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
