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For more than thirty years, Douglas J. Hanks (1897-1975) performed
primary and secondary research on the Hanks surname
at the
Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and the
Gloucestershire Record Office in Gloucestershire, England.
From his extensive research of
census,
parish, and vital records, D. J. Hanks compiled numerous Hanks
birth, marriage and death lists, as well as created several Hanks descendancy and pedigree charts. In 1973, D. J. Hanks donated the compiled data to the Family History Library, thus preserving a lifetime of research and providing significant contributions to all Hanks researchers.
Douglas J. Hanks
died March 5, 1975 and is
buried at the City Cemetery, Bountiful, Utah, USA.
The following is a list of microfilms that contain D. J. Hanks compiled Hanks data:
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Hanks Marriages: FHL US/CAN microfilm #599343 Item 4.
John Hanks, 1470, Buckland, England, Pedigree chart: FHL US/CAN Film 1036070 Item 4; (another filming #1036148 Item 22)
Pedigree chart of John Hanks [son of] John Hanks: FHL US/CAN Film 1036063 Item 3
For additional information about the above microfilms visit the Family History Library Catalog. These and other microfilm or microfiche can be ordered and viewed at Family History Centers worldwide. Family History Centers are free to all researchers without religious or other obligation. Each Family History Center orders copies of microfiche or microfilm from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a nominal processing fee is required. However, sometimes mistakes happen. For an amazing story, read The Wrong Film published in the Church News March 22, 2003, (Copyright 2003 Deseret News Publishing Co. by permission, John Hart, March 28, 2003).
![[ Forward by D J Hanks ]](images/djh/djhanksforward2m.jpg)
Forward by D. J. Hanks image 2M |
![[ John Hanks Descendancy Chart (John) ]](images/djh/johnhanksjohn881m.jpg)
John Hanks Descendancy (John) |
![[ John Hanks Descendancy Chart (George) ]](images/djh/johnhanksgeorge880m.jpg)
John Hanks Descendancy (George) large image 8.8M |
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Notes:
The above charts are the result of years of dedicated work and provide Hanks researchers everywhere with invaluable research data on the Hanks lines. Nevertheless, all compiled data should be reviewed for accuracy and reasonableness and should always be checked against substantiating records.
The following ideas might be considered when reviewing the above charts:
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1. Parish records of
Hanks marriages indicate that many of the Hanks marriages were second marriages. These charts, however, do not reflect many second marriages.
2. Different birth places for brothers John Hanks 1498, Buckland and George Hanks 1505, Malmsbury. According to the above charts, the brothers were born approximately six years apart in parishes that are more than 30 miles (or 48 kilometers) apart. Of course, this is not particularly unusual. However, the above descendancy charts also indicate that each brother apparently remained in his own specific birth parish and raised his family. This poses some questions. Were the brothers born and raised in different parishes? Was John Hanks (1498) living in Malmsbury at the time his brother George Hanks was born in 1505; and then as an adult, did John (1498) return to Buckland (30 miles/48 kilometers north of Malmsbury) to live and raise his family? Or was John Hanks (1498) born in Buckland where he remained throughout his life even though his brother George Hanks (1505) was born in Malmsbury where George (1505) apparently lived and raised his family?
Possible questions include: Were the brothers actually born in different parishes? Was the mother visiting relatives during the time of either birth? Could the brothers have different mothers? Did the family own land in both parishes? Did either brother inherit family land from a parent or grandparent?
These are important charts and many Hanks researchers are using them as absolute references for the Hanks lines. Nevertheless, the charts do create a variety of questions and each question has a variety of possible answers. As Hanks researchers, it is important to consider the possibilities and to strive for accuracy and proof.