New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-11-23

proceeds of his almanac. mainly supported him
until he died. 1t is stated that the only i'm
perfect calculation that Banneker ever made
was the calculation for this annuity. He lived
eight years longer than the time prescribed
Other persons in later days have done the same,
where the insurance Office has undertaken the
calculation, so that Banneker's case ia not re-
markable one in this respect. Notwithstand-
ing the sale of the land be still resided on it. and
rs il would seem from memorandum In his re-
cord book, he continued to labor on it portion
of his time. On the Gath April. 1902 he speaks
of being in the field holing for corn--snd
among the last entries made by him are charges
for pssturage.
In 1904 Banneker died, in the I'D year of
his age, and his remains are deposited, without
stone to mark the spot. near the dwelling
which De occupied during his life time. His
land, OF course, went at once into the posses
sion OF the Messrs. Elicotts, and his personal
property was disposed Of by him to his friends
before he died. There is no evidence that be
made will, or that there was administration
on bis estate, to be found in the records of the
Orphans Court, which have ben examined
with view of adding to the few materials
still existing for his biography. There are
several persons now living who recolect Ban
neker well. and from these Mr.. Benjamin I'll.
Ellicott, OF Baltimore, has collected the memo
randa from which. with the materials furnished
oy his record book, this sketch has been pre-
pared. The following is an extract from Mr.
Ellicotts letter in regard to Banneker:
during the whole of his long life he lived
respectfully and much esteemed by all who be-
came acquainted with him, but more especially
by those who could fully appreciate his genius
and the extent of his requirements. Although
his mode OF life was regular and extremely re-
tired, living alone, having never married
cooking his own vietuals and washing his own
clothes, and scarcely ever being absent from
home-yet there was nothing misanthropic in
his character, for gentleman who knew him
thus speaks of him Il recollect him we'll. He
was braveloOking, pleasant man, with some
| thing very noble in bis appearance. His mind
r-as evidently much engrossed in his calcua
lions; but he was glad always to receive the
visits which we often paid to him. Another
OF Mr.. Il licotts correspondents writes as fol-
lows: When / was boy | became very much
interested in him, (Banneker,) as his manners
were those of perfect gentleman; kind gen
erous, hospitable, humane, digni6ed, and pleas
ing. Astounding in information on all the Va
riOus subjects and incidents Of the day very
modest and unassuming. and deliy htlng in
| society at his own house. | have seen him
frequently. His head was covered with thick
suit of white hair, which gave him a very ven
Was uniformly Of superhns drab broad cloth.
made in the old style of plain coat, with
straight collar and long waistcoat and a broad
brimmed hat His color was not Jet black, but
decidedly negro. In size aud personal appear
anoe the statue of Franklin at the Library ia
Philadelphia, from the street. 10 a per
feet likeness of him. Whenever have seen 1t
it always reminded me of Banneker. Go to
his house when you would, either by day or
night, there was constantly standing in the
middle OF the floor u large table covered with
books and papers. AS he was an eminent
mathematician, he was constantly in GORE
spondence with other mathematieians in this
country, with whom there was an interchange
OF questions of difficult solution"
In the foregoing brief notice all is collected
that can now be obtained in regard to Benjamin
Banneker.
The extent of his knowledge is not so re-
markable as that he acquired what he did un
der the circumstances We have described. 1t
might be said by those disposed to sneer at bis
simple history. ii there be any such, that after
ali he Was but an almanac maker, a very hum
bic parsonage in the ranks of astron omica
science. But that the almanac maker OF Penn
sylvania, Delaware, Mary land. and Virginia,
from 1871 to 1902, should have been a free
black man, is, to use the language of Mr.. JEFF
ierson, fact to which his whole color has
right for their justification against the doubts
that have been entertained of them.