The brother of my great-grandfather Thomas A. Davidson was named Eli Banton Davidson (Eli was born in Cumberland Co., VA and died in Buckingham Co., VA). Their mother was Vitula (Sandridge) Davidson, and I note that an Eli B. Sandridge lived in Albemarle Co., VA in the 1800s, as did several other people in the Sandridge/Sandige family (and Amherst Co., VA was created from a part of Albemarle, and Nelson Co., VA was created from a part of Amherst). I have not been able to prove that the middle initial of the Eli B. Sandridge in Albemarle Co., VA stood for "Banton," but that would certainly not surprise me. I see no earlier person on the "Davidson side of the family" that was named Eli or Banton, so I suspect that those given names came from the "Sandridge side of the family." It appears that Vitula's family came from the Sandridge family in Albemarle Co., VA.

The Bantons were Franch Huguenots, I believe, and many came through the part of Goochland Co., VA that is Powhatan Co., VA today. Many then migrated to the part of Albemarle Co., VA that is Buckingham Co., VA today. Based on the above, I suspect a Sandridge/Banton marriage took place at one time, but no proof. There were also Glovers in Buckingham Co., VA who were associated with the Bantons, as I recall. If you come across a Banton/Sandridge connection, please let me know.