The first known of our Thomas Rany is in the land records of Middletown, a house lot having been granted to him in 1658. His marriage is recorded as in May, 1659, to Mary Hubbard. At this date George Grave returned to Hartford and his grants were transferred to Thomas Rany, the record being dated in 1663. In 1698 Alexander Rollo, a Scotchman, and an attorney who had married a daughter of John Kirby, wrote and witnessed a will wherein " Thomas Rheny " gave to his son Ebenezer a parcel of land. This spelling does not occur in a deed dated a day later wherein the father gave adjoining land to a brother of Ebenezer. The conclusion is that Alexander Rollo is responsible for the form in which he wrote the name. In Scottish records Rheny is a familiar name. The conclusion is that Thomas Rany came from Scotland. On his tombstone the name is Ranny, and about this date, 1713, his sons wrote their name as Rany and soon after as Ranny. The reproduction of their autographs is given herewith. The deed of 1698 is in the possession of Mrs. Charles Collard Adams. While the public records give the birth of only five children, and the church records give the baptism of Marcy, the will gives the names of the ten children who survived him. While the public record says he died June 25, 1713, the gravestone says he died June 21, 1713.
He is supposed to have been the first one buried here, as it was only in January preceding it was voted to set apart land for a cemetery. His signature to deeds in his later years was attested by a + and it may be that he was as unfortunate in one respect as were others of his day and generation. He was not a member of the church. He served equally with others on various town committees and was an active member of the community. In the census of 1670 when the inhabitants were rated he was rated at £105, the ninth in a list of 52 proprietors.
Will of Thomas Ranny:
In the Name of God, Amen, the Sixth day of March in the year of our Lord 1711. I, Thomas Ranny of Middletown in the County of Hartford in New England, Husbandman, being very sick and weak in body, but of competent understanding and memory, thanks be given to God, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for men once to dye, Do make, and ordain this my last will and testament...
