Person:Samuel Rannels (1)

Informatin on Rev. Samuel Rannels

From "Presbyterianism in Paris and Bourbon County, Kentucky" website (now not active):

Samuel Rannells

Born in Hampshire County, Virginia, December 10, 1765. Died in Paris, Kentucky, March 28, 1817. Pastor in Paris and Stonermouth, 1795-1817.

Rev. Samuel Rannells was born in Hampshire County, Virginia, December 10, 1765. He graduated from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania in 1792. He was licensed by Lexington Presbytery in 1794 and in 1795 came to Kentucky as one of the missionaries of the Synod of Virginia. He took charge of Paris and Stonermouth Churches and was ordained pastor over them in 1796. He was with these churches for twenty-two years, until his death March 26, 1817.

Robert Davidson wrote of him in this language:

"His talents were respectable, his pulpit performances unequal, but he was a man of eminent piety and exemplary conduct. He was a zealous and indefatigable ministry, and remarkably gifted in prayer. On the appearance of the irregularities of 1802, he was one of the first to see the speck upon the horizon and to sound the alarm."

In the front of the Paris Session book 1868-1881 in this tribute to Rev. Samuel Rannells, we wonder if it was copied from his tombstone.

"Rev. Samuel Rannells.

Late Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Stoner Month and Paris. Obit March 24th, 1822 aet 52.

He was a faithful minister of Jesus Christ.

Dear to his family and all the Godly that knew him. His life was grave and holy and useful.

He died with the sweet hope of the resurrection of the just thru the Blessed Savior.

"Mr. Rannells died March 24, 1817, lamented by all who knew him. He left his wife and nine children, six sons and three daughters, on a farm of about 100 acres, four miles from Paris.

His wife survived him about four years and a half, and since his second son, in a course of theological studies, has been called away, in the mysterious providence of God, to join the ransomed above."

From "A History of the First Presbyterian Church, Frankfort, Kentucky", by William H. Averill, pub. 1901:

(Page 18):In the year 1787 the Synod of Virginia appointed a Committee on Missions, for the purpose of assigning fields of labor to ministers and licentiates who were desirous of entering upon that work. Some of these, constituting a noble band of talented and consecrated young men, chose Kentucky — Robert Marshall, Gary H. Allen, William Calhoun, John P. Campbell, Samuel Rannels, Robert Stuart, Robert Wilson and John Lyle; and their coming and their subsequent labors were a benediction to the scattered congregations, but few of which were able to maintain the regular stated means of grace.