Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of David Rankin, Sr.

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Descendants of David Rankin, Sr.

16. THOMAS³ RANKIN (DAVID², DAVID¹) was born December 18, 1751 in Frederick County, Virginia, and died March 25, 1820 in Cynthiana, Harrison Co., Kentucky. He married HANNAH JANE MONTGOMERY 1770, daughter of JOHN MONTGOMERY and UNKNOWN WIFE. She was born March 27, 1753, and died September 14, 1831 in Harrison County, Kentucky.

Notes for THOMAS RANKIN:
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SOURCE: Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 7th ed., 1887, Kenton Co.

THOMAS RANKIN was a citizen of Harrison County, Ky., and came from Virginia in the early settlement of Kentucky. He was the father of eleven children: Simeon, John, David, Robert, James, Thomas, Jane (Dawson), William, Samuel, Sarah (Chambers) and Hannah (Boyd). Thomas Rankin was the first constable in Harrison County, died and is buried in Cynthiana, Ky.

Thomas Rankin, son of Thomas Rankin mentioned above, was born April 11, 1784, in Virginia, and received a common-school education in youth. He was married, July 11, 1816, to Nancy McMillen, a daughter of Robert and Mary (Stroad) McMillen, both of Clark County, Ky. Robert McMillen was wealthy, owning large property in Clark County, and giving his children all good estates. The McMillen and Stroad families are of Scotch origin. To the marriage of Thomas Rankin were born five children: Mary J. (Kellar) deceased; Thomas R., deceased; Oscar F.; Andrew F., deceased, and James W. who died in infancy. Oscar F. is the only one now living. Thomas Rankin accumulated a fair estate in Harrison County, and in life was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was jailer of Harrison County for several years, and died on December 18, 1851. Mrs. Rankin, who was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died February 6, 1865, in the sixty-fifth year of age.

The Rankin family are of Scotch descent, are highly respected, and among the prominent families of Kentucky. Oscar Rankin was born November 23, 1821, in Harrison County. In youth he received his education at the academy of Cynthiana, and while yet a young man was deputy clerk of Harrison County Court for many years. He began the study of law under the preceptorship of William K. Wall, of Cynthiana, and completed his legal studies under the tutorage of Prof. R. A. Forester, of Georgetown College. He was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of law in 1849, in Cynthiana, remaining until 1855, when he removed to Kenton County, where he has since lived. The occasion of this removal was his marriage to Miss Mary C. Wilson, a daughter of Aquilla and Mary (Wilson) Wilson, of Virginia, who came from near Winchester, and owned about 900 acres of land near Independence. To this marriage were born two children: Eugene B., who was married to Miss Naomi McCollum, and William, who died November 18, 1859, in infancy. Mr. Rankin was elected county attorney of Kenton County, and re-elected to that position, serving the people in that capacity from 1866 to 1874. He owns and has in cultivation 115 acres of well improved land worth $13,000. He has retired from active business, which is now being conducted by his son Eugene B. Rankin.

Children of THOMAS RANKIN and HANNAH MONTGOMERY are:

39.	i.	SIMEON⁴ RANKIN, b. November 13, 1771, Harrison County, Kentucky; d. 1816, Harrison Co, KY.
40.	ii.	JOHN RANKIN, b. July 09, 1774, Harrison County, Kentucky; d. February 1834.
41.	iii.	DAVID RANKIN, b. March 27, 1777, Virginia; d. March 27, 1814, Tennessee.
42.	iv.	ROBERT RANKIN, b. May 14, 1779, Harrison County, Kentucky; d. 1847.
43.	v.	JAMES RANKIN, b. March 24, 1782, Harrison County, Kentucky; d. November 06, 1848, Athens, Menard Co, Illinois.
44.	vi.	THOMAS RANKIN, JR., b. April 11, 1784, Virginia; d. December 18, 1851, Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky.
45.	vii.	JANE 'JENNY' RANKIN, b. July 25, 1786, Harrison County, Kentucky; d. WFT Est. 1813-1880.
	viii.	WILLIAM RANKIN, b. November 11, 1788, Harrison County, Kentucky; m. JANE MCILVAIN, August 28, 1811, Harrison County, Kentucky.
46.	ix.	SAMUEL RANKIN, b. December 04, 1791, Harrison County, Kentucky; d. May 1868, Bath County, Kentucky.
47.	x.	SARAH RANKIN, b. January 12, 1794, Cynthiana, Harrison Co, KY; d. March 30, 1855, Charleston, Coles Co, IL.
48.	xi.	HANNAH RANKIN, b. February 11, 1798, Cynthiana, Harrison Co, KY; d. August 30, 1873, Boyd Station, Kentucky.

17. JANE "JENNY"³ RANKIN (DAVID², DAVID¹) was born 1755 in Frederick County, Virginia, and died November 18, 1834 in Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky. She married JAMES B. BLACKBURN Abt. 1770 in Albemarle County, Virginia, son of EDWARD BLACKBURN and ANN UNKNOWN. He was born 1745 in Augusta County, Virginia, and died December 1810 in Harrison County, Kentucky.

Notes for JANE "JENNY" RANKIN:
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Jane was buried on their farm on Licking Creek, S.Fork, Kentucky.
1830 census shows her living with son Thomas in Grant Co. Kentucky.

LDS submitter claims Jane buried in Rising Sun, Indiana.

More About JANE "JENNY" RANKIN:
Burial: Rising Sun, Dearborn County, Indiana

Notes for JAMES B. BLACKBURN:
CHILDREN: Harrison County Court Records, Bundle 230 #6493. Blackburn Bill vs. Blackburn dated August 24, 1835.

DEATH: will dated August 29, 1810. Proved in December Court. Harrison County, Kentucky

SOURCE: Blackburns - Today and Yesterday by Frances Blackburn Hilliard. Pgs 16-17.

As we pointed out in the introduction, it was difficult to follow the movements of these two people. However, over the years we have managed to accumulate some facts.

Starting in Rutherford County, N. C. There was a land grant for James Blackburn on Sandy Run, Grant Book 77 - P 177 issued November 15, 1790, entered Dec. 14, 1779.

We believe 1779 to be the date this family arrived in North Carolina from Virginia by the evidence that he entered his land on that date and that his daughter, Hannah Blackburn Vanzant, in the Census Record for Franklin Co., Tn. 1850 gives her age as 70 so her birth would have been 1780. She lists North Carolina as place of birth. That they came from Virginia is shown by the Census Record of John Blackburn, son of James' oldest son Samuel, who gives place of birth of his father as Virginia.

The land transaction for James Blackburn in North Carolina are given in the Introduction so I will not repeat. He appears on a tax list for Rutherford County in 1782 in Capt. John Williams' Company:
James Blackburn 200 acres, 2 horses, 2 cattle
In the 1790 Census for same County, Morgan District:
James Blackburn 1 Male over 16 - 5 males under 16 , 5 females
David Blackburn, his son is listed as:
1 male over 16 - 1 female.
We assume that David was newly married at this date as there were no children. He had land along side of his father.

It appears that James and Jane moved to Harrison County, Kentucky about 1791 as their last child, James, was born there March 14, 1791. However, Jane may have gone earlier while James stayed to complete the sale of their land although some of his children remained in North Carolina and could have acted in his behalf.

James Blackburn's first purchase of land appears in Deed Book 1, page 612, March 18, 1801...from Nathan Rawlings and his wife, Mary, of the County of Harrison to James Blackburn same county and state, 250 pounds current money, 100 acres of land on the South Side of South Fork of the Licking River.

To explain the next transaction this seems to be the proper place to put his will:

August 28, 1810
In the name of God Amen, I, James Blackburn of Harrison County, State of Kentucky being weak in the body but sound and perfect mind and memory. Blessed be Almighty God for the same - do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following (That is to say) First I leave my beloved wife, Jean Blackburn, the plantation together will all my stock of horses and cattle, sheep, hogs, likewsie all my household furniture and likewise all my farming utensils and all on said plantation belonging to me during her life time. I also direct that my daughter, Jean Blackburn have given her out of my estate, one bed and clothing likewise one hundred dollars in a horse and should said horse not be worth that sum it is to be made up to her in something else. I also direct that my son, William Blackburn, have one horse. I also direct that my son, Thomas Blackburn, have one horse. I also do direct that my two youngest sons, James Blackburn and Rankin Blackburn, live on the plantation with their mother and all they make after supporting their mother, yet at the disposal of their mother, shall be their own. I also direct that the above legacies be paid when it suits their mother or the circumstances of above legacies be paid when it suits their mother or the circumstances of the family but I do direct that my beloved wife be sole executrix of my last will and testament and I also direct that after my wife's death that the plantation and all the moveable property be sold and divided among all my children except for the negro girl Betty and her increase which I leave solely to my beloved wife's disposal at her death.

In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty eight day of August in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and ten. (yet at the disposal of their mother inter lined before signed).

Signed sealed Published and Declared
by the above James Blackburn
to be his last will and testament in
the presence of us who at his request
and in his presence have hereto subscribed
our names as witnesses to the same.

C. Kelso James Blackburn
Gavin Morrison
Thomas Rankin

Harrison County December Court 1810

This last will and testament of James Blackburn Deed was proved in open court by the oaths of Charles Kelso, Gavin Morrison, and Thomas Rankin subscribing witnesses thereto as ordered to Record.

Attest
W. Moore
SOURCE: WFT Vol 5 #1149

James is buried in Harrison Co, KY. James & Jane lived in VA until 1779.They then moved NC. They lived in Rutherford Co,NC from 1782-1790. Moved to Harrison Co.,KY in 1791. James will was proved in Dec.1810. Written Aug 28,1810.Will witnessed by C. Kelso,Gavin Morrison,Thomas Rankin..There was a land grant for James Blackburn on Sandy Run,Grant Book 77-page 177-issued Nov. 16 1790,entered Dec 14,1779.

Listed on Rutherford Co. Tax lists for 1782,1790 census for same county,Morgan District

Deed Book 1 page 612,Mar 18,1801...from Nathan Rawlings and his wife Mary (Rankin) Rawlings of the county of Harrison to James Blackburn of same county and state,250 pounds current money,110 acres of land on the South side of South Fork of the Licking River.
Came from Rutherford Co., NC and settled with most of their 12 children in Harrison Co., KY

sSOURCE: Lisa Blackburn Frey

According to research copyrighted in 1984 by Roots Research Bureau, Ltd., "James Blackburn, who, according to tradition, was a brother
of George Blackburn, son of Edward and Ann Blackburn...settled in Kentucky between 1780 and 1790". The research goes on to say that James had twelve sons, William, David, Robert, John, Thomas, Rankin, Simeon, George, and four others whose names are not of record. We know from the the 1835 final settlement of his estate that James Blackburn had eight sons and four daughters -- a total of twelve children. Named in the final estate settlement are sons Samuel, David, Robert, William, Thomas, John, Rankin, and James. The sons named in the settlement which correspond to the Roots Reseach Ltd., information are David, Robert, William, Thomas, John and Rankin. The son Simeon named in Roots Reseach Bureau's information could possibly be Samuel named in the final estate settlement.
Son James named in estate settlement is not mentioned in the Roots Reseach Bureau information, and the son George shown in the Roots Research Bureau info is not named in the estate settlement documents.

James Blackburn is found living in Frederick County, Virginia until after his marriage to Jane Rankin in 1769. During the American Revolution, he enlisted as a private in Captain Charles Fleming's Company, 7th Virginia Regiment, from 2 February 1777 until 10 April 1778. He was in the rifle regiment. His pay at that time was 6 2/3 dollars per month. DAR records show he was a resident of Augusta County, Virginia during the Revolution. He was also in the infantry with Major Mosley, 13 February 1784, pay 15-18 pounds. Sometime after 1784, James moved his family south to Rutherford County, North Carolina, where most of his children were born, and then on to Cynthiana, Kentucky by 1791, when his youngest son James was born there on 14 March 1791.

James' first recorded land purchase in Harrison County, KY, was 110 acres of land on the south side of South Fork of the Licking River. The land was purchased from Nathan Rawlings and his wife Mary on 18 March 1801 for "250 pounds current money". Mary (Rankin) Rawlings was a sister of Jane Rankin Blackburn. Will of James B. Blackburn on file with this researcher.

He was married to Jane "Jenny" RANKIN (daughter of David RANKIN II and Hannah PROVINCE) about 1769 in Frederick Co., VA. Jane
"Jenny" RANKIN died before Aug 1835 in Harrison Co., KY. The DAR application (#745662) of Elizabeth Ann (Drake) Marsh, descendant of Jane/Jenny's brother Thomas, states Jane/Jenny's name as Jennett. In the will of her husband James Blackburn, her name is shown
alternately as Jane or Jean.

Children of JANE RANKIN and JAMES BLACKBURN are:

49.	i.	SAMUEL⁴ BLACKBURN, b. October 19, 1771, Virginia; d. November 18, 1834, McMinn Co., Tennessee.
50.	ii.	ROBERT RANKIN BLACKBURN, b. 1773, Frederick County, Virginia; d. October 13, 1834, Vermilion County, Illinois.
51.	iii.	DAVID BLACKBURN, b. 1774, Virginia; d. November 29, 1849, Harrison County, Kentucky.
52.	iv.	WILLIAM BLACKBURN, b. Abt. 1776, Virginia; d. Bef. 1830, Lawrence County, Illinois.
53.	v.	POLLY LUCRETIA BLACKBURN, b. Bet. 1777 - 1778, Virginia; d. 1840, Adams Co., Illinois.
54.	vi.	HANNAH BLACKBURN, b. Abt. 1780, Rutherford County, North Carolina; d. Aft. 1853, Grayson Co, Texas.
55.	vii.	THOMAS R. BLACKBURN, b. March 22, 1782, Rutherford County, North Carolina; d. April 16, 1859, Grant County, Kentucky.
	viii.	JOHN BLACKBURN, b. Abt. 1784, Rutherford County, North Carolina; d. Bef. 1844, Bourbon County, Kentucky; m. POLLY NORTH, June 23, 1807, Harrison Co., KY; b. Abt. 1784.

Notes for JOHN BLACKBURN:
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SOURCE: "Blackburns Today and Yesterday" by Francis Blackburn Hilliard, 1978, p. 12

Had an incapacitating stroke in the 1820's.

56.	ix.	RANKIN BLACKBURN, b. 1786, Rutherford County, North Carolina; d. 1876, Harrison County, Kentucky.
57.	x.	JANE BLACKBURN, b. Abt. 1788, Rutherford County, North Carolina; d. 1871, Vernon, Jennings Co. , Indiana.
58.	xi.	SARAH H. BLACKBURN, b. March 23, 1789, Rutherford County, North Carolina; d. May 20, 1855, Locust Grove Township, Jefferson County, Iowa.
59.	xii.	JAMES RANKIN BLACKBURN, b. March 14, 1791, Harrison County, Kentucky; d. April 29, 1862, Livingston Co., Missouri.

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