• Birth: Abt 1744 in Near Newark, Delaware
• Death: 9 Feb 1804 in Guilford County, North Carolina
• Mother:
• Father: Joseph Rankin (born 1704 in Ireland)
• Married: Jane Chambers (born 25 Mar 1753 in Ireland, died 22 May 1826) on 13 Nov 1772 in Guilford County, North Carolina with children
  1. Elizabeth Rankin (born 1773)
  2. Nancy Agnes Rankin (born 1775, died 1815)
  3. Sarah Rankin (born 1778)
  4. John Chambers Rankin (born 21 Mar 1781, died 6 Jun 1858)
  5. Anna Rankin (born 1783, died 1845)
  6. Robert Rankin (born Abt 1785)
  7. Thomas Rankin (born 1785, died 1853)
  8. Jane Rankin (born 1788, died 1849)
  9. William G. Rankin (born 1791, died 17 Sep 1829)
  10. Robert C. Rankin (born 1791, died 1853)

James Rankin will written June 19, 1835-probated Aug. 1826 <--from Guilford County. N.C. Will Abstracts book. 1771-1841.

Here is the will;

JAMES RANKIN - 19 June 1835 - Prb Aug. 1826

Sons WILLIAM - tract between wheron I live: ROBERT - $200

Gr dau JANE SCHOOLFIELD - bed & furniture, flax & cotton wheel

Daus ELIZABETH WHARTON, SARAH WHARTON, ANNA DONNELL & JANE

SMITH - to have choice of slaves: Lindsay, Susie, Levi?,

Dick, Irvin & Soloman

Dau AGNESS SCHOOLFIELD'S ten children - to have a slave

Negro girl Hannah - to have her freedom under care of executors

Exrs: Sons JOHN & THOMAS RANKIN

Wits: Robert Rankin, John Schoolfield

WILLIAM RANKIN - 5 Dec 1803 - Prb Feb 1804

Wife JENNIE - home plantation, stock, utensils, negro Leven

to raise and school my family

Sons THOMAS, ROBERT, & WILLIAM - at 21 have the land at conven-

ience of wife - 200 ac on Reedy Fork adj William Denny &

my father-in-law JOHN CHABERS

Son THOMAS - 225 ac on Reedy Br adj William Donnel

Oldest daus ELISABETH, AGNESS & SARAH - 1 pound

Youngest daus ANA & JENCY - each a horse & saddle, 2 cows, bed

Exrs: Wife JENNY RANKIN, son JOHN RANKIN

Wits: John Rankin, Senr., Joseph Rankin, Robert Rankin

You see, these wills are for the same person. But how can that be if he died in February 1804?

From the Rankin and Wharton Families and their Genealogies by Rev. Samuel Rankin

The Descendents of

William Rankin and Jane Chambers

William Rankin, a son of Joseph, was born near Newark, Delaware in 1744. In 1764, he came to that part of Rowan County which became Guilford County in 1770 and located nine miles east of Greensboro. He married in Guilford County on 13 Nov 1772 to Jane Chambers . According to an early record of the Rankin family prepared by Rev. John Chambers Rankin, his paternal grandmother, Jane Chambers Rankin was born in Ireland on 25 Mar 1753 and was brought to America in infancy. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Chambers. His paternal grandfather, John Chambers, "was born in the north of Ireland, of Scottish parentage, in 1720 and died in Guilford County, N.C., May 16, 1806." His wife, Elizabeth, "was born in Ireland in 1717 and died in Guilford County, N.C. on August 25, 1803." John and Elizabeth are buried in the Buffalo Presbyterian Cemetery in Greensboro.

William Rankin filed his will in Guilford County on 5 Dec 1803 and died on 9 Feb 1804. He is buried in the old Buffalo Presbyterian Church. Jane filed her will in Guilford County on 19 June 1825 and died on 22 May 1826.

# D: I1878

# Name: William RANKIN

# Given Name: William

# Surname: Rankin

# Sex: M

# Birth: ABT 1744 in Newark, New Castle County, Delaware

# Death: 9 FEB 1804 in Guilford County, North Carolina

# PROP: Land 1765 Newark, New Castle County, Delaware

# Note: He sold this land in 1768 to his brothers Thomas Rankin and Joseph Jr.Rankin

# PROP: Land 1772 Guilford County, North Carolina

# Note: In 1772 John Rankin sold him 218 acres the eastern part of his 511acres farm which was on the north bank of Buffalo Creek, just wherethe North and south Buffalos join, 9 miles east of Greensboro. Laterhe and John bought other property totaling 800-900 acres.

# Event: Living BET 1768 AND 1804 Guilford County, North Carolina

# Note: He lived with his brother John for 3 years. In about 1767 he boughtland next to John's.

# Event: Living BET 1744 AND 1762 Newark, New Castle County, Delaware

# Event: Regulators/Revolutionary War Military Branch 1776 North Carolina

# Note: He was in the battle at Alamance against governor Tryon in 1771. WhenGovernor Tryon issued his proclamation offering pardon to theRegulators on certain conditions, he excepted William Rankin andseveral others.

# Event: Whig/Revolutionary War Military Branch 1781 Guilford County, North Carolina

# Note: Shortly before the battle of Guilford Court House in 1781 GeneralCornwallis camped for several days on the Rankin farm. A hollowed outrock near the Buffalo Creek and on the boundary line between the farmsof these two brothers has been repeatedly pointed out by the oldpeople as the trough in which Cornwallis fed his horse. The General'ssoldiers plundered the homes and farms of both brothers and carriedoff all the grain, cattle, sheep, hogs and fowls from both his andJohn Rankins plantations.

# Event: Moved 1768 Guilford County, North Carolina

# Note: He moved near his brother John, to that part of Orange County, NorthCarolina which latter became part of Guilford County, North Carolina.

Father: Joseph RANKIN b: 1704 in Ireland

Mother: ? ? b: BET 1710 AND 1720