Jean Rankin Bell
Jean
Rankin (1743 – after January 1790) and her husband ___ Bell
Compiled and copyrighted June 2010 by
Linda Sparks Starr
Jean, the oldest child of George and
Martha Rankin, was baptized 15 October 1743 by the Rev. John Craig:
Prichard interpreted that entry in the birth register as indicative of
when Jean was born. He assumed she was an infant when baptized.
However, Howard M. Wilson, who abstracted the same entry, thought Jean
might have been born well before October 1743. [Wilson p.
470-483]
George Rankin’s
will, dated 26 January 1760, gave his “Daughter Jean a Childs part of the
Moveables and Ten Pounds in money.” This
doesn’t sound like Jean was married at the time the wrote the
will. However, Henry Rankin Jr. concluded Jean was the unnamed
bride of James Bell who “obtained
license to marry, woman not named, 25 August 1759.”
[Vogt Kethley p. 40] Jean was identified as “sister Jane Bell” in
the 4 January 1790 will of her brother John Rankin.
Henry Rankin Jr. wondered if the William Bell whose wife was Margaret
(Allen), daughter of James Allen Sr. (will dated 28 April 1788), was
related in some way to Jean’s husband. James Allen Sr.
witnessed the will of Robert Stephenson, the step-father of Jean
(Rankin) Bell.
SOURCES
Prichard, A. M. researcher. Rankin
Relations.
Virginia State Library, John
Craig’s Record of Baptisms 1740-1749 shared by Barbara
Eads.
Vogt, John; Kethley, T. William Jr., compilers, Augusta Co., VA Marriages 1748-1850
Wilson, Howard McKnight, author / compiler. The Tinkling Spring: Headwater of Freedom.
1954. Appendix F: Record of Baptisms 1740-1749.
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