 1866, Belmont, NC, d. 14 Dec 1960, Wilmington, New Hanover Co., NC. Wife #1: Sarah Ella Jenkins (mother of Nellie, Campbell and Robert), m. 1889; wife #2, Anna Jane Wells, m. 27 Oct 1897 (mother of Sarah, Graham and Cecil); wife #3, Florence Rackley, who survived him (mother of Juanita, Charles, Pinkney Ray and Margaret Elizabeth). (1) Tombstone of Sarah Ella Jenkins, 31 Aug 1870 – 14 Apr 1894: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17108366 (2) Marriage certificate, Robert Franklin Rankin, son of Rufus and Sarah E. Rankin, married 27 Oct 1897, Gaston Co. to Annie Wells. She was b. 30 Jul 1877 – d. 11 Feb 1907, buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. Her tombstone is at this link: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17121034&ref=acom (3) 1900 census, Gastonia, F. Rankin, b. Jan 18__, age 34, m. 3 years, with Mrs. R. F. Rankin, wife, b. Jul 1877 (this is Anna Wells), age 22, married 3 years, has had one child, living; daughter Nellie, b. Mar 1890, age 10, son Campbell, b. Mar 1892, age 8, son Robert Jr.? b. Feb. 1894, age 6, and daughter Sarah, b. Aug 1898, age 1. (4) 1910 census, River Bend, Gaston Co., Robert F. Rankin, 43, 3^rd marriage, married one year, contractor; wife Florence J., 29, has had one child, still living, son David Campbell, 19, son Robert R., 16, daughter Sarah E., 12, son Graham F., 7, son Cecil C., 5, and daughter Juanity V., 11 months. (5) 1920 census, River Bend, Gaston Co., Robert F. Rankin, 54, wife Florence J., 39, dau Sarah J., 21, son Graham, 17, son Cecil, 14, daughter Juanity, 12, son P. Ray, 10, son Charles, 8, daughter Margaret, 6, daughter Ruth, 4, daughter Lillian, 2, and daughter Fannie, 2 months. (6) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=31574403

5 Nellie Rankin, b. Mar 1890, Gaston Co.

5 David Campbell Rankin, b. 17 Mar 1892 – d. 14 May 1962, buried Old St. Andrews Episcopal Church Cemetery, Charleston, Charleston Co., SC. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=41839200

5 Robert Richard (or Richard Robert?) Rankin, b. 24 Feb 1894 – d. 28 Apr 1972, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC. Infantry Captain, WW I. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69219678

5 Sarah E. Rankin, b. 10 Aug 1898 – d. 23 Nov 1985. Husband Ross Orr McConnell. Both buried Steel Creek Presbyterian Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=32678368&ref=acom

5 Graham Franklin Rankin, b. 23 Dec 1902, Mt. Holly, d. 5 Oct 1958, Staunton, Augusta Co., VA. Wife Margaret Dunn Rankin (6 Sep 1901 – 25 Dec 1991, married in Gaston Co. 20 Nov 1923. Census and death certificate identify him as an automobile salesman, real estate salesman, and life insurance salesman. He and wife are both buried in the Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton, Augusta Co., VA (1) 1930 census, Mt. Holly, River Bend Twp., Gaston Co., Graham Rankin, 27, salesman, auto co., wife Margaret, 28, and son Frank, 5. (2) 1940 census, River Bend Twp., Gaston Co., Graham F. Rankin, 37, real estate salesman, wife Margaret, 38, and son Robert F., 15. (3) Death certificate confirms that he was a son of Anna Wells, Robert Franklin Rankin’s 2^nd(4) Margaret’s tombstone: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=148059779

6 Robert Frank Rankin, b. 8 Aug 1924, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC, d. 18 Jun 2015, Staunton, Augusta Co., VA. Buried Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=148059779, obituary included.

5 Cecil Coke Rankin, b. 30 Jan 1905? Mt. Holly, Gaston Co., NC. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17121108&ref=acom

5 Juanita Victoria Rankin, b. 23 Apr 1909, Mt. Holly – d. 2 Apr 1994, Wilmington, New Hanover Co., NC. Buried Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=65060486

5 Pinkney Ray Rankin, b. 20 Aug 1910, Mt. Holly, Gaston.

5 Charles Wesley Rankin, b. 10 Dec 1911, Mt. Holly, Gaston.

5 Margaret Elisabeth Rankin, b. 29 Mar 1913, Mt. Holly, Gaston.

4 Mary Eliza Rankin, 1868 – 1900. Husband Charles Hall Lineberger, 1858 – 1932. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38891900

4 Larkin Edgar Rankin, b. 10 Feb 1870, d. 28 Aug 1935, Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC. Buried at Hollywood Cemetery, Gastonia. Wife Jennie Lineberger Hand, 13 Feb 1874 – 24 Apr 1953. Married 11 Jan 1893, Gaston Co. (1) Death certificate gives his name as “Lark E. Rankin” and identifies him as a son of William Rufus Rankin and Sarah Stowe, also names his wife. (2) 1900 census, South Point Twp., Gaston Co., Larkin E. Rankin, b. Feb. 1870 NC, parents b. NC, grocer; Jennie L. Rankin, wife, b. Feb 1894; William L. Rankin, son, b. Nov 1894; Sarah E. Rankin, daughter, b. Jul 1896; Larkin E. Rankin, son, b. Feb 1898; Thomas P. Rankin, nephew, b. Aug 1880. (3) 1910 census, South Point Twp., Gaston Co., dwelling 98, Larkin E. Rankin, 40, m. 17 years, merchant, general store; Jennie L. Rankin, wife, 26, has had 6 children, 5 living; Lamar? A. Rankin, son, 16; S. Rankin, 14, son (should be daughter); Ellis L. Rankin, son, 11; Lois Rankin, 6, daughter; Henry H. Rankin, son 1. (4) 1927 Gastonia city directory, L Ellis Rankin (wife Jennie H.), county auditor and clerk, County Board Commissioners, residence at 705 S York. (5) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Larkin E. Rankin, wife Jennie H., clerk, County commissioners. Residence 701 S. York. (6) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=167236477

5 William Lamar Rankin, b. 13 Dec 1893, Gaston Co., d. 3 Oct 1966, Shelby, Cleveland Co., NC, although he was a resident of Gastonia. Wife Tula Beard, married 14 Nov 1918. Textile salesman at the time of his death. Buried Oakwood cemetery. Findagrave incorrectly identifies his parents, which are named on his death certificate (Lark E. Rankin and Jennie Hand); son William Jr. was the informant. (1) 1930 census, Gastonia, Gaston Co., Lamar Rankin, 36, shipping clerk, cotton mill, wife Tula, 31, son Billie, 11, son Sammie, 8, daughter Dorothy, 5, and son Donald, 2 ½.

6 William Lamar Rankin, Jr., b. abt. 1919, Gaston Co. Resident of Salisbury, Rowan Co., in 1966.

6 Sam Rankin, b. abt. 1922, Gaston Co.

6 Dorothy Rankin, b. abt. 1925, Gaston Co.

6 Donald Rankin, b. abt. 1927, Gaston Co.

5 Sarah Erwin Rankin (or Erwin S., female), b. Jul 1896. (1) 1927 and 1936 Gastonia city directories, Miss Erwin Rankin, clerk Efird’s Department Store, residence 701 S. York.

5 Larkin Ellis Rankin, b. 29 Apr 1898, Gaston, d. May 1959, Highlands, Florida. Married Lucile Evelyn Trimble or Trumbly, 12 Dec 1927. May have been married previously. (1) 1930 census, Gastonia, Larkin Ellis Rankin, 704 Lee St., 31, Service Supt., oil refinery, wife Lucile K?, 30, son John D., 11 months (born 1929). (2) 1940 census, living in his mother’s household at 701 S. York St.: Jennie H. Rankin, 66, widowed, daughter Erwin S. Rankin, 44, son Larkin E. Rankin, 41, daughter-in-law Lucile P.?, 40, and granddaughter Jane C. Rankin, 7.

6 John Daniel Rankin, b. 27 Aug 1929, Gaston, apparently died before 1940.

6 Jane Cecile Rankin, b. 29 Mar 1933, Gastonia.

5 Lois Rankin, b. 12 May 1904, Gaston. Schoolteacher. 1927 Gastonia city directory, Miss Lois Rankin, teacher South School, residence 701 S. York.

5 Henry Hand Rankin, b. 6 Jan 1909, Lowell, NC, d. 29 Apr 1990, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co. Went to UNC, Chapel Hill. 1931 yearbook says his major was textile manufacturing; member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Blonde hair, blue eyes, apparently. Married Helen Bell, 14 Oct. 1939, in Iredell Co., NC. Both are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Belmont. (1) 1927 Gastonia city directory, listing for Henry H. Rankin, student, residence 701 S. York. (2) Helen’s obituary (30 Dec 1917 – 17 Jul 2016) is on the Findagrave website. The website erroneously identifies one of her children as a Wm L. Rankin b. 1893. Clearly error. (3) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=167156386 (4) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=167236028

6 Richard Henry Rankin, 21 Feb 1948 – 7 Oct 2014. Apparently never married. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=137014633

4 Nancy Jane Rankin, b. abt 1872, Gaston Co., NC, d. 14 Nov. 1949, lived in rural South Point, Gaston Co. Husband Charles I. Armstrong, married in Gaston Co. 29 Jan 1891. (1) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=49951188 (2) Death certificate gives the name of her mother as Sarah Elizabeth Stowe, the only evidence I’ve found of Sarah’s middle name. Buried Goshen Cemetery, Belmont.

4 Albert Richard Rankin, b. 28 Mar 1874 – d. 30 Oct 1931, Gastonia. Wife Estella (“Stella”) Iola Jenkins. (1) 1910 census, Gastonia, Albert R. Rankin, 35, marriage #1, 12 years, Travelling Salesman, Wholesale Groceries, wife Stella J., 29, has had 7 children, 5 living, daughters Nancy A., 9, Annie S., 7, Mabel L., 4, Berta, 2, and son Albert R. Rankin Jr., 3 months (b. 1910). (2) 1920 census, Gastonia, 175 W. 4^th, Albert R. Rankin, 46, broker, feed stuff, flour, wife Stella J., 38, daughters Nancy A., 19, Annie S., 17, Mabel L., 13, Alberta, 11, son Albert R., 9, and daughter Alice McN?, 6. (3) 1930 census, Gastonia, Albert R. Rankin, 55, first married at age 24, foodstuff salesman, wife Stella J., 49, first married age 18, son Albert R. Jr., 20, bookkeeper, and daughter Alice M., 16. (4) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17145533

5 Nancy Adele Rankin, 22 Nov 1900 – 30 Aug 1999, Gastonia. Married Theodore Page Morris. Buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. Obituary and tombstone at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13044810

5 Annie Sloan Rankin, 1 Aug 1902 – 25 Mar 1988. Husband Allen Harold Sims. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15500512

5 Mabel Lee Rankin, 19 Feb 1906 – 21 Aug 1999, Gastonia. Husband Harry Lindley Rutter. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13044785

5 Alberta (“Berta”) R. Rankin, 3 Jan 1908 – 19 Oct 1979, Gastonia. Husband Carroll Jenkins Shelton. Buried Oakwood Cemetery. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13044785

5 Albert R. Rankin Jr., b. 12 Jan 1910, Gastonia, d. 24 Aug 1985. Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gaston. Wife Bobbie Titman (21 May 1912 – 19 Nov 1983). (1) 1934 Gastonia city directory, Albert R. Rankin , assistant secretary-treasurer, Avon Bonded Wholesale Inc., residence at 701 S. Chester. (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=83290859&ref=acom

5 Alice McNeill Rankin, b. 14 Jul 1913, Gastonia, d. 10 Dec 1993. Married Edward Smith Gordon, 9 Nov 1938, Gaston Co. (1) 1936 Gastonia city directory, Alice M. Rankin, clerk, Textiles, Inc., residence 701 S. Chester. (2) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=83290862&ref=acom

4 Emmett Price Rankin, 25 Sep 1876 – 10 Jun 1954. Died Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC. Buried in Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia. (1) 1934 city directory, Gastonia, listing for E. Price Rankin (wife Lillian C., Rankin’s Cash Grocery), clerk in charge, Victory Station U.S. PO, York Road near Carolina Ave., South Gastonia. (2) Death certificate identifies him as a son of William Rufus Rankin and Sarah Stowe. (3) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=128657429

1817 Will of William Lindsey, Nash Co., NC

I just sent another Lindsey researcher my transcription of William Lindsey’s Nash County will, dated 16 Feb 1817 and proved in May 1817. After hitting “send,” it occurred to me that other Lindsey researchers might like to see that will, so I’m including it in this post.

I made the transcription from the original will, which is available to the public at the NC Archives in Raleigh. The original will is contained in a file box numbered CR.069.801.6 and labeled “Nash Co. Wills 1778 – 1922, Keith – Owen.” The box contains a manila folder labeled “William Lindsey 1817” in which the will is filed. My transcription is verbatim from the original, including spelling errors.

It is a charming will, not least because of the spelling errors – although they are undoubtedly the fault of whomever actually put William’s wishes on paper. The will clearly reveals a man who cared deeply for his children, concerned that the young ones “mind thare stepmother” and be kept out of all “dissepated cumpany.” He also wanted them to receive enough education to at least allow them to read the Bible for themselves. His signature is a big quavery – he was apparently sick – but it features a large “W” and “L,” suggesting to me a man who was comfortable in his own shoes.

To take out the mystery, the will names William’s wife “Polley” (there is no evidence of her maiden name) and seven children, including three daughters and four sons. Polley was his second wife. The evidence, although not conclusive, suggests that William’s first wife and the mother of all or most of his children may have been a Miss Longbottom or Long Bottom, given name unknown. There are many myths on the web (including some misnamed “vital records” available at Ancestry.com) about William Lindsey’s family of origin, but I will save that issue for another day.

Here are the names of William’s children and a little bit about them. The names leave no doubt whatsoever that William Lindsey was a serious Methodist. In fact, he had been ordained by John Wesley himself. Also, he owned no slaves, which wasn’t uncommon among Methodists. Good for him.

John Wesley Lindsey, b. abt. 1794, Nash Co., NC, d. between 1850-1860, Leake Co., MS. Wife Zany Rogers, daughter of Robert and Ann Rogers. John Wesley and Zany left Nash after November 1830, when he last appeared in the Nash records, acknowledging a deed for the sale of his land. He had appeared in Leake County by 1835.
Asbury Lindsey, b. abt. 1796, Nash Co., NC, d. 1854, Nash Co., wife’s name unknown. Lived in Nash his entire life.
Jerusha Lindsey, b. abt. 1798, Nash Co., NC, no further record.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Mary Fletcher Lindsey, b. between 1798-1800, Nash Co., NC. No further record.
Wiliam Ray Lindsey, b. between 1802-1804, Nash Co., d. abt. 1827, Nash Co. He never married and had no children, although some Lindsey researchers have confused William Ray with another William Lindsey in Nash who married Nancy Pridgen and had children named Bennett Lindsey and Nancy W. Lindsey. The latter William died in 1825 and was the son of Jeptha Lindsey. The estate records for Jeptha conclusively prove that Bennett and Nancy were not the children of William Ray Lindsey. Rather, they were Jeptha’s grandchildren and were the children of Jeptha’s son William. The confusion about the children’s father is understandable: at one time, the NC Archives estate records for William Ray, son of William, were mixed with those for William, son of Jeptha — and the guardian records for Bennett and Nancy W. were mixed in with both of them. I think the archivists have now sorted out those files.
Mary “Polly” Mintz Lindsey, b. 24 Aug 1805, Nash Co., NC, d. 30 Jul 1880. Married Hudson Finch. Lived her entire life in Nash County.
Edward Buxton Lindsey, b. 1811, Nash Co., d. Jan 1883 in Claiborne Parish, LA. Edward was my ancestor. He left Nash County about 1830 for Pike/Barbour County, Alabama (Barbour was created from Pike), where he married my ancestor Elizabeth Jane Odom, daughter of Jacob and Nancy Stubbs Odom. Edward and Elizabeth Jane moved to Drew Co., AR, where she died in 1854, after having 9 and probably 10 children. Edward soon married Ruth Belle Crook, wife #2. They divorced. Edward then moved to Claiborne Parish, LA, where he married wife #3, Elizabeth J. Marshall. Edward and Elizabeth moved to Tyler Co., TX, where Elizabeth died after having one child. Edward next married wife #4, Permelia Dean. They divorced, and Edward moved back to Claiborne Parish about 1870 with a small son in tow. There is a longish article about him titled “Edward Buxton Lindsey: one of my family legends” on this website.

With that preamble, here is William Lindsey’s will:

“In the name of God amen I William Lindsey of the county of Nash and State of North Carolina cawlling to mind the near aproch of death but of disposing mind and memory blessed be God do make and ordain this my Last will and Testament In manner and form following to wit I render my Sole to God that gave it and body to be buried in usual manner –

First my will an desier is that all my Just debts be paid out of my bonds open accoumpts and personal Estate.

Item I give and bequeth to my loving wife Polley Lindsey hole of the property that she pursest before our marriage which part in money was severnty dollars, I also give to her all the bacon and lard and all the corn and small gran for the seport of her and the family that continue with her – and my desier is that my Eldest Son John Wesley Lindsey see that thay mind thare Stepmother and thare larning bisness and are kept out of all dissepated cumpaney and also to have sum chance of schoolling at least to know how to read the word of God,

I also lend to my wife Polley the house and plantation on which I live beginning at a lightwood stump in the midle run? thence a west corse to the middle branch to a popler, then down the meanders of sd branch to the run of? Saponey Creek to a Large corner cypres on the bank of sd creek then up the sd creek to Pridgen Manning’s line then south along sd Manning line to Nathan Joiners line a corner lightwood stump thence East sd Joiners line to a corner pine, thence south a long said Joiners line to Christipher Taylors line a corner pine in John Bisets line thence an east corse along sd Bissets line to Jacobs Swamp to a corner maple Joran Shurods line, then up sd swamp Sherods line to a corner pine thence a north corse along a line of markt trees to the road then up the road west to a hickrey thence along the path as the fence goes to the mouth of the long lane then down sd lane to the first station containing Two hundred acres more or less, during her natrel life or widow hood.

I also give to my beloved Wife Polley one gray horse Dimant and her riding saddle and one cow and calf or yearling Two yoes and lambs choice Two sows and piggs – my will and desier is that my son William Ray Lindsey shold continue with my wife five years and to go Equal in the proffits of the orchard and land on which thay live and his own land that I shall here after give to him, It is also my will that my wife Polley Lindsey and Edward Buxton Lindsey as soon as connvenent thay are to pay one hundred and fifty dollars for the purpose of paying of my land contracts. Now the land that I have above lent to my wife Polley after her death or marrige, I give to my Beloved son Edward Buxton Lindsey to him and his heirs for ever.

Item I give and bequeth to my beloved son John Wesley Lindsey the tract of land that I Bought of of Nathan Lindsey and part of a tract that I bought of Amos Hatcher Beginning at Jephtha Lindsey’s corner a cypres on the Sapony Creek thence up the various corses of sd creek to a corner cypres then up the midle branch to a corner poplar thence along the middle lane to a corner lightwood stump thence a long the long lane to the mouth then along the path and fence to the road a corner hickrey then down the road East to a pine then south along a line of markt trees to a corner pine Jurdan Sherods line then east to a corner pine sd Sherrods line then North to a corner pine Jepthah Lindseys corner then along sd Lindseys line to the first station containing one hundred and eighty acres more or less to him and his heirs for ever and also one bay mare Pol? bridle and saddle one cow and calf and two yoes and lambs and one bed and furnture to him and his heirs for Ever on conditions he pays three hundred dollars towards the lands that I am in debt for.

Item I give and bequeth to my beloved son Asbury Lindsey the tract of land I bought of Edward Ballard all lying on the North side of the road and one horse named doctor one cow and calf two yoes and lambs and one bed and furniture, to him and his heirs forever, upon condition he pays one hundred and fifty dollars twoards the land I am now in debt for.

Item I give and bequeth to my beloved son William Ray Lindsey all the ballance of my lands that I have not heartofore given away two hundred acres more or less and one gray mare called Spinnet and one saddle and bridle one cow and calf two yoes and lambs one sow and piggs and one bed and furniture to him and his heirs for ever – upon condition he pays one hundred dollars towards the lands that I am now in debt for.

Item I give and bequeth to my beloved daughter Jerusha Lindsey one bed without any furniture only a sted one cow and yoe and lamb and she furnished with cotton and wool soficent cloth her bed to her and her heirs for ever.

Item I give and bequeth to my beloved daughter Polley Mintz Lindsey one bed and furniture and fifteen dollars in money to her and her heirs forever

Item I give and bequeth to my beloved daughter Betsey Mary Fletcher Lindsey one bed and furniture and fifteen dollars in money to her and her heirs for ever.

Now my will and desier is that if either of my four sons to whom I have given my land shold dy with out a lawfull heir that the land to them given shold be equally divided between those that survive.

Now all the ballance of my Estate undevsd I leave to be sold for the purpose of paying my debts, now if thare shold not be as much money needed as I have left above for my sons to pay they are to pay in purportion to those sums above named.

And I do hereby nominate and appoint my beloved son John Westley Lindsey and Richard Holland executer to this my last will and testament signed and seled in present of us this 16^th of February 1817.

William Lindsey

Barn Tucker [and] Nelson Bone [witnesses]

Madison’s “Remonstrance”

Here is what is essentially a petition, written by James Madison in 1785, arguing that the state of Virginia should not pass a bill providing that the state pay the salary of Christian ministers. It is long and is not an easy read. It also has the names of the men who signed it, including my ancestor John Oakes of Orange County, VA, father of Isaac Oakes Sr. Perhaps your 18th-century Virginia ancestor signed it as well.

It’s also a good reminder of what one of the most prominent founding fathers thought about state involvement in religion. Enjoy.

**************

James Madison’s 1785 Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments

To the Honorable the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia

Memorial and Remonstrance

We the subscribers, citizens of the said Commonwealth, having taken into serious consideration, a Bill printed by order of the last Session of General Assembly, entitled “A Bill establishing a provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion,” and conceiving that the same if finally armed with the sanctions of a law, will be a dangerous abuse of power, are bound as faithful members of a free State to remonstrate against it, and to declare the reasons by which we are determined. We remonstrate against the said Bill,

Because we hold it for a fundamental and undeniable truth, “that religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence.” The Religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate. This right is in its nature an unalienable right. It is unalienable, because the opinions of men, depending only on the evidence contemplated by their own minds cannot follow the dictates of other men: It is unalienable also, because what is here a right towards men, is a duty towards the Creator. It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage and such only as he believes to be acceptable to him. This duty is precedent, both in order of time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society. Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governour of the Universe: And if a member of Civil Society, do it with a saving of his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign. We maintain therefore that in matters of Religion, no man’s right is abridged by the institution of Civil Society and that Religion is wholly exempt from its cognizance. True it is, that no other rule exists, by which any question which may divide a Society, can be ultimately determined, but the will of the majority; but it is also true that the majority may trespass on the rights of the minority.

Because Religion be exempt from the authority of the Society at large, still less can it be subject to that of the Legislative Body. The latter are but the creatures and viceregents of the former. Their jurisdiction is both derivative and limited: it is limited with regard to the co-ordinate departments, more necessarily is it limited with regard to the constituents. The preservation of a free Government requires not merely, that the metes and bounds which separate each department of power be invariably maintained; but more especially that neither of them be suffered to overleap the great Barrier which defends the rights of the people. The Rulers who are guilty of such an encroachment, exceed the commission from which they derive their authority, and are Tyrants. The People who submit to it are governed by laws made neither by themselves nor by an authority derived from them, and are slaves.

Because it is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties. We hold this prudent jealousy to be the first duty of Citizens, and one of the noblest characteristics of the late Revolution. The free men of America did not wait till usurped power had strengthened itself by exercise, and entangled the question in precedents. They saw all the consequences in the principle, and they avoided the consequences by denying the principle. We revere this lesson too much soon to forget it. Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects? That the same authority which can force a citizen to contribute three pence only of his property for the support of any one establishment, may force him to conform to any other establishment in all cases whatsoever?

Because the Bill violates the equality which ought to be the basis of every law, and which is more indispensable, in proportion as the validity or expediency of any law is more liable to be impeached. If “all men are by nature equally free and independent,” all men are to be considered as entering into Society on equal conditions; as relinquishing no more, and therefore retaining no less, one than another, of their natural rights. Above all are they to be considered as retaining an “equal title to the free exercise of Religion according to the dictates of Conscience.” Whilst we assert for ourselves a freedom to embrace, to profess and to observe the Religion which we believe to be of divine origin, we cannot deny an equal freedom to those whose minds have not yet yielded to the evidence which has convinced us. If this freedom be abused, it is an offence against God, not against man: To God, therefore, not to man, must an account of it be rendered. As the Bill violates equality by subjecting some to peculiar burdens, so it violates the same principle, by granting to others peculiar exemptions. Are the Quakers and Menonists the only sects who think a compulsive support of their Religions unnecessary and unwarrantable? can their piety alone be entrusted with the care of public worship? Ought their Religions to be endowed above all others with extraordinary privileges by which proselytes may be enticed from all others? We think too favorably of the justice and good sense of these denominations to believe that they either covet pre-eminences over their fellow citizens or that they will be seduced by them from the common opposition to the measure.

Because the Bill implies either that the Civil Magistrate is a competent Judge of Religious Truth; or that he may employ Religion as an engine of Civil policy. The first is an arrogant pretension falsified by the contradictory opinions of Rulers in all ages, and throughout the world: the second an unhallowed perversion of the means of salvation.

Because the establishment proposed by the Bill is not requisite for the support of the Christian Religion. To say that it is, is a contradiction to the Christian Religion itself, for every page of it disavows a dependence on the powers of this world: it is a contradiction to fact; for it is known that this Religion both existed and flourished, not only without the support of human laws, but in spite of every opposition from them, and not only during the period of miraculous aid, but long after it had been left to its own evidence and the ordinary care of Providence. Nay, it is a contradiction in terms; for a Religion not invented by human policy, must have pre-existed and been supported, before it was established by human policy. It is moreover to weaken in those who profess this Religion a pious confidence in its innate excellence and the patronage of its Author; and to foster in those who still reject it, a suspicion that its friends are too conscious of its fallacies to trust it to its own merits.

Because experience witnesseth that ecclesiastical establishments, instead of maintaining the purity and efficacy of Religion, have had a contrary operation. During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity, in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution. Enquire of the Teachers of Christianity for the ages in which it appeared in its greatest lustre; those of every sect, point to the ages prior to its incorporation with Civil policy. Propose a restoration of this primitive State in which its Teachers depended on the voluntary rewards of their flocks, many of them predict its downfall. On which Side ought their testimony to have greatest weight, when for or when against their interest?

Because the establishment in question is not necessary for the support of Civil Government. If it be urged as necessary for the support of Civil Government only as it is a means of supporting Religion, and it be not necessary for the latter purpose, it cannot be necessary for the former. If Religion be not within the cognizance of Civil Government how can its legal establishment be necessary to Civil Government? What influence in fact have ecclesiastical establishments had on Civil Society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the Civil authority; in many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny: in no instance have they been seen the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate it needs them not. Such a Government will be best supported by protecting every Citizen in the enjoyment of his Religion with the same equal hand which protects his person and his property; by neither invading the equal rights of any Sect, nor suffering any Sect to invade those of another.

Because the proposed establishment is a departure from the generous policy, which, offering an Asylum to the persecuted and oppressed of every Nation and Religion, promised a lustre to our country, and an accession to the number of its citizens. What a melancholy mark is the Bill of sudden degeneracy? Instead of holding forth an Asylum to the persecuted, it is itself a signal of persecution. It degrades from the equal rank of Citizens all those whose opinions in Religion do not bend to those of the Legislative authority. Distant as it may be in its present form from the Inquisition, it differs from it only in degree. The one is the first step, the other the last in the career of intolerance. The magnanimous sufferer under this cruel scourge in foreign Regions, must view the Bill as a Beacon on our Coast, warning him to seek some other haven, where liberty and philanthropy in their due extent, may offer a more certain repose from his Troubles.

Because it will have a like tendency to banish our Citizens. The allurements presented by other situations are every day thinning their number. To superadd a fresh motive to emigration by revoking the liberty which they now enjoy, would be the same species of folly which has dishonoured and depopulated flourishing kingdoms.

Because it will destroy that moderation and harmony which the forbearance of our laws to intermeddle with Religion has produced among its several sects. Torrents of blood have been spilt in the old world, by vain attempts of the secular arm, to extinguish Religious discord, by proscribing all difference in Religious opinion. Time has at length revealed the true remedy. Every relaxation of narrow and rigorous policy, wherever it has been tried, has been found to assuage the disease. The American Theatre has exhibited proofs that equal and compleat liberty, if it does not wholly eradicate it, sufficiently destroys its malignant influence on the health and prosperity of the State. If with the salutary effects of this system under our own eyes, we begin to contract the bounds of Religious freedom, we know no name that will too severely reproach our folly. At least let warning be taken at the first fruits of the threatened innovation. The very appearance of the Bill has transformed “that Christian forbearance, love and charity,” which of late mutually prevailed, into animosities and jealousies, which may not soon be appeased. What mischiefs may not be dreaded, should this enemy to the public quiet be armed with the force of a law?

Because the policy of the Bill is adverse to the diffusion of the light of Christianity. The first wish of those who enjoy this precious gift ought to be that it may be imparted to the whole race of mankind. Compare the number of those who have as yet received it with the number still remaining under the dominion of false Religions; and how small is the former! Does the policy of the Bill tend to lessen the disproportion? No; it at once discourages those who are strangers to the light of revelation from coming into the Region of it; and countenances by example the nations who continue in darkness, in shutting out those who might convey it to them. Instead of Levelling as far as possible, every obstacle to the victorious progress of Truth, the Bill with an ignoble and unchristian timidity would circumscribe it with a wall of defence against the encroachments of error.

Because attempts to enforce by legal sanctions, acts obnoxious to so great a proportion of Citizens, tend to enervate the laws in general, and to slacken the bands of Society. If it be difficult to execute any law which is not generally deemed necessary or salutary, what must be the case, where it is deemed invalid and dangerous? And what may be the effect of so striking an example of impotency in the Government, on its general authority?

Because a measure of such singular magnitude and delicacy ought not to be imposed, without the clearest evidence that it is called for by a majority of citizens, and no satisfactory method is yet proposed by which the voice of the majority in this case may be determined, or its influence secured. “The people of the respective counties are indeed requested to signify their opinion respecting the adoption of the Bill to the next Session of Assembly.” But the representation must be made equal, before the voice either of the Representatives or of the Counties will be that of the people. Our hope is that neither of the former will, after due consideration, espouse the dangerous principle of the Bill. Should the event disappoint us, it will still leave us in full confidence, that a fair appeal to the latter will reverse the sentence against our liberties.

Because finally, “the equal right of every citizen to the free exercise of his Religion according to the dictates of conscience” is held by the same tenure with all our other rights. If we recur to its origin, it is equally the gift of nature; if we weigh its importance, it cannot be less dear to us; if we consult the “Declaration of those rights which pertain to the good people of Virginia, as the basis and foundation of Government,” it is enumerated with equal solemnity, or rather studied emphasis. Either then, we must say, that the Will of the Legislature is the only measure of their authority; and that in the plenitude of this authority, they may sweep away all our fundamental rights; or, that they are bound to leave this particular right untouched and sacred: Either we must say, that they may controul the freedom of the press, may abolish the Trial by Jury, may swallow up the Executive and Judiciary Powers of the State; nay that they may despoil us of our very right of suffrage, and erect themselves into an independent and hereditary Assembly or, we must say, that they have no authority to enact into the law the Bill under consideration. We the Subscribers say, that the General Assembly of this Commonwealth have no such authority: And that no effort may be omitted on our part against so dangerous an usurpation, we oppose to it, this remonstrance; earnestly praying, as we are in duty bound, that the Supreme Lawgiver of the Universe, by illuminating those to whom it is addressed, may on the one hand, turn their Councils from every act which would affront his holy prerogative, or violate the trust committed to them: and on the other, guide them into every measure which may be worthy of his blessing, may redound to their own praise, and may establish more firmly the liberties, the prosperity and the happiness of the Commonwealth.

James Gordon, Jr.

John Watkins

William Sebree

Thomas Ballard

Bartlett Bennett

George Newman

Richard Sebree

Joseph Wood

Benjamin Johnson

William Terrill

Elijah Morton

George Waugh

[illegible] Bramham

John Henderson

[David Gillespy?]

Thomas Barbour

Uriel Mallory

Zachary Herndon

Richard Gaines

Moses Perry

Belfield Cave

George Morton

Joseph Bell

Joseph Smith

John Lucas

John Sutton, Jr.

John Sutton, Sr.

Moses Lucas

Thomas Lucas

Thomas Edwards

Martin [Collier?]

William [Tomlinson?]

James Marr

Vivion Daniel

Madison Breedlove

Martin [Shearman?]

William Watts

Benjamin Quinn

Thomas Watts, Jr.

William Wright

Joseph Spencer

James Coleman

John Oakes

Ambrose Madison

Robert Dearing, Jr.

Lewis Willis

William [Procter?]

Patrick Cockran

Andrew Bourn, Jr.

Edward Thompson

William Twyman

Jonathan Davis

Prettyman Merry

Pierce Sanford

John Willis

James Sleet

John Samuel

John Kendal

Nicholas Porter, Jr.

William Buckner

William Moore

Reuben Finnel

Miller Bledsoe

Samuel Brockman

Abner Porter

Henry Barnett

Camp Porter

Abner Shropshere

Samuel Porter

James Shropshere

Thomas Coleman

John Leather

Lawrence Gillock

Daniel Thornton

Thomas Briant

John Terrill

Henry Chiles

William Porter

Joseph Porter

William Bledsoe

William Leake

William Oakes

[illegible] Newman

John Oakes

Thomas Oakes

John Barnett

[William Ford?]

John [Keally?]

Docketed, November 3, 1785

James and Ann Alexander of Anson – Rowan County, NC: someone please knock down this brick wall!

One of the things that surprised me about family history research is that I started liking some of my ancestors. Amazingly, one can learn a great deal about people who lived a couple of centuries ago, including their fundamental character and even specific personality traits. A fertile imagination helps, but is not essential.

Even ostensibly dry county records are often revealing, and the occasional personal record can be a fabulous find. I love my great-great uncles Napoleon Bonaparte Rankin (“Pole,” a house painter) and Washington Marion Rankin (“Wash,” a “clever engineer”), who wrote each other letters in the 1880s. Their correspondence revealed a shared wicked sense of humor and considerable affection.

Other relatives are not so appealing. E.g., William Rankin, eldest son of Samuel and Eleanor Alexander Rankin.[1]

Fortunately, likeable ancestors abound. My ancestors James and Ann Alexander of Rowan County are among them for two main reasons. First, they executed sweet gift deeds to five of their six children. Second, Ann Alexander bested William, their eldest son, on at least one legal issue. Eighteenth century women rarely appeared in county records, making it difficult to learn much about them. Courtroom victories by females were even less common. Ann, who appeared in several records, clearly had some mettle. I admire her grit, and imagine that having an adverse relationship with her son was not easy.

Meanwhile, this article contains: (1) links to some websites that provide a great deal of information about Alexanders; (2) a brief description of some major unknowns about James and Ann Alexander’s family; and (3) what the records do reveal about them.

Let’s start with the links, including two for the Alexander DNA project.

The first link summarizes Alexander family lineages for all Y-DNA participants in the Alexander DNA Project. The line of James and Ann Alexander is designated the “Spartanburg Confused Family,” or “SpartCons” for short.[2]Find the SpartCons here.

The next link tabulates the Alexander Y-DNA project results. project results. It also refers to the line of James and Ann as “Spartanburg Confused.”

Finally, here is the website of my friend, distant cousin, and fellow SpartCon John F. Alexander. It has a wealth of information about the line of James and Ann. John asks me to add that it is a work in progress and readers are welcome to send him comments, corrections and additions that are supported by evidence.

As for the major unknowns about James and Ann, I hope that someone can fill in some of these blanks. The Alexanders qualify for me as what genealogists call a “brick wall,” meaning that my efforts to identify their parents have been unsuccessful. I don’t even know where or when James Alexander was born, much less who his parents were. Ditto for his wife Ann. They are both undoubtedly Scots-Irish, but … were they the original immigrants, or were they born here, and their parents were immigrants? I don’t know the answers to any of those questions.

I think I know where James and Ann came from before they arrived in Anson/Rowan County. That was almost certainly Amelia County, Virginia in the 1740s. The clue regarding a prior Virginia location in the North Carolina records was that James had some Virginia currency among the assets of his estate.[3] That’s pretty thin circumstantial evidence, but better than none.

Some James and Ann Alexander lived in Amelia County from about 1742 through 1749.[4] The timing is perfect, since that is just before James and Ann appeared in Anson County, NC some time before 1752. James and Ann were the only Alexanders who appeared in the Amelia records during that time period, except for a William Alexander who witnessed one deed and who may have been their eldest son.[5] The absence of other Alexanders raises the inference that James and Ann migrated with Ann’s family of origin rather than James’s.

James and Ann lived near several other Scots-Irish families in Amelia, including Ewings, Wallaces, Gillespies, and Cunninghams, and appeared in records with several of them.[6] James Ewing, one of their Scots-Irish neighbors, came from Cecil County, MD, where he owned land.[7] James and Ann undoubtedly also came to Amelia from the area around Philadelphia/Wilmington, where many Scots-Irish arrived from Ulster during the eighteenth century. Their families most likely first lived in Chester or Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Cecil County, Maryland, or New Castle County, Delaware. I have no evidence, although there are a great many Alexanders, Gillespies, Ewings and other Scots-Irish in the records of those counties in the 1700s.

The last entry for James and Ann in the Amelia County records was in September 1749, when they sold their tract on Fort Creek adjacent the Gillespies and Ewings.[8] In 1750, James first appeared in the records of Anson County, North Carolina, in a land grant and a survey there.[9] The family was clearly living in Anson County by 1752, when James received a Granville grant for the 640 acres on Kerr Creek (also known as James Cathey’s Mill Creek) that had been surveyed for him in 1750.[10] The deed referred to him as “James Alexander, Gent., of Anson County.”

In early 1753, James and Ann executed deeds giving land and livestock to five of their six children (all except William).[11] James may have been getting his affairs in order, since he died a few months later. All five deeds are dated January 7, 1753, and all of them recite love, goodwill and affection for each child as the consideration. Although there are similar recitations of consideration in many other colonial gift deeds from parent to child, it continues to strike me as a lovely thing to put in the permanent records. Also, Ann Alexander, although not named as a grantor in any of the deeds, signed at least four of them with her mark.[12] As a married woman, she had no legal existence of her own and consequently no legal right to convey that land. Adding her signature simply put her stamp of approval on both the conveyance itself and the love and affection recited as consideration.

Each of the first three deeds – gifts to James Jr., John and David – refers to the grantee as “planter.” This was a designation of one’s profession: e.g., planter, blacksmith, trader, or just “gentleman.” In January 1753, David (the youngest of the three) was probably just teetering on the brink of adulthood. He was definitely not more than eighteen, and probably a year or two younger than that. His parents may have been taking pains to treat David as an adult. Perhaps there was a twinkle in the parental eyes when they executed those deeds.

Eleanor, the only Alexander daughter, did not receive land, which isn’t unusual. A colonial female rarely owned a fee simple interest in land. If a woman owned any interest at all in real property, it was usually just a life estate in some or all of her deceased husband’s land. Instead of land, James and Ann gave Eleanor a “gray mair” [sic] and three “cow yearlings.” Her appearance in that deed is important for more than proof of her parents and siblings, because her name is a source of minor controversy among family history researchers. Most call her “Ellen,” which is the name on her tombstone and what she was probably called.[13] They may be right, but I will just say this: a court record identified her given name as Eleanor; [14] at least three deeds (one with her signature as “Elender”) do the same;[15] and she had a daughter and at least five granddaughters, all named Eleanor rather than Ellen.[16] Those facts surely establish that her given name was actually Eleanor. Her nickname was Ellen. She married Samuel Rankin about 1759 – early 1760.[17] Eleanor’s brother David (not her father, as the author of one Rankin family history incorrectly speculated) sold Samuel his 320-acre tract on James Cathy’s Mill Creek in 1760.[18]

Back to James and Ann. A deed from William Alexander to his brother Robert states that James died on June 15, 1753.[19] Ann was appointed guardian for David, Eleanor and Robert on October 22, 1755, proving they were underage on that date.[20] David and Eleanor were allowed to choose their own guardian, establishing that they were at least fourteen but not yet twenty-one. The court appointed Ann guardian for Robert, stating that he was then about age twelve.

The Rowan county deed and court records prove one more son, William. He wasn’t a grantee among the 1753 gift deeds, which may just mean that James and Ann had already provided for him in some fashion. In 1756, William executed confirmation deeds to his two minor brothers, David and Robert, for the land they had received as gifts.[21] As the eldest, William was James’s heir under the North Carolina law of intestate descent and distribution, and would have been entitled to inherit James’s land had he owned any when he died. James, however, had given it all to his other four sons. Ann paid William something more than the standard gift deed price of five shillings (although still substantially less than the land was worth) to obtain those confirmation deeds. The “conveyance” insured that her sons had good title and that William would not dispute it.[22] I have seen a number of similar confirmation deeds, and the consideration recited was always “love, goodwill and affection.” William apparently preferred cash.

The records leave no doubt about the state of Ann’s relationship with William. In 1755, she hauled him into court, asserting that he was withholding assets belonging to his father’s estate.[23] Ann’s attorney also charged (undoubtedly on her authority and behalf) that William was abusing an indentured servant. I don’t know how the claim regarding the estate assets turned out, but the court sided with Ann on the abuse issue and discharged the indentured servant.[24]

The records suggest that the six Alexander children were born on approximately the dates shown below. The birth dates are estimates, except with respect to David, Eleanor and Robert, whose birth years are reasonably supported by various records: [25]

– William, born by 1728

– James Jr., born about 1730

– John, born about 1732

– David, born about 1736

– Eleanor, born 1740

– Robert, born about 1743

I haven’t found any record of William Alexander’s family or his whereabouts after Rowan County. James Jr. lived in Spartanburg, SC; John Alexander married Rachel Davidson and went to Burke/Buncombe County, NC; David married Margaret Davidson in Rowan in 1762 and went to Pendleton District (now Anderson Co.), SC; and Robert remained in Lincoln County, where he was a justice in the county court.[26]

I have not tracked any of James’s and Ann’s children except for Eleanor Alexander, wife of Samuel Rankin. Samuel and Eleanor are my ancestors, according to Y-DNA and autosomal matches. Without DNA evidence, I can prove Samuel and Eleanor as ancestors only through a family legend and very strong circumstantial evidence. The moral? Get tested!

See you on down the road.

Robin

[1] See the article titled “More on the Line of Samuel and Eleanor Alexander Rankin: Richard’s Son Samuel” here.

[2] The name “Spartanburg Confused,” or SpartCon, was assigned long ago, before discovering that James Jr., John, David and Robert were all sons of James and Ann. There are now so many references to SpartCons that changing the designation would be difficult, even though the family is not exclusively from Spartanburg (and the confusion has abated!).

[3] Jo White Linn, Abstracts of the Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Rowan County, North Carolina, 1753-1762 (Salisbury, NC: 1977), Order Book 2: 92, entry of 25 Oct 1755, inventory of the estate of James Alexander, dec’d, included £52.11.2 Virginia money.

[4] Gibson J. McConnaughey, Court Order Book 1, Amelia County, Virginia, 1735-1746 (Amelia, VA: Mid-South Publishing Co., 1985), abstract of Order Book 1: 281A, entry of 19 Aug 1742, James Alexander paid for attending court to testify in a lawsuit; Gibson J. McConnaughey, Deed Book 3 and Deed Book 4, Amelia County, Virginia Deeds 1747-1753(Amelia, VA: Mid-South Publishing Co., 1988), abstract of Deed Book 3: 531, 30 Sep 1749 deed from James Alexander and wife Ann conveying a tract on Fort Creek.

[5] McConnaughey, abstract of Deed Book 3: 278, 19 Jul 1749 deed witnessed by William Alexander. If the witness was William, the eldest son of James and Ann, then he had probably arrived at legal age and was born by 1728.

[6] FHL Film #1,902,616, tax lists for 1744 through 1749 for the upper part of Amelia from Namozine Cr. to Cellar Cr. included James Alexander, several Cunninghams, Samuel Wallace, Samuel Ewing and Gillespies; 1744 deed to Robert Gillespie for land on Fort Creek adjacent to James Alexander (I have lost the deed book citation for that deed); McConnaughey, abstract of Amelia Co., VA Deed Book 2: 315, 1746 deed from James Alexander to James Ewing, land on Fort Creek. Grantor’s wife Ann relinquished dower.

[7] McConnaughey, abstract of Amelia Co., VA Deed Book 3: 371, power of attorney from James Ewing of Amelia to Joshua Ewing to sell a tract of land in Cecil Co., MD.

[8] Id., abstract of Amelia Co.., VA Deed Book 3: 351, deed of 30 Sep 1749 from James Alexander to John Reed, 300 acres on the north side Fort Creek adjacent Robert Galaspye [sic, Gillespie], James Ewing, Samuel Ewing and James Parks, with all houses, etc., witnessed by John Cunningham et al.

[9] NC Land Grants Vol. 4: 1040, grant dated 7 Apr 1750 to James Alexander, two tracts on both sides Rocky River; Patent Book 11: 1, survey dated 12 Nov 1750, 640 acres in Anson adjacent Andrew Kerr.

[10] Jo White Linn, Rowan County North Carolina Deed Abstracts Vol. I 1753 – 1762, Abstracts of Books 1 – 4(Salisbury, NC), Deed Book 3: 547, Granville grant dated 25 Mar 1752 to James Alexander of Anson Co., Gent., 640 acres adjacent Andrew Kerr. Witnesses included William Alexander. Notation in the margin: “to his widow.” This tract was on Kerr/James Cathey’s Mill Creek.

[11] Anson County, NC Deed Book B: 314, deed from James Alexander (also signed by Ann) to James Jr., 320 acres on Cadle (sic, Coddle) Cr. and 250 acres on the Catawba River; id. at pp. 314-315, deed from James (also signed Ann) to son John, the other half of the two tracts given to James Jr.; id. at 315, James Sr. to son David, half of the tract where I live (the tract on James Cathey’s Mill Cr.) and livestock; id., deeds from James to daughter Elener and son Robert (the other half of the tract on James Cathey’s Mill Cr.). An abstract of Anson County deeds omits the second deed, a gift of land and livestock to John Alexander. See Brent Holcomb, Anson County, N. C. Deed Abstracts Volume 1: 1749-1757 (Clinton, SC: 1974). I have copies from the deed books, however, so am confident that John is a proved son of James and Ann Alexander.

[12] The deed from James Alexander to their daughter “Elener” doesn’t mention Ann’s mark, although these deeds have been transcribed from the original deed books and are now typed.

[13] Microfilm at Clayton Genealogical library titled “North Carolina Tombstone Records, Vols. 1, 2 and 3,” compiled by the Alexander Martin and J. S. Wellborn chapters of the DAR; transcribed lists filmed 1935 by the Genealogical Society of Utah. Tombstone of Ellen Rankin, b. 16 April 1740, d. 26 Jan 1802. Other researchers give the birth date on her tombstone as 1743, although that is not consistent with the court allowing her to choose her own guardian in 1755. That required her to be at least fourteen.

[14] Linn, Abstracts of the Minutes, Order Book 2: 90, entry of 22 Oct 1755, David and Elinor Alexander (spelling per abstractor) came into court and chose their mother Ann Alexander as their guardian.

[15] Rowan County DB B: 315, gift deed from James Alexander to his daughter Elener; Linn, Rowan County Abstracts, Deed Book 6: 225, deed dated 31 Aug 1765 from Samuel Rankin and wife Eleanor (spelling per the abstractor) to John McNeeley, 320 acres on James Cathey’s Mill Creek; original of Lincoln Co. Deed Book 1: 703 (viewed at the courthouse), deed of 26 Jan 1773 from Samuel Rankin of Tryon to Philip Alston, 150 acres on Kuykendall Creek signed by Samuel Rankin and Elender Rankin. Two other deeds the same day, see DB 1: 702 et seq. were not signed by “Elender,” although she is identified in both as “Elen,” a grantor.

[16] At least five of Samuel and Eleanor Rankin’s children named a daughter “Eleanor” rather than “Ellen,” including Samuel Rankin Jr., Jean Rankin Heartgrove, Robert Rankin, David Rankin, and Eleanor Rankin Dickson. See, e.g., the tombstone of Eleanor, wife of Joseph Dickson, Ellis Cemetery, Shelby Co., Ill., here.

[17] Virgil D. White, Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files, Volume III: N-Z (Waynesboro, TN: The National Historical Publishing Co., 1992). Abstract of the pension application of William Rankin, the eldest son of Samuel and Eleanor Alexander Rankin, states that he was born January 1761 in Rowan County.

[18] Jo White Linn, Rowan County North Carolina Deed Abstracts Vol. II. 1762 – 1772 Abstracts of Books 5, 6, 7 (Salisbury, NC: 1972), Deed Book 5: 272, 14 July 1760 deed from David Alexander to Samuel Rankin, for £29 NC currency, 320 acres on both sides of James Cathey’s Mill Creek.

[19] Jo White Linn, Rowan County North Carolina Deed Abstracts Vol. I 1753 – 1762, Abstracts of Books 1 – 4(Salisbury, NC), abstract of Deed Book 3: 495, deed of 10 Jun 1756 from William Alexander, described as the eldest son and heir of James Alexander, to his brother Robert Alexander, reciting that James died intestate on 15 June 1753.

[20] Id., abstract of Rowan Co., NC Order Book 2: 90, David and Elener Alexander chose their mother Ann as guardian and the court appointed Ann the guardian of Robert, about age 12.

[21] Linn, abstract of Rowan Deed Book 3: 495, deed dated 10 Jun 1756 from William Alexander, eldest son and heir of James Alexander, to Robert Alexander, orphan of James, under 21 and brother of James, for 75 shillings paid by the widow Anne Alexander, mother of Robert and William, 320 acres on both sides James Cathey’s Mill Cr.; Deed Book 3: 498, William Alexander to David Alexander, orphan of James Alexander, under 21 and brother of William, by Anne Alexander, for 7 shillings sterling, 320 acres both sides James Cathey’s Mill Cr.

[22] I don’t know why similar confirmation deeds were apparently not needed for the gifts to James Jr. and John, who were of legal age at the time of the 1753 gift deeds. Other Rowan County records establish that Ann Alexander had an attorney, see note 23, and it seems likely that she would have obtained advice about the ability of an heir to challenge a conveyance of land via deeds of gift.

[23] Linn, abstract of Rowan Order Book 2: 77, entry of 16 Jul 1755, ordered on motion of Edward Underhill, Esq. (Ann Alexander’s attorney) that citation issue against William Alexander returnable immediately to give an account on oath what estate he has in his hands or had which were of James Alexander, dec’d, and account with Ann Alexander, administratrix for same.

[24] Id., abstract of Rowan Order Book 2: 78, ordered on motion of Edward Underhill, Esq., that James Nicholas be discharged of his indenture to William Alexander due to ill usage. Discharged. The next day, the court ordered William to produce James Nicholas in court or else to “stand committed.” Order Book 2: 81. I don’t know what “stand committed” means, but imagine it means held in contempt of court and committed to jail.

[25] See note 13 (tombstone showing Eleanor’s birth year as 1740), note 20 (in 1755, Ann Alexander chosen as guardian by Eleanor and David and appointed as guardian of Robert, about age 12) and note 21 (1756 deeds reciting that David and Robert Alexanders were still minors).

[26] This website has lineages for those members of the “Spartanburg Confused Family” who trace their line back to James and Ann.