The Migration from Surinam to Jamaica. 157 



Byndloss was an important member of the Council, connected by 

 marriage with the Beckfords. Atkinson was Secretary to Sir 

 Thomas Lynch, and to Lord Vaughan ; Lewis was, as we have 

 seen, Banister's son-in-law ; and Francis Man was probably 

 a relative of John Man, a former surveyor-general. 



By an Act passed in Jamaica in 1694 " For the Encouragement and 

 Freedom of Servants, and Slaves which have done, or shall do any 

 remarkable Service against the French during the present War," James 

 Banister and four others (or any three of them) were appointed to be 

 Commissioners for the hearing of all claims. This Banister was evidently 

 the son of the last British Governor of Surinam ; but there is nothing 

 else known of him. 



Kobert Banestre, the founder of the family, is said to have gone to 

 England at the time of the conquest. He had a grant of Prestatyn in 

 North Wales and other lands. The earliest arms of the family were 

 allusive to the name which means a basket or " dosser " — two dossers 

 joinant in fesse, But Banestre of the Banke, Lancashire, bore Argent, 

 a cross Florysable. 



To return to the unfortunate Englishmen left at Surinam by Banister, 

 we find that in August, 1671 ,the Council of Plantations recommended to 

 the King that the two ships formerly employed for the purpose — the 

 America and Joanna, or others of equal burden — should be sent to 

 remove the remaining settlers at Surinam, care being taken to prevent 

 disputes as much as possible about their removal. 



In December Lynch wrote home that a ship had arrived 

 at Port Morant with a Dutchman from Surinam and Curacoa " who 

 is naturalized and has now brought many negroes ;" but he does 

 not give his name. In January, 1671-2, he wrote that Christopher 

 Rendar, who, it will be noticed, was one of Banister's co-com- 

 missioners, had bought a plantation and gone for Surinam intend- 

 ing immediately to return if the Dutch serve him not as they did Major 

 Banister He adds " All the Surinamers, are well settled, and there is 

 but one dead." In July, 1672 he wrote " Am sorry for Capt. Rendar and 

 the poor Surinamers, had not his frigate been commanded home they 

 would have fetched them without capitulations," 



In July, 1672 the Council for Plantations advised that the English 

 should be brought off from Surinam, and the plantation deserted. It was 

 decided by the King to do it " when it can be done." 



In October Lynch wrote home that the Dutch had abundance of 

 negroes at Curacoa and that he had resolved to send Major-General 

 Banister with five or six sail to take it and Surinam, but the design had 

 been " quashed." 



Sir Peter Colleton, Deputy Governor, wrote home from Barbados, in 

 August, 1673 that the condition of the Dutch at Surinam was very weak. 



