Richard Banks (1607 - 1692)

Born 1607 in Alkham, Kent, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Curtis) Banks — married about 1644 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Alcock) Banks — married about 1655 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 25 Jan 1692 at about age 85 in Agamenticus Village, York, York, Maine

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Biography

• RICHARD BANKES

This early settler, a direct ancestor of the author, came to Gorgeana with Abraham Preble; his brother-in-law, Thomas Curtis, and John Twisden, Sr. from Scituate, Mass., in 1643 where he, with his three associates, settled on land since known as Scituate Row because of their origin in that town. He is the ancestor of a family which has existed in this town for three centuries. For over half a century the English origin of this settler has been the object of a more or less intensive search and the author regrets that it is not possible, for lack of definite means of identification, to state this positively, but it is believed that he can be definitely placed as a Kentish man coming from the same locality as his New England associates in Scituate who migrated with him to this town. It is sound genealogical reasoning to assume that this fourth member of the Scituate party came from the same region in Kent as his fellow townsmen, par- ticularly as he had married a sister of one of them. Such a person bearing the name of Richard Bankes has been found as a resident of the parish of Alkham in that county, about three miles from Denton and Wootton where Preble and Twisden lived and about two miles from the parish where his brother-in-law, Thomas Curtis, and stepfather, Thomas Chambers, lived. This Richard Bankes was called a tailor, aged about twenty-four years, when he was licensed to marry October 25, 1631 at St. Andrews, Canterbury, to one Joan Harrison of Elham of the same age. If this identification is accepted, as there is no evidence to the contrary, three children were born to them and the last one baptized September 5, 1641. This family disappears completely from the parish records of Alkham and is not found later in any parish in Kent. One child had been buried. Richard Bankes appears in Scituate, Mass., where he took the oath of fidelity at some unknown date before 1644, probably about 1642, and there is nothing to show that he came with a family, and it is assumed that this Church at Alkham, Kent wife and the two young children died before his emigration. The Scituate records yield no information on this, or the known fact that he married for a second wife Elizabeth Curtis, sister of Thomas Curtis, and step-daughter of Thomas Chambers above named, about 1644. He had by her one daughter, Elizabeth, born about 1645, who married (1) William Blackmore, 1666 and (2) Jacob Bumpus, 1676-7. She was living in 1709 in Middleborough, Mass., but what became of the mother is unknown, perhaps dying in childbirth. Richard Bankes married for his third wife Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Alcock of this town, about 1655, by whom he had two known sons, viz.: i. John, b. about 1657. ii. Joseph, b. 1667. iii. Job (?), named for her brother; died without issue, probably in the Massacre of 1692.

^{[1] [2]}

Notes

Richard Bancks ,[Compiled by J. Eakins]

The English ancestors of Richard Bancks, in spite of much research by many people, including Dr. Charles Banks, the Maine Historian, are still in considerable doubt. The difficulty would not appear to be a lack of information about the Bancks family but, rather, the impossibility of determining which of the Richards came to America.

Several Genealogists, including William E. Chute, have pointed out another possibility: some even considering it proven. Dr. Banks was not entirely in agreement with this conjecture as the records he found did not indicate what happened to this particular Richard. Dr. Banks found: "John Bancks, who made his will in London, England, circa 1630, mentioned the children of his Uncle William Banks (wife unknown) as William, Richard (possibly our immigrant ancestor), Thomas, George, and Mary".

Dr. Banks was sure that he had identified Richard as living in the parish of Alkham, County Kent, since he came to America with his brother-in-law, Thomas Curtis, and with Abraham Preble and John Twisden, Senior, both of the same vicinity. It is not out of the bounds of possibility that his first move might have been from London to Alkham, and he may have been the same man mentioned as the son of William.

At the time of his marriage in England, Richard was listed as a tailor. Just prior to his migration there had been an epidemic in which many people died. There was also trouble in the textile industry. Being a widower, with all three of his children dead, it is not surprising that he decided to seek a new life far from the scene of his misfortunes. Richard, the immigrant ancestor of this genealogy, came to America and settled at Scituate, in the Plymouth Colony. He took the Oath of Fidelity, in Scituate, circa 1642. Theodore Leslie Banks (TLB) notes that Richard returned to England briefly to marry Elizabeth Curtis. TLB notes that: "In 1641 Oliver Cromwell was called upon to savagely subdue a bitter Irish rebellion. In 1642 civil war erupted in England, with Cromwell leading the rebellion against Charles I. In 1644, when Richard returned to England to marry Elizabeth Curtis, the civil war between Cromwell's party and the King's loyalists was in full swing".

Richard was sent out from Scituate to organize and lay out townships in what is now the state of Maine. He settled at York which was originally called Agamenticus, on a grant which was given Sir Fernandez Georges in 1622, and he named it the "City of Georgeana". Thomas Gorges was its first mayor. In 1652 Massachusetts gained control and changed the name to York.

Richard had twenty acres of land laid out to him and signed submission to Massachusetts at the dwelling house of Nicholas Davis at York, on 22 November 1652. Roland Young, the ancestor of the Young family of Annapolis, Nova Scotia, signed this paper at the same place and date.

Mr. Banks was Assistant at the Court in 1652; Selectman for 7 years; juror 12 times; a Trial Justice; Court Appraiser; Tax Commissioner; and Overseer of the County Prison. Theodore Leslie Banks notes that: "In 1655, when Richard married his third wife, Cromwell was in his second year a Lord Protector of England, and that Charles I had been beheaded 6 years previously".

In 1673, Richard Banks, along with Edward Richworth, was a joint signer of a letter to the churches that invited deligates to a council to select the Rev. Shubael Dummer as pastor of York. This was the first church gathered in Maine and Rev. Dummer was the first settled minister. Rev. Dummer, a brother-in-law to Richard Banks, was shot, and killed, at his own door by Indians in Massacre of 1692.

Richard was killed York Raid of 1692 when Indians and French raided, killing 48 and capturing 70 others. This raid was but one of a continuing series of raids and counterraids. There is no mention of his sons Samuel and Job after that date so they may have likewise perished. His widow and two remaining sons made an agreement, on 22 April 1696, for the division of his estate (see "History of the Indian Wars of New England" by Sylvester (Vols.2,pp.462-465)).

Notes by Jim Eakins Richard came to America and settled at Scituate, in Plymouth Colony. He took the Oath of Fidelity, in Scituate, circa 1642. In 1644 he returned briefly to England to marry Elizabeth Curtis. Richard was sent out from Scituate to organize and lay out townships in what is now the state of Maine. He settled at York which was originally called Agamenticus. In 1652 Massachusetts gained control and changed the name to York. Mr Banks was Assistant at the Court in 1652; Selectman for 7 years; juror 12 times; a Trial Justice; Court Appraiser; Tax Commissioner; and Overseer of the County Prison. Richard was killed at the York Raid of 1692 when Indian and French raided, killing 48 and capturing 70 others. There is no mention of his sons Samuel and Job after that date so they may have likewise perished. His widow and two remaining sons made an agreement on 22 April, 1696 for the division of his estate.

He built his home in the York Beach area, a mile or two away from the town and this edifice, with some additions, was still standing, but was known to be vacant, in 1975. It was rumoured, in 1976, that the town had bought the 15 or 20 acre homestead property for school purposes with intentions of renovating the old building for offices.^[3]

Family 1 Joan Harrison Married 25 Oct 1631 St Andrews, Canterbury^{[4] [5]}

Family 2 Curtis, Elizabeth, b. Abt 1624, Kent, England d. Yes, date unknown Married 1644 ^[6]

Elizabeth Curtis was married to Richard Banks of the "Scituate" section of Agamenticus (York) in Maine in about 1644. She was his second wife.^[7] Their only known child was Elizabeth Banks, born in York around 1644 to 1646.

Elizabeth (Curtis) Banks died before about 1655, when Richard Banks married Elizabeth Alcock, his third wife.

Family 3 Alcocke, Elizabeth, b. 1636, York, ME, USA d. Aft 1692 (Age 57 years) Married 1655 [3] Marriage: ^{[8] [9]}

1. Banks, John, b. Abt 1655-7, d. 1726 (Age ~ 71 years) John BANKS was born on 13 Jan 1657 in York, ME. He died on 13 Jan 1725 in York, ME.

2. Banks, Lt. Joseph, b. 1667, d. 29 Mar 1745 (Age 78 years)

3. Samuel Banks, b. Bef 1659

4. Job Banks, b. 1662

from Eleanor Banks Vines: Richard Bankes, the emigrant ancestor of this family in Maine, was an early settler of Agamenticus (York), undoubtedly before the summer of 1643, living in that part of the town known as "Scituate," the other division being designated "Scotland." These local names are probably derived from the previous residence of the people who settled there, and in the case of Richard Bankes, it appears that in company with Abraham Preble and Thomas Curtis, at sometime prior to his settlement in Maine, he took the oath of fidelity at Scituate, Mass. With one of these fellow emigrants, for such I judge them to be, he appears in Georgiana (York), purchasing in partnership, July 19, 1645, with Abraham Preble, John Tivisden, his brother-in-law, and Thomas Curtis; and November 20th of the same year, tracts of land of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, The Lord Proprietor, and of William Hooke, one of the patentees. Finding no evidence of the residence of Richard Bankes in Scituate, I assume that the record of his oath of fidelity in that town is merely the result of a temporary sojourn there, perhaps among friends, before he chose his final home in New England; and it is of interest to note in this connection that his companion Abraham Preble married Judith Tilden of Scituate, daughter of the emigrant Nathaniel, and that an Elizabeth Bankes, who may have been a sister of Richard, married William Blackmore of Scituate in 1666, and for her second husband Jacom Bumpers of the same place. This seems to explain the local origin of the name "Scituate" as a section of the old town of York, ME.

Richard Banks, the immigrant ancestor of this family, came to North America and settled at Scituate, in Plymouth Colony. He may be the nephew Richard, son of William, mentioned in the will of John Banckes, of London, 1630. He was afterward sent to lay out and organize new townships in what is now Maine, settled in York County in that province, and held several important public offices there. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Alcocke, of York. From them through John, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Turbat, Moses, who married Ruth, daughter of Elias and Magdalen Weare, came Joshua, born 13 Sep 1713, married 8 Sep 1737, Mary Muchmore, who, with all his family, came to Annapolis County in 1760. His son Moses, on his marriage, settled in Wilmot, and Joshua followed him some years later.

2. [Notes from Eleanor Banks Vines]

Richard Bankes in his day and generation lived the life of an average man, assuming his share of the burdens and responsibilities of office as a citizen. It will be only necessary to group those public functions which he performed; - Provincial Councillor 1651, 1652, under the administration of Governor Edward Godfrey; Selectman, 1653, 1654, 1656, 1659, 1676, 1679, 1680; Juror, 1649, 1653, 1655, 1656, 1658, 1661, 1662, 1664, 1665, 1666, 1671; Trail Justice or "Commisioner," 1669, 1672, 1679; Court Appraiser, 1659, 1663, 1671, 1676, 1679, 1681, 1686, 1691, besides several other special appointment, as Tax Commissioner 1652, Overseer of County Prison, 1673. He became a Freeman of Massachusetts at the time of the usurpation proceedings 1652, and in 1681 appears in a list of inhabitants swearing allegiance to the King. He figures once in Court (1654) as a defendant in a suit of respass, involving the title to some marsh land in York, and was defeated and muleted for cost of the suit. In 1673, with Edward Rishworth, he was the joint signer of a letter to the Churches inviting delegates to a council to settle the Rev. Shubaal Dummer, H.C., 1656 (his brother-in-law, they having married sisters) as pastor of the Church at York. His last public act was an appraiser, 3 April, 1691. The date of his death is not positively known, except that it occurred in 1692; and as that was the year of the terrible Indian Massacre, January 25, 1691-92, when 137 inhabitants of York were either killed or carried captive to Canada by the savages, his pastor and and relative being among the dead, it is extremely probable that he met his fate also in that tragedy which sent such a shudder throughout New England.

Notes

from Everett P. Inman:

A planter, York ME, he had 20 acres land laid out 19 Jul 1645. Was mayor 1643-1644. An asst. at the court held at Mr Guillison's, 7 Nov 1652; he took an oath of allegiance to the MA government 22 Nov 1652. Sold land 7 May 1664. Married 1st in England; married 2nd to Elizabeth. Curtis, 3rd to Elizabeth Alcock. Was prominent in public offices; killed in Massacre of 1692.

[Alkham, Kent is a parish village, about 5 or 6 miles SE of Barham and Denton, about 4 miles W of Dover.]

Birth info from marriage record, St. Andrew's Canterbury.

On 25 Oct 1631, Richard Bankes, 24, tailor, was licensed to marry Joan Harrison of Elham. (Parish Records, St. Andrews, Canterbury, Kent, England.. info from "History of York, Maine," by Charles E. Banks, 1967 reprint)

In 1636 and 1641, two children were baptised to Richard Bankes in Alkham Parish, Kent, England (LDS reel 1836102) [There was a Thomas Bankes earlier in this parish with children, but the gap seems too long to indicate a close relationship to Richard]

Note

[It is unclear what evidence there is for Richard's 2nd wife and child who lived in Massachusetts. Caution should be used in making use of this information. One source stated Richard returned to England to marry Elizabeth Curtis and Curtis is listed as Richard's brother-in-law by Dr. Charles E. Banks in his "History of York, Maine"]

Note

NOTE: Richard Bankes's friends in Maine (Preble, Curtis & Twisden) all lived nearby in Kent Co. (Kent) in England. Preble was in Denton; Twisden was in Wootton and Curtis was nearby. So the Richard Bankes in Alkham, Kent, is assumed to be the same one in Maine. Favouring the identification is the short time gap between his disappearance from English records and appearance in New England.

Abt 1642, Richard joined Abraham Preble and Thomas Curtis in taking the oath of fidelity at Scituate, MA ("Plymouth Colonial Records," viii, p 183) [Richard's daughter Elizabeth would continue to live in Massachusetts]

In 1643, Richard Bankes, Abraham Preble, Thomas Curtis [Richard's brother-in-law] and John Twisden settled on land in York, ME, known as Scituate Row. ^[10]

John was a Selectman, in 1693; a Grand Juror, in 1692-93 and in 1701; and removed to York, Maine. He built his home in the York Beach area, a mile or two away from the town and this edifice, with some additions, was still standing, but was known to be vacant, in 1975. It was rumoured, in 1976, that the town had bought the 15 or 20 acre homestead property for school purposes with intentions of renovating the old building for offices.

John Banks, Notes by Eleanor Banks Vines

John, the oldest son of Richard and Elizabeth Alcocke Banks, was born in York, in or before 1657. He apparently lived his life in that locality, as his name appears occasionally in town records. He married twice, but the name of his first wife is unknown; the second marriage was to Elizabeth Turbat of Wells. He died between Septemnber 1724 and April 1726. Elizabeth survived him, her will being dated 1737 and probated in 1738. Their children were Moses (married Ruth Weare), Hannah, Aaron, Mary. Parents: Richard BANCKS and Elizabeth ALCOCK. Spouse: Elizabeth TURBAT. John BANKS and Elizabeth TURBAT were married. Children were: Hannah BANKS, Moses BANKS, Mary BANKS, Aaron BANKS.

Ancestral Line for David and Timothy Banks, of NB & NS, Canada, by Bonnie (Banks) Merriam

Richard Banks (1607-1692) migrated from Alkham, Kent County, England to Scituate, Mass and was sent to Maine where he had many prominent offices. He settled in York, York County, Maine. He married three times with his third wife being Elizabeth Alcock Banks. He was killed in the York Indian Raid of 1692 defending property. (Account of these events in my book). I also have a copy of his signature and a letter signed by Richard written in 1673. Their first born son John Banks (1656-1724) married Elizabeth Turbat 1689 in Wells, York County, Maine. Their son Lt. Moses Banks (1690 -1749) was an Indian envoy (I have an account of a rescue he made of Indian captives in my book). He married Ruth Weare in 1713 in York, York County, Maine. Their first born son Joshua Banks (1713-1774) married Mary Muchmore 1737, in York, York County, Maine.

One note of interest is the fact that Richard Banks' son, Lt. Joseph Banks, (brother to John mentioned above) had a daughter Tabitha Banks who was the great great grandmother of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Joseph's home built in 1696, is in York, Maine. It still exists today with a York Historical Society Plaque on the home's entrance way.^[11]

Family: John BANKS was born on 13 Jan 1657 in York, ME. He died on 13 Jan 1725 in York, ME. John Banks,

From Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire:</br> "RICHARD Banks, of 'Scituate Row,' York, (see Preble), he and Thomas Curtis sharing the lot of Thomas Chambers; he had taken the freeman's oath at Scituate, Mass., in same list with Preble. York wit. Mar. 1642-3.</br> Godfrey's Council 1651-2. Prom. in town, church and probate business, often selectm. 1653-1680, Com.t.e.s.c. under Mass. 1669, 72, 79, repeat, gr . j . , overseer of county prison 1673. Appar. vict. of York massacre, adm. 28 Nov. 1693 to s. Joseph. Lists 24, 25, 33, 273-7. M. 1st ab. 1644 Elizabeth Curtis, bp. Aug. 1624 in Ash, Kent, d. of Tho. and Richardine, and stepdau. of Thomas Chambers (2); 2d Elizabeth Alcock (1), liv . 1698. Ch. by 1st w: Elizabeth, m. at Scituate, 1st 17 July 1666 Wm. Blackmer, who d. 21 Apr. 1676; 2d 24 Jan. 1676-7 Jacob Bumpas; removed to Rochester. 7 ch. 1667-1687. By 2d w: John, b. ab. 1657. Job, fined for cursing 1684, d. s.p. Joseph, b. 1667."^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ From "History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol... Vol. 1" by Charles Edward Banks
2. ↑ http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch The following info is from a google search: familytreemaker.genealogy.com
3. ↑ Notes by Jim Eakins
4. ↑ Banks One Name Genology - http://www.beals-genealogy.com/banksgen/getperson.php?personID=I00001&tree=Banks
5. ↑ Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700, volume 1, page 83: BANKS, Richard (-1692) & 1/wf? Joan HARRISON; in Eng, m lic 25 Oct 1631; York, ME {York Hist. 135}
6. ↑ http://www.beals-genealogy.com/banksgen/getperson.php?personID=I00006&tree=Banks
7. ↑ Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700, volume 1, page 83: BANKS, Richard (-1692) & 2/wf? Elizabeth [CURTIS] (?1624-); ca 1644/6?; Scituate/York, ME {York Hist. 1:156; GDMNH 75; Scott (1919) 265, 268, 269}
8. ↑ http://www.beals-genealogy.com/banksgen/getperson.php?personID=I00011&tree=Banks
9. ↑ Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700, volume 1, page 83: BANKS, Richard (-1692) & 3/wf Elizabeth [ALCOCK] (-1692+); ca 1655?; York, ME {York Hist. 1:156; Coltman Anc. 5; Banks 3; Chute x; GDMNH 75; Sv. 1:111, 112; Kittery 275; Reg. 36:401, 44:259}
10. ↑ ("History of York," Maine, by Charles E. Banks, 1967 reprint, p. 155)
11. ↑ Ancestral Line for David and Timothy Banks, of NB & NS, Canada, by Bonnie (Banks) Merriam http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cannbfam/banks/banks2.htm
12. ↑ Noyes, Sybil, Charles T. Libby, and Walter Goodwin Davis, Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (Portland, Me.: Anthoensen Press, 1928–29, reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1972) Vol 2 p 75,. Download at FamilySearch

See also:

• Donald W. Beals, Banks Genealogy website: http://www.beals-genealogy.com/banksgen/
• A genealogy and history of the Chute family in America, William Edward Chute, (Salem, MA, USA: 1894), , p. ix. Book digitized by Google from the library of Harvard University https://archive.org/details/agenealogyandhi00chutgoog
• http://www.drbanks.com/genealogy/notes.html#NI0061
• Source: Ancestral Line for David and Timothy Banks, of NB & NS, Canada, by Bonnie (Banks) Merriamhttp://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cannbfam/banks/banks2.htm
• Note: The Chute Family, William Edward Chute, (Salem, MA, USA: 1894), p. x gives date of death as 'early in 1692,when 137 of the people of York were either killed or carried captive to Canada [by Indians]'. - https://archive.org/details/agenealogyandhi00chutgoog/page/n276/mode/2up?q=banks. - start page 278