Bannister has an entry among index cards kept by Nathaniel R. Perkins, MD, who examined thousands of men who were going into the war, 1914-1918. Given by Mrs N. R. Perkins in accordance with instructions from her late husband, Dr. Nathaniel P. Perkins of 1122 Adams St, Dorchester.
Vincent J. Bannister, B.S.H.
Vincent Joseph Bannister was born in Providence, RI, to John W. and Alice Bannister. The birth record and Vincent’s World War II registration give his birthdate at Feb. 28, 1890, but his WWI registration and service records give the date as Feb. 28, 1889. Vincent had a brother named Gilbert, born the year before. John is not listed with the rest of the family in the 1900 and 1910 US Census schedules. Alice’s entries in those years say that she was a widow.
Vincent was a laborer in Providence in the period 1910-1912. He moved to Norwich, Connecticut, where he became an attendant living at the Norwich State Hospital. He came to Boston, accompanied by his wife, to work as an attendant and live at the Boston State Hospital on Walk Hill Street. We believe her name was Mary. Vincent’s draft registration card for WWI says that he was married, of medium build with light blue eyes and light hair.
Vincent’s war-time activities are listed on is service record card. He was with the US Marine Corps at Parris Island, South Carolina; then transferred to the Naval Prision at Portsmouth, NH, in February, 1918 and in April 1918 transferred to the 141st Company. He was discharged October 21, 1919. He was still living at the Marine Corps barracks in Kittery, ME, when he was listed in the 1920 US Census.
When Vincent returned to civilian life, he worked at the Boston State Hospital in Ware, MA, and in the late 1920s he returned to the Boston State Hospital and became a superintendent. In the 1930s he was a stockman and a laborer, living at various Boston addresses.
Vincent’s Word War II registration card from 1942 says he was working for the Works Progress Administration in Boston. The contact person listed on the card is his brother Gilbert, then living in Rhode Island.
We believe Vincent Joseph Bannister is the same Vincent Bannister who lived at 19 East Canton Street in the late 1930s with his wife Mary, ten years younger than he. We have not found any other record of Mary at this period, but in 1941 Vincent was living alone at 85 Pembroke Street, Boston.
Vincent Joseph Bannister died on April 14, 1943.
Sources:
Birth record on Ancestry.com
Boston resident lists online in research guides at Boston Public Library bpl.org
City directories on Ancestry.com
US Census for 1900, 1910, 1920 on Ancestry.com
US Social Security index on Ancestry.com
WW I registration card on Ancestry.com
WW I service record. Military, Compiled Service Records. World War I. Carded Records. Records of the
Military Division of the Adjutant General’s Office, Massachusetts National Guard.
WW II registration card on Ancestry.com