"35 Stephen4 Ranney (Joseph3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Sept. 18, 1730, Upper Houses; m. Nov. 27, 1752, Middletown or Guilford [Guilford; Rev. Thomas Ruggles of that place officiated]; Patience Ward, b. Mar. 25, 1733, Middletown, dau. of Samuel Ward, b: 1704, and Lucy Rogers, b. 1708. He was a shipbuilder and rem. to Middletown where he purchased a wharf of Col. Comfort Sage. His marriage is recorded in Guilford records. Andrew Ward, Jr., of Guilford, was Capt. and Lt. Col. of the 4th Reg. in 1755, French-Indian War, and Stephen Ranney was clerk, Sept. 4-Dec. 8. He built a house on the site of the Green St. schoolhouse, Middletown. He furnished material for the brig, Minerva, built by the Colony of Connecticut for the defense of the cause in Rev. War. He was raised in St. Lodge No. 2, F. A. M., Middletown, May 4, 1768. In 1784 was warden of Christ Epis. Ch. On Sept. 17, 1786, he and his wife were confirmed by |Bishop Seabury. Some of his children were baptized on the day of birth, some on the day after birth. The inventory included his Masonic leather apron and gloves, silver knee buckles, 11 silver buttons, gold sleeve-buttons, a sword, 2 canes, a whip, and a silver medal. At vendue seven 'old tea spoons' were sold for $2.25. The Masonic, 1782, cane is owned by T. W. Beaumont. He d. Dec. 12, 1803. His tombstone in Mortimer Cemetery bears the Masonic emblems. The widow d. Dec. 4, 1821."
