Wm Rankin b1748
William RANKIN (1748-1817)
of Augusta Co., Virginia and Anderson Co., South Carolina
and his wife
Lettice / Letitia ROBERTSON
Compiled and copyrighted by Linda Sparks Starr April 2010
wr1 wr2
Photographs provided by Theresa Bowen


William Rankin was the third child and second son of George and Martha Rankin. Born along the Middle River in Augusta County, Virginia, he was baptized 20 March 1748 by the Rev. John Craig 20 March 1748 at the Augusta Stone Church.  [Wilson, Appendix F Record of Baptisms 1740-1749  p. 470-483; Virginia Library pages 9; 14; 20]
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William was barely twelve years old when his father, George, died late winter 1760.  George’s will gave William the middle third of his plantation; but, the will also provided the plantation be held together for benefit and education of the younger children.  At the time of his father’s death, William was old enough to help his mother and older brother without supervision. Or perhaps he worked on a neighbor’s farm. There was always a need for cash and the barter system was well-honed by frontiersmen.  These Rankins were exemplars of a family working for the benefit of the family instead of just personal gain. See Patterson’s deposition within the chancery papers for Mary (Rankin) Young for a statement to that effect.

The Augusta Land Tax records 1782 shows five Rankins paid taxes that year; three were sons of George died 1760: Thomas, John and William.  Thomas and William had tracts of 109 acres each while John’s acreage is shown as 110.  [Sparacio page 22 citing page 25]  The total comes to 328 acres, the same amount of George’s survey and patent mid-1740s.  In 1787 William paid the Augusta County tax for himself as a white male over 21 and for 7 horses and 10 cows.  The tax collector visited him and his three brothers – John, James and Robert – 27 April 1787.  John paid the tax on the younger James and Robert. [Schreiner-Yantis and Love pages 125; 141-2] Others visited by the tax collector that same day include: George Crawford (father or brother of Thomas Rankin’s wife) and his sons Capt. James, John and Robert.  Also visited that day were John (not the Rev. John) Craig, Robert Craig and William Craig, sons of William who died 1759.  William and his wife Janet came to America from Northern Ireland in 1732; they first settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania, but moved on to Augusta County Virginia by 1740.  [Wayland p. 307 The Craig Family]  RANKIN family researchers may be missing connections by not paying more attention to these Craigs.

The same three Rankin brothers paid taxes in 1788 [Sparacio p. 13 citing p. 146] and 1789. [page 55 citing page 1789]   William Rankin and Alexander Givens were witnesses to the 22 March 1786 marriage of Moses Moore and Jane Ewing, daughter of James Ewing.  [Chalkley, vol. 2 p. 282 citing Augusta Marriages] This next record is so badly deteriorated the names of witnesses, William Rankin and James Corson, is all that Chalkley was able to make out. [Chalkley vol. iii p. 543 citing Deed Book 21 p. 86]   Wading through legal verbiage written in colonial penmanship pays off. How else would we know William was making plans, the fall of 1789, for a move to Kentucky? Buried within a Judgment suit William Kerr vs John Dixon is the statement:  William Rankin is about to remove to Kentucky 16 September 1789.  [Chalkley vol. 1 p. 400 citing County Court Judgments August 1793 D to M]  

However, it appears William changed his mind.  William’s name didn’t surface on the numerous lists of early Kentucky settlers viewed by this researcher.  Neither was William in Pendleton District, South Carolina this early. [Clayton pages 21-24; 81-88]  Someone paid his land taxes in Augusta County in 1790 and there is no indication on the record it was anyone but William himself. What would make William change his plans late fall / very early spring 1789-1790?

According to the “Alterations and Partitions” section of Joseph Bell’s 1790 Land Tax return, George Rankin’s land was divided into even smaller plots.  Mary is now listed as the taxpayer instead of her husband Thomas; previously taxes were paid on the total amount of land he owned when he died. The reduced number of acres suggests she was paying taxes on her dower portion only.  Brother John died testate late January or early February.  His will divided his 110 acre legacy from his father George between his two younger brothers, James and Robert. [Chalkley vol. iii p. 187 citing Augusta Will Bk __ p. 200]  They were each taxed on 55 acres; William was taxed on his 109 acres. [Sparacio p. 101 citing p. 276]  John’s death might delay William’s immediate travel plans, but of itself, it shouldn’t have canceled William’s plans. 

This brings us back to the underlying questions:  Was Letitia married to James Rankin before her marriage to William? When did she and William Rankin marry?

William and Lettice (Robertson) were married by 15 November 1791, the date they as husband and wife sold his now 113 acres tract to Robert Crawford. Previous divisions of George’s original grant had been simple boundary line agreements between brothers. This was the first time a portion of the original grant was sold out of the family and this called for a new survey.  Although Chalkley did not abstract this deed, Crawford’s boundary line is mentioned in later deeds. Everything else about this record is based on unsourced papers of Henry Rankin Sr. [Henry Rankin Jr. letter to LSS dated 11 Oct 1988 citing his father’s notes, but adding “without source.”]

“... the wife’s separate acknowledgement to the deed was taken by a commission appointed for that purpose ‘in consequence of her removal to the district of Kentucky.’”   Rankin also noted the deed was endorsed: William Rankin,  Letty Rankin.    

This is the only reference that actually places William and Letitia in Kentucky. The 1789 record abstracted by Chalkley merely says William is “about to move” to Kentucky.  They did move to South Carolina. Were they in South Carolina when this deed was signed? In my opinion, the use of her nickname infers she was the one who signed her name to the document. Otherwise, I think the signer (who had their power of attorney) would use the more formal “Lettice / Letitia.” That POA should be recorded in the county records where they resided.  It has not surfaced in Pendleton District records to my knowledge.

Circumstances in Virginia might narrow the timing of their move from Virginia to South Carolina to “from late fall 1791 to early spring 1792.“ The widow of William’s brother Thomas died before October 1791 leaving six minor children.  My theory is, two orphans (George and John) moved into William and Letitia’s household and the other four moved in with other relatives.  This is based on a possible logical decision made by the extended family for those orphans and South Carolina records showing George was living with them in 1800.  Details of my reasoning are given below.
Pendleton District, South Carolina

Prichard’s narrative for this William Rankin begins:  “William Rankin married Letitia Robertson, daughter of William Robertson and Letitia Kerr, and moved to Anderson County, South Carolina after 1792, but prior to 1800.”   He doesn’t offer a source for either date. 

Although the grantee record hasn’t been found, William owned land in Pendleton District South Carolina before the end of 1792. Theresa (Wigington) Bowen located a survey plat map, dated 6 December 1792, showing William Rankin’s land bordering that of Josiah Downer. [Vol. 23, p. 186, SC Dept A&H]   Additionally, "William Rankin" appears on the list of Book Debts for an estate’s account record dated 1 February 1793. (Name of estate was omitted by the note taker.)  [Alexander, Elliott & Willie]

Beginning in 1797 William Rankin is found in several deed records for land on 23 Mile Creek.  He served as a witness with Job Smith and James Cansler on the 12 August 1797 deed John Hunnicutt to David Smith.  The land was on the Northwest branch of 23 Mile Creek, bounded by Thomas Hamilton and David Smith.  [Willie p. 146 citing Conveyance Bk C-D p. 343]   Later that year (27 December) David Smith of Washington District sold William Scott 100 acres .... bounded on the North by Robinson, on the East and South by Rankin and on the West by Grimes. [Willie p. 160-1 citing Conveyance Book C-D p. 381]   A 1791 deed identifies David Smith as miller when he sold 128 acres to Thomas Robertson, planter. [Willie p. 25 citing Book B p. 2-3]   William Rankin and Thomas Coker witnessed the 30 January 1798 deed Joseph Clark to Jean/Jain Copling for 40 acres on West side 23 Mile Creek and South side Blare’s Branch. [Willie p. 282 citing Bk G p. 125-6]

The 1800 Pendleton District Census shows William Rankin’s household consisted of 1 white male under 10; 1 white male 10-16; 1 white male 16-26; and 1 white male over 45.  Also 1 white female 10-16 and 1 white female 26-45.  He had no slaves.   It is thought the male under 10 is William M. Rankin born 1792; the male 10-16 is thought James born c1785; the male 16-26 is William’s nephew George (1782-1854).  The male over 45 is William and Letitia is the female 26-45.  The female 10-16 is thought Mary (1785-1873), future wife of George. No documentation exists for those identities; only the gender and the age category of members in the household were recorded.
William Orr and William Rankin witnessed the 5 May 1800 deed David Smith to Thomas Hammet/Hamilton.  Rebecca (x) Smith released her dower. [Willie p. 240-1 citing Conveyances Book F p. 122-3]     Then 3 July 1801 David and Rebecca Smith sold 300 acres more or less to William Rankins (sic) for £150 sterling, on Twenty three Mile Creek waters of Savanah River ... including the place where William Rankin now lives together with the mills & appurtenances. Reserving nonetheless to himself, said David Smith ... one half of the mills now erected on said premises with equal rights & privileges with said William Rankin in said mills.  At the request of both parties, Robert McCann, Deputy Surveyor, ran a new plat line, which shows a total of 373 acres laid out for Rankin.

19 February 1802 David Smith  sold the remaining ½ of the grist mill and saw mill as they both now stand and are occupied by David Smith and William Rankin on 23 Mile Creek in an equal co-partnership from hence with William Rankin to William Orr merchant.  Witnesses were William Forbus, Robert Pickens and Wm McMahen.  The newest merchant in the area was busy acquiring properties – or was he calling in debts owed?  William McMahen, planter, sold Orr 150 acres 18 March 1802.  The tract was located on the North side of 23 Mile Creek bounded by Andrew Wornock and was where sd McMahen now lives.   

Surely William Orr considered the accruing RANKIN debt as secure.  By the end of December 1802 William Rankin owed Orr $26.87 ½.  This is probably items purchased at Orr’s store.  Undated as to when the goods were purchased, the 20 year old George Rankin charged $3.83 at Orr’s store with William Rankin as his security.  This same estate account record, dated December 1804, shows William owing $27. Probably with interest added, it is the unpaid bill dating back to 1802. The merchant from Ireland, William Orr, died in South Carolina the summer of 1803.  Administrators were appointed and an estate sale was held September 19.  George Rankin purchased a regimental coat, pants, horseman’s cap, plus “lot of locks, scissors and brass.”  Estate accounts between August 1803 and December 1804 show William Rankin was paid a total of $62.74 or one-half the cost of repairs to the gristmill.  His $27.00 bill was itemized in this accounting; he purchased 14 Bushels of wheat and 6 ½ bushels of corn.

David Smith continued to sell his land holdings.  In 1804 he sold 176 acres to Jonathan Lindley; the tract was bounded by Rankin Mills and Esquire Willson.  [Willie p. 337 citing Book H p. 38-9]  Then in 1806 David Smith of Laurence (sic) District, South Carolina sold John Cross of Pendleton District parts of two tracts. One lot was bounded by William Rankins’ mill pond and waggon Road and the other by Benjamin Smith, Wilson and Rankins’ Mill.  [Willie p. 416 citing Book H p. 458-60]

Thomas Orr, nephew of the deceased merchant William Orr, arrived in South Carolina August 1804.  His petition to take over the administration of his Uncle’s estate, backed by a power of attorney from William’s siblings in Ireland, was granted.  29 March 1808 Thomas sold his one-half interest in the grist mill and saw mill to William Rankin for $210.   George Rankin was one of the witnesses.

South Carolina court records are then quiet until late 1817 as far as William Rankin is concerned.  Perhaps realizing his death was near, he secured a deed for 11 acres from Benjamin Mullikin 1 December 1817.  William died 17 December 1817.  The date is chiseled into a large granite boulder along with these words:  “Here rests the body of William Rankin who died December 17th 1817 ...  It is covered in moss and can only be read if the moss is carefully removed. We have never cleaned the second rock which may be his wife Letitia.” [Jo Ann (Rankin) Wigington whose daughter Theresa Bowen provided the photos.]    Letitia (Robertson) Rankin died before September 1822.  This is based on an interpretation of the clause in William’s non-extant will found in this Sheriff’s conveyance deed.  My interpretation: the land became William M.’s upon her death and not before.  If she were still alive, the court had no power to order it sold for damages caused by William M.

Children

The last record found for Lettice/Letitia (Robertson) is the 1820 Pendleton District Census.   “Lettier” Rankin is listed as the head of household which included 1 male 16-18; 1 male 18-26; 1 male 26-45 and 1 female over 45.  Her son William M. is thought the oldest male.  One of the other males could be their elusive son John, but deeds records suggest otherwise.  My guess, these other (or all) males were mill workers.   

As one may conclude from the above narrative, determining the relationship of those living in William and Letitia’s household is not easy. We begin this discussion with the makeup of their household as given by the 1800 Pendleton District Census.  Their household consisted of themselves, one female (born 1784-1790) and three males: one born 1774-1784; one born 1784-1790; and one born 1790-1800.  Nephew George is thought the oldest of the three males. William’s last will is referred to in two deeds; but, neither the will nor other probate records (specifically a listing of his heirs) was located. The list of suggested children for them is at least stable:  James, Mary, William M., Frances and John.
From the wording within deeds it appears William divided his land, including the mills, three ways: to George Rankin, James Rankin and William M. Rankin.  The absence of John is easily explained if John were their nephew instead of their son. Researchers reporting a son named John for William and Letitia always add:  “Nothing further known.”    John, son of William’s brother Thomas, is reported by all accounts to have died after 1790 from injuries received when a horse kicked him. [Miss Dice; Woodworth p. 710]   My theory, after Mary (Crawford) Rankin’s death, they took in the two youngest children:  George and John.  (Birth order isn’t known.) Taking this a step farther, nephew John was living with them in South Carolina when he was kicked by the horse.  Old Timers remembered him when telling stories to their grandchildren.

James didn’t remain in South Carolina long after William’s death.  History shows the tide of westward migration was then quite strong. Perhaps he found little joy in millwork; his wife wanted to travel west with her family; or, he just had no desire to remain in South Carolina.   In 1818 he sold to George “all the part of the land that my father William Rankin deceased left to me in his last will and testament ...  bounded [by] the land left to George Rankin and William Rankin Jnr by William Rankin deceased and also the plantation that William McCleary now lives on.”   The statement William is James’s father is significant. 

James was at least 21 when he signed this deed; thus, he was born by or before 1797. The 1800 census shows three males in William’s household, but only one born between 1790-1800.  Descendants of William M. provide a specific birth date for him that places him as that male. Since George is thought the oldest of those three males, James is left with the birth between 1784 and 1790.  These are the same years Letitia is thought married to James Rankin.   Was James’s father William or James?  The "Enigma James" discusses his alternate father.  Untraced once he left South Carolina, James is said to have moved to Marion County, Mississippi  and his descendants moved on to Texas.

Of the five suggested children for William and Letitia, only William M. is confirmed a son. William and Letitia signed a deed as man and wife in 1791 and descendents give William M’s birth date as 14 Oct 1792. One descendant says, without providing a source, the “M” stands for Milton.  William married Martha “Patsy” Warren 19 May 1820 in Pendleton District, Anderson County. She was born c1796 in Georgia, daughter of John Warren and Elizabeth  Rebecca (Perkins).  [Pritchard]  

Although the details of the suit aren’t known, the results of the hearing in the Court of Common Pleas for Pendleton District are: William M. and John A. Johnson lost. A Sheriff’s Auction was held 30 September 1822 to raise the money to pay costs and damages of $39 plus to Wm Owens, plaintiff.  Specifically, the sheriff sold: “All the rights titles and interest that the above Wm M. Rankin have in and to the said described tract of land which appears to be one third part, the said  undivided third part having been willed to the said Wm M. Rankin by his father in remainder after the death of Mrs. Lettice Rankin the mother of the said Wm M. Rankin.”  George Rankin was the highest bidder at $20. With this purchase, George became sole owner of all the land (384 acres) his Uncle William Rankin once owned in South Carolina.  

Surely William M. was present in March for the initial court trial.  Thus we can date his and Patsy’s move from South Carolina as 1822 or later. By then his mother was deceased and he had no property remaining in the area. They reportedly joined his brother James, and possibly Patsy’s relatives, in Mississippi. William M. is reported to have operated a store and later represented Marion County in the Mississippi Legislature.  Researchers report his death in Marion County, Mississippi 20 July 1862 or 1867.  A grandson or great-grandson was the Rev. Rankin Barnes whose first wife was known as the famous Flying Lady, Pancho Barnes, http://www.panchobarnes.com/  and  this article.

"William Milton Rankin took his family to Marion Co. Mississippi long before Mississippi became a state. They purchased what is now known as the Ford Pioneer House near Sandy Hook in Marion Co. That house is now owned by the Marion County Historical Society. [Al Weeks to Ann Norton Jones 2003]

Two daughters are included in the usual list of children for William and Letitia.  Information provided for Frances, the younger of the two, is curiously the same no matter the researcher:  “Frances born 1801 died 1836 Brachen County, Kentucky; married John Gill (1800-1837), settled first in Lincoln County, Tennessee, son of ....” [Virkus, vol. I p. 284]  Some researchers add:  “Frances was daughter of William Rankin 1748-1817.”  No where is the birth or death place of her father given and to my knowledge, no one has found a marriage record in any state for this couple.  The only explanation for how Frances and John met has her “probably leaving South Carolina with James Rankin and perhaps they went to Kentucky and then he went on to Mississippi.” It is extremely doubtful she left with James since Letitia was still alive when he left the state in 1818. (Letitia appears on the 1820 census in South Carolina.)  The more serious genealogists consider Virkus’ work flawed because he accepted and published as fact what others sent him without any attempt to corroborate the information.  Frances as a given name is not found in this particular RANKIN line, nor is it found in  Letitia’s  immediate ROBERTSTON family.  In my opinion, it is doubtful that Frances was a member of this particular family.

That leaves Mary, wife of George, whose father is documented as “James died before 1806.”  In Mary’s case, it’s Lettice / Letitia as her mother which is the real question. [see The Enigma James ]  The fact William gave his nephew George a portion of his estate equal to his “sons” speaks volumes for the kind of man William was.  Granted he and George appear to have had a very close relationship, not unheard of between uncle and nephew. It is easy to conceive the idea William accepted James and Mary as his own children and treated them equally with his son, William M.   But here’s where questions arise:  George inherited property in Augusta County from his father and a CRAWFORD  uncle.  Although by no means wealthy by this inheritance, he did begin his adult life with more than either James or William M.  Taking personal feelings out of the picture, it seems logical to conclude William divided his property between the three living children of his wife Lettice.  Without the will, we may never know the answer to this puzzle.

Unresearched references to three other Rankin males appear in Pendleton District records during the 1790s. None appear to be connected to William and Lettice, but one or all may hold a clue missed by others.  (1) William Rankings “of Frederick County, Virginia” sold a slave 16 May 1798. [Alexander, Elliott, Willie],  (2) Robert and his wife Leah Rankin, along with  (3) John Rankin resided on the Big Reedy Branch creek in Pendleton District.  Robert was co-executor, with the widow Margaret Wood, on the estate of Jesse Wood deceased.  Wood owned a tract on the Big Generostee Creek of the Savannah River, Pendleton District.
SOURCES

Alexander, Virginia;  Elliott, Colleen Morse; and Willie, Betty, compilers.  Pendleton District and Anderson County South Carolina Wills, Estates, Inventories, Tax Returns and census Records.  1980   Southern Historical Press, South Carolina
 
Chalkley, Lyman abstracter.  Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia: Augusta County 1745-1800 in three volumes.  Genealogical Publishing Co. Baltimore.    Also see  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~chalkley/

Clayton, Frederick Van, compiler.  Settlement of Pendleton District 1777-1800  Southern Historical Press, Easley, SC 1988

Prichard, A. M. compiler.  Rankin Relations.  Dedicated to Henry Preston Rankin Sr. (father of Henry Rankin Jr.) who prepared all data relating to this branch of the Rankin Family.

Schreiner-Yantis, Netti and Love, Florene, compilers.  The Personal Property Tax Lists for the Year 1787 for Augusta County, Virginia.  1987  Genealogical Books in Print, Springfield, Virginia.

Sparacio, Ruth and Sparacio, Sam, transcribers.  Augusta County, Virginia Land Tax Books 1782-1788 and 1788-1790.  The Antient Press, 1997.

Virginia State Library, John Craig’s Record of Baptisms 1740-1749 shared by Barbara Eads.

Virkus, Frederick A.  Compendium of American Genealogy in several volumes. Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore.

Wayland, John W. compiler. Virginia Valley Records  1930. 

Willie, Betty, compiler.  Pendleton District, S. C. Deeds 1790-1806   Southern Historical Press, Greenville, South Carolina 2001

Wilson, Howard McKnight, author / compiler.  The Tinkling Spring: Headwater of Freedom.  1954.

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.


Linda Sparks Starr copyright (c) 2010

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