Harrower Family Tree » John Rankin (1724-????)
Personal data John Rankin
Source 1- He was born on January 9, 1724 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.Source 1
John Rankin Miller in New miln, & Sara Finlay both their 1st marriages, had their 9th child born on fryday Jan:9-1724 and Baptized John on Thursday Jan: 16-1724, By Mr Wright.
- He was baptized on January 16, 1724 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.Source 1
9th Child, Baptized by Mr Wright.
- Occupations:
- in the year 1763 Farmer, birth of Son John: Third Child in Wardneuk Farm, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.Source 2
- in the year 1767 Farmer, birth of Son Mathew: Fourth Child in Wardneuk Farm, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.Source 3
- in the year 1761 Farmer: birth of Daughter, Agnes: Second Child in Wardneuk Farm, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.Source 4
- Resident:
- in the year 1767: Wardneuk Farm, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.Source 3
- in the year 1763: Wardneuk Farm, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.Source 2
- on March 14, 1758: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.Source 5
- in the year 1761: Wardneuk Farm, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.Source 4
- in the year 1775: Wardneuk Farm, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.Source 6
- between 1797 and 1798: Wardneuk Farm, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.Source 7
- (Individual fact) between 1767 and 1775: Missing birth of fifth child Bet. 1767–1775.
- (Kirk Session Minutes) between 16 MAR and October 8, 1758 in Laigh Kirk, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland: Kilmarnock, Laigh (quoad sacra) Kirk Session, Minutes (1738-1765), CH2/1252/4.Source 8
- A child of John Rankin and Sarah Finlay
Household of John Rankin
He is married to Elisabeth Burnet.
They got married after March 16, 1758 at Ayrshire, Scotland.Source 8
Child(ren):
- Agnes Rankin 1761-????
- Jean Rankin 1758-????
- Mathew Rankin 1767-????
- William Rankin 1775-????
Notes about John Rankin
1. No marriage can be found on Scotlands People
2. There is a fifth child born to John Rankin and Elizabeth Burnet, as Mathew is named as the fourth child born and William named as sixth born. There are 8 years between the births of Mathew and William.
3. There is a marriage in Ancestry. This date is obviously wrong, or it wasn't legal, as in 1758 they were rebuked 1 Month for their sin & scandal of fornication together.
Kilmarnock, Laigh (quoad sacra) Kirk Session, Minutes (1738-1765), CH2/1252/4
Thursday March 16 1758
Elizabeth Burnett being delated as having brought forth a child in fornication to John Rankine, they were appointed to be cited to next session.
Thursday March 23 1758
Compeared Elizabeth Burnett judicially confessing herself to have brought forth a child in uncleanness to John Rankine. Compeared said John judicially confessing guilt with her as the father of her child. They were appointed to appear Sabbath next to be rebuked.
Sabbath March 26 1758
Compeared John Rankine & Elizabeth Burnett & were rebuked 1Mo. for their sin & scandal of fornication together.
Thursday August 31 1758
Compeared ? John Rankine & Elizabeth Burnett applying for absolution & were appointed to wait on the mntrs for examination & they to report.
Thursday September 14 1758
Mr Hall reported that John Rankine & Elizabeth Burnet have my wait on him he was satisfied with their knowledge & they were appointed to be absolved on Sabbath on paying ten shillings of covet Muld for the man and ten pounds scots for the woman.
Sabbath October 8 1758
Compeared John Rankine & Elizabeth Burnett & were absolved from their scandal of fornication together.
4. Although it cant yet be proven, Johns 'possible' parents, John Rankin, a Miller in New Miln, and Sarah Finlay, are my guess. I have known for a long time from the book "The History of Kilmarnock" by Archibald McKay, that the Rankins of Wardneuk, were related to the Rankins of the Mill in Shilling-hill, in the centre of Kilmarnock, see the following extract from the book:-
The History of Kilmarnock, by Archibald McKay.
Chapter X, page 106, Fourth Edition.
THE Cross of Kilmarnock was, in early times, the site of a corn-mill, which was driven by a lade or stream that flowed through the same spot. Shilling-hill, or Sheelin-hill, near the Railway Station, was, as the name implies, the eminence on which "the kernels of the grain," to use the words of Dr. Jamieson, "were separated by the wind from the husks."* Regarding the exact time of the erection of the mill we have no information. It appears, however, by the following extract from the Town Treasurer's Book, to have been removed about the beginning of the eighteenth century: "1703-June 26-Paid to Ballyie Hunter for the street where the miln stood £21 9s. 4d. Scots." We may likewise state, that the name of the last occupant of the mill was Rankin, from whom are descended the Rankins of Wardneuk, in this parish, and also the late David Rankin, Esq., post-master of Kilmarnock. The Newmill, at a short distance from the town, on the banks of the Irvine, was also occupied at one time by the same Rankins, and was built, we believe, in 1703, it was a substitute for the one at the Cross; hence it obtained the name of the New Mill.
* "By every corn-mill a knoll-top, on which the kernels were winnowed from the husks, was designed the Sheeling-hill.- Agr. Surv. Peeb.
5. Closer examination of the Farm Horse Tax in 1797-1798, finds a John Rankin, Cookston, and a John Rankin, Wardneuk. John in Cookston ties in with where his family were born. The John Rankin in Wardneuk would be 72 years of age. There is no likely record of death.
Timeline John Rankin
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Sources
- Scotlands People - Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, 1724 RANKIN, JOHN (Old Parish Registers Births 597/ 10 458 Kilmarnock)
1724 RANKIN, JOHN (Old Parish Registers Births 597/ 10 458 Kilmarnock)
John Rankin Miller in New Miln, & Sara Finlay both their 1st marriages, had their 9th child born on fryday Jan:9-1724 and Baptized John on Thursday Jan: 16-1724, By Mr Wright. - Scotlands People - Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, 1763 RANKINE, JOHN (Old Parish Registers Births 597/ 20 291 Kilmarnock)
01/01/1763 RANKINE, JOHN (Old Parish Registers Births 597/ 20 291 Kilmarnock)
Kilmarnock 1763 Births and Baptisms.
John Rankine, 3 child of John Rankine Farmer in Wardneuk & Elizabeth Burnet his wife was born January 1st 1763 - Scotlands People - Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, 1767 RANKING, MATTHEW (Old Parish Registers Births 597/ 20 365 Kilmarnock)
24/05/1767 RANKING, MATTHEW (Old Parish Registers Births 597/ 20 365 Kilmarnock)
Births and Baptisms 1769 Kilmarnock
24 May John Ranking Farmer in Wardneuk and Elizabeth Burnet, Mathew fourth child born May 19th 1767 - Scotlands People - Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, 1761 RANKINE, AGNES (Old Parish Registers Births 597/ 20 271 Kilmarnock)
01/11/1761 RANKINE, AGNES (Old Parish Registers Births 597/ 20 271 Kilmarnock)
Kilmarnock 1761 Births and Baptisms
Nov. 1 John Rankine Farmer in Wardneuk & Elizabeth Barnet, both their 1st marriage had their 2nd Child born on Saturday Oct'r. 24-1761, & baptised Agnes on Sabbath Nov'r 1 -1761 by Mr Leslie - Scotlands People - Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, 1758 RANKINE, JEAN (Old Parish Registers Births 597/ 20 221 Kilmarnock)
14/03/1758 RANKINE, JEAN (Old Parish Registers Births 597/ 20 221 Kilmarnock) Page 221 of 562
Kilmarnock Baptisms 1758
Elizabeth Barnet brought forth a child in unclean-ness to John Rankine March 11 1758 & was baptized Jean on Tuesday March 14 1758 - Scotlands People - Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, 1775 RANKING, WILLIAM (Old Parish Registers Births 597/ 20 526 Kilmarnock) Page 526 of 562
1775 RANKING, WILLIAM (Old Parish Registers Births 597/ 20 526 Kilmarnock) Page 526 of 562
John Ranking in Warnook and Elizabeth Burnet Spouse had their sixth child born June 5th 1775 and Baptized William June 12th 1775 - Scotlands Places, 1797 Farm Horse Tax 1797-1798, Volume 01 Volume 1 contains farm horse tax information on the following counties: Aberdeenshire, Argyll, Ayrshire, and Banffshire. John Rankine, Cookston, 2 Horses John Rankine, Wardneuk, 2 Horses
Masters/mistresses names Number of horses Horses liable in duty Horses not liable Duty
Kilmarnock Brot [Brought] forward 122 113 9 £11.6.0
James Steven Crookedholm 1 1 £0.2.0
Thomas Steven Crookedholm 1 1 £0.2.0
John Paterson Struthers 3 3 £0.6.0
Thomas Walker Newmiln 3 3 £0.6.0
John Willock Holehousemuir 2 2 £0.4.0
Thomas Stevenson Silverwood 4 4 £0.8.0
William Dickie Holms 1 1 £0.2.0
John Wilson Burnbrae 1 1 £0.2.0
Hugh Gebbie Dykeneuck 3 3 £0.6.0
John Cuthbertson Thirdpart 2 2 £0.4.0
John Wilson Croftfoot 2 2 £0.4.0
William Steven Loanfoot 2 2 £0.4.0
George Baird Blairston 1 1 £0.2.0
Robert Raeside Westmuir 2 2 £0.4.0
John McNeight Westmuir 1 1 £0.2.0
William Gilmour Rumpies 1 1 £0.2.0
Robert Stewart Knockinglaw 2 2 £0.4.0
George Galt Top Unthank 2 2 £0.4.0
John Rankine Cookston 2 2 £0.4.0
William Morton Unthank 4 4 £0.8.0
William Cuthbertson Knockinlaw 1 1 £0.2.0
John Rankine Wardneuck 2 2 £0.4.0
Robert Dunlop in Beansburn 1 1 £0.2.0
William Hunter Hillhead 2 2 £0.4.0
Mr Corbet in Hillhead 2 2 £0.4.0
Alexander Lamont Unthank 1 1 £0.2.0
John Carse Meicklewood 1 1 £0.2.0
William Alexander Craighall 2 2 £0.4.0
John Montgomerie Southcraig 3 2 1 £0.4.0
James Thomson North Craig 3 2 1 £0.4.0
James Gilmour in Dunnings 3 2 1 £0.4.0
Carried forward 183 171 12 £17.2.0 - Scotlands People - Virtual Volumes, 1758 Records for John Rankine and Elizabeth Burnett Kilmarnock, Laigh (quoad sacra) Kirk Session, Minutes (1738-1765), CH2/1252/4 (Page 205 - Page 209) http://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2019/02/scottish-antenuptial-fornication.html Scotland, Antenuptial Relationship Index 1661-1780 Do you have ancestors that were members of the Church of Scotland? Search over 31,000 antenuptial records from Kirk Sessions registers to find out if there were any family members who were summoned to the ministers and elders of the church to deny or confess their sin as a child had been conceived out of wedlock In these cases of 'antenuptial fornication', it was the mother of the child who would be summoned first, they would be sternly rebuked and persuaded to name the father of the child if he was not an obvious boyfriend. The father was then told of the accusation, summoned and would either appear or write, to deny or confess his sin. The session would summon the mother and father of the child back to subsequent meetings until the matter was resolved and the mother, or sometimes the couple, made some sort of reparation, often with the mother standing at the church door for 3 Sabbaths. When they had fully repented, and been pardoned, each was welcomed back into the Church.
Thursday March 16 1758
Elizabeth Burnett being delated as having brought forth a child in fornication to John Rankine, they were appointed to be cited to next session.
Thursday March 23 1758
Compeared Elizabeth Burnett judicially confessing herself to have brought forth a child in uncleanness to John Rankine. Compeared said John judicially confessing guilt with her as the father of her child. They were appointed to appear Sabbath next to be rebuked.
Sabbath March 26 1758
Compeared John Rankine & Elizabeth Burnett & were rebuked 1Mo. for their sin & scandal of fornication together.
Thursday August 31 1758
Compeared ? John Rankine & Elizabeth Burnett applying for absolution & were appointed to wait on the mntrs for examination & they to report.
Thursday September 14 1758
Mr Hall reported that John Rankine & Elizabeth Burnet have my wait on him he was satisfied with their knowledge & they were appointed to be absolved on Sabbath on paying ten shillings of covet Muld for the man and ten pounds scots for the woman.
Sabbath October 8 1758
Compeared John Rankine & Elizabeth Burnett & were absolved from their scandal of fornication together.
Historical events
Birthday January 9, 1724
- The temperature on January 9, 1724 was about 6.0 °C. Source: KNMI
- This page is only available in Dutch.Van 1702 tot 1747 kende Nederland (ookwel Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden) zijn Tweede Stadhouderloze Tijdperk.
- In the year 1724: Source: Wikipedia
- January 28 » The Russian Academy of Sciences is founded in St. Petersburg by Peter the Great, and implemented by Senate decree. It is called the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences until 1917.
- April 7 » Premiere performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's St John Passion, BWV245, at St. Nicholas Church, Leipzig.
- November 11 » Joseph Blake, alias Blueskin, a highwayman known for attacking "Thief-Taker General" (and thief) Jonathan Wild at the Old Bailey, is hanged in London.
- December 7 » Tumult of Thorn: Religious unrest is followed by the execution of nine Protestant citizens and the mayor of Thorn (Toruń) by Polish authorities.
Christening day January 16, 1724
- The temperature on January 16, 1724 was about 7.0 °C. Source: KNMI
- This page is only available in Dutch.Van 1702 tot 1747 kende Nederland (ookwel Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden) zijn Tweede Stadhouderloze Tijdperk.
- In the year 1724: Source: Wikipedia
- January 28 » The Russian Academy of Sciences is founded in St. Petersburg by Peter the Great, and implemented by Senate decree. It is called the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences until 1917.
- April 7 » Premiere performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's St John Passion, BWV245, at St. Nicholas Church, Leipzig.
- November 11 » Joseph Blake, alias Blueskin, a highwayman known for attacking "Thief-Taker General" (and thief) Jonathan Wild at the Old Bailey, is hanged in London.
- December 7 » Tumult of Thorn: Religious unrest is followed by the execution of nine Protestant citizens and the mayor of Thorn (Toruń) by Polish authorities.
Same birth/death day
- 1685 » Tiberius Hemsterhuis, Dutch philologist and critic († 1766)
- 1728 » Thomas Warton, English poet, historian, and critic († 1790)
- 1735 » John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent, English admiral and politician († 1823)
- 1745 » Caleb Strong, American lawyer and politician, 6th Governor of Massachusetts († 1819)
- 1753 » Luísa Todi, Portuguese soprano and actress († 1833)
- 1773 » Cassandra Austen, English painter and illustrator († 1845)
About the surname Rankin
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- Check the information Open Archives has about Rankin.
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The Harrower Family Tree publication was prepared by Colin Harrower.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin:
Colin Harrower, "Harrower Family Tree", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/harrower-family-tree/I543.php : accessed May 10, 2025), "John Rankin (1724-????)".
Colin Harrower, "Harrower Family Tree", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/harrower-family-tree/I543.php : accessed May 10, 2025), "John Rankin (1724-????)".