Books › the history of the violin, 1864 › scan 388
Scan 388
the history of the violin, 1864
4 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 366. See the scan on archive.org.
1that James Banks died 15th June, 1831, aged seventy-five years. Some error exists here, unless a period of nearly three years occurred between his birth and christening, as that ceremony took place on the 7th Sept. 1758, at St. Thomas' Church, Sarum. Henry Banks died on the 16th Oct. 1830, aged sixty years. The church Book of Burials of the date 23 Oct. 1830, states the age to be fifty-six, but the former age is nearer correctness, he being christened 2nd Jan. 1771. At the time of his decease he was residing in George Street. He was found drowned in the Princes Dock, and it is said he could not have been very long in the water, as his watch was still in action when the body was discovered. The various extracts from the books of St. Thomas' Church, Salisbury, were kindly made by the late Mr. J. T. Biddlecombe, the clerk to the church, who further stated there were no memoranda or notices taken at what period the birth of either James or Henry Banks took place. He was an intimate acquaintance of the Banks family when they lived in Salisbury.
3It has been said by an elderly gentleman, now deceased, who well knew the Banks family before they went to reside at Liverpool, that the elder Benjamin Banks (the father) had an apprentice named Wheeler, who he believed came to London to obtain employment or commence business himself as a maker of violins, &c. Nothing whatever is known of him, nor has any instrument been seen to establish a name worthy of his instructor. There are many violoncellos with the label of James and Henry Banks which may be considered generally very good; and two in particular are in the possession of Mr. Charles Lucas, which have a full and powerful tone, of excellent quality, and were used by him when principal violoncellist at the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden.
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