Lewis Banton (abt. 1750 - aft. 1800)

Born about 1750 in South Carolina [uncertain]

Descendants

Died after 1800 after about age 50 in South Carolina

Problems/Questions Profile manager: SJ Baty [send private message]

Biography

Birth

Sergeant Lewis Banton served with Major William Cunningham's Troop of Mounted Militia, Ninety-Six Brigade during the American Revolution.

Lewis was born in 1750 in South Carolina or in 1742 in Goochland, Virginia.*

*There seems to be some difference of opinion in the online genealogical circles for the place and date of Lewis' birth. The closest "source" that is available, is the Ancestry.com American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI). This source references the 1908 "Heads of Families at the First US Census," by the U.S. Bureau of the Census,^[1] but does not say that the place and year of birth were derived from that source. Indeed, the 1790 census^[2] does not list the date and location of birth and it is likely that the AGBI merely refers to the census and has taken the birth information from family trees that were gathered. The information presented by the AGBI is that Lewis was born in 1750 in South Carolina.^[1]

Further research into Lewis' earliest origins are warranted.

First records

The earliest known record of Lewis is his entry on the payment rolls for militia service.

He appears in Major Patrick Cunningham's Regiment, Little River Regiment, Ninety Six Brigade, soldier's certficiation for 14 June 1780 to 13 Dec 1780. Ancestry.

Also appearing in this record are son-in-law John Carter, his (liklely) brother Benjamin Carter, and in-law Theodochus Turk (uncle of John Carter's wife Naomi Turk). Ancestry.

Note: in Captain William Hendrick's Company appear William Banton, Thomas Turk, and James Carter. Ancestry.

On the 7 Aug pay record appear Isaac Carter, James Lewis, Shadrack Turk, and Joseph Carter.Ancestry.

25 Aug - James Carter and William Banton. Ancestry.

Captain William Payne's company, Thomas Carter, Ensign. Ancestry.

Also for Colonel Thomas Pearson's Regiment, Little River Militia, Ninety Six Brigade for 159 days militia service from 1 July to 6 December 1781. Lewis is indicated as a private. Also on this roll is Lewis' son-in-law, John Carter.^[3]

Lewis next appears again on the rolls of the Ninety Six Brigade, of the Mounted Militia commanded by the infamous Major William Cunningham,^[4] also known as "Bloody Bill Cunningham."^[5] Bloody Bill is notoriously known for his murderous rampage in 1781 when he marauded through Ninety Six District killing Revolutionary soldiers and officers, some after surrender, some in their homes in front of their families - many by his own hand, and also for burning houses and crops.

The next entry is for the payroll of 19 March 1782 for militia service from 3 January to 3 April 1782, 91 days pay. Lewis is listed as a Sergeant in the 96th Mounted Brigade and that he was mustered in by Captain John Hood. Also listed on the roll is William Banton, possibly a brother.^[4] Lewis is again listed on the subsequent payroll of 28 June 1782 for the 92 day period covering May to July 1782. In the second muster, Lewis was again listed as a Sergeant.^[6]

Lewis appears on the 1790 census, living in Laurens, South Carolina. The household has 17 persons:
3 free, white men under the age of 16
3 free, white men over the age of 16
5 free, white women
6 slaves^[2]

On the 1800 census, Lewis and family are still in Laurens, South Carolina. The household has 8 members:
2 free white males under the age of 10
1 free white male age 10 through 15
1 free white male age 16 through 25
1 free white male over the age of 45
1 free white female age 10 through 15
1 free white female age 26 through 44
1 free white female over the age of 45
number of household members under 16: 4
number of household members over 25: 3
number of household members: 8^[7]

Research Notes

Ending backwards search for pay rosters here: [4 Ancestry] likely need to create a space page.

Mike Ramsey (Ancestry user name MikeRamsey1972) makes a very compelling case for the circumstantial connection between Lewis Banton of Laurens, South Carolina and daughter Izzibiah Banton:

In the 1790 and 1800 census for Laurens, South Carolina, we see the following names:

William Ramsay
Joel Carter
Robert Carter
John Carter
John Carter Junior
Lewis Banton

"George Washington Carter, son of John and Zibiah (Banton) Carter named one of [their] sons Lewis Banton Carter. William Young Ramsey, the son of William W. Ramsey, and grandson of William and Zibiah (Banton) Carter, also named one of his sons John Carter Ramsey.

"William Ramsey, John Carter, and Lewis Banton all live very close to each other in 1800 [and 1790] Laurens, South Carolina."^[8]

Additionally, George Washington Carter, the son of Izzabiah (Banton) Carter, grandson of Lewis Banton, named one of his daughters Izzibiah Carter.

George Carter, grandfather of George Washington Carter had many land deals with William Turk, the brother of his wife, Naomi (Turk) Carter. When William Turk died, his estate was managed by George who was described in the probate as "greatest creditor and nearest friend." The appraisal was conducted by John Evans, William Anderson, Golen Philpot, and Lewis Banton.

Later, when George Carter died, his estate appraisal was also signed by Lewis Banton.^[9]

Lewis appears as a probate witness for the will of John Atkins, Abbeville, SC, 1785.^[10]

1790 Census

• John Carter, 2-1-4-0-0 (p. 3)
• Lewis Banton, 3-3-5-0-6 (p. 4)
• George Cobb, 1-0-1-0-0 (p. 5)
• William Arnold, Jr. 1-3-5-0-2 (p. 5)
• Benjamin Carter, 1-6-3-0-0 (p. 5)
• Benjamin Carter, 1-2-1-0-0 (p. 5)
• John Carter, 2-1-3-0-0 (p. 5)
• John Arnold, 1-3-2-0-0 (p. 7)
• William Carter, 1-1/7?-1-0-0 (p. 7)
• Benjamin Lewis, 1-1-6-0-0 (p. 8)
• Robert Carter, 1-1-2-0-1 (p. 11)
• Philip Carter, 2-1-2-0-0 (p. 11)
• James Carter, 1-2-1-0-0 (p. 11)
• Robert Carter, 0-3-3-0-0 (p. 11)
• John Carter, 1-3-1-0-1 (p. 11)
• Aron Arnold, 5-0-2-0-0 (p. 12)

• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/117353906/person/260203936424/facts?_phsrc=lrz929873&_phstart=successSource

• Cunningham's massacre map citation: By J.D. Lewis - Carolana.com, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48670937

• 1779 census data: USGW Archives.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Heads of Fams. at the first U.S. census. SC. By U.S. Bureau of the Census. Washington, 1908. (150p.):71, Ancestry, accessed 13 April 2018 at https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=3599&h=221115&ssrc=pt&tid=62020337&pid=44305141480&usePUB=true
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Year: 1790; Census Place: Laurens, South Carolina; Series: M637; Roll: 11; Page: 430; Image: 258; Family History Library Film: 0568151. Accessed 13 April 2018 at https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=5058&h=385875&ssrc=pt&tid=62020337&pid=44305141480&usePUB=true
3. ↑ Clark, p. 299.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Clark, p. 271.
5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. "Bloody Bill Cunningham". Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed 15 April 2019 SJ Baty.
6. ↑ Clark, pp. 271-272.
7. ↑ Year: 1800; Census Place: Laurens District, South Carolina; Series: M32; Roll: 50; Page: 39; Image: 84; Family History Library Film: 181425. Accessed on 26 April 2018 at https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7590&h=504216&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=iRz231&_phstart=successSource
8. ↑ Michael Ramsey, "https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/13809236/person/28455859920/media/528f46d3-03c1-4787-9085-61b78cae0958." Ancestry.com member images and entries.
9. ↑ M. Frost, "http://frostandgilchrist.com/getperson.php?personID=I27019&tree=frostinaz01." George Carter - Frost, Gilchrist, and related families. Source notes: Message dated 20 August 1998, posted by Lyndon Nix to the CARTER Mailing List on Rootsweb.com. Accessed 4 May 2018.
10. ↑ 1785 probate: Daughters of the American Revolution (South Carolina); Probate Place: Abbeville; Greenwood; McCormick, South Carolina. Original data: South Carolina County, District and Probate Courts (Ancestry.com document pages 9 & 29). Accessed 9 September 2019 by SJ Baty at Ancestry. Ancestry shared image.

• Clark, Murtie June. Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. Official Rolls of Loyalists Recruited from North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981. Volume 1. Accessed 15 April 2019 SJ Baty at Ancestry.