The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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John Banister, Reverend (1650 - 1692)

Clergyman. He first went to Barbados and then, in 1679, to Virginia "where he served as rector of the parish of Charles City" (Willes, 212). Banister presented to Petiver "well executed and well-preserved drawings of Virginia plants and insects" (Stearns, 244. See also 257-8). He "died in Virginia in 1692 after supplying much exciting data on natural history to English friends" (ibid, 294). He was an important source of information and specimens for several members associated with the Temple Coffee House circle:
Mr. Banister's work in the natural history of Virginia was supported financially, at least in his last three or four years, by subscriptions raised by such friends of botany as Martin Lister, Hans Sloane, Leonard Plunkenet, Bishop Henry Compton, Samuel Doody, James Petiver, and others. Certainly, Banister's work was highly (and deservedly) admired by these men, who discussed his communications and studied his specimens together, shared them with others, such as John Ray and Jacob Bobart, laid them before the Royal Society, and published such accounts of them as appeared in Dr. Plunkenet's Phytographia, John Ray's History of Plants, the Philosophical Transactions, and some of Mr. Petiver's earlier works. (ibid., 330)
 Source of object(s)
 Relevant locations: Lived at or near Virginia, United States
Lived at or near Barbados, West Indies
 Relationships: John Banister was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Henry Compton (1631/2-1713)
John Banister was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Samuel Doody (28 May 1656-1706)
John Banister was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Martin Lister (12 Apr 1639-2 Feb 1712)
John Banister was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Leonard Plukenet (1642-1706)
John Banister was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Hans Sloane (1660-1753)
John Banister was a unspecified Temple Coffee House club (-)

William, the Elder Byrd (1652-1704) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of John Banister
Linked print sources: as Mentions or references - James Petiver: promoter of natural science, c.1663–1718.
as Mentions or references - The Curious World of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn.
as Mentions or references - 'The most common grass, rush, moss, fern, thistles, thorns or vilest weeds you can find': James Petiver's plants.
 References in Documents:
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) Pluk. A. 57. Fungus (ex stercore equino) capillaceus capitulo rorido, nigro punctulo in summitate notato Pluk. 116. fig. 7. Raii H. Pl. 1928. Mr. Banister's Virginia Mushrome with dewy Heads. I have observed this on Horse-dung about London.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 609. Apocynum Marianum foliis angustissimis stellatis. an? A. erect. non ramosum Rorismarini folio, umbellis florum candidis D. Banist. Raii H. Pl. 1926.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 11. Ornithogalum Marianum luteum, foliis Gramineis hirsutis. Ornithogalum luteum parvum foliis Gramineis hirsutis. D. Banister Raii H. Pl. 1927.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 12. Sagittariæ similis, planta palustris Virginiana. spicâ florum cœruleâ D. Banister H. Ox. Sect. 15. p. 618. Tab. 4. Fig. 8 Centuria VIII. 79 Fig 8.
Petiver, Gazophylacii Naturæ (1702-1706) 11. Ornitholgalum VIRGINIANUM luteum, foliis Gramineis hirsutis. nobis. Ornithogalum luteum Parvum, foliis hirsutis D. BANISTER. Ray H. Pl. 1927. This is pretty common in CAROLINA, MARYLAND and VIRGINIA. Its hairy Grasslike Leaves distinguish it from all I have yet seen.
Petiver, Gazophylacii Naturæ (1702-1706) 12. Gladiolus lacustris VIRGINIANUS cæruleus, Sagittariæ folio. nobis. Sagittariæ similis, planta palustris Virginiana spicâ florum cæruleâ. D. BANISTER. H. Oxon. Sect. 15. p. 618. Tab. 4. Fig. 8. I have received this from MARY-LAND and VIRGINIA; as also from Mr. Edm. Bohun who gathered it in South Carolina, where it Flowers in June and July, and is called by them Wake-Robin.
Petiver, Gazophylacii Naturæ (1702-1706) 4. Scarabeus elasticus major Americanus, capite bimaculato Act. Phil. No. 246. p. 396. 13. & Scarabeus colore griseo, scapulis binis quasi oculis nigris, mollitie pubescentibus notatus Act. Phil. No. 271. p. 812. 32. The Velvet-eyed Virginia Snap-Beetle, See its Description with Mr. Banister's Remarks and mine in the Two aforesaid Places.
Petiver, Gazophylacii Naturæ (1702-1706) 13. Animadversiones in Observationes Insectarum VIRGINIANARUM a Jo. Banister Act. Phil. No 270. p. 807. Abbr. Ban. Insect. Virg.
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669) 36. Dr. Herman's Virginiana Wild Basil with yellow H. A. L. Bat. 107. Ray H. Pl. 1927. Pluk. 24. Fig. 1. Alm. Bot. 111. Flowers.  Clinopodium Virginianum angustifolium flore luteo D. de Marees H. A. L. Bat. 107. Virg. angustif. florbus amplis luteis purpureo maculatis, cujus caulis sub quovis verticillo 10 vel 12 foliolis rubentibus est circumcinctus D. Banister ( 403 ) Alm. Bot. 111. Virg. angust. flor. amplis luteis, punctis purpureis Pluk. Tab. 24. Fig. 1.  Origanum floribus amplis luteis purpureo maculatis, cujus caulis sub quovis verticillo 10. vel 12. foliis est circumcinctus D. Banister Raii H. Pl. 1927.
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669) 38. Scutellaria Virginiana Hyssopi angustis foliis, flore 38. Alm. Bot. 338. cæruleo Alm. Bot. 338.  Mr. Banister's Columbine leav'd Crow-foot.
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669) 39. Ranunculus Thalictri folio radice grumosa. D. Banister, 39. Ray H. Pl. 1927. Pluk. 106. Fig. 4. Alm. Bot. 310. Raii H. Pl. 1927. nemorosus Aquilegiæ foliis Virginianus Asphodeli radice. Pluk, Tab. 106. Fig. 4. & Alm. Bot. 310.  Muntings yellow Passion Flower.