A Follow up to – “It’s A Small World”!
Less than two weeks ago I posted a blog entitled “It’s A Small World” discussing my Beattie/Rankin connection. Since then I’ve been able to meet with Mr. Rankin’s son, who is my 3rd cousin 1x removed. He has entrusted me with an old family photo album. Another of those little “gifts from the universe” that I seem to come across regularly since researching my family tree!

Beattie/Rankin Coat of Arms… the little plaque that “started it all”!
As I had mentioned previously, on a trip “back home”; my mother visited Charlotte Rankin who indicated she was named after her aunt Charlotte Elizabeth Beattie (my great grandmother). Charlotte Elizabeth Beattie is in fact, a 1st cousin once removed of Charlotte Rankin; but like many of us (me included) we tend to refer to cousins of the same generation as our parents “aunt” or “uncle”. Now I know what Charlotte Rankin looked like!

Charlotte Rankin and her husband Matt Mulhern
Charlotte & Mr. Rankin seniors’ mother was Jane Beattie; who was the daughter of Samuel Beattie. Samuel and my 2nd great grandfather were brothers. It would seem the Beattie’s hailed from Donegal, at some point moving to Londonderry. William Rankin’s father was David; they were Londonderry people.

Jane Beattie – My 1st cousin 3x removed and Mr. Rankin’s mother.

William Rankin – Mr. Rankin’s father
Mr. Rankin immigrated to Canada at the age of 19; he was traveling alone onboard the S.S. Letitia as per family history. Unfortunately, I have yet the find the ships manifest of his travels. So, another story to be continued…

Mr. Rankin – circa 1927
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About CJ Murdoch
Looking For "Dead People"!
My Journey Back In Time - Tracing my ancestors and researching the counties, cities and towns where they resided.
Taking a “Glimpse” into their lives and stories and the times in which they lived; all in an effort to learn about their “Dash”!
“I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning – to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the second with tears,
but he said that what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.”
I have always been interested in researching my family tree and “hanging out” in cemeteries. Like most of us... I didn't ask enough questions when elderly family were still living. Oh, what I would give for 24 hours and a camera with my ancestors… just to sit and listen!
I'm researching many family lines, including: Murdoch, Wilson, Berry, Love, Scott, Beattie/Beatty, Hendren, Sweeney, Robinson and Elvin; just to name a few. My families are predominantly from counties Antrim, Donegal and Londonderry. However, it seems that many of them, both maternal and paternal lines, originally hailed from Co. Donegal.
I was born and raised in Northern Ireland and now live in Ottawa, Canada, making frequent trips back home to visit with my family. Of course those visits also include treks to the many burial grounds of my ancestors. My most recent trip back home was during the summer of 2019! Looking forward to August of 2020 when I will return.
If you are interested in help tracing your ancestors I’d love to hear from you!
Hello Colleen- I have some Murdoch’shere in the Pontiac Quebec near Shawville and Quyon,They settled on the ‘Steel Line’ The Hon. Terry Murdoch is the Mayor in Thorne Township,locacted north of Shawville. I have a Cottage in Thorne Township on Johnsons Lake.
I will pass on this info, and see what he has to say.
I have many names in my family tree from Tyrone-McDowell Urey Montgomery Wilson Irvine Robinson Best and Pattyson. I will read more of your info when I get home.
Best regards, Peter Alford-Seymour in Ottawa Canada
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Hi Peter, thanks for writing and reading my blog. I, too, am in Ottawa. I also have McDowell’s (connected to my Murdock/Murdoch’s); Wilson and Robinson to name a few. I’ve approx 4500 people in my tree to date; accumulated just over the last 3 years. Looking forward to hearing more from you. Colleen
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Hi Colleen,
My name is Christine McKeever nee Mulhern. I am the grandaughter of Charlotte Mulhern (nee Rankin) and Matt Mulhern. It was a great surprise to see the photo of my grandparents on your blog.I remember my great Uncle Walter very well and spent time with him and his wife Beulah in Napanee in 1980, when I was eighteen. I also met your father at that time. I remember that your parents were regular visitors at the farm. I have often wondered about Jane Beatty, as granny talked about her quite a lot. So, many thanks, i now know what my paternal great grandmother looked like. I live in Killea just three miles from Derry and have often wondered if Jane is buried in the local City Cemetary .
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Hi Christine, your message is a great surprise! I’m covered in “goosebumps”! 🙂 If you were eighteen when you were in Napanee it means we are the same age! I received the photos from Maurice Rankin, one of Walter & Beulah’s sons! He lives in the house that you would have visited. If you’re interested, send me an email at colleenjmurdoch@gmail.com and I’ll forward you copies of the photos! I can also send you pdf files of that part of my tree to give you a little more information on what I know about that particular line of my (our) family! My little family and I are heading to Ireland on the 28th of the month and will be staying until August 18th! We are very excited about our trip. SO happy you got in touch! Colleen
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Hi Christine Charlotte was my granny’s sister her name was Elizabeth but known as lily and Walter was granny’s brother who emigrated to Canada I met him a few times as a child but granny always talked about him and spent a lot of time with Charlotte granny married James peoples can’t believe how this all happened as I saw a picture of my great grandfather on Facebook small world would love to hear from u
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Hi Christine, my name is Colleen. The FB page called Twisted Limbs & Crooked Branches is mine too. Walter was a good friend to me and my family when we moved from Ireland to Napanee. I only confirmed the family connection last year. If you look through the blogs for Beattie families you’ll find several on the Beattie/Rankin connection. My direct email address is twistedlimbsandcrookedbranches@gmail.com . I may have answered you on FB too; I know I’ve responded to two people who are connected to this family. I’m happy to share any photos I have with you. I got them from Walter’s son Maurice! Looking forward to hearing back from you. BTW I have Mulhern photographs too! ❤
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Hi My name is Joan Lynch Richard Rankin’s grandaughter i also have the above photo of Mr Rankin.
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I’ve responded to your other post Joan and will contact you via email in a few hours! Thanks for getting touch. Colleen
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I’ve sent you an email Joan. Looking forward to hearing from you. Colleen
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My name is Jackie Davidson nee Conboy I left a message on your website about a connection between by father and Richard Rankine. My grandmother is Margaret Rankine nee Conboy who married Richard Rankine after my father was born. They had a child called Francis Rankine who I think is the mother of Joan Lynch above. I am getting confused now Colleen are you related to Richard Rankine. John Conboy and Francis Rankine were brought up on Cross Street by Annie Rankine
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Good morning Jackie,
I’ll have to look into this a little further. I do have a Richard Rankin born circa 1903, unfortunately, I haven’t traced him yet. Can you send me an email to: twistedlimbsandcrookedbranches@gmail.com with some birth, marriage and death dates (approximate if you don’t know the exact dates) and I’ll see what I can find.
Thanks for getting in touch,
Colleen
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Hi Colleen,
My grandmother’s maiden name was Victoria May/Mary Rankin known as ‘May’, daughter of William Rankin and Jane Beattie. Great to see the photos of William and Jane. I do have a poor copy of one with William stood on a street corner with a group of other men. Also various other papers mentioning other family members names and addresses. ‘Aunt’ Beulah used to send a Christmas card to my mother in England (Poole) every year.
Martin
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Hi Martin, great to hear from you. I’m just in the processing of writing you a detailed email. You should receive it shortly. Colleen
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Wow talk about a surprise! I was looking up my family coat of arms and under images this picture jumped out at me because this is the EXACT plaque that my great grandmother had hanging on her wall and after reading your story I saw the picture of my Great Grandfather William (Walter) Rankin. Very cool to have the name of the ship. My grandfather Maurice recently passed away and I would love to make a family tree. I guess it turns out we are related. I know some people in Napanee with your last name. Contact me if you get this at melanierankin79@gmail.com
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My name is Melanie Rankin. Maurice was my grandfather (he recently passed a month ago) I tried to reply earlier but not sure if it worked. I would absolutely love to get as much information as I can on my family tree as I realized tgat people’s memories are slipping and I wouldn’t want to lose the information. Please contact me at melanierankin79@gmail.com any and all who are related to Walter Rankin. I am so excited to have stumbled across this site while lookibg up images of my family coat of arms and saw the plaque that my great grandmother Beulah had in her wall when I was growing up. Whar a shock to see the photo of my Great Grandfather and see all the comments!!
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Good morning Melanie, it’s lovely to hear from you. My condolences on the death of your grandfather Maurice. I actually heard about his passing when I was on a trip to Ireland. I will contact you via email shortly, Colleen
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