William Henry Rann
Early Settler of Buxton

In 1812, William Henry Rann was born a slave in the United States. William married Melancy and they lived in Ohio, which was a free state. The circumstance of how William met Melancy, where they were married, or came to Ohio is uncertain. In 1842, William and Melancy had their first child Lorenzo while they were in Ohio. Their family grew to include: Rachel (1849), George (1851), and Eliza (1853). The Rann's moved their family to Canada West.  In 1856, they settled in Buxton on fifty acres of land that William purchased on the Ninth Concession on lot 9. William and Melancy had their last child in 1856, William Alfred.

When William Henry Rann passed away is unknown. Descendants of Melancy and William Henry Rann still live in Buxton.