Banks Family History.

Foreword

A. These notes on the history of the family of my paternal Grandfather, Revd. George Banks, and his wife, Ruth Mary (nee Cozens), were compiled – (starting in 1997, but revised in Jan. 2002) - by me, Ronald Ernest Banks, son of Ernest Samuel Banks (the fourth son of George and Ruth Mary), and his wife, Alice Lily (nee Bardens), from various sources, in particular:-

1. A Family Tree of the Banks Family compiled by Percy Banks (the third son of George and Ruth Mary) and his son George Russell Banks in Canada;

2. Family Charts compiled by members of the family in response to Questionnaires sent out by Percy and George;

3. Notes made by various members of the family in amplification of information given in the Family Charts and/or the responses to the Questionnaires;

4. Correspondence or conversations with members of the family; and

5. Information obtained from a Family Tree compiled by a George Heber Banks of (a third-cousin of Grandpa George Banks).

B. Photocopies of many of the items mentioned above are contained in a Blue Ring File headed “Banks Family History - notes etc” which is located in the sliding door cabinet in the Lounge. This file is often referred to as “The Banks Family Scrapbook” in the following notes.

C. A large Red Ring File, also located in the sliding door cabinet, contains photographs (and accompanying notes) relating to the various families which were made by me as copies from old pictures, snapshots etc. which various members of the Banks Family produced at the large family gathering at Fowler’s Farm, Meppershall, Bedfordshire, home of Kathleen (grand-daughter of George and Ruth Mary Banks) and her husband Michael Foster, in July 1984.

D. The following notes contain references to names of streets and other features in Willenhall, Staffs. Although there have been many road changes over the years, some of these streets and features are traceable on recent maps of Willenhall copies of which are included on pages ………. & ………

A. George Banks (1856 - 1950) - his ancestors, and an outline of his life.

1. (a) My paternal grandfather, George Banks, was born at Willenhall, Staffordshire, on March 14th. 1856, a son of Thomas Banks and Sidonia (nee Vaughan) who were married in 1853. Thomas Banks was born in 1828/9, a son of John Banks and (?), while Sidonia was born in 1833, a daughter of George Vaughan and (?). (b) John Banks, born in 1809, was a son of Thomas and Amie Banks, and this Thomas (born 1784) was a son of a Thomas Banks, and his wife Elizabeth (nee ?), who moved from Wyrley to Willenhall and established a bolt- making business there. (NB this information was derived from the Family Tree compiled by George Heber Banks, who - see copy of this Tree in the Banks Family Scrapbook - was descended from Joseph Banks, born 1783, another son of Thomas and Elizabeth Banks). (c) In the 1881 Census Return for Willenhall Thomas Banks and Sidonia were listed at No. 33 Gomer Street (aged 52 and 49 years respectively) both recorded as having been born in Willenhall; Thomas’s occupation was that of a bolt-maker. Living with them were their son Jonah, then aged 18 years ( a lockmaker) born at Willenhall and a lodger named James Cowper, aged 24, (a lockmaker) also born at Willenhall. (N.B. This Census information was obtained during a very brief, and far from complete, search through the 1881 Return made by Freda and myself at the Staffordshire Record Office on 13/09/1989. We found entries relating to other Banks families and hoped to be able to continue the Census search at a later date, but, sadly, we have not found an opportunity to make a further visit to the Staffs Record Office).

2. According to notes (copies included in the “Banks Family Scrapbook”) made in 1986/7 by Hilda Maskell (a daughter of George and Ruth Mary Banks) and her daughter Joan, George had two younger brothers, Thomas (born ?) and Jonah, born 1864 (mentioned in the previous paragraph). Jonah married Minnie Eccleston (when?); according to the Geo. H. Banks Family Tree, Thomas also married (name of wife not known at present) and had several children, Thomas, George, Frank, Samuel and Harriett. George Banks was trained as a locksmith (for which trade Willenhall was well known), probably in a business (possibly Enoch Banks and Sons) carried on by

Banks Family History. another member of the Banks family but further research is needed to establish this.

3. As a young man George was a member of the Baptist Church at Gomer Street, Willenhall, having attended the Sunday School from the age of five years, and graduated from scholar to teacher and then Secretary and Superintendent.

4. After becoming a member of the Church, he was elected as a Deacon and did some preaching. On Sunday, June 29th. 1879, no minister being available to conduct the service, young George Banks was asked to read the Scriptures and make a few comments thereon. He so impressed the Congregation that he was asked to take further services with increasing frequency; before long he was invited to become the Pastor of the Gomer Street Chapel. His Ordination took place on Monday, December 6th. 1880; there is an account of that service, and others, in the “Banks Family Scrapbook”.

5. In the meantime, on December 26th. 1877, George had married Ruth Mary Cozens at the Baptist Chapel, Billston,

Staffordshire, the ceremony being performed by the Bride’s father, the Reverend Samuel Cozens. (The young couple had, apparently, intended to be married on Christmas Day, but were one day late in giving the necessary notice!).

6. During the next twenty years, George and Ruth Banks were blessed with twelve children, boys and girls in equal numbers! These children were all born at Willenhall. The first-born was a son, Herbert John Banks, born September 3rd. 1879. The second child, a daughter, Ruth Cozens Banks, born July 20th. 1881 died from whooping cough February 25th. 1883. Then followed two sons, George, born May 18th. 1883, and Percy James, born December 10th. 1884, and a daughter, Winifred Mary, born July 28th. 1886. The sixth child, Ernest Samuel (my father), was born February 2nd 1888. The next three children were girls, Elsie Gertrude, born May 8th. 1889, Hilda Sidonia, born November 22nd. 1890, and Ruth Mary, born February 14th 1893. They were followed by two sons, Harry, born January 19th. 1895, and Frederick, born September 17th. 1896. Sadly they were both killed during the First World War, Harry at The Somme on , Fred as a result of a flying accident during his solo flight, on . The last child, a daughter Dorothy Evelyn, was born May 24th 1898.

7. In 1884 the members of the Gomer Street Baptist Chapel joined with the fellowship at Little London Baptist Church (see the report in the “Banks Family Scrapbook”) and George Banks became Pastor of the United Church, a position he held until 1898. He had noPastorates between 1898 and 1913 but preached in numerous Churches, while remaining in membership with the Little London Baptist Church until the family moved to Ipswich in 1902, where he was associated with Zoar Baptist Chapel until the family moved, in 1913, to Cambridge, when he accepted the Pastorate of Tenison Road Baptist Church. He remained Pastor of that Church until he retired in 1938; he continued in membership at the Tenison Road Church, preaching on occasions, until his death on April 4th. 1950, aged 94 years.

8. During his ministry, George Banks baptised, as believers, his own wife Ruth Mary (at Little London, on September 11th. 1881), and subsequently nine of his children - Herbert, George and Percy at Little London; Winnie, Elsie, Hilda, Ruey (Ruth), and Ernest at Zoar Baptist Church, Ipswich; and Harry at Tenison Road, Cambridge. He also conducted the marriage services for the eight of his sons and daughters who married, namely:- Herbert John to Alice Smith on September 12th. 1902, at Little London Baptist Chapel; George to Emma Woolley on January 28th. 1907, also at Little London Baptist Chapel; Percy James to Ida Rowley Hartill on September 2nd. 1908, at the same chapel; Winifred Mary to Francis Lowbridge on August 3rd. 1910, at Zoar Baptist Chapel; Ernest Samuel to Alice Lily Bardens on September 12th. 1912, at Zoar Baptist Chapel; Hilda Sidonia to Hubert Maskell on May 20th. 1918; Ruth Mary to Oscar Joseph Freeman on January 17th. 1918 and Dorothy Evelyn to Archibald Maskell, on March 30th. 1926, the last three all being at Tenison Road Baptist Chapel, Cambridge.

9. Whilst living at Ipswich and Cambridge, George Banks had his own Grocery and Drapery businesses, in which some, at least, of his daughters were occupied in addition to helping in the running of the family home. At Cambridge, the business was carried on at a shop attached to the family home at No. 179, Milton Road (a corner site at the junction with Arbury Road). In about 1928 the premises were sold to a Mr. Cherry who continued a

Banks Family History. business there under the slogan “Cherry Ripe for Value” (see copy of an article in “The Cambridge Weekly News” for November 3rd. 1988 in “The Banks Scrapbook”). Following his retirement George and Ruth Mary Banks lived at No. 260, Milton Road, Cambridge, with their unmarried daughter, Elsie. My Grandmother, Ruth, died at Cambridge on February 4th. 1940, aged 84 years. Elsie died at Cambridge on March 9th. 1962.

B. Ancestry of Ruth Mary Cozens.

1. Ruth Mary Cozens was born at Camden Town, London, on August 24th. 1856, the eighth child of the Reverend Samuel Cozens and Mary (nee Gumbrell). Her father was born at Wilton, Wiltshire, on November 8th. 1820, a son of Samuel Cozens (Snr.) and (?). Mary Gumbrell was born at Eastbourne, Sussex, on July 26th. 1814. a daughter of James Gumbrell and (?). They were married at Wilmington Kent on November 13th. 1843.

2. Rev. Samuel Cozens was minister of several Baptist Churches in this country, initially (according to the information given by Hilda Sidonia Banks above referred to) at Farnborough, Kent (the exact duration of which is unknown). In 1849/1850 he was Pastor of John Street Baptist Chapel, , and then, from 1850 - 1856, Pastor of Little London Baptist Chapel, Willenhall, where he was instrumental in building the present building, which was opened on June 15th. 1851. In 1856 the family moved to Camden Town, London, and Samuel Cozens was the Pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, Somertown, London until March 1858. It was during this ministry that Ruth Mary Cozens was born. In September 1858 he became Pastor of the Baptist Church at Warboys, Huntingdonshire, but sometime in 1860 moved back to London and became Pastor at Rehoboth Baptist Church, Shadwell until 1865, resigning from that Pastorate some five months before emigrating to Australia.

3. Before proceeding with an account of the ministry in Australia, it is perhaps appropriate here to list the children born to the Revd. Samuel and Mary Cozens. These were:- Samuel James Cozens, born August 11th. 1844, at Bexley Heath, Kent; Zadok Cozens, born May 26th. 1847, at Keston, Kent; Ebenezer Cozens, born November 18th., 1848, at Langport, Somerset; Judah Cozens, born March 6th. 1850, at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire; Bessie Mary Cozens, born October 24th. 1851, at Willenhall, Stafffordshire; John Cozens, born March 12th. 1853, at Willenhall; Pollie Charlotte Cozens, born December 10th. 1854; Ruth Mary Cozens, born August 24th. 1856, at Camden town, London; and Martha Mary Cozens, born September 24th. 1858, at Warboys, Huntingdonshire; she died in infancy on September 30th. 1859.

4. In 1865 Samuel Cozens, his wife, and four younger children, including Ruth Mary, then aged nine years, emigrated to Australia, sailing around Cape Horn and experiencing very stormy conditions.

5. In Australia Samuel Cozens was Pastor of several Churches and established schools as will be summarised later.

6. Ten years later, early in 1875, Samuel Cozens, his wife and youngest surviving daughter, Ruth Mary, returned to (on a steamship via the Suez Canal which had been opened in 1869).

7. According to the information given by Hilda Maskell, when the Cozens were returning to England, Ruth Mary (then aged 19 years) had a dream in which she clearly saw the young man she was to marry in England, a man then completely unknown to her. Back in this country they settled in Willenhall, Samuel Cozens having accepted the Pastorate of the Gomer Street Baptist Chapel. One day, Ruth Mary was sitting in the chapel waiting for the service to begin, when in walked the young man she had seen in her dream! It was George Banks, whose parents were then, as mentioned above, living in Gomer Street, and who was already an active member of that Church. Within two years they were married. Another story related by Ruth Mary about the owtward journey to Australia was how, on one occasion after the family had been ashore, they were being ferried back to the ship in a small boat when, because of the roughness of the storm, they had difficulty in getting on board, and Ruth Mary was afraid that they never would get her mother safely back on the ship.

8. In 1878 the Revd. Samuel Cozens moved to the village of Sutton, near Ely, in Cambridgeshire, where he became Pastor of the Sutton Baptist Church, and, some two years later, George Banks took over the pastorship of the Little London Chapel (after the amalgamation of the Gomer Street Chapel therewith) as recorded under section A above. Finally, the Revd. Samuel Cozens became Pastor at Zoar Strict Baptist Church, Ipswich, Suffolk. After his death on July 1st. July 1887, his widow went to live with her son-in-law and daughter, George and Ruth Banks, at Willenhall.

Banks Family History. C. A Brief Account of the departure of the Revd. Samuel Cozens to Australia and his ministry there.

1. After resigning from the Pastorate of Rehobeth Baptist Church, Shadwell as mentioned in para. B. 2 above, the Revd. Samuel Cozens preached a number of farewell sermons to congregations at various Churches or Chapels with which he had been associated. Thus, on September 24th. 1865, he preached two sermons at Little London Baptist Chapel, Willenhall, which were billed as “the last in England previous to his departure to Australia”. However, on October 8th. he preached two “Farewell Sermons” at Rehobeth Baptist Church, followed by “A Testimonial Meeting” at the Exeter Hall, London, when he was presented with £130 - a considerable sum of money in those days. On November 6th. a “Final Farewell Meeting” was held at the New Surrey Tabernacle, London.

2. Soon after these meetings, leaving behind the four older children (Samuel James, Zadok, Ebenezer, and Judah) - who were presumably already established in jobs - the rest of the family set sail, arriving in Sydney in February 1866. There they remained for about eighteen months, and then moved to Launceston, Tasmania where Revd. Samuel Cozens established a Church and built a Chapel in which the fellowship met for worship. In July 1869 he was invited to become the Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, North Adelaide, a post he held for four years or so.

3. In addition to his pastoral work, Revd. Cozens was interested in education and was instrumental in establishing at least one school - at “Teatree Gully” - in July 1870. A report on “The Public Examination of the School on the Tuesday afternoon of July 11th. 1871” made in “The Gumeracha Guardian” on July 11th. 1871 said that the examination lasted about three and a half hours and was followed by the presentation of prizes and “a sumptious tea”. The day ended with a “Literary and Musical Entertainment” when a number of people including the Misses Cozens discoursed sweet music. Some singing was quite professional! Master John Cozens sang “Do they think of me at home”. During the day a number of parents testified to the efficiency of the Cozen’s method of teaching, and the eagerness of the children to attend the school. Finally votes of thanks were made to Mr. and Miss Cozens for “their zealous efforts to promote the education and the welfare of the young”.

4. It seems that even in those days there were arguments about religious teaching in schools, particularly where children of different denominations were concerned. Writing under the heading “The Bible versus Secular Education” in “The Protestant Advocate”, Rev. Cozens said “I have kept schools for years and have had the children of Roman Catholics in all my schools and have never had the least difficulty”.

5. He gave a number of public lectures on diverse topics such as “Forgleams of Immortality”; “The Philosophy of Health and how to preserve it”; and “Physicians v. Physic”. In the prologue to the latter, he stated “I am not a doctor, but am connected on my mother’s side with a long line of Physicians ...... I have a great liking for physicians, but no manner of taste for physic”.

6. When, in 1875, Revd. Cozens, his wife and youngest daughter, Ruth Mary, returned to England, the other three children remained in Australia. Bessie married (..?...) Burton; Pollie married (..?..) Daw, but contact (by the Banks family) with John Cozens was lost.

N.B. In1997 a friend of ours spent a holiday in Australia, including a visit to friends living in the Tea Tree Gully area, and gave us a note saying “The Steventon (Tea Tree Gully) school opened in the new Wesleyan Chapel shortly after its completion in late 1855. In 1869 the residents of Steventon found a site for a school house. The new building was completed in April 1870, and Mr. Samuel Cozens became the first schoolmaster of the new school. The school name was changed to Tea Tree Gully in 1874. The 1870 schoolroom still forms part of the present T. T. Co. Primary School.”

D. The Descendents of Revd. George & Ruth Mary Banks.

1. Herbert John Banks and family.

(i) As mentioned above (in Section A 8), Herbert married Alice Smith, at Little London Baptist Chapel, Willenhall, on September 12th. 1902. Alice was born at Willenhall on January 12th. 1877, but I have no details of her parents. Their first two children were born at Wolverhampton, namely Vera Dorothy Cozens Banks on February 27th. 1904 and Elaine Alice Cozens Banks on April 23rd 1906. Their son, Peter Harry Cozens Banks, was born at Ipswich, Suffolk, on April 16th. 1917.

(ii) Subsequently the family moved first to Stevenage and later (in 1926) to Bedford, where I visited them from time to time, cycling over from my home at Newton, Cambridgeshire, during the school holidays to spend a few days with my cousin Peter who was about nine months younger than I. Uncle Bert and family lived in a house associated with a newsagents and stationery business at (No. 23?) St. Peter’s Square, Bedford. Whilst living at Ipswich, I believe that Uncle Bert worked at a bookshop in The Ancient House, Fore Street, but this needs checking.

Banks Family History.

(iii) Aunt Alice died at Bedford on December 21st. 1936. Subsequently Uncle Bert re-married, his second wife being Isette Collins. (? other details); he died on 18th. July 1957 at Bedford.

(iv) Vera Dorothy Cozens Banks married Arthur George Coleby on May 9th. 1929, at Bunyan Meeting House, Bedford. They had no children. Arthur was born at Dereham, Norfolk on July 30th. 1902, the son of George Coleby and Lilian Sarah (nee Browne). A resume of the life of Arthur Coleby is contained in the Banks Family Scrapbook in the section marked Winifred Mary Banks because, some years after the death of his wife Vera at Lyme Regis, Dorset, on May 4th. 1939, he married Ruth (Winifred’s daughter) at Ipswich, in 1946. Suffice it to say here that Arthur Coleby was associated in various ways with the stationery and printing businesses.

(v) Elaine Alice Cozens Banks married Ronald Henry Brown on May 27th. 1939, at Bedford (presumably at the Bunyan Meeting House) . Ronald Brown was born at Bedford on January 29th. 1907, son of William Henry Brown and Blanch (nee Lawton). They had three children, John Henry Brown, born November 30th. 1940 at Bedford; Peter Ronald Brown, born July 6th. 1947, at Bedford; and Richard Michael Brown, born October 23rd. 1948 at Bedford. Ronald Henry Brown (who, I understand, was remotely descended from John Bunyan) was in employment with the Royal Insurance Coy. from the age of 15 until he retired at the age of 64. He died at Bedford on March 6th. 1975; Elaine died 19th. November 1994 at Bedford. They had three children, all born at Bedford, namely John Henry Brown, born 30th. November 1940; Peter Ronald Brown, born 23rd. September 1945; and Richard Michael Brown, born 15th. May 1946.

(vi) Of these three children, John Hy. Brown, after a promising start in his education, progressed to a London College (his interests being literature, ancient history, pop and classical music) from which sadly, after 18mths, he had to resign due to illness leading to schizophrenia. From that time his mother noted that “his life was entirely wasted”. He died on 4th. May 1981. Peter R. Brown left Bedford Modern School at 16 and, after an apprenticeship with a local engineering firm, worked as a draughtsman at Vauxhall Motors, then at Volvo in Sweden, and later as a car designer at Aston Martin. On 17th. July 1967 (?) he married (at Kempston Parish Church, Bedford) Angela Myrtle Payne, daughter of Edward Payne and Audrey, nee Brooks, born 6th. July 1947. They have three children all born at Bedford, Paul Brown, born 4th. September 1967; Karen Jane Brown, born 15th. August 1968; and Tracy Lynn Brown, born 6th. May 1970. Richard Michael, the third son of John and Elaine Brown, married (on 29th. July 1979, at The Queens Chapel, Savoy) Angela Mary Elspeth Hay, daughter of William Reginald Hay and Mary Constance Dora Hay. They have no children, as far as I know. Richard is a Dental Surgeon, practicing in Harley Street, London. Elspeth is a senior English Mistress, and sometime taught students in Hong Kong; she is a qualified Samaritan and Marriage Guidance Counsellor.

(vii) Peter Harry Cozens Banks married Sylvia Winifred Mirams on April 24th. 1943, at Finchley, London. Sylvia was born at Hove, Sussex, on July 28th. 1915, daughter of Douglas Victor Mirams and Winifred Florence (nee Brown). They had two daughters, Alison Vera Banks, born January 12th. 1945 at Watford and Hilary Jane Banks, born at Bedford on October 29th. 1948. Peter was educated at Bedford Modern School, obtaining his School Certificate (London), and was a keen sportsman (Rugby, rowing and swimming); after a year in the 6th. Form he joined the Igranic Electric Co. and undertook a 5-yr. Apprenticeship in Electrical Engineering after which he went to the English Electric Co. in Stafford. He was a Conscientious Objector during the 2nd. World War, serving in firefloats on the Thames in London - a coxswain, in rank a Leading Fireman. After the war (and his marriage to Sylvia), Peter joined with his father in the Newsagents and Stationery Business at Bedford which he expanded to include toys and games. He continued in this business after his father’s death, Peter’s wife, Miriam, helping him with the book-keeping etc.until he wound it up in 1972. For over 21 years Peter led the campaign to restore the navigation on the River Ouse - at times almost single-handed - which was finally completed in 1978. They attended the Bunyan Meeting and Howard Church in Bedford. They moved to Polegate in 1973 where they attended the St. Andrew’s United Reformed Church at Eastbourne and helped run a Quaker Home for the elderly for several years. Peter died on 6th. November 1989.

(viii) Alison Vera Banks, elder daughter of Peter and Miriam, married John Henry Warren on 2nd. September 1967, at Bedford; John is an Examiner in The Patent Office, and is a son (born 24th. October 1939) of John Ernest Warren and Elsie Gertrude, nee Parker. They have three children, Ian James Warren, born 16th. May 1970, at Aberystwyth, Wales; Susan Victoria Warren, born 2nd. November 1971 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent; and Lucy Clare Warren, born 17th. May 1977, also at Tunbridge Wells.

(ix) Hilary Jane, younger daughter of Peter and Miriam, married Karl Weissenboeck, at Salzburg, Austria, on 23rd. August 1970. They have no children. Karl is the son of Karl Weissenboeck (Snr) and Maria, nee Eder.

2. George Banks (Jnr). and Family

Banks Family History. (a) As mentioned in para. A (8) above, George Banks (Jnr) - my uncle -married Emma Woolley at Willenhall on 28th. January 1907. Emma was born on 29th. October 1883 at Heath Hayes, Cannock, Staffordshire. Unfortunately I do not know the names (or any other details) of her parents. They had two daughters, Dorothy Gwendolen (known as “Gwen”), born at Willenhall on 27th. November 1907, and Dorothy, also born at Willenhall, on 27th. May 1911.

(b) Prior to his marriage, George had gone to Canada in about 1905, accompanied by his younger brother Percy and spent a year or so working on a farm in Grayson, Saskatchewan, perhaps with a possible view to settling there; it seems that Percy became homesick and they returned to England.

(c) Uncle George and family lived in Willenhall for a number of years (my cousin Gwen records that she was educated at Willenhall Central School) although I do not have details of Uncle George’s early career or address. By the time I visited them in the 1930’s, the family were living in a very nice house on the south side of Showell Lane, Penn, with a large garden and a delightful view including the distant Malvern Hills. The family were, at that time, worshipping at the newly built Beckminster Methodist Church.

(d) Uncle George was a Locksmith by trade and had his own business in Willenhall. I remember, as a lad, visiting the works; one of the specialities was handmade cabinet locks in brass, of which my Uncle told me he had made 3000 for furniture in the S. S. Mauritania. At some stage he went into partnership with a Mr. Rushton, the firm being known as Banks & Rushton, Lock Manufacturers, in Wood St. Willenhall. After completing her education (including a course of Shorthand, Typing and General Office Routine at the Royal London Commercial College) Gwen joined the firm and became her father’s secretary; she remained there until her marriage in 1936. From a copy of a business leaflet in the Banks Family Scrapbook, it is apparent that there was another firm in Willenhall trading under the name of Enoch Banks and Sons.

NB. From a recent (Aug 1998) telephone call from cousin Mary Jean Ivkovic, I understand that she has been in touch with the successors of the firm just referred to and that she has received from another member of that line of the Banks family the copy of the Family Tree compiled by George Heber Banks above referred to. Mary Jean has sent me a copy which shows ancestors of my Grandfather, George Banks’ (snr), from the 17th. Century. This is two generations back from John who was the earliest member of the family referred to on the Family Tree prepared by my Uncle Percy.

(e) Gwen married Arthur Henry Wright (known as “Harry”) on July 25th. 1936 at Beckminster Methodist Church, Wolverhampton. Harry was born at Liverpool on December 31st. 1913, son of Arthur Edward Wright and Ethel (nee Young). According to their Biographical Notes (copy in the Scrapbook) Harry was educated at Wolverhamton Grammer School and was on the staff of Wolverhampton Public Libraries from 1934 to 1938 and then joined a Birmingham Transfer Company (Decals) where he became Sales Manager and remained with that Company until retirement at the end of 1978. During WWII Harry Wright served as a Flying Officer with the R.A.F. He has been a Methodist Lay Preacher since 1934, and, with Gwen, has a keen interest in Local Politics, Gardening and Walking. Gwen is keenly interested in Music and has been a member of several choirs in Willenhall and Wolverhampton; the families have taken an active part in the work at Beckminster Church.

(f) Gwen and Harry have two daughters both born at Wolverhampton, Jean Margaret Wright, born on July 20th. 1939, and Audrey Judith Wright, on August 8th. 1941. Jean was educated at Wolverhampton Girls High School, and after further education at the Teachers Training College, London, was a Teacher for 10 years at Birches Bridge Primary School, Codsall, nr. Wolverhampton. Judith was educated at Wolverhampton Municpal Grammar School, and then joined the staff of Wolverhampton Trustee Savings Bank.

(g) On July 21st. 1962, at Beckminster Methodist Church, Jean married Robert F. Denley, born September 6th. 1936 at Wolverhampton, son of Francis Denley and Edith (nee ?). Robert was educated at , Wolverhampton, following which (having had a keen interest in Electronics, and being a keen Radio Ham) he served for many years at the ATV Studios in Birmingham where he became a Senior Engineer.

(h) Robert and Jean have two sons both born at Wolverhampton, Michael Robert on March 10th. 1964, and Graham Anthony on February 20th. 1966. Michael was educated at Wolverhampton Grammar School and Graham at Regis Comprehensive School, Wolverhampton. (The Biographical notes were made a number of years ago, so these particulars need updating!).

(i) On June 10th. 1964, at Beckminster Methodist Church, Audrey Judith Wright married Gordan Anthony Atkinson, who was born on August 8th. 1941 at Wolverhampton, son of Harold Atkinson and Mary (nee ?). Gordon was educated in Wolverhampton and joined the Aircraft firm of H. M. Hobson as an apprentice. After obtaining a B.Sc. in Thermo-Dynamics in 1963 at Wolverhampton, he took his M.Sc. at Birmingham University in 1966, and gained his Ph.D. at Aston University in 1974. He became a Principal Lecturer at Perry Bar Polytechnic and a Tutor on the

Banks Family History. “University of the Air”. (j) Gordon and Audrey have two children, both born at Wolverhampton, Neil David on February 1968, and Karen Louise on April 25th. 1969. Both were educated at Regis Comprehensive School, Wolverhampton. (Again the Biographical Notes need updating).

(k) Dorothy, the younger daughter of George and Emmie Banks, was educated at Girls High School. She married, on 8th. February 1941 at Wolverhampton, Raymond Onions who was born on March 29th. 1919 at Birmingham, and was educated at Wolverhampton Municipal Grammar School. (I do not have names of his parents). During WWII, from1940-46, Raymond served with the Royal Signals, rising to the rank of Captain. He then became a Customs & Excise Officer in which capacity he served until he retired in 198?. He died in September 1997.

(l) Raymond and Dorothy Onions had three children, all born at Wolverhampton, Margaret Dorothy on June 12th. 1943, Jennifer Mary on April 13th. 1947, and Christopher Raymond on February 19th. 1952.

(m) On February 24th. 1968 at ??? Margaret Onions married Gerald Payne, who was born on January 6th. 1942 at Shifnal, Shropshire, son of Edmund Payne and ????. Gerald and Margaret Payne have two sons, both born at Rodington, Shropshire, David on January 6th. 1969, and Steven on January 11th. 1974. According to Biographical Notes written by Dorothy Onions some years ago, the Payne family take an active part in the life of the village in which they live, attending, and working at, the local Methodist Chapel; Margaret is one of the Managers of the village school, and she and Gerald both take an active part in dramatic productions in the village.

(n) Jennifer Mary Onions did very well at the High School and for 18 months at Bedford College, London; unfortunately an inexplicable nervous breakdown ended that college course. After six months at home, Jennifer did a two-year secretarial course, including three months at Neuchatel University, Switzerland polishing up her French, after which she obtained a post in the language dept. of Essex University where she met Guy Etienne Delafontaine, a lecturer researching computers and electronics. Guy was born on August 14th. 1945, at Lausanne, Switzerland. Guy and Jennifer were married on April 4th 1970 and have three children, all born at Colchester, Essex, Andre Francois born September 23rd. 1970, Christophe Michel born September 12th. 1976, and Marianne Catherine, born January 6th. 1980. The family moved to Switzerland in ???? hoping that the climate there would be beneficial to Guy who suffers from asthma.

(o) Christopher Onions, after doing well at his Grammar School, obtained an Exhibition to Trinity College, Cambridge and obtained a degree in Philosophy. When the Biographical Notes were written he was teaching Maths to A-level standard. So far as I know he has not married.

NB. Since our son Peter and Margaret moved to in 1997, Margaret, in her calling as a Methodist Minister, has met up with the Payne family, so we may have the opportunity of updating the family records before long.

3. Percy James Banks and Family. (a) As mentioned in para. A.8 above, my uncle Percy married Ida Rowley Hartill on Sept. 2nd. 1908 at Little London Baptist Chapel, Willenhall (see copy of the Marriage Certificate in “Percy James Banks” section of the Banks Family Scrapbook). Ida was born on August 27th. 1887, at Willenhall, a daughter of James Hartill and Sara (nee Fallon) - see copies of her Birth Certificate and her Certificate of Baptism (at St. Stephen’s Church, Willenhall on 29th. September 1887) in the Scrapbook. James Hartill is described as a Blacksmith on the Baptismal Certificate, but as a Wheelwright on Percy’s Marriage Certificate; Ida was a Dressmaker.

(b) Percy and Ida had four children, the first two being sons both born at Wolverhampton. Edgar Harold on 12th. March 1910, and Percy Lionel on June 16th. 1912. During this period of their married life they lived at 10, Argyle Road, Wolverhampton and Percy worked in a legal firm and then in the office of a steel mill.

(c) In 1913 the family emigrated, on the ship “Ionia”, to Canada (Percy having spent a year or so there with his brother George in 1905/6, working on a farm at Grayson, Saskatchewan, but became homesick and returned to England). Their first home in Canada was in the northern part of Montreal, Prov. Quebec, but the following spring (1914) they moved to a suburb, Pointe Claire, about 18 miles west of the City, where, on July 8th. 1918, their daughter, Muriel Ethel Fredericka, was born.

(d) I understand that Percy worked for the C.N.R. National Railway until 1919, when Percy (and family) left Montreal to serve as Secretary/Treasurer for the Presbyterian Mission in San Fernando, Trinidad. There is a photocopy of a picture of the Mission building in the Scrapbook. The weather there was too hot for them so, after a short visit back home to England, they returned to Pointe Claire, Canada in 1922, and lived at 5, Killarney Gardens, Percy taking a job with The Sun Life Assurance Coy. where he was employed until he retired in 1950. Their fourth child, George Russell Banks, was born at Pointe Claire on December 24th. 1923.

Banks Family History.

(e) The Scrapbook contains copies of notes made by Percy Banks “Queriosities” recording a number of strange experiences he had; also, a poem written by him and called “After the storm - Locarno” about the Locarno Pact relating to the United Nations. There is also a copy of the “Appreciation” made to Percy on the occasion of his departure from Pointe Claire following his Retirement, by the Members of the Session of Lilly Memorial Church (United Church of Canada) where Percy had been an Elder. Percy and Ida then moved to Keswick, Ontario. There is a biography of Percy and Ida written by their son George in the Scrapbook. Percy died of cancer on 7th. December 1958 and was buried at Queensville Cemetary. Ida outlived him for many years; she died on 27th. August 1984. Amongst the papers relating to Percy James Banks in the Scrapbook are a couple of letters written by his father from England during the war, in 1942 which make interesting reading

(f)

Here continue with notes on the other sons’ and daughters’ families.

9. Harry Banks.

(a) I do not have any notes about his life as a young man, interests, etc. As mentioned earlier he was killed in the 1st World War, at the battle of the Somme, on November 14th. 1916. In 1998, cousin Paul Maskell and his wife, Mary, took a holiday in France and Belgium during which they visited a number of the War Cemetries. They had obtained information from the Commonwealth Graves Commission, of 2, Marlow Rd., Maidenhead, Berks SL6 7DX that Private Harry Banks, 292603, served with the 1st/7th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers, and that his name is commemorated with many others of that Bn., on the Thiepval Memorial on the D73 road off the main Bapaume to Albert road (D929). These names are carved on Pier 10, Face B; Pier 11, Face B and Pier 12, Face B.

(b) Amongst the Banks family papers which were passed on to Paul after cousin Joan Maskell died (which she had inherited from her mother Hilda Maskell - nee Banks) were copies of two letters from a Cpl. Don W. Mc. Innes of C Coy. 4th. Bn., 1st Australian Divn. B.E.F. France. It appears that this force relieved Harry’s Regiment and Don was in charge of a party of men detailed to bury “fallen comrades”. Harry was one of these, and Don retrieved his wallet which contained a photograph of a Miss Diver (who was apparently Harry’s girl friend in England); Don sent the wallet to Miss Diver with a letter explaining how he had come by it and asked her to inform Harry’s parents. Following this, Grandpa Banks wrote to Don (I do not have a copy of this letter - ? has Paul) and a further letter was received from Don explaining how he buried Harry, made a rough cross with his rifle and tied his identification disc to it, hoping that Harry would eventually be reburied and the grave properly identified. An enquiry made to the War Graves Commission revealed that Don was himself killed 30th April 1918, his grave being at the Meteren Military Cemetary. Paul and Mary visited this grave. They made a video recording of their trip, but unfortunately the wind and other background noise makes it almost impossible to hear some of the commentary, so we must get further information direct from Paul in due course.