1881 census - Woodstock, Carleton Co., NB
James Rankin, 41, b. NB, Church of England, Carpenter
Sarah, wife, 37, b. NB, Church of England
James E., 11, b. NB
William, 6, b. NB
Harry, 2, b. NB
Baby Rankin, b. April, NB
Sarah Craig, 75, b. USA, Church of England, widow
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1871 census - Woodstock, Carleton Co., NB
William Craig, 62, b. NB, Church of England, Mill Wright
Sarah, wife, 62, b. NB, Church of England
Edward Craig, 30, b. NB, Mill Wright
Gabriel Craig, 26, b. NB
James Rankin, 26, b. NB, Mill Wright
Sarah Rankin, 26, b. NB
Maria Hayes, 13, b. NB
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James Rankin married Sarah Ann Craig on May 6, 1869 in Woodstock, Carleton Co., NB. Witnesses were Gabriel Craig and William Rankin. (Carleton County marriage records)
James Rankin married Catherine E. Hamilton on April 24, 1895 in Restigouche County, NB. (Provincial Archives marriage index)
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The only James Rankin's I could find in the 1851 Carleton County census were these guys:
1851 census - Northampton, Carleton Co., NB
James Rankine, 64, b. Scotland, Farmer, came to NB 1830
Marion, wife, 46, b. Scotland, came to NB in 1830
Marion, 15, b. NB
Arthur, 13, b. NB
Francis, 10, b. NB
John, 6, b. NB
James Jr., 24, b. NB
Lydia, (wife of James Jr.), 21, b. NB
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If son John, age 6, above was named James, he'd be just the right age to be the James Rankin who married Sarah Ann Craig.
There are Rankins in Saint John County but none the right age to be your James. *SIGH*