The Newberry Library in Chicago has a second floor devoted to family geneology books and documents. From investigating my grandmother's maiden name Banta, I discovered in one source that the surname Epke was changed to Banta when the families' island home in the Zeider Zee became flooded, forcing a move to an area called "Banta". This happened in the 7th or 8th century, so the story is rather vague.

Theodore Banta is mentioned in some threads as author of a book of Banta family history. Theodore was a leader in a group in New York City who called themselves "The Society for the Preservation of Dutch Heritage in America" which was founded in the late 1800's, lasting until the 1960's when it dissolved. The Newberry Library has bound sets of the minutes of their meetings.

I am a descendent of the branch of Henrick Banta who came to the New World in 1660 with his wife and five sons. They settled in Flushing, Long Island initially, then moved to Bergen County, N.J. One of his grandsons, John Banta, was a captain in the Revolutionary War. Immediately after the war, John, his wife, children, and four other related families, crossed the Appalacian mountains with Daniel Boone to settle in Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. Families and towns were just as important a factor as forts in settling the new nation. One of the families' names I clearly remember as traveling westward with the Banta's is Demerest. A few generations later, John's descendents who were not interested in joining the Shaker movement sold their farm, buying land north of Oquawka, IL on the bluffs of the Mississippi River. This site is still owned and farmed by descendents named Banta.

I am very interested in knowing how to access the Banta website mentioned in earlier threads. Also, I highly recommend a visit to the Newberry Library in Chicago to investigate the books and documents on the Banta family held on the second floor. I was able to spend six hours there and needed more time, but had to leave.

Chrisann Smith