Godfrey Banks

On 5 January 1850 William Stott Banks married Susannah Hick in Wakefield. Aged 27 and a law clerk, according to his marriage certificate he was the son of William Banks, a manufacturer. Susannah was 23 years old and the daughter of Matthew Hick, a watch maker.

Born ‘of humble parentage,’ William Stott Banks received ‘a scanty education’ but ‘at the age of eleven started life as office-boy to Mr John Berry, a local solicitor.’ He later became a solicitor himself and the author of two books on local walks in Yorkshire and another on ‘Provincial Words in use at Wakefield.’ According to the Dictionary of National Biography: ’Both works are remarkable for their completeness and happy research.’ He died, aged 52, on Christmas Day in 1872 at his residence in Wakefield, ‘having returned but a few weeks from the continent, whither he had journeyed in a vain search for health’ (DNB). He left an estate valued at £4000.

His marriage to Susannah produced a number of children, including William Henry Banks (born 1859), Godfrey Banks (born1861), Oliver Banks (born 1862), Edith/Dorothy Banks (born 1865; registered as Edith, baptised as Dorothy), Alexander Banks (born 1866) and Roland Campion Banks (born 1868). Godfrey, Oliver and Alexander all died the same year that they were born. On the night of the 1861 census William and Susannah had no children living with them. When the 1871 census was taken, the only children in the household were Dorothy and Roland.

Presumably there were also some children born between their marriage in 1850 and the birth of William Henry Banks in 1859. A boy was certainly born in 1851 but since he was as yet unnamed when his birth was registered, it is not possible to trace his death. Including this child, William and Susannah lost at least five of their children during infancy.

Godfrey Banks was born on 20 May 1861. This photograph of him was taken on 19 May 1864, the day before his third birthday. He died six days later on 25 May 1864. According to his death certificate, the cause of death was ‘tubercular meningitis, 3 weeks.’

Photographed by George and John Hall of Wakefield.