Willis Banks (1791 - 1852)

Born 23 Apr 1791 in Elbert County, Georgia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Oliver) Banks — married 3 Aug 1819 in Elbert County, Georgia

Descendants

Died 19 Sep 1852 at age 61 in Columbus, Lowndes, Mississippi, United States

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Biography

Willis Banks was married twice, first to Mary Winfred Oliver (1803-1820) with whom he had one child, and then to Mary Gray, with whom he had seven more children, three of whom died very young.

Children: Mary Winfrey Banks Harris (1820-1901)* John James Banks (1823-1824)* Thomas Gray Banks (1824-?)* William Lemuel Banks (1827-1836 - accidentally shot)* James Oliver Banks (1829-1904)* Frances Scott Banks (1827 - 1844)* Willis Dunstan Bank (b 1833, died at one month old)* Lucy Ann Banks (1834-1835)*

Slaves

See Slaves of Willis Banks, Alabama for a list as well as a transcription of his will.

Research Note

Deletions and corrections to the previous biography have been made based on more extensive sourcing.

Sources

• Young, Georgia Butt; Franklin, Sarah Banks, The Genealogical Records of the Banks Family of Elbert County, Georgia. Unknown publication date and location (likely self published). Volume 2, pp 41-48
• "Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXJV-WP9 : 7 February 2020), Willis Banks and Mary W. Oliver, 3 Aug 1819; citing Marriage, Elbert, Georgia, United States, Georgia Department of Archives and History, Morrow, FHL microfilm 209,539.
• 1820 Census: "1820 United States Federal Census"
  Fourth Census of the United States, 1820; Census Place: Christian, Elbert, Georgia; Page: 159; NARA Roll: M33_8; Image: 107
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7734 #1455107
  Willis Banks in Christian, Elbert, Georgia, USA.
• "Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXJV-QG6 : 7 February 2020), Willis Banks and Mary Gray, 3 Sep 1822; citing Marriage, Elbert, Georgia, United States, Georgia Department of Archives and History, Morrow, FHL microfilm 209,539.
• 1823 Legal Record: "U.S., General Land Office Records, 1776-2015"
  Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records; Washington D.C., USA; Federal Land Patents, State Volumes
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1246 #2074949
  Name: Willis Banks; Issue Date: 9 Jul 1823; Place: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Land Office: Tuscaloosa; Meridian: Huntsville; Township: 21-S; Range: 9-W; Section: 7; Accession Number: AL0650__.445; Document Number: 929; Original URL: http://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=AL0650__.445&docClass=STA&sid=3f1hwb4h.vrq.
• 1830 Census: "1830 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1830; Census Place: Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Series: M19; Roll: 3; Page: 297; Family History Library Film: 0002330
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8058 #1018237
  Willes Banks in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
• 1840 Census: "1840 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1840; Census Place: Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Roll: 16; Page: 196; Family History Library Film: 0002335
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8057 #1373783
  Willis Banks in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
• 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules:
  The National Archive in Washington Dc; Washington, DC; NARA Microform Publication: M432; Title: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8055 #90624596
  Willis Banks in District 1, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.
• 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules:
  The National Archive in Washington Dc; Washington, DC; NARA Microform Publication: M432; Title: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8055 #91085581
  Willis Banks in Lowndes, Mississippi, USA.
• "United States Census, 1850", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH5H-VQH : Mon Jul 17 19:11:07 UTC 2023), Entry for Willis Banks and Mary Banks, 1850. (Farmer) Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68665244/willis-banks: accessed 25 July 2023), memorial page for Willis Banks (23 Apr 1791–19 Sep 1852), Find a Grave Memorial ID 68665244, citing Greenwood Cemetery, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, USA; Maintained by Aggie (contributor 46870595).
• Probate: "Alabama, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999"
  Wills, 1821-1928; Author: Alabama. Probate Court (Tuscaloosa County); Probate Place: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8799 #2677176
  William Banks probate in 1821-1855 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.

See also:

• Family History or Pedigree: "U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970"
  Volume: 276
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2204 #1178429
  Name: Willis Banks; Birth Date: 1791; Death Date: 1852; SAR Membership: 55114; Role: Ancestor; Application Date: 10 Feb 1939; Father: Ralph Banks; Mother: Rachel Banks; Spouse: Mary Gray Banks; Children: Thomas G Banks.