Revolutionary War Pension PapersofThomas RankinsandJames Rankins Jr.Two Brothers in the RevolutionThe pension records of Thomas and James Rankins Jr., brothers from the area of Little Falls, were contributed to us by Willis Rankins. Thomas's young age shows that in pursuit of the cause of liberty there was room for men of all ages. "Thomas Rankins, my ggg-grandfather, enlisted in the Revolutionary War at age 8. His father James could have been with him in the war, but our belief is that James was killed at Oriskany. He received a pension for serving in the Revolutionary War. He was discharged at Newburg, New York, signed by Gen. Washington. Thomas served in skirmishes at Fort Stanwix and at Yorktown against Cornwallis, when he was taken, in Capt. Griggs Co, Col. Van Schaick's Regiment. This was the first regiment of the Line. At the time of death, on Feb. 5, 1833, he owned a dwellinghouse and out buildings comprising about 2 acres of land. His will is found in Book E, Page 393, Arphaxed Loomis, Surrogate. At the time of his death neither his daughter Catharine nor son David were living. There was no mention of his children John or Sally. At the first Town of Little Falls board meeting Thomas was appointed by the Highway Commissioner as Overseer of Highways. The Commissioner was his son, James T. His death date is on his widow's request for a widow's pension. The pension was 88 dollars a year. Thomas and Catharine Rankins are buried in the Fort Herkimer Church Yard Cemetery. His grave stone was in the cemetery in the late 1960s but is not found there today. Thomas's son James T. Rankins was my gg-grandfather and served in the war of 1812. My g-grandfather Norman was the youngest of his family, and my grandfather was James Freeman." Willis Rankins Thomas Rankins' request for pension: On this third day of November A. D. 1819, before me, the subscriber one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said county, personally appeared Thomas Rankins, resident in German Flatts, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions of the act of Congress entitled, "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and Naval Service of the United States in, the Revolutionary War"; that he, said Thomas Rankins enlisted as a Fifer in the service of the United States, in the fall of the year 1779 or the summer of said year, in the company commanded by Cap't John Griggs, of Col. Van Shaick's Regiment, New York Line. That he enlisted for and during the continuance of the war being then at Fort Stanwix. That he continued in the same company and served in the same Regiment and Line, upon the Continental establishment, until the month of June 1783 as he believes. That he served in various skirmishes at Fort Stanwix, and at Yorktown against Cornwalis, when he was taken. That in June 1783 he was discharged at Newburg in New York, which discharge was signed by General Washington, but which is lost. That he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of assistance from his country for support and that he has no other evidence now in his power, except such as here after follows. Sworn to subscriber the day and year aforesaid James Rankins Jr. was my ggg-grandfather Thomas' brother. State of New York And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Henry Ritter of Manheim in Herkimer county and Stephan Eysamen of German Flatts in Herkimer, both of whose names are signed to the proceeding certificate, do reside in the respective places aforesaid and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. I Julius C. Nelson clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Herkimer do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the original matter of the application of James Rankins for a pension. The testimony whereof I have herewith let my hand and seal of office this ninth day of October 1832. Julius C. Nelson clerk He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Thomas Rankins' name is listed in the roster of the First Regiment of The Line, under Colonel Goose Van Schaick. The captain mentioned in his pension application is officially listed as Capt. James Grigg. James Rankins Jr. is listed in the roster of The Levies under Colonel Lewis Dubois. Both a James Rankin and a James Rankens are also listed in the roster of the First Regiment of the Line, together with Thomas Rankins. No men by the names of Lt. Robert Gordon, Capt. Damewood, Major Truck, Major Eysler, Laurence Grop or Col. Isaac Parry/Perry are officially listed in any records of the State Comptroller's office as having served in any regiments from the New York State, under any spelling variations. No Col. Corp is listed, although Joseph and Nathaniel Corpe were in the roster of enlisted men in the 12th Regiment of the Albany County Militia. Both Nicholas Van Alstine and Christian Getman are listed as enlisted men in the First Regiment of the Tryon Co. Militia. Many Bellingers served in various regiments, although Col. Peter Bellinger was in charge of the 4th Regiment of the Tryon County Militia. A Stephen Eiseman/Steffe Eyseman, who may be James's witness Stephan Eysamen, is listed as an enlisted man in the 4th Regiment of the Tryon Co. Militia, under Col. Bellinger. James Rankins Jr. was captured very early in the war, imprisoned in Canada for the duration, and would have been unaware of personnel changes and promotions during the war. It is possible that the officers he mentions may have been from a bordering state and spent time in New York State. |
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