The Family of Andrew Rankin (1836-1901)



Andrew Rankin married Janet Fraser on 22 December 1861 in Dores, Inverness-shire.  Janet (born 1839) was the daughter of Hugh Fraser and Margaret McGillivary who farmed at Lyne of Gorthlick.  They lived initially in the Dores area but moved to Kilmonivaig (between Fort William and Spean Bridge) in the 1870's.  They had 8 children the older being born in Dores but the later children were born after the move south.  This generation marked a change in the family history in that the children from this marriage started to migrate and the family spread.  Additionally this generation of children also progressed in career aspirations in that some moved from working the land and building to more academic pursuits.


Both Andrew and Janet died in Kilmonivaig and are buried with some of their children in a cemetery in Fort William.  Andrew, like his father before him, was a stone mason.


In the 1871 Census they were living at South Lyne (near the birthplace of Janet) but by the time of the 1881 Census they were living at Tomacharrich No 3 Cottage, Kilmonivaig.  After the death of Janet, Andrew and his son William lived with the family of Angus, his son until his death.