CHILDHOOD
Benjamin was the tenth of the 13 children brought into the world by John Bannar and Rebekkah Tilden.
MARRIAGE
Benjamin Bannar married Sarah Clinch (1742- Feb 1810) in Stockbury, on 4 Apr 1768. The bride's father, William Clinch, and Benjamin's brother John Clinch were witnesses.
REBEKKAH
John Banner died a little more than a week before the wedding, which meant that Benjamin and his brother John were left to care for their youngest sister Rebekkah.
She married John Featherstone, the last witness to that will, on July 2, 1770. He was a smallholder with a house Bredgar, and additional land in Stockbury, who had been fined £10 for poaching in 1762. (Helen Allinson, Bredgar, p 59). Rebecca gave birth to their only child, in Bredgar on 25 Aug 1771. The baby died and, on November 18, 1771, so did Rebekkah.
Featherstone was sent to the prison hulk "Caphias" eight years later. A "single woman" by the name of Ann Williamson declared she was the father of her two children. John denied this, but according to the Bastardy Act of 1733, her word was sufficient proof. The court ordered provide a weekly maintenance of 1 shilling, 6 pence. John Featherstone refused, preferring imprisonment to providing for her. He gave his house and lands to his younger brother Stephen, on condition that he took in their mother and gave her £10. Then John Featherstone went off to the hulk. He was never heard from again. (Allinson, pp 58,59)
LANDS
1 Dec 1768 title deed EK/U204/T113 "Lower Halstow, Eastbridge, Orgarswick, Stockbury, Bredgar and Borden: agreement to produce deeds relating to various. properties Parties: [1] Henry Edmeades, gent of Mursted; [2] Thomas Denne, gent of Lydd; [3] Daniel Wise, yeoman of Borden; [4] Mary Seager, spinster of Borden Hall, Borden; [5] Thomas Bannor and Benjamin Bannor, yeomen of Stockbury
The 1778 assessment for repairs to St Mary Magdalene church, in Stockbury, includes 2/- to Benjamin Bannar
Benjamin Bannar renting three parcels in South Green during 1781, the assessments totalled that year was £8, 12 shillings.
At the time of his death, in 1808, Benjamin owned, or rented, 110 acres in South Green, a tenement in Pett's farm, 42 acres in Bredgar, 10 acres of woodland in Borden's wood," 4 acres of meadowland called Anne's Field.
He was also Stockbury's the parish Church warden in 1778, 1786, 1789, 1803-5.
Benjamin Banner was one of the eleven Stockbury freeholders allowed to participate in "the Poll for Knights of the Shire, to Represent the County of Kent in Parliament." The electors gathered on Pennenden Heath, in Maidstone, on June 28-30, 1790. Benjamin was one of those who voted on the first day. There were three candidates, only two of which could represent the county. Sir Edward Knatchbull and Filmer Holywood were elected. The last election Benjamin could have voted in took place in 1806, when Knatchbull and William Holywood were sent to parliament.
Sarah died in 1808 and Benjamin followed her a little more than a year later. Their tombstone says:
Sacred to the Memory of Sarah
Wife of Benjamin Banner
of this parish
Who died on 6th February 1808
Aged 66 Years
Also the above Benjamin Banner
Who died on 5th of December 1810
Aged 70 Years
Children: