A Civil Engineer and Proprietor of Houses, John Rankine 1812-1870 was the eldest child of Elizabeth Symington 1794-1846 and John Rankine 1790-1848. He was born at Falkirk on 8 October 1812 and was baptised on 9 October. He married Mary Andrews on 1 May 1836.

He  died on 21 November 1870 at High Pleasance, Falkirk, aged 59 years. Mary Rankine died in Falkirk in 1882, aged 72 years.

John Rankine built an acclaimed model of the Charlotte Dundas and co-authored with his son, W.H. Rankine, the 1862 Biography of William Symington. His grandson, Major Robert Rankine, A.I.F., was awarded the D.S.O. for his involvement in the  Gallipoli landing.

THE CHILDREN OF JOHN RANKINE AND MARY ANDREWS

1. WILLIAM HENRY RANKINE [1]  (17.2.1837- 23.11.1912) 

The elder son of John Rankine and Mary Andrews. Born at Limehouse St. Anne.

Leading man of Engineer Fitters (1881 Census); Fireman of Engine Tithes Retired (1891 Census); Marine Engineer Retired (1901 Census).

In 1857 he married Helen Dobbie [2] (14.9.1838-28.8.1921) Their only child Robert Rankine (29.7.1868- 6.6.1941) married Annie (Chrissy) Polden.  Mrs. R. Rankine and Master Rankine sailed from London in the Orontes and arrived at Melbourne on November 4, 1903. Robert Rankine's only child Kenneth Carruthers Rankine married Muriel Vera Huntly Dodd in 1921.

2. JAMES ANDERSON RANKINE (3.2.1841-2.7.1871)

Born at Limehouse St. Anne. Married Elizabeth Coley 18 October 1861 

[1] Marine engineer. Born Limehouse St. Anne London, died November 23, 1912 in Falkirk Infirmary. 1851 Census Grahamston, Falkirk, 1861, 1881 Census Gillingham, 1891, 1901 Census have him living in Pilton Cottage, Polmont Road, Laurieston. His death certificate gives Westbank Place as his usual residence.  

[2] Address in death certificate given as Auburn, Maggie Woods Loan, Falkirk

WILLIAM HENRY RANKINE

From the obituary for William Henry Rankine in the Falkirk Herald 30 November 1912 page 8:

Born in London, he was educated at Mr. Grosart's school and a private school run by Mr. McIntosh.

He spent years at sea with the Allan and Cunard shipping lines.

For years he had charge of the fitting and repairing of Royal Navy steamships at Chatham.

He returned to Falkirk in about 1890 and settled in Laurieston at Pilton cottage.

He was Governor of the committee formed to build a new poorhouse.

In 1897 he was elected a member of the Falkirk Parish School Board and he was convenor of the committee which controlled the Laurieston public school.

He was a founding member of the Laurieston Parish Church.

He was convenor of the Public Health Committee

In 1905 he became a JP for Stirlingshire (Kirkintilloch Herald 1 February 1905 page 5).

PILTON COTTAGE

The Residence of W.H. Rankine from 1890 to 1901.

Described in the Ordnance Survey Names Book for Stirlingshire 1858-1861 as "A neatly built cottage one storey high, slated and in good repair. Property and residence of Mr. James Stewart." [1] Pilton cottage is on the Polmont Road at Laurieston, next to the Reformed Presbyterian Church (British National Grid Reference NS 91344 79417, coordinates 55.99536, -3.74361)

[1] OS Names Book OS 1/32/11/91

W.H. RANKINE BIOGRAPHY FROM THE FALKIRK HERALD

Falkirk Herald Wednesday 11 September 1907 page 5

MR WILLIAM RANKINE, J. P.,

LAURIESTON.

Mr W. H. Rankine, J.P., is the eldest son of the late John Rankine, engineer, and heritor of High Pleasance, Falkirk, who owned Rankine’s Hall, and after whom Rankine’s Lane is named. The subject of our sketch was born about seventy-two years ago. He received his early education at Grosart’s school and from the Rev. Mr McIntosh, who taught a private school in the town. Mr Rankine learned the engineering trade, and has spent many years abroad and in England. He served at sea both in the Allan and Cunard Lines of steamships, and for some years had charge of the fitting and repairing of steamships of the Royal Navy at Chatham. He was also for nine years engaged in the practical training of engineer students for the Government service. About sixteen years ago Mr Rankine returned to Scotland, and settled in Laurieston, and very shortly after he was elected to the Falkirk Parochial Board, and served its various committees until it was replaced by the Parish Council, when he was elected to represent the Laurieston Ward at the meetings of that body. Mr Rankine was chairman of the House Committee for nine years, and when it was decided to build a new poorhouse he was appointed convener of the Building Committee, the foundation stone of which building was laid by him. On the occasion he was presented by the architect and contractors with a handsome silver trowel. Mr Rankine was elected to represent the Landward Committee on the Eastern District Committee of the County Council in 1895, and still holds that office. He has served on many of its committees, and for six years was convener of the committee of public health. Mr Rankine was elected a member of the Falkirk Parish School Board in 1897, and served nine years on that Board. During the whole of that time he was convener of Laurieston Public School, in the affairs of which, as well as in the educational interests of the parish, he manifested a deep interest. He has taken an active interest and a share in all public work connected with Laurieston, including the introduction of water, drainage, and lighting to the village. Mr Rankine is a Justice of the Peace for the county, and a member of the Licensing Court. He is a member of the Laurieston Established Church, of which he has long been an elder. It may be further mentioned that Rankine is a grandson of William Symington, the inventor of steam navigation, whose first practical and successful boat, the Charlotte Dundas, was built at Grangemouth in the year 1801. Mr Rankine is a gentleman of high character and great business ability. His large and varied experience enables him to deal judiciously and ably with the public affairs which he has been entrusted by his constituents to administer. His opinions are always carefully considered, and invariably carry great weight with them.

JAMES ANDERSON RANKINE

The younger son of John Rankine and Mary Andrews, he was born on 3rd February 1841. [1]

He was a widower when he died on 2 July 1871 at High Pleasance, Falkirk, from consumption. His usual address had been 11 Paget Street, New Brompton, Kent.

James Rankine was an engineer, working in Woolwich after working with his brother William in Falkirk.

The Falkirk Herald Thursday 31 October 1861 page 5

Marriages

(At Old Bradwell Church, Bucks, England, on the 18th Inst.,) James A. Rankine, engineer, Chatham, son of Mr John Rankine, engineer, Falkirk, to Elizabeth Coley, second daughter of William Coley, farmer, Old Bradwell.

Falkirk Herald Thursday 31 October 1861 page 5

At Grahamston, on the 24th inst., Mrs James Rankine, of a daughter. 

[1] Rankine Family Register

CENSUS RECORDS

1841 England Census 

Borough of Tower Hamlets, Parish of All Saints Poplar 

Caledonia Cottage, Kirby Street North

John Rankine, occupation engineer

W. H. age 4, Jas. Andn. aged 4 months

1851 Scotland Census 479/00 002/00 019

Parish of Falkirk Grahamston

John Rankine 38 Proprietor of Houses Born in Falkirk

Mary Rankine 40 Wife Born in England

William H. Scholar 14

James A. 10

Margaret Marshall 15 Servant

1861 Scotland Census 479/01 005/00 027

Parish of Falkirk High Pleasance

Household Number 157 

John Rankine 48 Engineer

Mary 50 born Essex

Elizabeth Jeffrey 16 Visitor (niece)

1871 England Census

New Brompton, Gillingham, Kent

William H. Rankine 32 born London

Helen Rankine 29 born Scotland

Robert Rankine 2 born New Brompton, Kent

1881 Scotland Census

Rankine's Lane, Burgh of Falkirk

Mary Rankine 70

Christine Reid 26 Servant

1891 Scotland Census 479/02 002/02 003

Parish of Falkirk Village of Laurieston

Pilton Cottage

William H. Rankine 54 Retired fireman of Engine Tithes born England

Helen wife 50 born Falkland

1911 Scotland Census 479/00 007/00 007 

Falkirk

Schedule Number 56

19 West Bank Place

William H. Rankine 73

Helen Rankine 71 married 51 years; 1 child still living