ENNIS LINE

James ENNIS, b. 1730 in Essex County, Virginia Colony ; d. 1792 in Burke County, North Carolina, location unknown or unmarked.

Over the years other ENNIS descendants have sent me information regarding this family line.  :

Most of this information came from the research of Willis Lyons Ennis, a great-grandson of James.  His statement is that  "James Ennis was born at Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland, on or about the (blank) day of 1735: that he at the age of three years came to America as a stowaway with his father, Sir John Ennis, settled in State of Virginia, County of Augusta." 

Numerous researchers have found historical records from Virginia that indicate James Ennis was born about 1730 in Essex County, Virginia colony, a son of John Ennis and Elizabeth (Betty) Nalle. That John Ennis, his father, was born about 1710 in Athlone, County Westmeath Ireland, and came to America with his father, Sir John Ennis, about 1713. 

His father, it is assumed is the  John Ennis listed as a resident of Essex County, Virginia colony, in 1727 and continuously until 1735, when the family is found in Orange County, Virginia colony. James Ennis lived with his parents in Orange County until 1741, when the family moved to Louisa County, Virginia colony. In 1745/46, his father was found mentioned in Augusta County. 

Apparently the Ennis clan may have been hard to get along with, "James Ennis is first recorded in Louisa County with his father when a suit was brought against them by John Snow April 22, 1748. James was odered to pay a Samuel Waddy fifty pounds of tobacco for two days attendance in court as his witness. 

James Ennis was married about 1754 to Anna, or Anne, Moles. One James Innes (sic) enlisted as a soldier from Augusta County in the French and Indian War in March, 1754. In May, 1754, his company was put under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel George Washington. Kegley's Virginia Frontier mentions that James Innes (sic) was put in command of Fort Cumberland around October, 1754. His father wrote his will October 9, 1754, giving his land on the lower and east side of a branch of the North Fork of Rocky Creek on the south side of the plantation on the same creek to his son, James. The other part of the plantation went to his sister, Barbara. His father's will was probated May 12, 1762. His land was now in Albemarle County which was formed from Louisa in 1761. "

James's sister, Barbara, and her husband, David Frazier, sold their part of her father's land to James October 5, 1773. James Ennis enlisted in February, 1776, in the 9th Virginia Regiment of Foot, which was also known as the 9th Virginia Battalion of Foot in Service of the United States and the 9th Virginia Regiment on Continental Establishment. He was under the command of Colonels Thomas Snead and George Matthews at various times. One James Innis (sic) was promoted from private 9th Virginia Regiment to Lieutenant-Colonel 15th Virginia Regiment November 13, 1776. According to family history, he was captured at the Battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1777. 

His grandson, Willis Lyons Ennis, stated that James Ennis died as a prisoner of war in 1778. Virginia records of the 9th and 15th Virginia Regiments indicate that James Innis (sic) retired from the army September 30, 1778, and was a resident of Williamsburg, Virginia. James Ennis and his wife, Anne, sold the John Ennis plantation and lands to John Watson, Jr., in Albemarle County, Virginia colony, October 12, 1779. 

In the Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution, 1775-1783," by John H. Gwathmey, states that James Innis (sic) served as Judge Advocate of the army from July 9, 1782 until September 18, 1782, and was also referred to as "Major." He was awarded a 6,666 hundred acre bounty grant in Ohio but it was never claimed. 

James Ennis is next found in the 1790 U. S. Census for North Carolina. He was enumerated in Morgan's District of Burke County. James Ennis died in Burke County, North Carolina sometime between 1790 and 1800, about 1792, and was buried in an unmarked grave. 

[Taken from: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/n/o/r/Roy-J-Hamilton/GENE3-0001.html]

Basically the line is thought to be:

In Ireland the name in Westmeath, apparently arrives in 1680 with the forces of James, and may have been given lands in the County as a result.  

James ENNIS, b. 1730 in Essex County, Virginia Colony ; d. 1792 in Burke County, North Carolina, location unknown or unmarked.

Father: John Ennis b: 1710 in Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland 

Mother: Elizabeth Betty Nalle b: 1706

Marriage 1 Anna Moles b: 1737  ; Married: 1754 in Augusta County, Virginia Colony

Children----

•  John Ennis b: 1755 in Lousia County, Virgina Colony: d.?
•  William Ennis b: 1758: d. Il?
•  Martin Ennis b: 1760; may have died in IL or KY
•  Jesse Ennis b: 1763 in Albemarle County, Virgina Colony: d?
•  Zachariah Ennis b: 1766 in Albemarle County, Virgina Colony: d. abt 1844 Arkansas
•  James Ennis b: 1768; d.?
•  Elizabeth Betsy Ennis b: 1770 in Burke County, North Carolina Colony (actually would have been Rowan Co. probably); died in Gibson Co., Indiana. Had 3 children (Nancy, Barbara, John) but never married.  NOTE: Some line claim she was a wife of Zachariah but this creates problems because a daughter of Barbara, her daughter, will in turn marry the youngest son of Zachariah Ennis (Matilda Terry Ennis).
•  Jeremiah EnnisAnnas b: 1775 in Albemarle County, Virginia, United States of America