Delighted to hear from you. IÂ’m a 12th generation descendant, as follows:

Capt. Edward Bangs(1), Capt. Jonathan Bangs(2), Capt. Samuel Bangs(3), David Bangs(4), Nathan Bangs(5), Mark Bangs(6), Justus Bangs(7), Andrew Cook Bangs(8), Nellie J. Bangs Glynch(9), Lela W. Glynch(10), Jean L. Hole Peterson(11), Roger B. Peterson(12)

IÂ’ve had the Bangs research on the back burner for a while as IÂ’ve been researching other branches.

Last year Judith Cole of the Bangs and Allied Families Newsletter told me that some descendants of Capt. Edward in England were trying to do some research across the pond. But apparently nothing materialized. At least I heard nothing further from Judy.

I contacted the College of Arms in London last year who advised that they would research the crest/genealogy for what seemed a rather steep fee. IÂ’m sure the results would be excellent but I figured IÂ’d see what I could find out using other available resources before I would even consider that.

The MoorÂ’s head crest used by Jonathan is a very a tantalizing lead. From that crest it certainly does seem a fair bet that there is a Bangs-Banks connection. But it could well be a red herring. For example, Dudley asserts that there were no seal engravers in America in JonathanÂ’s time and concludes that it therefore must have been handed down from Edward. But how does he know that there was no one in the Pymouth area with some rudimentary engraving skills? I mean, no one thereabouts had some basic smithing skills by that time to attempt such a project? He notes the seal was crudely engraved. I wouldnÂ’t rule out the possibility that Jonathan might have had it made for himself. But of course it may also be as Dudley conjectures.

The wills I mentioned in my post use the spelling of Bangs (Bang in one case) and the earliest dates to 1300 in Smallburgh, Norfolk, England. If the genealogy from these wills is correct, then if there is a Banks connection at all it would have been prior to 1300. I hope it won’t be too hard to find the sources for these wills. It is a mystery how they are linked together, as in some of the wills the descendants in the purported lineage are not mentioned anywhere in the will by their respective fathers. How did the researcher arrive at the conclusion that they were father and son? There’s no notes, no referencing of sources—nothing but the wills themselves.

I'm curious--if you don't mind my asking, who is our latest (nearest in time to our generation) common ancestor? Let me know if you would like to share any data back and forth. Feel free to e-mail me at rogbngp@yahoo.com.

Roger