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Dear Babara and others interested in Charles Ranken of Richmond Lodge, Holywood, Belfast b Antrim 1750-died Highgate 1802 . I am directly descended from him on my mother's side- he is my GGGG Grandfather.  He and his brothers William and John all went to build the Great North Road in Bengal for the HEIC. Charles - a magistrate was stabbed in the 1798 troubles in Belfast.
His father b 1721 ish attended Glasgow Univ 1742 ish and was the minister at Mill Row Church Antrim (no longer standing- I went there to look)  and Granddather, Rev John Ranken of Dunboe near Articlave, Coleraine
 I need to find out whether and when they came over from around Sorn and Mauchline in Ayr, Scotland, a Ranken family centre. The Ranken family of Whitehill and of Glenlogan House, Sorn, Ayrshire in the 1800s appear to be connected somehow. Descendents of Charles Ranken of Belfast  - ie my Great Uncle and Great grandfather named their houses  'Sorn' and 'Glen Logan' in the 1920s in rocognition. Charles Ranken's grandson was the Rev CE Ranken- a well known victorian chess master and author of Chess strategy books which google will bring up 

Barbara pls adv how I can contact you to share the info ? - I have only a copy of Charles Rankens will which my great Uncle sent to the National Archives . Pls advise. Perhaps we should join up researching in Belfast...

Aghadowey churchyard in Ireland seems to be another place with many Ranken memorials -I had a look last autumn 

Tks but couldnt find any family history of house on Calderdale web site - have only stuff about Lister family at S. House but no Shepherds linked to it. Lister clock makers took on an apprentice... called... Shepherd. Have the notes somewhere.. was it in 1700s?   

I hope that some kind history person has more than just BMD records of all these Shepherd carpenters & waevers in Warley and Luddenden 1600- 1800.
That would be amazing to prove where they lived. Perhaps the landowner Lord Saville records in Nottingham Archives will give us a clue.

Shepherds of Stainland
Can announce that a solution appears credible - that William Shepherd was born 20 Feb 1746 at Launds Mill, Golcar, nr Huddersfield but baptised at Slaithwaite as William Shaw 26 Feb 1746 since his mother Anne Shepherd 1720-1786 had married John Shaw of Mill, Golcar, at Stillingfleet Oct 22 1741.
A family bible of Golcar (not ours) records that In 1747 Anne Shepherd 'went to Booth, Rishworth' 5 miles distant to join her father John Shepherd carpenter of Sowerby Bridge. We dont know the reason but it seems that William Shaw reverted to his mother's surname of Sheperd

ok I am admonished understood. Will try to do it privately and will seek how to do this- as can visit Ringwould for Jacksie