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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cheshire => Topic started by: mattfrombann on Saturday 27 January 18 21:50 GMT (UK)

Title: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: mattfrombann on Saturday 27 January 18 21:50 GMT (UK)
From the Chester Chronicle of 23rd May 1817

“To be sold by auction ….. 26th May.. all the modern household furniture and other effects of Dr A Bankhead, White Friars, Chester”.

An enquiry to the Cheshire Record Office a few years back revealed that they unfortunately do not hold any trade directories for that year (Pigot starts in 1818, drat) and could offer no additional info. Neither have I been, over years of research, able to find any other record of this mysterious medic. There was only one Bankhead line of the period with the wherewithall to have doctors in the family (sons of Rev John Bankhead) , but none (that I know of) have the initial A and there is no obvious connection with Cheshire. There is no equivalent advert in the Chester Courant of the time. Suggestions anyone ? I am wondering if the doc was either deceased (but he is not described as "late") or bankrupt?
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: Milliepede on Saturday 27 January 18 22:02 GMT (UK)
Misprint in the paper with his name perhaps.  The initial or surname could be printed incorrectly.
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: mattfrombann on Saturday 27 January 18 22:09 GMT (UK)
A Dr Bankhead  (no initial or first name ) in the Carlisle Journal of 21st April 1804 informs the inhabitants of Annan that from “the very flattering encouragement he has met with since his residence among them” he announces “his fixed determination of settling in Annan for the purpose of practicing Physic, Surgery, and Midwifery”

Sadly his confidence in his own popularity seems to have been misplaced and after a few repetitions of the advert he vanishes from (thus far) record. The Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh could shed no light on this not so modest medic. I know who he could be, but without a clue as to his Christian name he remains a mystery. There are several possible candidates (all brothers) but this is the only reference I can find to ANY Bankhead in Annan area.

Suggestions anyone ?
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: Gadget on Saturday 27 January 18 23:18 GMT (UK)
Is this the same Dr Bankhead as your Annan, Dumfries posting:

topics now merged

He seems quite a character.

Gadget


Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: Gadget on Saturday 27 January 18 23:29 GMT (UK)
See also

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=786692.0

Seems to be quite an itinerant character.


Gadget
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: Flattybasher9 on Saturday 27 January 18 23:43 GMT (UK)
Have a look at the results here in Google search :- 

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01lf6/

Plus :-

http://munksroll.rcplondon.ac.uk/Biography/Details/6719

Plus :-

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01lf7/

This maybe your man, or again, it may not.

Malky
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 28 January 18 09:55 GMT (UK)
Here's a Dr Bankhead who was a surgeon in the Londonderry Militia, then practised in Brighton and London in the early 19th century https://goo.gl/qSDtaA   The book was published in 1822.
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: LizzieL on Sunday 28 January 18 10:59 GMT (UK)
Lancaster Gazette 28 November 1818 has a mention of a Doctor Bankhead of Brighton. It is in connection with the death of an Alderman Goodbehere in Lambeth. It mentions that the doctor had been physician to the family for many years. The gentleman unfortunately died before the doctor could get to him.
The search on FindMyPast goes to page 1 of the paper, the article is actually on page 2.
Might not be same doctor though if he was in Brighton.
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: LizzieL on Sunday 28 January 18 11:30 GMT (UK)
Seems Dr Charles Bankhead might have been in Brighton not Dr A.

There is a marriage for a Charles Bankhead and a Maria Horatia Paul (a minor) in 1825 in London, he is described as "esquire" but no profession so may not be connected.
And there is a baptism for a Charles in the parish of St George Hanover sq on 30 may 1823, parents Charles Bankhead and Ann Walsh, abode workhouse, occupation Doctor of Medicine.
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: LizzieL on Sunday 28 January 18 12:02 GMT (UK)
I think the Charles Bankhead who married Maria Horatio was a diplomat born abt 1798 in Londonderry, died 1870 London, executor was an Edmund William Paul. Not obviously connected to the doctor.
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 28 January 18 12:22 GMT (UK)
Per the Dictionary of National Biography, Charles the diplomat was the son of Charles the royal physician who was one of the sons of the Rev Bankhead mentioned in the original post. The Reverend Bankhead had 22 children including at least two physicians (Charles and John)
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: josey on Sunday 28 January 18 12:25 GMT (UK)
There was only one Bankhead line of the period with the wherewithall to have doctors in the family (sons of Rev John Bankhead)
Not always wise to assume that less affluent families could produce a 'professional'. Thomas Telford was the son of a shepherd who died shortly after he was born, raised in poverty & look what he became.....
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: mattfrombann on Sunday 28 January 18 15:16 GMT (UK)
Gadget

It may or may not be the same guy. I have no evidence either way. If the one in Annan is Charles as is suggested by the other reply, then the initial "A" for the one in Chester seems to suggest not
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: mattfrombann on Sunday 28 January 18 15:53 GMT (UK)
Malky and Gadget

I know an awful lot about Dr Charles Bankhead (and his namesake son the diplomat) including the fact (pertinent to recent events) that he was a sex pest - described as having wandering hands in the memoires of notorious courtesan Harriett Wilson (which also refer to him being very big in stature and strong). Following Castlereagh's suicide, another researcher (who was intending to write a book on Castlereagh) states that Dr Bankhead was blamed by some for not preventing it and that his society practice suffered badly as a result. Apparently in the Castlereagh papers there is a letter from him asking Lady C for money as he is "reduced to beggary". In the end he moved to Italy to stay with his son the diplomat and once again practice as a society doctor. He is buried in Florence. He had at least two brothers who were MD, John (who practiced and died in Ulster) and Joseph who had an interesting career, abandoning his wife and children in Belfast and ending up in W Indies where he died. Another two brothers, James and William, were ministers. The latter is buried in Dean Cemetery Edinburgh, a mile from where I live. The patriarch of the family was Rev John Bankhead of Ballycarry, Co Antrim, who appears in the very first edition of the DNB (but only because the author of the same knew him personally). Courtship letters of 1840 from Charles's sibling Agnes (who married yet another minister) survive.

Anyways, the doctors in Annan and Chester are, I feel certain, connected to this family but in the absence of any local source documents other than the two newspaper reports there remains no proof as to their identity. I live in hope etc

Matt
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: mattfrombann on Sunday 28 January 18 16:17 GMT (UK)
Lizzie L

Yes I know all about Charles the Diplomat. Before he married Maria, he fathered two illegitimate children
"1.   Caroline, born 15/3/1821, bap 2/12/1821 St Lukes Chelsea. Mother was Eliza Jordeson. There were several illegitimate children baptised around this time, but the others, who were not of the same social standing, were rather bluntly labelled B B (base born). Charles is described as an Apothecary of Charles St.

2.   Emily Wheeler, born 1822, baptised St Marleybone 27/2/1825. Mother was Frances Wheeler.                   
     Charles was then living at Moor St.   "

Charles Jnr joined the civil service as a humble clerk and rose rapidly through the ranks. The parents of Maria initially disapproved of him as a potential son in law but relented when they saw his professional progress. 99% of all Google searches for "Bankhead" will throw up either Charles Snr or Charles Jnr

Matt (Bankhead)

Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: mattfrombann on Sunday 28 January 18 16:28 GMT (UK)
LizzieL

Thanks for finding a THIRD illegitimate child (Charles to Ann Walsh). Bit of a boyo, our Charles :)
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: mattfrombann on Sunday 28 January 18 16:42 GMT (UK)
ShaunJ

Re "royal physician". Charles was (briefly) one of many "physicians extraordinaire" to George IV but
was dismissed from court abruptly for, depending on which version you choose, (a) mimicking the monarch within earshot or (b) being over familiar with the king by squeezing his arm.
Title: Re: Doctor Who ? White Friars, Chester, 1817
Post by: Jo Harding on Monday 29 January 18 11:44 GMT (UK)
Whitefriars in Chester has always been a place for dentists to practice as far back as I can remember. This remains the case to this day. I wonder if this gentleman was a dentist, rather than a medic?

It is common for dentists to call themselves "doctor" as well.

The other possibility is that he may not have been medically qualified but called himself doctor nevertheless.

Jo.