Background: Elizabeth Rankin was the mother of John McCulloh b. 1747, and seven other children including James, author of the letter below. Her first husband, John McCulloh b. 1721, came to America in 1759. From the 1778 will of Henry Rankin it appeared that he was Elizabeth’s 3rd husband. The ledger below shows that instead of living with the family Elizabeth was first boarded with a doctor and then with someone else. From descriptions in other letters she may have been suffering from Alzheimer’s. Funeral expenses are also listed.
19 May 1792 – James McCulloh to John McCulloh
Dear John,
I recieved your two letters respecting the supposed fate of the Germantown place and thank you for your attention to that business.
The present is to request that you will have a tomb stone executed in a plain neat manner & agreeably to the enclosed inscription [ inscription lost]. There is a man in Third St. opposite Mr. Bingham’s [who] offered to find the marble slab for L9 and charge 2? a letter for cutting it. However, I leave this matter to you who must know the best artist. Please to engage it and inform me what it will cost.
1 Nov 1800 – Elizabeth Rankin ledger a/p with John McCulloh dec. Accounts from 1781 to June 20, 1792
1787 – Mar 9 to cash Mar 29 – pd to Capt. Murray Apl 23 – pd to postage June 23 – sent her to Saml McClintock [doctor] June 23 – pd for 1 lb tea July 27 – cash at sundry times Dec 4 – pd Saml McClintock for boarding Dec 4 – sent her ditto 11/5. Paid for Louff 3/
1788 – Feb 27 – cash Mar 10 – Cash Mar 29 – Sundry ditto June 14 – ditto Aug 11 – ditto Sept 19 – pd John Nicholson on account of certificate Nov 1 – Cash
1789 – Mar 23 – cash April 18 – pd Samuel Owens April 18 – pd freight to L. Bush
1790 – April 3 – Cash April 3 – Boarding 12 1/2 months
1791 – April 9 – pd John Griess acct for 1 year boarding
1792 – Feb 22 – cash pd for Wine & sundry clothing May 19 – John Griess acct for boarding and nursing for one year June 20 – John Griess acct for boarding and funeral expenses June 20 – cash for muslin for a shroud and coffin furniture
Samuel McCulloh, exec.
McCulloh Papers, 1773-1848, Maryland Historical Society, MS 2110, microfilm reel 2, frame 360, 366