Elizabeth Rankin Blair


Elizabeth “Betsy” Rankin (c1778 – 1819)
and Mathew Blair (    -1832)

Compiled and copyrighted June 2010 by Linda Sparks Starr
   
Woodworth listed Elizabeth “Betsy” Rankin as the first child of Mary (Crawford) whose mother was the POAGE descendant:  “1531 Elizabeth Rankin b. Augusta County, Va; m. Sep 21, 1796 Matthew Blair, farmer, and  d. Augusta County 1819; he was son John Blair and Jane Robertson, captain in a Va regt in the war of 1812 and d. 1832 – eleven children.  [p. 710-711]  Descendant Mona Mattingly wrote early 1990s:  “I am not sure that Elizabeth is the oldest daughter, but if she isn’t, then she is probably the next child.  Born ?1779 in Augusta County, she married Matthew Blair, son of John and Jane (Robertson) Blair the same year that she came under guardianship of William Robertson.”

Although Betsy, as her name is most often recorded, was the first of the daughters of Capt. Thomas Rankin to marry, hers was the second entry in the Guardian Bonds Book for his minor daughters. Mona’s transcription of these entries provides more details than Chalkley’s account: 
“1797 Robert Crawford guardian with James Rankin and Wm Crawford sureties Peggy Rankin, orphan of Thomas Rankin.  Bond £3000. 
1797 William Robertson, guardian with Wm Crawford surety Betsy Rankin, orphan of Thomas Rankin, Bond £1000. 
1797 William Crawford, guardian with Wm Robertson surety Martha Rankin orphan of Thomas Rankin. Bond £3000.”

These 1797 guardian bonds are the first records providing the names of his minor children.  Sadly the bonds raise more questions than they answer. The upper most question is why it took seven years before guardians were appointed?  All children were under fourteen when Thomas died, and most were still under fourteen when their mother died. Yet, by the time guardians were officially appointed, all but one or two were over fourteen and old enough to have some say in the matter.  Son George was even living in another state by 1797. That brings us to another question.  Why are only guardian bonds for the daughters recorded?  Were guardians appointed for the boys?   Why was the amount of Betsy’s bond £2000 less than for her sisters? It seems logical to assume her impending marriage was the impetus for this action. Going further, it is reasonable to assume she received some of her inheritance when she married; thus her guardian had less to manage than the other guardians.

Mona identified Betsy’s guardian William Robertson as the one who married Ann Crawford; she added he wasn’t a brother-in-law of Betsy’s mother Mary (Crawford) Rankin.   She didn’t comment upon his possible relationship to Mathew Blair’s mother.

Mona cited Peyton J. Lewis p. 28 History of Augusta County, 1953 for her 23 September 1797 marriage date for this couple.  Other researchers give the license date: 21 September while only one researcher added, without providing a citation, they were married by the Rev. William Wilson.   Chalkley’s transcription reads: “1797, September 23 Matthew Blair and Wm Robertson, surety.  Matthew Blair and Betsy Rankin, daughter of Thos. Rankin dec’d.”  [Chalkley vol. ii p. 324 citing Marriage Records p. 343]  

March 1813 Matthew Blair and Elizabeth his wife, George Rankin and Mary his wife, and James Rankin Jr. as heirs at law of Thomas Rankin dec’d  sold two tracts to their uncles James and Robert Rankin. Betsy (Rankin) Blair died 1819 in Augusta County. Nothing is recorded about a second marriage for Matthew who died in 1832.

The numbering below for their children is taken from Woodworth’s work.  Additional information was shared by Jean Gillett and Mona Mattingly.

15311 Mary Crawford born 1797 married 1st   (as his second wife) William Thomas Poage, farmer – P 1135 [Woodworth p. 286; 309] – son of Col. William Poage and Margaret Davies.  He was born 8 February 1783 and died 27 May 1827 near Marlington (now West) Virginia.   She married 2nd Andrew Wallace of Rockbridge County and 3rd Capt. David Laird of Rockbridge County.  No children.
15312 John Blair MD   physician, graduate of Wm & Mary College, born 1799.  He married Elizabeth Hoge and is said to have had four children, one of whom James E. Blair, was living at Richmond in 1911.
15312x  Thomas Rankin born 1801 married Jane Davis.  No children.
15313  Jane R. born 1803 married 1st John VanLear; 2nd ___ Cochrane; and 3rd ___ Thompson.  No children.
15314  William Robertson MD  physician and surgeon, graduated from Wm & Mary College and practiced in Moscow, Augusta County, Virginia.  He was born 11 May 1805 and died 23 June 1860.  He married 8 November 1829 Marian Beasley (born 1811 died 1843).  They had seven children before her death.  He married 2nd Hettie Matilda Wallace; they had five children.
15315  Ann Eliza “Annie” born 7 February 1807 in Augusta County; died 9 June 1846 near Mt. Solon, Long Glade, Augusta County.  She married 21 August 1828 James Bell – P 1861 p. 1073 – farmer of Mt. Solon, Virginia and son of Thomas Bell and Rebecca Robertson.  He was grandson of Col. James R. and Margaret (Poage) Robertson.  James was born c1806 in the Long Glade area and died 3 February 1877.  All members of this family are buried in the Mossy Creek Cemetery, Mt. Solon.  They had nine children, but none married.
15315x  George born 1810 died 1838, didn’t marry.
15316  Matthew Alexander MD  physician and merchant of Richmond, Virginia.  He was born 1812; graduate in medicine of Wm & Mary College; died 2 February 1876.  He married Mary Cowan who died 16 June 1885, daughter of Joseph and Mary Cowan of Staunton, Virginia.  They had four children. Woodworth noted that one respondent said this set of children produced three physicians, all graduates of the Wm & Mary College.  However another respondent reported “our father Matthew Blair was not a professional man” and gave his occupation as commission merchant. 
15317  Margaret born 1814 married Rev. J. W. Cullum, a Methodist minister.  No descendants.  [Also have her as married to Maj. William Thomas Poage, son of Col. William and Margaret Davies.]
15318  Rebecca born near Spring Hill, Augusta County, Virginia 14 March 1816 died at Front Royal, Virginia 2 July 1881.  She married 4 January 1841 Rev. David Trout, a Methodist minister who died 6 December 1869, son of Philip T. and Mary M. Lambert.  They had seven children. 
15319  James Alexander R. farmer in southern part of Augusta County near the Rockbridge County line, born 28 October 1818 died 28 February 1854.  He married January 1842 Mary Amanda McChesney who died 30 April 1899, daughter of Dr. John McChesney and Jane Taylor.  James and Mary had two children.


SOURCES

Chronicles of Scotch-Irish Settlers in Virginia:  Augusta 1745-1800 vol. II  by Lyman Chalkley

Gillett, Jean, researcher of early Augusta County, Virginia families including the POAGEs.  e-mails mostly date 1990s.

Mattingly, Mona, researcher of RANKIN, POAGE, ROBERTSON and BLAIR

Woodworth, Robert Bell, editor.  The Descendants of Robert and John Poage: Pioneer Settlers in Augusta County, Virginia, A Genealogy  based on the Manuscript Collections of Prof. Andrew Woods
Williamson, Henry Martyn Williamson and John Guy Bishop. The McClure Printing Co., Staunton, VA 1954.


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