154 Timehri. 



St. Elizabeth in 1671-2 ; his name still lives in Parker Bay, near Banister 

 Bay, which had much commercial intercourse with New England in the 

 eighteenth century. 



When, in November of 1671, invasion by the Spaniards was 

 feared, it was arranged that the alarm should be carried from Windward 

 (Port Morant) to the Point (Port Royal), thence to Lygonee and St. Jago 

 de la Vega, and from there to Banister at Old Harbour, who was to pass 

 it on to Collier and Ivy in the West. 



Banister was one of those whom Lynch called upon to assist him in 

 the somewhat unpleasant task of arresting Modyford, the late governor. 

 It is of interest to note that in March, 1672, Banister wrote to Lord 

 Arlington a letter, which he sent by Sir Henry Morgan, who was sent 

 home confined in the Welcome frigate, to appear on accouut of his pro- 

 ceedings against the Spaniards. Banister knew not what approbation 

 Morgan might find there, but he received in Jamaica " a very high and 

 honourable applause for his noble service therein," both from Sir Thomas 

 Modyford and the Council that commissioned him. He hoped that, with- 

 out offence he might say, " he is a very well-deserving person, and one of 

 great courage and conduct, who may, with His Majesty's pleasure perform 

 good public service at home or be very advantageous to this island if war 

 should again break forth with the Spaniards." He requested Lord 

 Arlington's assistance that Morgan might obtain His Majesty's favour in 

 this business. He hoped Arlington would excuse " this freedom of his 

 boldness." 



Roby, in his " Monuments of St. Catherine " says " Major-Geueral 

 Banister appears to have been president of the Council in 1671, as his 

 name is first on the list of that body, as given by Sir Thomas Lynch on 

 August 20, and he is the first named of th t Council to John, Lord Vaughan 

 appointed by Charles II., April 3rd, 1674; " but the governor in those 

 days was president of the Council, and the senior member only presided 

 in his absence, and although Banister, as Boby states, is named first in 

 Vaughn's Couucil, he never sat on it ; his last appaarauce at a Council 

 meeting being the 16th September, 1674, when Lynch presided. 



Banister, ever mindful of those whom he had left behind in Surinam, 

 wrote, in Novernher, 1674, to Lord Arlington that he had " received the 

 inclosed about a month since by way of New England, from a discreet 

 woman, who with her husband he left in Surinam at his departure. With 

 much difficulty she got passage for New England, where she now lives 

 with her father, Mr. Oxenbridge, minister of Boston. Her husband is 

 the only subject His Majesty has now left in Surinam that still 

 endeavours the removal of himself and fellow subjects to his 

 Majesty's islands, and is in daily expectation of shipping for their trans- 

 portation, as may be perceived from the inclosed which he offers to his 

 Lordship's serious consideration, beseeching his intreaties to his Majesty 

 that ships may be sent to transport those yet living from that colony 

 which (with the hard usage of the Dutch) has been a grave to the major 



