George Alexander Rankin (1844-1910)
and Desdamona Gambrell (1851-1918)
Compiled and copyrighted July 2010 by Linda Sparks Starr
George Alexander Rankin, born 14 August 1844 in Anderson County, was the third child and second son of Thomas F. Rankin and Sarah Ann Orr. It appears he inherited his father’s talent for working with wood. But whether that was his main occupation is unexplored.
Although he was only 17 years old at the time, George A. joined the South Carolina Palmetto Sharpshooters, along with his Uncle George W. Rankin. This was in the days when all thought one decisive battle would settle things and they would be back home in time to harvest the fall crops. By November 1862 George A., now 18 years old in chronological years, but many more years old in life experiences, had risen to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. This information comes from the Co. L muster roll for the Palmetto Sharpshooters entered into the wartime diary of W. R. Rankin. [Starr 96; 97] The same muster shows George’s older brother, W. R. Rankin who had recently joined the group, was 1st Sergeant. Likely Company L experienced the same re-organization that summer as the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia. This muster also shows George A. was furloughed for 30 days from September 6th.
However, elsewhere among W. R.’s papers is a list of members of Company L and a brief comment of what happened to some of them. 1st Lt George A. Rankin is shown as wounded at Seven Pines and Fraziers Farm, resigned. This is puzzling for the skirmishes given those names were in May 1862 during what has come to be called the Peninsular Campaign. Perhaps the two were meant to be separate comments. G. A. Rankin isn’t listed on either W. R.’s list or the official roster of those surrendering at Appomattox in 1865. But his Uncle George W. Rankin and brother W. R. Rankin appear there.
On 10 October 1867 in Anderson County, George A. married Desdemona / Dismona "Desta / Destie" Gambrell who was born 1 June 1851. Subsequent events suggest they made their home on a portion of the tract purchased with funds managed by the trust set up for George A.’s mother by his grandfather, Thomas Orr. It is logical to assume George, and his brother James C. took stock of their situation in 1871. They realized the trustees' concern was only providing benefits to Sarah Ann (Orr) Rankin, and could sell the 212 acres tract at any time. If they did so, improvements made by them went with the land. George A. and James surely discussed changes to the trust with their mother and uncle.
December 1871 Sarah Ann made a formal request to change the trustees of the fund. The first response of the trustees may have been relief at the thought of being be rid of the trust; but, on second thought they came up with another plan. George A. and James C. purchased the 212 acres for $1350 plus interest; the trustees Thomas Orr had chosen in 1854 remained; the payments were invested for income for Sarah Ann. Even though it was all in the family, the trustees insisted on both a Surety Bond of $2700 and a mortgage.
Signatures of George A. and J. C. Rankin, 1871
George’s father, Thomas F. Rankin, died fall 1872 without writing a will. As the eldest son living in the area, the administration of the estate fell to George Alexander. He was appointed at the 5 December 1872 session of the Probate Court. The six-hund red dollar surety bond was co-signed by his uncles Alexander and James Orr, and N. J. Gambrell, surely a relative of his wife.
Surety Bond Signature, 1872
This receipt, submitted as an expense of the estate, is the only clue to George Alexander’s occupation. George's occupation is listed as farmer on the 1880 census.
Little more is known about George A. According to the Anderson County Grantee Index (to April 1891), and without viewing the actual documents, it appears G. A. sold 64 acres to his brother James C. Rankin in December 1888. [citing Deed Bk D-3 p. 205] Then February 1891 John M. and Thomas Glenn sold George A. 2 acres and J. M. Orr sold him ½ acre. It’s curious that both transactions occurred on the same day and the name "John M." appears in both entries. [citing Book G-3 p. 92-3] One has to wonder if the clerk omitted something and these have to do with the former trust land.
George A. was given a power of attorney early in 1892 by his brother, W. R. Rankin of Calhoun, Georgia. The reason for the POA was to collect all sums due W. R. from D. W. Blassingame, who was their brother-in-law. The POA isn’t more specific about the amount of money due or reasons for the initial (presumed) loan. Presumably Sarah Ann (Orr) Rankin spent her last years living with, or at least near to, George A. and Desdamona. By the mid-1890s, he was the only one of her children remaining in South Carolina.
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| Desdemona? | Sally? |
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Sarah Elizabeth, born
5 August 1868 died 27 April 1933, married William T. Evatle/Evalt. The
specific date of their marriage is not known, but guessed as about
1890 by Helen (Starr) Wade who provided the above dates as
well as
the provenance of this wedding gift to the couple. Helen
either purchased the pitcher at an estate sale or it was given to her
by a member of the family. Helen’s note pasted to the bottom of
the pitcher informs: "Sally Rankin was a first cousin of Pauline
(Rankin) Starr."
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Mary Lee born c1870 married ___ Smith.
Jacob Robertson "Robert" Rankin born c1873
Margaret J. Custis born c1875 married ___ Watkins
Desdamona Lyda (Eliza per 1880 census) appears in the D.A.R. Lineage Book 166, page 33, Serial No. 165.105. She gives her birth date as 1 January 1878 and her marriage to James Robert Martin 6 June 1905. He was born 17 May 1876. [Henry Rankin]
Ivy Josephine Rankin
George Alexander Rankin
Zoe Fair Rankin
Winifred (Rankin) Potts
Anna Blair (Rankin) Curry
Thomas Clifford Rankin
SOURCES
Anderson County, South Carolina Index to Deeds – Grantees (Rankin to 1881)
Anderson County records located at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbus.
The Appomattox Roster: A List of the Paroles of the Army of Northern Virginia Issued at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. 1962 reprint.
Eades, Barbara, descendant via Blassingames, researcher.
FamilySearch.org for 1880 census results.
Jones, Dr. Ann Norton, descendant of W. R. Rankin, researcher. She had access to all the family records and photographs of William Robertson Rankin of Calhoun, GA.
Rankin, Henry Preston Jr. researcher, descendant from George d. 1760
Starr, Linda Sparks, author. W. R. Rankin: Manassas to Appomattox 1990.
Wade, Helen Starr, descendant of W. R. Rankin
Linda Sparks Starr copyright (c) June 2010