Elizabeth (Maxwell) Banks (1801 - 1840)

Born 3 Jun 1801 in Elbert Co., Georgia

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

From Annie Maxwell's Thomas Maxwell of Virginia and Georgia: "Elizabeth Maxwell, daughter of William Maxwell, son of Rev. Maxwell, wife of Ralph Banks of Elbert and Habersham County, Georgia, she not only describes the marriage of Elizabeth Maxwell to Ralph, but also quotes from the book Banks of Elbert, describing in romantic detail how Ralph and Elizabeth loved the banks and braes of Northeast Georgia, and how Ralph could not utter the name of his beloved wife after her death."

From Banks of Elbert, quoting Annie Maxwell: Ralph Banks Jr. was the son of Ralph Banks Sr. and Rachel Alston Jones Banks of Coldwater Plantation, Elbert County, Georgia, who married Elizabeth Maxwell, daughter of William Maxwell and Jane Higginbotham, granddaughter of Rev. Thomas J. Maxwell and wife Mary Pemberton, and Capt Jacob Higginbotham and wife Ann, all of Amherst, Virginia and Elbert County, Georgia, who came south after the Revolutionary War. Ralph Banks Sr. is the son of Thomas Banks of Mantapike, Caroline County, Virginia, from a distinguished line of early Virginia settlers. The Banks Family is detailed in the book Banks of Elbert by Elbert Banks, M.D., which describes a distinguished ancestry in Britain and Europe. Banks County is named for Dr. Richard Banks of Homer, the brother of Ralph Banks Jr., and early physician in Northeast Georgia who treated all citizens, including Native Americans and the poor with skill and dignity.

From Banks of Elbert, page 128, 3rd edition: "Ralph Banks fifth son of Ralph and Rachel Jones Banks, was born 4-6-1796, died 6-2-1871 m. Elizabeth Maxwell 12-22-1818. She was born circa 1801 in Elbert County, Georgia, died Habersham, Georgia 1-13-1840. She was the daughter of William and Jane Higginbotham Maxwell and granddaughter of Rev. Thomas Maxwell. [Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia, by McCall, p. 230].

'Elizabeth Maxwell must have inherited from her Highland forefathers a love for the banks and braes' of her home county as she and her husband alone of the large connections spent their lives in one locality. Elizabeth was a good woman, a devoted wife and loving mother. Ralph banks alone of his father's large family remained in the vicinity of Elbert County; he lived all his married life in Habersham County not far from Elbert County, the place of his birth. One who knew him well said 'He lived the life of a devoted Christian, doing good in every way, visiting the sick, relieving the poor and needy, and helping his neighbors by whom he was loved and honored.'

'It can be said of him, that he had a noble and forgiving nature and was ever ready to make peace and condone the shortcomings of those who had grievously offended him. Amid the old hills of Habersham his dust mingles with that of his adored wife, whose name he held too sacred to utter after she was taken from him.

'Ralph Banks received two tracts of land on Leatherwood Creek, Franklin Coutny, Georgia [Elbert County, Georgia Will Book M, p. 206, Will of Ralph Banks, Sr.]" Quoted from Thomas Maxwell of Virginia and Georgia, and His Descendants, [by Annie Maxwell] published by permission of Helen Maxwell Longino. [Note: Ralph Banks and Elizabeth Maxwell Banks are buried in a private cemetery on Damascus Road in what was then Habersham County, and what is now Banks County, on land deeded by the Ragsdales to one of the Banks descendants. Access is graciously given by members of the Ragsdale family in a route over their property, marked at the road by the monument to Ralph and Elizabeth.]^[1]

Buried in Banks-Maxwell Private Cemetery, Mount Pleasant, Banks Co., Georgia

Sources

Footnotes

1. ↑ Entered by Stephanie Sanchez.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Stephanie Sanchez for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Stephanie and others.