BANKS, Jessie Ann Monteith Allan
Born 30 December 1880; died 24 November 1918; buried 25 November 1918; age 36
Jessie BANKS was born on 30 December 1880 at Port Chalmers in Otago, eighth child of Mary Ann HUTTON and William Martin INNES.
Jessie BANKS’s parents had both emigrated from Scotland. Her father, William Martin INNES, born Anstruther, Scotland on 14th December 1831, had served as a cooper's apprentice in the fishing industry as a young man. Being of an adventurous spirit he headed for Ballarat, Australia to try and make his fortune at gold mining, but when the news of gold at Gabriel’s Gully attracted miners to New Zealand, William was one of 684 passengers on the "Empress of the Seas" which reached Port Chalmers on the 27th September 1861, en route to the Gully. However, William opted to settle in Port Chalmers where he met Mary HUTTON. Mary had arrived with her family in 1864, and they had settled in the Port Chalmers area. William and Mary married on 27 April 1866 and set about producing six sons and four daughters. Jessie, whose full name when her birth was registered was Jessie Ann Monteith Allan, was the 6th child, and 3rd girl in the family.
Jessie’s siblings were: Andrew (1867); Robert Hutton (1868); William Martin (1870); Catherine (1872); Margaret Jane (1874); Samuel (1878); John James Mitchell Hutton (1878); Ethel May (1883) and Alexander (1886).
Their father William became a successful businessman and civic leader, with a modest start working on the coal hulk "Industry" in Otago Harbour. He saw prospects of developing a fishing industry, and established a fish curing business at what became known locally as Innes Bay. Soon he was shipping large quantities of smoked and salted fish to Australia. Overseas bound sailing ships were also good customers.
When he realised there was good quality cod livers available, he installed a still and was producing clear light golden coloured cod liver oil, which received many recommendations from leading doctors of the time, and high awards at the Christchurch, Wellington and Melbourne Exhibitions. Fishermen hired his boats to supply him with fish. The family lived for many years on a large property in Island Terrace called “Innesville” on the hillside above the busy port and with a sweeping view across Otago Harbour to Portobello.
The younger Innes children attended George Street School in Dunedin and may have caught the train from Port Chalmers each day to and from school. They then attended Port Chalmers School. Jessie left Port Chalmers School on 25 July 1893 and according to her school records, her destination was a trip to Melbourne.
Jessie and her older sister lived at home with their parents until they were in their thirties, which would have not been unusual for unmarried daughters in a family of a certain social and financial standing. The family were heavily involved in the maritime world, with two of Jessie’s brothers becoming marine engineers, and their sister Catherine marrying George DEITH, captain of the coastal steamer SS Norfolk (in 1911). Their youngest sister had married first, to Robert Percy HUNTER, in 1907.
Jessie’s mother died at home in November 1915 and was buried 2 days later in the plot in the Port Chalmers Cemetery, Beach Road, where her 5th son, John James Mitchell Hutton, had been buried when he died as an 8-year old in 1887. Mary Jane was 73 years old, and had lived in Otago for 51 years. A mere 18 months later William too died, in May 1917. He was 86 and had lived in Otago for 60 years. His occupation on the cemeteries database is recorded as “fisherman”. Many other family members, including Jessie, are also commemorated on the plaques on the headstone on the family grave.
According to an obituary published in The Evening Star 5 May 1917 following William’s death, he had developed a successful and prosperous working life, setting up a fish curing business and exporting fish to Australia. He served nine terms as Mayor of Port Chalmers.
“At Port Chalmers this morning flags were flying half-mast to mark the passing of an old identity, and respected citizen, Mr William Martin Innes, whose active life has been closely associated with the Port formally years, died shortly after midnight. He was born in Anstruther, Scotland, 86 years ago, and, being a youth of adventurous spirit and daring disposition, he longed to cross the “rauckle sea ” and visit those distant lands in the southern seas whence came thrilling tales of big gold nuggets and a wild, free life in Nature’s wonderland. He made his way to Ballarat, where much experience, as well as gold, was gained in the early days. By and by the tide of pioneer activity set towards New Zealand, and Mr Innes landed at Hokitika. After a time the Gabriel Gully rush attracted a number of miners from the West Coast, and he was one of those who came over to Otago and participated in the gold mining activity of that time. In the early sixties he came down to Port Chalmers, where he married Miss Mary Hutton and settled down. Before leaving Scotland, he had served his apprenticeship as a cooper, and had also acquired an intimate knowledge of the fishing industry. At Port Chalmers he saw the possibilities of developing a fishing industry, and proceeded to take an active part in its development. He established a large fish curing business, and shipped quantities of fish to Australia at the time when the Government were endeavoring to establish an export fish trade. Mr Innes also took an active part in promoting the welfare of the town. He was associated with the introduction of friendly society activities to the Port, and was a member of both the Oddfellows and the Foresters’ Orders. In the days when the Otago Regatta was one of the principal sporting events of the province he was one of its active participators, doing much to help sailing, especially whaleboat and fishermen's races. In municipal matters he was likewise active. He was a member of the Borough Council, and was nine times Mayor of Port Chalmers. Mrs Innes predeceased her husband 18 months ago. They are survived by three sons and four daughters. William and Robert are marine engineers, and the youngest son (Alexander) was wounded on Gallipoli. The daughters are Mrs G.Deith (whose husband is captain of the steamer Norfolk), Mrs P Hunter, and Misses Jean and Jessie Innes.”
10 months after her father died Jessie married Frederick William BANKS. The marriage was solemnized in Knox Church, Dunedin on 4 March 1918. Both were 35 years of age. Frederick was a Marine Officer visiting many ports around New Zealand. He was born in Christiania, Norway, son of Frederick William Banks (a master mariner) and Margaret Wilson.
The notice of the marriage of Jessie and Frederick was published in a number of newspapers in Otago on 11 March 1918. The date of marriage has been confirmed as March 4.
Marriage notice
BANKS—INNES.—On March 5, 1918, at Knox Church, Dunedin, by the Rev. R. E. Davies, Frederick Banks (England), to Jessie Innes (Port Chalmers)
Frederick Banks was serving on board Union Company’s ss Kahika in November 1918. In newspaper articles it was reported that the Collier Master, Captain Williamson, had fallen victim to influenza and the ship was detained in Kaipara for several days owing to the prevailing epidemic, but eventually left for Greymouth.
When she became unwell with influenza in November Jessie was living at 96 Oriental Bay, Wellington, where she died on 24 November 1918. Jessie and Frederick had been married for only eight months.
The following notice was published in the Evening Post on 26 November:
BANKS—On the 24th November, 1918, at her residence, 96 Oriental Bay, Jessie Ann Monteith Alan, dearly beloved wife of Frederick William Banks, and daughter of the late Martin William Innes (formerly Mayor of Port Chalmers). Southern papers please copy.
An additional item appeared in the same edition, in the “Women In Print” column:
“The death occurred at her residence in Oriental Bay on Sunday of Mrs. Jess Ann Monteith Alen Banks, wife of Mr. Frederick W. Banks, chief officer of the Union Company's steamer Kahika, and daughter of the late Mr. Martin W. Innis, at one time Mayor of Port Chalmers. She had only been married for ten months (sic)”.
(Evening Post, LCVI, Issue 128, 25 Nov 1918) (Press, Volume VIL, Issue 16381, 28 Nov 1918)
Jessie was buried in the Public 2 section of Karori Cemetery the day after she died. Her plot was purchased by her older brother Robert on 13 November 1919. Robert had been living in Wellington since at least 1911. When he died in 1920 he was buried in the Anglican section of Karori Cemetery.
The inscription on Jessie’s headstone reads:
In Loving Memory
Of
Jessie Ann Monteith Allan
Dearly Beloved Wife Of
Frederick William Banks
Died Nov 24th 1918
Aged 36 Years
“Though Lost To Sight, To Memory Ever Dear”
Researched by Beverley Hamlin and written by Barbara Mulligan
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 322 I
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
3. School Records – New Zealand Society of Genealogists – Kiwi Collection
4. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz › Services › Community & culture › Cemeteries
5. Innes Family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
6. New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 – www.ancestry.co.uk
[i] Photos of the family grave and headstones commemorating several members who died elsewhere are available on the Dunedin City Council cemeteries database http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries_search?recordid=63621&type=Burial
Born 30 December 1880; died 24 November 1918; buried 25 November 1918; age 36
Jessie BANKS was born on 30 December 1880 at Port Chalmers in Otago, eighth child of Mary Ann HUTTON and William Martin INNES.
Jessie BANKS’s parents had both emigrated from Scotland. Her father, William Martin INNES, born Anstruther, Scotland on 14th December 1831, had served as a cooper's apprentice in the fishing industry as a young man. Being of an adventurous spirit he headed for Ballarat, Australia to try and make his fortune at gold mining, but when the news of gold at Gabriel’s Gully attracted miners to New Zealand, William was one of 684 passengers on the "Empress of the Seas" which reached Port Chalmers on the 27th September 1861, en route to the Gully. However, William opted to settle in Port Chalmers where he met Mary HUTTON. Mary had arrived with her family in 1864, and they had settled in the Port Chalmers area. William and Mary married on 27 April 1866 and set about producing six sons and four daughters. Jessie, whose full name when her birth was registered was Jessie Ann Monteith Allan, was the 6th child, and 3rd girl in the family.
Jessie’s siblings were: Andrew (1867); Robert Hutton (1868); William Martin (1870); Catherine (1872); Margaret Jane (1874); Samuel (1878); John James Mitchell Hutton (1878); Ethel May (1883) and Alexander (1886).
Their father William became a successful businessman and civic leader, with a modest start working on the coal hulk "Industry" in Otago Harbour. He saw prospects of developing a fishing industry, and established a fish curing business at what became known locally as Innes Bay. Soon he was shipping large quantities of smoked and salted fish to Australia. Overseas bound sailing ships were also good customers.
When he realised there was good quality cod livers available, he installed a still and was producing clear light golden coloured cod liver oil, which received many recommendations from leading doctors of the time, and high awards at the Christchurch, Wellington and Melbourne Exhibitions. Fishermen hired his boats to supply him with fish. The family lived for many years on a large property in Island Terrace called “Innesville” on the hillside above the busy port and with a sweeping view across Otago Harbour to Portobello.
The younger Innes children attended George Street School in Dunedin and may have caught the train from Port Chalmers each day to and from school. They then attended Port Chalmers School. Jessie left Port Chalmers School on 25 July 1893 and according to her school records, her destination was a trip to Melbourne.
Jessie and her older sister lived at home with their parents until they were in their thirties, which would have not been unusual for unmarried daughters in a family of a certain social and financial standing. The family were heavily involved in the maritime world, with two of Jessie’s brothers becoming marine engineers, and their sister Catherine marrying George DEITH, captain of the coastal steamer SS Norfolk (in 1911). Their youngest sister had married first, to Robert Percy HUNTER, in 1907.
Jessie’s mother died at home in November 1915 and was buried 2 days later in the plot in the Port Chalmers Cemetery, Beach Road, where her 5th son, John James Mitchell Hutton, had been buried when he died as an 8-year old in 1887. Mary Jane was 73 years old, and had lived in Otago for 51 years. A mere 18 months later William too died, in May 1917. He was 86 and had lived in Otago for 60 years. His occupation on the cemeteries database is recorded as “fisherman”. Many other family members, including Jessie, are also commemorated on the plaques on the headstone on the family grave.
According to an obituary published in The Evening Star 5 May 1917 following William’s death, he had developed a successful and prosperous working life, setting up a fish curing business and exporting fish to Australia. He served nine terms as Mayor of Port Chalmers.
“At Port Chalmers this morning flags were flying half-mast to mark the passing of an old identity, and respected citizen, Mr William Martin Innes, whose active life has been closely associated with the Port formally years, died shortly after midnight. He was born in Anstruther, Scotland, 86 years ago, and, being a youth of adventurous spirit and daring disposition, he longed to cross the “rauckle sea ” and visit those distant lands in the southern seas whence came thrilling tales of big gold nuggets and a wild, free life in Nature’s wonderland. He made his way to Ballarat, where much experience, as well as gold, was gained in the early days. By and by the tide of pioneer activity set towards New Zealand, and Mr Innes landed at Hokitika. After a time the Gabriel Gully rush attracted a number of miners from the West Coast, and he was one of those who came over to Otago and participated in the gold mining activity of that time. In the early sixties he came down to Port Chalmers, where he married Miss Mary Hutton and settled down. Before leaving Scotland, he had served his apprenticeship as a cooper, and had also acquired an intimate knowledge of the fishing industry. At Port Chalmers he saw the possibilities of developing a fishing industry, and proceeded to take an active part in its development. He established a large fish curing business, and shipped quantities of fish to Australia at the time when the Government were endeavoring to establish an export fish trade. Mr Innes also took an active part in promoting the welfare of the town. He was associated with the introduction of friendly society activities to the Port, and was a member of both the Oddfellows and the Foresters’ Orders. In the days when the Otago Regatta was one of the principal sporting events of the province he was one of its active participators, doing much to help sailing, especially whaleboat and fishermen's races. In municipal matters he was likewise active. He was a member of the Borough Council, and was nine times Mayor of Port Chalmers. Mrs Innes predeceased her husband 18 months ago. They are survived by three sons and four daughters. William and Robert are marine engineers, and the youngest son (Alexander) was wounded on Gallipoli. The daughters are Mrs G.Deith (whose husband is captain of the steamer Norfolk), Mrs P Hunter, and Misses Jean and Jessie Innes.”
10 months after her father died Jessie married Frederick William BANKS. The marriage was solemnized in Knox Church, Dunedin on 4 March 1918. Both were 35 years of age. Frederick was a Marine Officer visiting many ports around New Zealand. He was born in Christiania, Norway, son of Frederick William Banks (a master mariner) and Margaret Wilson.
The notice of the marriage of Jessie and Frederick was published in a number of newspapers in Otago on 11 March 1918. The date of marriage has been confirmed as March 4.
Marriage notice
BANKS—INNES.—On March 5, 1918, at Knox Church, Dunedin, by the Rev. R. E. Davies, Frederick Banks (England), to Jessie Innes (Port Chalmers)
Frederick Banks was serving on board Union Company’s ss Kahika in November 1918. In newspaper articles it was reported that the Collier Master, Captain Williamson, had fallen victim to influenza and the ship was detained in Kaipara for several days owing to the prevailing epidemic, but eventually left for Greymouth.
When she became unwell with influenza in November Jessie was living at 96 Oriental Bay, Wellington, where she died on 24 November 1918. Jessie and Frederick had been married for only eight months.
The following notice was published in the Evening Post on 26 November:
BANKS—On the 24th November, 1918, at her residence, 96 Oriental Bay, Jessie Ann Monteith Alan, dearly beloved wife of Frederick William Banks, and daughter of the late Martin William Innes (formerly Mayor of Port Chalmers). Southern papers please copy.
An additional item appeared in the same edition, in the “Women In Print” column:
“The death occurred at her residence in Oriental Bay on Sunday of Mrs. Jess Ann Monteith Alen Banks, wife of Mr. Frederick W. Banks, chief officer of the Union Company's steamer Kahika, and daughter of the late Mr. Martin W. Innis, at one time Mayor of Port Chalmers. She had only been married for ten months (sic)”.
(Evening Post, LCVI, Issue 128, 25 Nov 1918) (Press, Volume VIL, Issue 16381, 28 Nov 1918)
Jessie was buried in the Public 2 section of Karori Cemetery the day after she died. Her plot was purchased by her older brother Robert on 13 November 1919. Robert had been living in Wellington since at least 1911. When he died in 1920 he was buried in the Anglican section of Karori Cemetery.
The inscription on Jessie’s headstone reads:
In Loving Memory
Of
Jessie Ann Monteith Allan
Dearly Beloved Wife Of
Frederick William Banks
Died Nov 24th 1918
Aged 36 Years
“Though Lost To Sight, To Memory Ever Dear”
Researched by Beverley Hamlin and written by Barbara Mulligan
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 322 I
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
3. School Records – New Zealand Society of Genealogists – Kiwi Collection
4. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz › Services › Community & culture › Cemeteries
5. Innes Family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
6. New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 – www.ancestry.co.uk
[i] Photos of the family grave and headstones commemorating several members who died elsewhere are available on the Dunedin City Council cemeteries database http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries_search?recordid=63621&type=Burial