References to Gerard Bancks are made in the Wigan Court Leet records (originals held at Wigan Archive):
1692 Petition of Gerard Bancks Church Clerk for a "Psallary" for ringing the 9 o'clock bell - to be paid 20s.
1694 Presentments
John Prescott one of the gatewaiters for slandering Gerard Bancks the Church Clerk and breaking the window of James Leyland the late bailiff. Fined 40s or 3 hours in the stocks at the Market Cross.
1698 Gerard Bancks the church clerk to give security for his daughter living in the town with her two children.
The Bailiffs to pay the said Gerard 40s out of the leys and 20s for ringing the 9 o'clock bell.
Gerard Bancks' daughter, Lydia Bancks, married John Lewes at Corsham Wiltshire on 15 September 1686. One of their children, Lydia, was baptised on 9 December 1690. (IGI)
Transcript of a document dated 1698 (Lancashire Record Office)
To the Honourable the Justices of the xxx of the xxx of Lancashire at the Court of Sessions held by adjournment at Wigan in and for the County aforesaid.
The humble Petition of John Lewis
Showeth
That the Petitioner having had severall children by Lidia the daughter of Gerard Bancks, Church Clarke of Wigan aforesaid, the Petitioner's wife and living for several years well and contentedly with her and the children in Cowsome in Wiltshire where the Petitioner was born and has an estate to the value of fifteen pounds yearly and getting there very considerably by the Art of Worsted Combing to which the Petitioner was an Apprentice, the said Gerard Bancks, his wife Grace and Ellin Bancks his daughter envying the Petitioner his wife and children happiness did intice the Petitioner's wife and children away from the Petitioner's place of birth estate and livelihood and now keeps them against the Petitioner's will to his great loss and prejudice and contrary to the Laws of God and man and that the said Gerard has laid him the Petitioner in the Gaols of Wigan aforesaid for demanding his wife and children.
Therefore the Petitioner humbly prays this xx Court to order the said Gerard Bancks his wife and daughter to deliver to the Petitioner his wife and children and discharge the Petitioner from his imprisonment and the Petitioner will ever pray ..
Updated: 8 February 2007