Post by ChrisDoak on Jan 25, 2006 12:15:01 GMT -6
Hi Bill,
Welcome on board.
I have not come across Angus Rankin before,but plenty of other Rankins.His wife Helen Cameron ,I would reckon,is probobly not a sister of Major Angus Cameron of Kinlochleven - he only had one sister (Peggy).He did ,however,have an illegitimate older half-brother Duncan,and may also have had illegitimate half sisters as well.Angus's mother was Una McDonald (sister of John McDonald of Glencoe),and after her first husband died,Una married an Allan Cameron (I have been unable to work out who he was).Una went on to subsequently have another 6 or 7 children,and it is possible that Helen may have been one of them.
If Helen was the daughter of Una,it is likely that this Glencoe family connection would have helped Angus Rankin in his dealings with Alexander McDonald of Glencoe.Being a tenant to Coll McDonald of Dalness,might have been in his favour as well.But Angus seems to have had his fingers in a number of pies,and was obviously not short of entrepreneurial flair.He seems to have been considered as the head of the Rankin families in Glencoe.
Regarding Neil Rankin's birth at Kinlochleven/Kinlochmore in 1810,I see that his grandfather's brother Donald Rankin was a resident of Kinlochbeg in 1809,and there were other Rankins living close by as well ("Neil Rankin Esquire").I think it is likely that Donald was working for his uncle at the time of Neil's birth.The modern-day Kinlochleven village grew up around Kinlochbeg,with Kinlochmore remaining independant from the village until recently.The birthplace "Kinlochleven" may just have been a general location.
Co-incidentally,I purchased a new book on Monday which clarified for me a lot of the financial dealings of your Rankin family,especially Angus Rankin's agreements with Alexander McDonald of Glencoe.If you get the opportunity,you should try and get a look at it:
"Glencoe and Beyond - the Sheep Farming Years 1780 - 1830" by Iain S.Macdonald.Published by John Donald/Birlinn Ltd.(Website:www.birlinn.co.uk).Price - £25(UK).
The book is an extensive and detailed study of all those involved in sheep farming (in the broadest sense) in Glencoe,Lochaber,Knoydart,and surrounding areas.A large chunk of the book is devoted to the financial affairs of Alexander McDonald of Glencoe.
Interestingly enough,the book details how Donald Rankin's tenancy in Gleann Leac Na Muidhe was terminated in favour of a Donald McPhee in 1821.Was that the same McPhee that nearly resulted in Donald Rankin swinging from the hangman's rope?
Cheers,Chris.
Welcome on board.
I have not come across Angus Rankin before,but plenty of other Rankins.His wife Helen Cameron ,I would reckon,is probobly not a sister of Major Angus Cameron of Kinlochleven - he only had one sister (Peggy).He did ,however,have an illegitimate older half-brother Duncan,and may also have had illegitimate half sisters as well.Angus's mother was Una McDonald (sister of John McDonald of Glencoe),and after her first husband died,Una married an Allan Cameron (I have been unable to work out who he was).Una went on to subsequently have another 6 or 7 children,and it is possible that Helen may have been one of them.
If Helen was the daughter of Una,it is likely that this Glencoe family connection would have helped Angus Rankin in his dealings with Alexander McDonald of Glencoe.Being a tenant to Coll McDonald of Dalness,might have been in his favour as well.But Angus seems to have had his fingers in a number of pies,and was obviously not short of entrepreneurial flair.He seems to have been considered as the head of the Rankin families in Glencoe.
Regarding Neil Rankin's birth at Kinlochleven/Kinlochmore in 1810,I see that his grandfather's brother Donald Rankin was a resident of Kinlochbeg in 1809,and there were other Rankins living close by as well ("Neil Rankin Esquire").I think it is likely that Donald was working for his uncle at the time of Neil's birth.The modern-day Kinlochleven village grew up around Kinlochbeg,with Kinlochmore remaining independant from the village until recently.The birthplace "Kinlochleven" may just have been a general location.
Co-incidentally,I purchased a new book on Monday which clarified for me a lot of the financial dealings of your Rankin family,especially Angus Rankin's agreements with Alexander McDonald of Glencoe.If you get the opportunity,you should try and get a look at it:
"Glencoe and Beyond - the Sheep Farming Years 1780 - 1830" by Iain S.Macdonald.Published by John Donald/Birlinn Ltd.(Website:www.birlinn.co.uk).Price - £25(UK).
The book is an extensive and detailed study of all those involved in sheep farming (in the broadest sense) in Glencoe,Lochaber,Knoydart,and surrounding areas.A large chunk of the book is devoted to the financial affairs of Alexander McDonald of Glencoe.
Interestingly enough,the book details how Donald Rankin's tenancy in Gleann Leac Na Muidhe was terminated in favour of a Donald McPhee in 1821.Was that the same McPhee that nearly resulted in Donald Rankin swinging from the hangman's rope?
Cheers,Chris.