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:

baptism Jean

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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