Andrew Rankin (abt. 1625 - 1677)

Born about 1625 in Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Merry) Rankin — married 4 Dec 1667 in York, Maine

Descendants

Died 7 Apr 1677 at about age 52 in York, Maine

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Biography

Andrew was born about 1625,in Scotland. He arrived in Boston in December 1650 and settled in York, Province of Maine in 1667.

Andrew married Martha Merry on 4 December 1667 in York, Maine.^{[1] [2]} They had five children between 1668 and 1677, three known.

1. Mary Rankin 1668 - 1753
2. Constant 1669 - 1749
3. Andrew Rankin 1671 - ? married Grace Newcomb

Andrew was killed by Indians on 7 April 1677.^[3]

On The Dunbar Prisoners List

"Andrew Rankin was a member of the Scottish army that was defeated at Dunbar by Oliver Cromwell in 1650. Andrew was taken prisoner and held in an English prison until November, 1650. At the time, Andrew was one of 150 prisoners who were shipped to the New England Colonies for compulsory servitude. They arrived in Boston, on the ship “Unity”, Augustine Walker, Commander, in December, 1650. Sixty of these prisoners were “sold” to the Iron Works at Saugus, Mass. The remainder were “sold” to various owners in New England.

Andrew Rankin and several of his fellow prisoners settled in York, Maine in 1667, after their period of compulsory servitude was ended. (something called Andrew Rankin on the Prisoners of War List - no longer online)

Andrew Rankin is on the Lists of Scots removed to New England as Prisoners by Oliver Cromwell - 1651, number 94 on “The Dunbar Prisoners” list ^[4][5]

Scots at Oyster River

"Andrew Rankin, was probably indentured to Valentine Hill. He was in court for fathering a child out of wedlock with Martha Merry. They were allowed to marry shortly before the child was born. Ten years later, Andrew and six of his neighbors, including fellow Scot John Curmuckhell, were slain by Indians as they were clearing ground for the spring planting.

A Junkins family history names Valentine Hill as Andrew Rankin’s original owner. That same history says Valentine Hill also owned Robert Junkins [#42 DPL] and Micum McIntire [#61 DPL]. http://junkinsfamilyassociation.wikidot.com/robert-junkins-story

GDMNH 577: 12 Nov 1667 – admitted he was the father of Martha Merry’s unborn child. James Grant and Robert Junkins were his bondsmen. [Note: most Junkins family histories fail to mention this story.] 4 Dec 1667 – Andrew Rankin and Martha Merry married. About January 1668 – son Constant Rankin was born They lived at “Scotland” They had 5 children between 1668-1677. On 7 April 1677 he was one of the seven York men who were slain by Indians in the Brixham section while clearing ground for spring planting. The victims included Andrew Rankin, Lewis Bean, John Frost, John Palmer, William Roans, and Isaac Smith, who was visiting from Chelsea, in addition to Curmuckhell. [HYM 282] http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=thurtle-walker&id=I317 He left a 60-acre homestead. Rankin’s widow Martha remarried Philip Frost."^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ History of York, Maine, vol. 1, Charles Edward Banks, Boston: Society for the Preservation of Historical Landmarks in York County, 1931-1935, p. 282
2. ↑ US, New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/64370:3824?ssrc=pt&tid=113697183&pid=370118628285)
3. ↑ Genealogical Dictionary of New England, – Vol. I-IV (4). Boston, 1860-1862. (3:507)
4. ↑ "Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings - Oct. 1927 p. 5-28
5. ↑ http://files.usgwarchives.net/ma/essex/towns/lynn/scotsprisoners.txt
6. ↑ “Oyster River Scots” by B. Craig Stinson Published: 23 August 2016 (Dover, New Hampshire)