Birth*: Robert Rankin was born on 29 May 1759 at Guilford, North Carolina.1 He was the son of George Rankin and Lydia Steele.1 Biography*: Robert was very active in the Revolutionary War. Robert enlisted on 16 June 1776 and served as a Private in Captain Bell's Company of Colonel Caval's Regiment of NC Troops. He was discharged on 1 Oct 1776. He volunteered in Mar 1780 and served in Capt. Reden Moore's Company of Colonel Paisley's Regiment of NC Troops. He was involved in a skirmish with the British and some of their men were taken prisoner. On 1 July 1780, he volunteered and served under Capt. Ross, Capt. Forbes and Major Devold and was discharged on 16 Mar 1781. He fought at the Battle of Guilford Court House and served three months in Capt. McAdoo's Company of Col. Paisley's Regiment as a minute horseman.1 Marriage*: Robert Rankin married Mary Polly Cusick, daughter of William Cusick and Isabella Mebane, in 1781.1 Misc: Robert Rankin was a ruling elder of the Buffalo Presbyrterian Church between 1782 and 1830 at Guilford, North Carolina. Move*: He moved on in 1830 to at McNairy, Tennessee.1 Misc*: He was applicant for pension on 7 June 1832 at Circuit Court, McNairy, Tennessee. Death*: He died on 12 December 1840 at McNairy, Tennessee, at age 81.1 1 A. Gregg Moore and Forney A. Rankin, The Rankins of North Carolina