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Banks Family Papers

Collection, Ms 26

1674 – 1923
Fairfield Museum
Joseph Banks (1690-1776) is one of the first and most import members of this family. He married Mary Sherwood in 1712, and had seven children. Ebenezer Banks Sr. (1724-1777), the son of Joseph, married Sarah Hide, and had seven children. He was Captain of the Greenfield (militia) Company. David Banks (1718-1791), the son of Joseph, ran a country store with Ebenezer Jr., and was an Ensign in the 5th Co. (militia) of Fairfield. Ebenezer Banks Jr. (1752-1838), the son of Ebenezer, married Huldah Sherwood, and had four children. Ebenezer Jr. served in the Revolutionary war, as did his brother, Joseph (1756-1836).

Horace Banks (1831-1909), a descendant of David Banks, married Sarah Burr, known as "Aunt Sallie." Horace had two sisters, Eliza F., who married Rev. George W. Banks of Guilford, and Angeline Banks, who married Moses Banks. George A. Banks, Horace's son, married Minnie V. Jennings (1862-1921), and ran a general store in Greenfield Hill.

Benjamin Banks (1682-1760), the brother of Joseph (1690-1776), had a son Gershom (1712-1795), who graduated from Yale College in 1732. His son, Hyatt Banks (1764-1847), was appointed Captain of the 3rd Troop in the 1st Cavalry of Connecticut. Benjamin also had a son John (1717-1784) and is through his line that Barzilla Banks is descended. Barzilla established a general store in 1869 on Greenfield Hill, a store that also served as the post office. His son, William H., ran the store for ten years before his sisters, Georgianna and Mary Elizabeth, assumed control. The store was a mainstay on Greenfield Hill until 1929 when the sisters retired.
The materials in this collection are arranged in alphabetical order by the first name of the individual. Series A consists of Alson Banks' estate papers, 1840-1844, including an inventory. Angeline Banks' diaries, 1883-1888, 1890, telling about daily weather and activities, are arranged chronologically in Series B. There is a bill, 1889, from Arthur Banks to John Perry for work building his house in Southport in Series C. Benjamin Banks Sr. is represented by deeds, 1708-1787, in Series D. Benjamin Banks, Jr., was involved in several court cases, 1786, 1787, the records of which are included in Series E.

Ebenezer Banks Sr. has a number of papers relating to his estate, 1746-1775, including an inventory, in Series F. His papers also include deeds and a document certifying his share in the Susquehannah Purchase, 1774. Series G, Ebenezer Banks Jr. papers, 1776-1833, include deeds, an inventory of his estate, and an account book kept with his brother David.

Eliphalet Banks' papersare organized in Series H and include a summons, 1823, and an account book, 1822-1830, 1888-1891. Portions of the book, kept in pen, include Eliphalet's accounts as constable of Fairfield, and for goods bought and sold. The later portions of the volume, written in pencil, are the farm accounts of George Banks, and include stud fees for cows and general accounts with customers such as Phineas T. Barnum. Deeds related to Eunice Banks, 1851, are in Series I. Bills to G.A. and M.E. Banks (Georgianna and Mary Elizabeth), 1905-1919, for store merchandise, and two oversized account books, 1923-1924, 1929, are in Series J. George Banks' account book for his store in Lyons, New York, 1848-1864, is in Series K. George W. Banks reminiscence about teachers at the Dwight Academy on Greenfield Hill, 1923. His letter is filed in Series L. Gershom Banks' papers, which include deeds and receipts, 1737-1791, and his will, 1776, are in Series M. Grace Evelyn Banks wrote historical essays for the D.A.R, and these are in Series N. One typescript is a collection of proverbs, or "saws." Henrietta Banks' diary, 1848-1850, is in Series O. Hezekiah Banks' 1811 will constitutes Series P.

Horace Banks' papers, which consist of a store account book, 1859, an estate inventory, 1863, and a military enrollment exemption, 1863, are arranged in Series Q. Huldah Banks is represented by her will, 1838, in Series R. Hyatt Banks' letter of appointment as Captain of the 3rd Troop in the 1st Cavalry of Connecticut, 1804, is in Series S. Deeds of Joel, John, and Joseph Banks are organized in Series, T, U and V, respectively. Joseph Banks is also represented by his will, 1768.

Mary Banks' inventory, 1684, is in Series W. Minnie Banks' household account book, 1899, is contained in Series X. Series Y consists of Nehemiah Banks' estate inventory, n.d., and a court document, 1775. In Series Z, Polly Banks has a medical bill, 1864, and a number of tax payments, 1867-1883. Sarah (Sally) Banks' diaries, 1875-1923, are organized in Series AA. The diaries includes entries on the effects of the Blizzard of 1888, notes on births, marriages and deaths, and daily activities. Series BB contains receipts and deeds, 1875-1898, related to Sherwood Banks. Talcott Banks' will, n.d., is the only document found in Series CC. Thaddeus Banks is represented in Series DD by receipts, 1771, 1774. William Banks' papers, which include grocery bills from his store, a letter about the death of Captain Burr Scott aboard the Haidee, 1850, and William's journal kept aboard the Brig Haidee about daily life on this circus boat, 1849-1850, are arranged in Series EE.

Greenfield Congregational Society records, 1806-1828, 1869, 1892-1894, include membership records and subscription lists, tax collectors' lists, a handwritten "newsletter," and Sunday School records, and are arranged in Series FF. The papers of various Banks family members are arranged by type of material in Series GG. Correspondence, 1853-1893, primarily to Mary Bulkley and "Sally," along with a postcard announcing a suffragette meeting are in folder 1. Bills and receipts, 1802-1887, are in folder 2, and include a bill from Widow Sarah Banks for "keeping Negro Ned," in 1802. Legal records in folder 3 consists of the estate inventory of Aaron Banks and several court documents, 1810-1824. Folder 4 contains deeds dating from 1745-1868. School records, 1840-1844, consist of premiums awarded to Francis Banks by the New York Public School system, 1840-1841; Simon Banks' composition on schools, 1843; and a school district meeting notice, 1844. The final folder includes invitations to anniversary celebrations of B.B. Banks, 1875, 1880; and a chap book kept by Curtis Banks, including records of church attendance, 1925-1930, a draft of his will, 1924, genealogy notes and notes on school events and teachers.

For more information on the family, see The Families of Old Fairfield by Donald L. Jacobus, and the Banks family brown envelope file. For information on Banks' store, see the vertical file "Fairfield--Buildings--1199 Hillside Ave."
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