William Hugh Logan Ranken (abt. 1840 - 1902)

Born about 1840 in Demerara Guyana West Indies

Ancestors

Husband of Jessie Blackwood Grace (Paterson) Ranken — married 12 Mar 1879 in Melbourne Victoria

Descendants

Died 28 Jun 1902 at about age 62 in Taralga New South Wales

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Biography

His place of birth is recorded as Demarara British Guyana.

His father was Dr William Ranken of Glenlogan Ayreshire. His grandmother was Janet Logan.

In 1874 W.H.R.L. Ranken published a book The Dominion of Australia.

The marriage was reported in the Argus newspaper 21/3/1879.

Following the exhumation of his body an autopsy decided was murdered. There was a bullet wound to the front of the head but the back of his head indicated he had been bashed. He resided at Acton Park near Taralga. He purchased Finderry Station / Big Tinderly Station and it was here that he died. He died from a gunshot wound to the head at his property. It was thought to be suicide. Following the exhumation of his body an autopsy decided was murdered. There was a bullet wound to the front of the head but the back of his head indicated he had been bashed.

He is buried in Goulburn Cemetery.

He named Hugh Blackwood Paterson from Queensland and William Taylor Ranken from Sydney as his executors.

THE LATE MR. RANKEN'S WILL. By his last will, dated March 30, 1893, the late Mr William Hugh Logan Ranken, grazier, whose dead body was discovered at Big Tinderry Station, near Captain's Flat, on June 28 last, appointed Hugh Blackwood Paterson, of Currawinia Station, Queensland, and William Taylor Ranken of Sydney (now of Lockyersleigh, grazier), trustees and executors. In their affidavit under the Probate Act, the trustees stated that the total assets of the deceased's estate were £1928 12s 11d; and that total debts, £1778 1s. Queanbeyan Age (NSW : 1867 - 1904) 24 Sep 1902, p2: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/31092955

Sources

• Ref British Guiana Colonists: http://www.vc.id.au/tb/bgcolonistsR.html
• Ref Various newspaper articles.
• Ref Queanbeyan Age 24/9/1902.
• Ref Australian Cemetery records: http://www.australiancemeteries.com.au/nsw/goulburn/stsav.htm