I think Cicero Bannister's name is probably linked to the idea that Colne had Roman origins. The myth of Colunio was common in the 19th century (see, for example, p. 7 in Wilfred Spencer's 'Another Look at Colne), persisted into the 1950s (when the Colunio Cafe in Albert Road served a memorable sausage and chips) and persists to the present day (see the entry on Colne at
http://www.aboutbritain.com › Towns › Towns in Lancashire).
When I first saw the reference to Cicero Bannister (born in Trawden, c. 1877), I wondered whether he was also on the outer edges of my family tree as I had a vague memory of seeing a Cicero. I do have Bannister ancestors with Trawden and Great Marsden connections, but I haven't found a link to this Cicero.
On checking my records today, I find that 'my' Cicero was Cicero Robinson, born c. 1868, also in Trawden. His parents were William and Jane (nee Pickles) Robinson. Jane was a sister of my great grandfather Henry Pickles (1835-1917).
Perhaps the two families came up with the name Cicero independently, or perhaps Cicero Bannister was named after Cicero Robinson, who was about 11 years older. The families lived near each other in Trawden (Hollin Hall and Naze End). The Pickles and the Hartleys were inter-related, and the name Hartley Bannister suggests that a Bannister had married a Hartley.
Ruth