James Jepson Binns - The Binns Family

In The Churchyard
by Wilkinson Binns
Tombs of my fathers a lesson I’d learn
As over your ashes I musingly yearn
The world can no longer cause sorrow to you
Your pinions grow stronger beyond the bright blue
Your lot upon earth was much toil and care
Now you are reposing in realms bright and fair
You toil’d out your life for a world cold and proud
And what did it give you a coffin and shroud
And such awaits me at the end of my span
For dust unto dust is the lot of frail man
Then why do I live? And for what am I sent
Unto what purpose ought life to be spent
To do what I can for the good of my kind
A good name to get a heaven to find.
Written in 1868 by Wilkinson Binns, 1831-1914 and published in the Manchester
Magazine in October 1882.
Wilkinson Binns c 1855
Wilkinson’s parents and probably his grandparents were buried in Haworth churchyard
Fallen Ancestors
George Herbert Binns
Lilian Vear of York tells us
about her Uncle George Herbert
Binns, known as Bert, who
served in the 9 th Battalion of the
Royal Scots. He died 12 th April
1916, only three months before
his 21 st birthday. He is remembered
on the Ploegsheert Memorial
at Hainault, Belgium and
also on the Royal Scots panel in
the chapel at Edinburgh Castle.
His two brothers also served but
returned home safely.
Archie Binns
Rebekah Binns wrote to tell us
about her grandfather Archie
Binns who was born in 1899 and
died in 1971. Archie wrote over
20 books including Lightship,
You Rolling River, The Land is
Bright, The Laurels are Cut
Down, Peter Skeyeogden, and
Mrs. Fiske. His parents were
Frank Binns and Atlanta Sarah
Makwah. Archie has 3 brothers -
Robert, Graham, and Jack – and
Rebekah wonders if she is related
to a man named Jack Binns
who was the famous CQD officer
on the Republic when it was
sinking.
We also heard from Kathy Willems
who is also related to
Archie.
Kathy Willems and Rebekah Binns
about their Grandfather
Archie Binns
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