Benjamin and Joseph Rankin married sisters Letticie and Eli zabeth Jane Johnston in New Jersey after their arrival in A merica.

History of Clarion County Pennsylvania by A. J. Davis Publi shed 1887, Reprinted 1997 Page 538

Joseph Rankin, afterwards for a number of years justice o f the peace, then assemblyman, and later associate judge o f the county, was one of the early settlers. He and his br other Benjamin settled in what is now Toby Township, but so me time after he moved into Madison township. These two br others married two sisters, which was not so remarkable a s the fact that the two families lived amicably in the sam e house, strictly observing the following peculiar arrangem ents: Joseph, being the eldest brother, did all the managi ng of affairs in which the male portion of the household ha d any part; on the other hand, Mrs. Benjamin, being the eld er of the two wives, had absolute control of the female por tion of the family, their cares, and their belongings, eve n to chastising all the daughters of both families, while M r. Joseph did the whipping that was needed by the boys on b oth sides of the house.

According to Roy Rankin, son of Heber Ivo Rankin, Benjami n and his brother Joseph had to leave Ireland because the y had been caught poaching rabbits on the Kings land and ha d to flee the country for their lives. I subsequently foun d this same story on a website about the Somerville famil y from which Roy also descends so I don't know for sure whi ch family this story applies too.

Letter from Elva Glenn to Ronna Dumas says in part:

"These two brothers (Benjamin and Joseph Rankin) always stu ck together. Their farm's in Toby township, Clarion Co., P A adjoined each other. They were always very close friend s too, for brothers."

A letter from Heber Rankin says:

"Joseph and Benjamin Rankin came to America together, landi ng at Boston, Mass., on June 18, 1798. They entered Penna . on April 14, 1802 and settled in Armstrong Co. and late r (1805) moved to Toby Twp., Clarion Co., Penna. Joseph wa s County Commissioner for Armstrong Co., and Associate Judg e of the same Co. in 1829 and a member of the Penna. Legisl ature from Armstrong Co. for one term. Joseph and his cou sin James M. Rankin, were very well educated. It must hav e been some school in Ireland."

• Married: Bet 8 Jun 1798 and 14 Apr 1802 in , New Jersey, USA ^{19 20 9}
• Change Date: 14 Aug 2008

1. William RANKIN b: 3 Jan 1802 in , Clarion, Pennsylvania, USA
2. Jane RANKIN b: 1 Feb 1805 in , Clarion, Pennsylvania, USA
3. Benjamin Mcclellan RANKIN b: 1 Jan 1816 in Toby, Clarion, Pennsylvania, USA
4. Samuel RANKIN

1. Media: Periodical
   Abbrev: The Genealogist
   Title: The Genealogist
   Author: Gale Ion Harris, F.A.S.G.
   Publication: Picton Press
   Volume: Vol. 13 No. 1
   Date: Spring 1999
2. Media: Letter
   Abbrev: Location: Original letter in possession of Ronna Dumas
   Title: Location: Original letter in possession of Ronna Dumas
   Author: Elva Waters Glen
   Publication: Location: Original letter in possession of Ronna Dumas
3. Media: Book
   Abbrev: Frontier Families of Toby Township, Clarion Co., Pennsylvania, or Uncle Heber's family history
   Title: Frontier Families of Toby Township, Clarion Co., Pennsylvan ia, or Uncle Heber's family history
   Author: Heber I. Rankin - edited by Janice Yingling
   Date: 1995
   Page: Gives date of birth as 1777 and place as Ireland
   Quality: 3
4. Media: Copy emailed to me by Diana E.
   Abbrev: Naturalization papers of Benjamin Rankin
   Title: Naturalization papers of Benjamin Rankin
   Publication: Location: Original at the Armstrong County Courthouse, Kitt anning, PA
   Date: 21 Jun 1808
   Page: Native of Ireland
   Quality: 3
5. Media: Letter
   Abbrev: Letter from Heber Rankin to Lawrence Rankin
   Title: Letter from Heber Rankin to Lawrence Rankin
   Author: Heber Rankin
   Publication: Location: Copy of letter in possession of Ronna Dumas
   Date: 11 Mar 1955
   Page: born 1776
   Quality: 3
6. Media: Electronic
   Abbrev: 1880 U. S. Census
   Title: 1880 U. S. Census
   Publication: Location: http://www.ancestry.com/search/io/browse.asp?c=5& state=Pennsylvania&county=Clarion&township=Other+Townships& ed=82&roll=T9_1118&STAbrv=PA&startimg=137&endimg=171&rp=139 &hash=956680559&width=2237&height=3021&levels=5&colorspace= Grayscale
   Date: 28 Oct 2002
   Page: Father of Benjamin McClellan Rankin born in Ireland
   Quality: 3
7. Media: Periodical
   Abbrev: The Genealogist
   Title: The Genealogist
   Author: Gale Ion Harris, F.A.S.G.
   Publication: Picton Press
   Volume: Vol. 13 No. 1
   Date: Spring 1999
   Page: James Harrison Crick Bible
   Quality: 3
8. Media: GEDCOM File
   Abbrev: Rankin.ged
   Title: Rankin.ged
   Author: Submitter: Mark Hile
   Date: 27 May 2002
   Page: Gives death place as Washington Co., PA
   Quality: 3
9. Media: Book
   Abbrev: Frontier Families of Toby Township, Clarion Co., Pennsylvania, or Uncle Heber's family history
   Title: Frontier Families of Toby Township, Clarion Co., Pennsylvan ia, or Uncle Heber's family history
   Author: Heber I. Rankin - edited by Janice Yingling
   Date: 1995
10. Media: Letter
    Abbrev: Letter from Elva Glenn to Ronna Dumas
    Title: Letter from Elva Glenn to Ronna Dumas
    Author: Elva Waters Glenn
    Publication: Location: Original in possession of Ronna Dumas
    Date: 31 Dec 1976
    Page: Came to America in 1798
    Quality: 3
11. Media: GEDCOM File
    Abbrev: Rankin.ged
    Title: Rankin.ged
    Author: Submitter: Mark Hile
    Date: 27 May 2002
    Page: Bought land in 1805, 100 acres of uncleared land on Catfish Run , Toby Twp., Clarion (Armstrong) Co., PA
    Quality: 3
12. Media: Copy emailed to me by Diana E.
    Abbrev: Naturalization papers of Benjamin Rankin
    Title: Naturalization papers of Benjamin Rankin
    Publication: Location: Original at the Armstrong County Courthouse, Kitt anning, PA
    Date: 21 Jun 1808
13. Media: GEDCOM File
    Abbrev: Rankin.ged
    Title: Rankin.ged
    Author: Submitter: Mark Hile
    Date: 27 May 2002
    Page: 1810 Census
    Quality: 3
14. Media: GEDCOM File
    Abbrev: Rankin.ged
    Title: Rankin.ged
    Author: Submitter: Mark Hile
    Date: 27 May 2002
    Page: 1820 Census
    Quality: 3
15. Media: GEDCOM File
    Abbrev: Rankin.ged
    Title: Rankin.ged
    Author: Submitter: Mark Hile
    Date: 27 May 2002
    Page: 1840 Census Roll M7040442, Page 122, Image 254
    Quality: 3
16. Media: Book
    Abbrev: The History of Clarion County Pennsylvania
    Title: The History of Clarion County Pennsylvania
    Author: A. J. Davis
    Publication: D. Mason & Company Publishers
    Date: Published 1887, Reprinted 1997
17. Media: Letter
    Abbrev: Letter from Elva Glenn to Ronna Dumas
    Title: Letter from Elva Glenn to Ronna Dumas
    Author: Elva Waters Glenn
    Publication: Location: Original in possession of Ronna Dumas
    Date: 31 Dec 1976
18. Media: Letter
    Abbrev: Letter from Heber Rankin to Lawrence Rankin
    Title: Letter from Heber Rankin to Lawrence Rankin
    Author: Heber Rankin
    Publication: Location: Copy of letter in possession of Ronna Dumas
    Date: 11 Mar 1955
19. Media: Interview
    Abbrev: Morris Family
    Title: Morris Family
    Publication: Location: Notes in possession of Ronna Dumas
    Date: Unknown
20. Media: Letter
    Abbrev: Location: Original letter in possession of Ronna Dumas
    Title: Location: Original letter in possession of Ronna Dumas
    Author: Elva Waters Glen
    Publication: Location: Original letter in possession of Ronna Dumas
    Page: Says they were married at Sebertown, PA in 1802