The Family of John Rankin (born 1744)

John Rankin was born in Appin in 1744.  Nothing is known of his early years until he enlisted in the newly formed 76th Regiment of Foot (see Appendix 5) on 19 March 1778.  He fought in the American War of Independence and was wounded at the Siege of Yorktown in Virginia (1781) - a battle which effectively ended the colonial rule in what was to become the United States.  From army records he was said to have suffered "severe bruising which rendered him unfit".  He was discharged from the 76th at Stirling in early 1784.  By December 1784 (when his first child was born), he had enlisted in a Company of Invalids stationed at Fort Augustus and, after serving there under 3 commanding officers, he was discharged on 7 July 1786.  He started to receive a pension from 1790.  It is not known what (if any) work he may have done to support his growing family.

He married Florence Gray and they had 3 children - John, James and Mary.  They appear to have continued to live in the area near Fort Augustus after John's discharge from the Company of Invalids since all 3 children were born there. 






















(facing)  Discharge Papers for John Rankin - Stirling, March 1784