The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14


John Banister. the progenitor of
the Banisters of Amelia county, Nir-
ginia, was n Church OF England mis-
sionary. He Travelled in the West In
dies before he came to Virginia. He
appears in Charles City. county, Nir-
gina. as early as 1878. He was a
scientific botanist as we'll as mis-
sinoary, and for fourteen years before
his death he correspondent with the
most learned men in England In 1850
he sent Ray, the celebrated English
botaAist, catalogue OF plants native
to Virginia. which was published In
the "Hlstoria Plantarum." Ray had
the highest opinion of Rev. John Ban
| lister, and calls him "eruditissimus vir
consumma t tissinms botanicus."
| John Banister's literary productions
| We're: "Observations on the Natural
| Productions of jamaica" insects OF
/ Virginia." .Curioslties in Virginia,
"On Several Sorts Of Snails," "Descrip-
| ton of the Snake Root" and evidently
Others. the names of which l cannot
| find
| Rev. John Banister was also an en-
| tomologist of no mean reputation. He
| lived In Charles City county In 1878.
and probably for q dozen years after
wards. In 1890 he took up grant or
Hand in Bristol Parish. on the Apo
mattox River. He died in 1892. There
/ is some uncertainty as to the cause
| of his death 1t is usually accepted
/ that he died from fail from the high
I rocks which wall the Roanoke River
while studying the plants OF that. 10
reality. but the old records for Hen
rico county for May. 1892 contain the
statement that one Jacob Coson was
!5put In the hands of the sheriff on ac-
coount of the death (by accidenD OF
Mr. John Banister. In June. 1892. we
find the following among the arore-
said records: "All circumstances Re
/ lating to ye death of we Reverend Mr..
/ John Banister being dueiy considered
4 I am humbly Of Opinion that by Se
Rt. Honble-Lt. Govern'r. and Councel
(who have We authority OF ye Kings
Bench within this GoyernmD Jacob
iColson may be bailed.
1 80. chiffon, Attor Gen'l.i
; "June card. 1852.
"(Endorsed) Attorney Gent. Opinion
. --colson may be bailed June %, 1877.
Furthers than this we find nothing
II chad any later trial IT does no
appear, hilt of this we are sure, tna'
no matter by what way he went. the
Rev. John Banistcrs life was Tic earn
i est Of eternal happiness. The wire OF
iJohn Banister does not appear. It Is
T supposed that he married before he
came to Virginia. He left one son,
i John Banister (2). In 1897 there Is
record which mentions the lands
of John Banister, son of John Banlster
4 OF Charles City county, deceased
These lands lay near the city q fpeters-
burg, and were evidently the lahus
, which John Banister. Sr" took upon
1.-THE Appomattox River in 1880. Johr
Ranistcr (2) was collector of Upper
James River in 1924, and vestry
!. man OF Bristol Parish In 1896. He mar,
I, rled 5Wilmette (surname UNKNOWN ahe
had two children, VIZ:
i. Martha (3) Banister, married KIDD
! ert Boiling (4); born June - llso
!, died February "a, 1875; great granu
!, son Of Robert Boiling, the emlgran J,
) and Jane Ro'fe, his wife. Jane }I B.if'
r was the granddaughter OF oIoi l ~
/ and Pocahontas.
: Robert Boiling (D and Martha Bar Ban
!, lister (s), his wife, lived at Boiilh :
:, : brook Petersburg, Va, and had n
:, children. Robert Boiling afterwar'
:, married Mary Marshall Tabb anu ma
: issue. ! IL, "a !,
q "Battersca.' Dinwiddie counts' ~
i was born December ~ lla4, 3an n,.a al =
, September 3, 1888. He was eauca ~
= !. n T. ENGLAND and studied law at IN
romple, He built Patterson" a ia
J, nous homestead near Petersburg, a. ~
: 5ied there. He was q member OF u
:. LTonseS OF Burgesses In 'lf65 from IN
\, widdio county, He served In that Npou
) o1ntlnuously until the Revolutlorn :, 4
: War Var ia was a5,member Of the Con
: yention OF March 90. 20 July !! :, y !,
!, 177b. December |, 1875. May y, iI 90!
: .colonel canister with William Byr'
had the honor to lay out me tW
:, - neighboring cities of Richmond al ~
: Petersburg." - 7,
). /, hl,shcd he was q member Of II
- Lerlslntive Assembly and OF tho Coz
!, tinentul Congress which " conyene
= March f1e. IT'S. and adjourned Ssepttre V n