Charles Banks - 1817 Strikes

[londonscot]

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone has more information about the Banks family of Stevenston. I believe that I'm descended from a Charles Banks, a collier, who appears in the 1819 Landsborough lists.

I recently found the newspaper article below using Google, which seems to suggest that he was a key organiser of miner strikes throughout Ayrshire. it mentions that he is from Stevenston, and as he is the only Charles Banks in the 1819 list, I'm presuming it's the same one.

Can anyone help?

On Tuesday last, 18th instant, John Folhouse Wilson, a weaver at Westmuir, in the barony parish of Glasgow, and Charles Banks and James Hind, colliers at Stevenston, in Ayrshire, were brought from Irvine, in a post-chaise, escorted by the chief constable and a party of dragoons, and lodged in Ayr jail, on an accusation of organizing and heading an illegal combination of the colliers thronghout the country. These three persons, and about thirty other colliers from the different coalworks in the shire, were discovered convened together at an inn in Irvine, and the three, as the ring- leaders, were apprehended, and several papers connected with the combination seized. It appears that, for three or fotur months back, Wilson acted as clerk to an association of the colliers in the Lower Ward of Lanarkshire, and that that society having obtained a redress of grievances, he was employed to act in the same capacity to the Ayrshire colliers, receiving a stated sum weekly for his trouble. He accordingly came to Ayrshire about a month ago, and since then several meetings of deputies from various coal-works have been held at Stewarton, Stevenston, Kilmarnock, Dundonald, Jrvine, and Newvton, at all of which he acted as clerk, while Banks acted as preses. At these meetings reports on the state of wages given at the several collieries were made; minutes of the proceedings regularly kept; resolutions formed, and afterwards printed and distributed; anl petitions and letters of remonstrances, in consequence, presented to the several coal-masters. the whole were bound together by an oath, a part of which enjoined them to secrecy. The grievances complained of, we believe, were specially adapted to the different coal-works, but in general they were the un- proper employment of more hands than were necessary, too large measure taken,and rather small wages allowed. The leading resolution was either to have these grievances redressed by the 29th of this month, or, ill a body, to strike work; and, it was acted on in so far as presenting a written statement of their complaints to their masters the coliers at Newton have not wrout any since they presented their remonstrance, We have not heard whether the colliers at the other collieries are off work. After a precognition of the facts was taken by the Sheriff-Substitute and Procurator-Fiscal, the three persons above named were fully committed for trial.

Thanks

Scott

[sweet caroline]

Hi londonscott,
I'm related to his son Charles Banks 1810 who married Margaret Scott 1810 Stevenston . Through the Scotts side going back to Robert Scott 1744 Stevenston,brother of Adam Scott 1742 Stanlie,my Gx4 Grandfather.Charles and Margaret emigrated aboard the "Ann Harley" captained my Robert Banks .
from my notes
Migrated to America aboard his brother (inLaw? )Robert Bank's ship the barque "ANN HARLEY" Arrived New York 11.9.1848
1850 US Census :Fayetteville,Cumberland,North Carolina:Roll No.M432_627;page:15A
1850
2Woman ,1Man ages 40 -slaves
Died 21.5.1857 Fayetteville,Cumberland,North Carolina,U S A
Margaret died 28.4.1877 Fayetteville,Cumberland,North Carolia,U S A

Sweet Caroline
Edit- Just found this
http://169online.com/copyofthecharter.html

[sweet caroline]

1850 American Census
Name: Charles Banks
Age: 40
Birth Year: abt 1810
Birthplace: Scotland
Home in 1850: Fayetteville, Cumberland, North Carolina
Gender: Male
Family Number: 235
Household Members: Name Age
Charles Banks 40
Margaret Banks 40
John S Banks 18
Chas Banks 12
Archibald Banks 10
Margaret Banks 5
Marian Banks 3

Sweet Caroline

[londonscot]

Looks like we must be distantly related. I'm descended from an elder sister Marion Banks, who married a James Deans, also a collier from Stevenston, and stayed in Ayrshire, although moving down to Crosshouse.

Sounds like she's about the only member of the family who remained in Ayrshire. I had read some postings that suggested a family link to the Carolinas, so I'm presuming that your Charles was one of the brothers that emigrated. Was a part of the family that I didn't know existed until recently. The name Charles was passed down the family tree, as Charles Deans, there are quite a few examples up until recently, so that link remained.

Found another link about the strikes:

http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/483.html

Is really quite interesting to think an ancestor was involved in these early Trade Unions, must have been a very risky exercise. From what I've read, some similar ones in England at the time resulted in either deportation to Australia or even execution, so we're both quite lucky he had a good lawyer.

The freemason link is interesting, I wonder if there was even a link between this and the later Charles Banks organizing the strike. The fact that the group had secret oaths, and the way that the meetings had clerks and preses suggests a masonic type organization. It could be that Charles played a similar role in the local lodge.

Nice to hear from you.

Scott

[sweet caroline]

londonscot.Yes i have James Dean 14.6.1812 Kilbirnie,Father James Dean Kirktoun/ Fenwick and Elizabeth Wylie of Robertland.

sweet caroline
Edit Did you know James was from Kilbirnie
1851 Census at Cochran Lodge,Longbar,Beith
1861 Census at Dreghorn
1871 Census at South Lock House P4,Dreghorn.Only thereselves
1881 Census at 5 Southoak,Dreghorn
1891 Census -neither found?
Dean James 65 Kilbirnie 238 2170788-3 wife Marion Banks -Poor Relief
Record No. 238. Applied on 15 Oct 1877 at 9 am. Residence 5 Southhook Rows; born in Kilbirnie, Scotland; married aged 65; occupation coalminer; partially disabled.
Dependants: Marion Banks 64.
His wife asks to be admitted to Poorhouse.
Second application. 1 Nov - sent to poorhouse. Admitted to the Roll.
No. 157 on the Register.


Edit-Deans3 a member of the Forum is a nearer connection to you through the Dean family

[deans3]

Londonscot and Sweet Caroline.

Yes James Dean born 1812, married Marion Banks, and appears on the Landsborough list for 1836 (I think that year, need to check), was the brother of my gr gr grandfather Robert Dean(s). The family acquired an "s" at the end of the name mid 19th century.

Parents James Dean, and Elizabeth Wyllie, married February 1811. (my gr gr gr grandparents)
I can send you all I've got, if you E mail me.

Sweet Caroline:- I'm interested in where you get the information about Elizabeth Wylie coming from "Robertland".??

As far as I'm aware, there are 3 possible "Elizabeth Wylie's" born in Ayrshire in roughly the right time frame, (1770ish to 1795ish) but I've never been able to nail down which was which.

"An "Elizabeth Deans, (ms Wyllie) died at the Cunningham Combination Poorhouse, in Irvine 1873.
I've always thought she was the Elizabeth Wyllie that married James Dean in 1811.
According to her death certificate her father and mother were Thomas Wyllie, and Margret Wyllie, MS illegible, but MIGHT be Stewart.

Please let me know if you have new information on her....

Andy Deans

andydeans3@yahoo.co.uk

[sweet caroline]

Deans3,I've had that info for ages .Will have to go hunting .

sweet caroline

[sweet caroline]

Deans3 ,I think it was from the poor relief record that i can't find now.21 April 1790 Stewarton.Father Matthew Wylie ,Mother Elizabeth Calderwood.Will keep looking.

sweet caroline
Edit- Deans3 what age is on the Elizabeth Deans death Cert that you have?

[sweet caroline]

Deans3 ,I have a hunch that's Elizabeth Murphy's death cert .She claims poor relief,but can't see a death for her in Scotlandspeople 1855-1915.
Dean Elizabeth 64 Ireland 1013 2170879-2 Murphy
Dean Elizabeth 67 Stevenston 2347 2170885 Murphy
Deans Elizabeth 67 Scotland 2414 2170885 Murphy
Deans Elizabeth 67 Stevenston 2441 2170885 Murphy
Deans Elizabeth 5 Scotland 5317 1936792-3 -think this is the above's daughter.

sweet caroline
P S married to James and Elizabeth's son Mathew Deans 1815 Ardrossan

[sweet caroline]

Believe it was this site where you viewed the towns ,and had some poor relief records printed there .My Grandmother's being one of them.Does not appear to be there as i don't get the site coming up on my computer now.

www.ayrshire-roots.com

sweet caroline

[deans3]

Sweet Caroline

The Elizabeth Deans, (ms Wyllie NOT Murphy) who died in the Cunningham Combination Poorhouse is 1873, is listed as having been 73 years old, giving a birth date of around 1800. Now I know this doesn't quite tie in with her getting married in 1811 to James Dean, but no member of her family were present at her death, (death certificate signed by the CCP House governer) she was maybe just confused about her age. I think this was quite common in that era, because anyone born before 1855 didn't have a birth Certificate.
As I said in my earlier message, there are 3 Elizabeth Wylie's born in Ayrshire around the right time frame, I've never found any way of proving which one (IF ANY), is the Elizabeth Wylie who married James Dean in 1811. I know Ayrshire roots says that her parents are Matthew Wyllie and Elizabeth Calderwood, but I can't see how Ayrshire roots makes that connection.

You are correct in saying Elizabeth Murphy you refer to was married to Elizabeth Wylie and James Dean's SON Matthew. He was born 1815.

Any more info, let me know.

Andy Deans

[sweet caroline]

Dean3,Have to bow to you .Elizabeth Dean nee Murphy died at Linwood c1898 signed by Matthew McKinley Grandson 18.12.1864 Govan.1901Census at Linwood same address as Grandmother's death.

sweet caroline
Edit-must be a poor relief record somewhere ,as how did Governor have parents names and not husband's?