The family of Edward Raban is as complicated and elusive as the man himself. He married twice. His first wife was Jonet (Janet) Johnston (a name spelt in a variety of ways in the various record). It seem probable that he married her in Holland but that she was of Scottish extraction. This may well have been one of the factors which motivated him to come to Scotland. You can read more about Edward's family below.
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We know for certain that Edward had four grandchildren born in Aberdeen, and we would love to hear from anyone who might have the printer's ink running in their veins.
Edward Raban’s daughter Elizabeth married Gavin Milne in Aberdeen in 1648, and they had four children:
Gavin Milne died before 1660 and the following year Elizabeth was remarried, to John Murray. She died in Aberdeen in 1685. |
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If you have these names in your family tree we would love to hear from you! Please use the contact form above to get in touch.
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Edward Raban pourrait aussi avoir des descendants en France. Si vous êtes un Raban français, veuillez nous contacter.
Edward Raban may also have left descendant in France. If you are a French Raban then please get in touch with us. |
Edward Raban and his family
Much of the new research undertaken ahead of Raban 400 has focused on examining the genealogy of Edward Raban and this has provided important and previously unknown information about him.
Edward was married twice. His first wife was Jonet (Janet) Johnston who was the mother of his children. She died in 1627 and is buried in St Nicholas Kirkyard. Some years afterwards, he married Janet Ailhous (or Ealhouse). She survived Raban.
Edward was married twice. His first wife was Jonet (Janet) Johnston who was the mother of his children. She died in 1627 and is buried in St Nicholas Kirkyard. Some years afterwards, he married Janet Ailhous (or Ealhouse). She survived Raban.
It seems probable that Raban married his first wife, Jonet Johnston, when still in Holland and that she may have been of Scottish extraction.
Raban's first son Dierick was baptised in Amsterdam in October 1613. This entry gives the name Eduwaert Rabbanus which is one of the clearest forms of his name in any of the Dutch archival sources.
Raban's first son Dierick was baptised in Amsterdam in October 1613. This entry gives the name Eduwaert Rabbanus which is one of the clearest forms of his name in any of the Dutch archival sources.
Dierick died in Leiden in February 1615
A second son, called Edward (later called Édouard) was also born in Leiden (Édouard Raban refers to this fact in his own will). Our research has narrowed the date of Édouard to between August 1614 and April 1615. No baptism entry for this found however. His date of birth is often given as 1621 but this incorrect. At the time of his death, in Orange in the south of France in 1687 he is stated as being aged 'around 70'. This has sometimes been said to be wrong but such a claim is based on the wrong assumption of a later date of birth.
Édouard was working as an independent printer in Grenoble in 1635 and therefore would have been at least 20 years of age. He married and had at least one son, Isaac (born circa 1638-42) who in turn married and then died in 1665. Isaac left a widow who continued printing in Orange. It is possible he also left descendants.
Edward Raban and Jonet Johnston also had several daughter. Three were named Constantia (or Constance):
- Constantia 1 was born in Edinburgh in 1616 but died in infancy;
- Constantia 2 was born in Edinburgh in 1618 but died in infancy;
- Constantia 3 was born in Aberdeen in 1624 but like the previous two she also died young.
More facts about the three Constantias will be revealed at the Up Close event
And then there was Elizabeth Raban.....
Elizabeth Raban was probably born around 1627 (and quite possibly Jonet Johnston died in childbirth). She, as we have seen above, married Gavin Milne and had children.......
