Thomas Rankin (abt. 1878 - 1927)

Born about 1878 in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Died 26 Mar 1927 at about age 49 in Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Thomas Rankin was born in Scotland.

Thomas Rankin was born about 1878. He was the son of James Rankin and Janet Walker.

In 1881 his father James was at Sea. Thomas Rankin (aged 3) was recorded living at 21 North Street, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire with his mother Janet Rankin (34 and a Fisherman's wife), Alexr Birnie (13) and his siblings Andrew Rankin (10), Agnes J Rankin (8), James Rankin (5) and Charles Rankin (1).

In the 1891 Scotland Census Tom Rankin (aged 14) was recorded in the household of his grandmother Jane Walker (64) at 3 Ronheads, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

Thomas married Margaret Bruce (the daughter of William Bruce, Ship Carpenter and Ann Robertson) on 10 August 1900 at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

They went on to have at least two children:

1. James Rankin (b. 3 Nov 1900)
2. Jeannie Walker Rankin (b. circa 26 Jul 1903, m. 1923 Richard Clarence English, d. 1988)

Sadly his 25 year old brother Alexander died in about May 1911 on a voyage to Canada, when the boat he was on, the barque Gulf Stream, was lost at sea.

His father James passed away on 27 July 1921, and his mother Janet passed away on 20 April 1925.

Thomas was a mate on the s.s. Giddle Bray lying at the Castle Wharf when he fell overboard and drowned in the Tees at Stockton, Durham on 26 March 1927^[1]. His body was found the next day. He is memorialised on his parents headstone at Peterhead Old Churchyard, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Inscription:

ALSO THEIR SON

THOMAS RANKIN

SHIP CARPENTER

DROWNED AT STOCKTON-ON-TEES

26TH MARCH 1937

AGED 49 YEARS.

ALSO THEIR DAUGHTER

AGNES JANET

WHO DIED 8TH MARCH 1943

AGED 69 YEARS.

A subsequent inquest returned a verdict of "Found drowned in the river after a drinking bout, there being no evidence to show how he fell into the water." ^[2]

His widow Margaret married John Miller on 4 March 1928 at York, Ontario, Canada.

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVHZ-P9BB : 2 November 2021), Thomas Rankin, 1927.
2. ↑ Newcastle Daily Chronicle 29 March 1927, page 7, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/ (requires subscription).

See also:

• 1881 Scotland Census Parish: Peterhead; ED: 6; Page: 10; Line: 14; Roll: cssct1881_67. Ancestry.com. 1881 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Scotland. 1881 Scotland Census. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.

• 1891 Scotland Census Parish: Peterhead; ED: 5; Page: 54; Line: 10; Roll: CSSCT1891_70. Ancestry.com. 181 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Scotland. 1891 Scotland Census. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.