John Banister, the Botinist
From the Book: John Banister and his Natural History of Virginia 1678-1692 by Joseph and Nesta Ewan.
The name of John Banister frequently appears in seventeenth and eighteenth-century works on plants,but it has scarcely been recognized that he was the first university-trained naturalist to send specimens, with drawings for some , and with descriptive Latin catalogues of insects, spiders, and molluscs as well as plants to leading natualists in England. This young Anglican minister who landed in Virginia in the midst of Bacon's Rebellion, whle awaiting his appointment as curek' soon found his way to the trading post of William Byrd I. at the falls of James River wher he immediately began his observations. His impressive natural history library and books on religion formed a firm foundation for the later famous Byrd library at Westover.
Banister had been named a Trustee and Founder of the College of William and Mary just before his accidental death while exploring along the Roanoke River. This gentleman was the grandfather of Col John Banister, of the Revolutionary War. He was born 1650 in Twigworth, Gloucestershire, son of John Banister. He attended Magdelen College, Oxford University. Where he was a chorister in 1668. Banister received a Bachelor of Arts degree at Magdalen College, Oxford.In 1678 Banister arrived in Virginia. He married Martha (Bate) the daughter of Henry Bate. She was a young widow Jones, who married Stephen Cocke. after John Banister's death. In 1690, he obtained a grant of land in Charles City County, Bristol Parish, near the Appomattox River.In May 1692 he was accidently shot by Jacob Colson while botanizing on the Roanoke River, Henrico County.On June 23, 1692 Colson was granted bail and in due time was acquited. John Banister's only son was John Banister who married Wilmouth ? and had Col John Banister and Elizabeth who married a Robert Bolling.
1697 a Government record at Henrico referred to lands (near present Petersburg "of John Banistser, son and Heir of John
Banister late of "Charles City County, deceased.
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Re: John Banister, the Botinist
Clydene Williams 5/28/10