George Bannister

Level 75

iain Frazier on 14th October 2023

Family Connections for George (Bannister) are: BANNISTER George (Bannister) was born in 1768 & became a sawyer. He was tried w/2others with breaking & entering & stealing clothes from a Millbank house at Old Bailey on 21 4 1784, sentenced to 7years in Africa, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery, sent to CERES hulk on 5 4 1785 then CENSOR hulk & arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a long voyage on First Fleet ship ALEXANDER (Smees records show CHARLOTTE). He had a relationship with Ann (Forbes her first relationship (1of3) with whom he was sent to Norfolk Island on HMS SIRIUS in March 1790. He was granted land, received 50 lashes in March 1791 & is recorded in 1792 on 12acres at Morgans Run Queensborough. He left Norfolk Island on 5 3 1793 on KITTY to Sydney where he became a fisherman. [Some information taken from this Website] Ann (Forbes) daughter of John (Forbes) & Hannah (???) was born on 15 9 1771 at Stepney London & became a dressmaker. She was tried, while living at St Olave Southwood Surrey, for stealing w/1other, on 30 10 1786, material of James (Rollinson) at Surrey Kingston on Thames Assizes on 5 4 1787, was sentenced to death by hanging commuted to 7years, held at Newgate Prison & arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 9months on First Fleet ship PRINCE OF WALES. She married secondly (2of3) William (Dring) on 5 11 1791 in group ceremony on Norfolk Island & produced 3children. She was Free by Servitude by 1797 & had a third relationship with Thomas Jones (Huxley) & produced 11children. She was Free by Servitude by 1802. She died on 29 12 1851 age80 mother of perhaps 14children at Lower Portland & was buried at St Thomas CofE Sackville Reach. [Some information taken from this Website] George (Bannister) & Ann (Forbes) produced 1child: 1.Sarah (Bannister) was born in 1789 & baptised on 15 11 1789 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She died, apparantly, before 1790 age less than 1year. References: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.

Level 46

Heather Stevens on 6th August 2021

On 15 March 1789, he received 50 lashes for stealing 3 lbs of flour. He was living with Ann Forbes (first fleet 'Prince of Wales'). Later in the year their daughter, Sarah, was baptised on 15 November. The couple (without Sarah) were sent to Norfolk Island by 'Sirius' in March 1790 where he was given a grant of land. In March 1791 he received 50 lashes for theft. By July 1791 he was maintaining two persons on a Queensborough lot. However Ann Forbes at some time will be living with William Dring (first fleet, 'Alexander'). On January 1792 he was settled on 12 acres at Morgan's Run, Queensborough. By the end of 1792 he was selling wheat to the government. He left Norfolk Island by 'Kitty' in March 1793 for Sydney, New South Wales where he was employed as a fisherman. On 8 November 1794 he was with companions at the fishing ground outside the Heads when John Locke, the master of the 'Resolution' storeship hove to and bought two fish for half a gallon of liquor. Bannister described the episode in a deposition on the 10th, signing with mark as a free man (Locke had sailed without a certificate of clearance). Ann Forbes had stayed at Norfolk Island and was living with William Dring. No trace has been found of George Bannister in the colony after 1794. He may have worked his passage from the colony as a sailor. Source: Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 22

norfolk island settlement records. george bannister. ship= alexander.arrived N.I 17/3/1790.departed 5/3/1793.arrived as convict to the colony. i also found a child ann bannister born N.I before 1811.stayed as adult. --chez

That he was 16 years old and that he broke into a house and stole a petticoat, cloak, gown and a pair of stockings.

George Bannister was about 20 years old and was one of three youths who were convicted at the Old Bailey on 21 April 1784 for the theft of clothing from a house at Millbank. A small girl saw one of the boys getting out of the window with the clothes under his arms. They were traced through their tracks in the snow. Bannister said he had gone to look for his mother's ass, and was running along the river bank to warm himself when he heard the cry of 'stop thief'. He was found hiding behind some willows: he said he had taken shelter there from the storm. After being sentenced to 7 years transportation to Africa, Bannister was sent to the 'Ceres' hulk on 5 April 1785, aged 18, and delivered from the 'Censor' hulk to 'Alexander' on 6 January 1787 of the First Fleet.