Rankine Family
Biography
There were five generations of the Rankine family. John Rankine of Barns, a merchant, the first to be mentioned in these papers, acquired considerable property in Falkirk over the second half of the 18th century, in the Randygate, Robert's Wynd, the High Street, the Howgate, the West Port and the Pleasance, including the Assembly Rooms, known as Rankine's Folly, the Red Lion Inn and the Post Office building.
In 1786 John Rankine (1) conveyed properties to his son, John Rankine (2) of Bantaskine. Both were sequestrated in 1788. John Rankine (1) died in 1807 and John Rankine (2) died in 1814. John Rankine (2) married Janet Thomson or Anderson, who had three children from her first marriage, James, William and Mary Anderson.
The sons of John Rankine (2) were John (3), George, Robert and Charles. By 1814 they had acquired property. In 1817, George lived in London, Robert, a surgeon, was in London and thereafter was with the East India Company; and Charles was apprentice to Messrs Boyle & Gilfillan, Writers, Glasgow.
John Rankine (3) spent time in England as an engineer with the Eastern Counties Railway Co but by 1840 he was back in Falkirk and soon in severe financial trouble. He had no other work than managing his properties and was a heavy drinker. His personal problems included a Breach of the Peace conviction which resulted in his imprisonment and a Defamation action.
George Rankine died in 1850, pre-deceased by his brother Charles and survived by Robert, a beneficiary of his estate. George's will was challenged by John (3) and Counsel's opinion made it clear that his English will was deficient in form to convey Scottish heritage to Robert and therefore John inherited as the eldest brother.
John Rankine (3) had two sons, William Henry Rankine and James Anderson Rankine. James was an engineer, working in Woolwich and previously working with his brother in Falkirk. William was an engineer, working first in Falkirk (from 1857), then at the Naval dockyard in Chatham and then returning to Falkirk. He died in 1912 leaving a liferent to his wife Helen Dobbie or Rankine. When she died in 1922 the remaining Falkirk property was sold by the fiar, Col Robert Rankine (Australian Army) of Dunmore, St Kilda, Melbourne.
In 1786 John Rankine (1) conveyed properties to his son, John Rankine (2) of Bantaskine. Both were sequestrated in 1788. John Rankine (1) died in 1807 and John Rankine (2) died in 1814. John Rankine (2) married Janet Thomson or Anderson, who had three children from her first marriage, James, William and Mary Anderson.
The sons of John Rankine (2) were John (3), George, Robert and Charles. By 1814 they had acquired property. In 1817, George lived in London, Robert, a surgeon, was in London and thereafter was with the East India Company; and Charles was apprentice to Messrs Boyle & Gilfillan, Writers, Glasgow.
John Rankine (3) spent time in England as an engineer with the Eastern Counties Railway Co but by 1840 he was back in Falkirk and soon in severe financial trouble. He had no other work than managing his properties and was a heavy drinker. His personal problems included a Breach of the Peace conviction which resulted in his imprisonment and a Defamation action.
George Rankine died in 1850, pre-deceased by his brother Charles and survived by Robert, a beneficiary of his estate. George's will was challenged by John (3) and Counsel's opinion made it clear that his English will was deficient in form to convey Scottish heritage to Robert and therefore John inherited as the eldest brother.
John Rankine (3) had two sons, William Henry Rankine and James Anderson Rankine. James was an engineer, working in Woolwich and previously working with his brother in Falkirk. William was an engineer, working first in Falkirk (from 1857), then at the Naval dockyard in Chatham and then returning to Falkirk. He died in 1912 leaving a liferent to his wife Helen Dobbie or Rankine. When she died in 1922 the remaining Falkirk property was sold by the fiar, Col Robert Rankine (Australian Army) of Dunmore, St Kilda, Melbourne.