Citing this biography: Boyd, Michelle, "Benjamin Ennis and Magdalena Van Etten," article, Olive and Eliza, last accessed [current date]."
Benjamin Ennis was born 25 April 1743 to William
Ennes and Elizabeth Quick. He was baptized 3 May 1743 in
Deerpark, Orange, New York. Benjamin married Magdalena Van Etten
in August 1769 in Deerpark, Orange, New York. Magdalena was baptized 6
October 1751 in Deerpark, Orange, New York and was the daughter of Johannes
Van Etten and Maria Gonzales. She was sometimes called in
records Lena, which is a short form of Magdalena. In one record, she was
called Helena (it should be noted that Lena was used as a nickname for
both Magdalena and Helena, not equivalent names). As this is a one-time
occurrence, this may have been an error on the part of the clerk.
Both Benjamin and Magdalena came from an area known as the Minisink
Valley, where New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania meet, northwest of
New York City. The Minisink Valley Historical Society describes the area
as "reach[ing] from Minisink Ford, New York, to Lackawaxen,
Pennsylvania, to the Delaware Water Gap at New Jersey and Pennsylvania"
and Vosburgh in his compilation of the Minisink Valley Dutch Reformed
Church Records, defines it as "consist[ing] of the valley of the
Neversink west of the Shawangunk Mountains, and the Delaware valley, as
far as the Delaware Water Gap." Its boundaries are not rigidly defined
but generally includes, among other towns, Deerpark, Port Jervis, and
Mamakating, New York, Wantage, Montague, and Sandyston, New Jersey, and
Dingmans Ferry, Matamoras, and Milford, Pennsylvania. Maps of the area
are available on the Minisink
Valley Historical Society website.
Benjamin served as a lieutenant for Pennsylvania in the Revolutionary
War and was killed 20 April 1780 during the Battle of Conashaugh in Pike
county, Pennsylvania (near the Delaware River, in what is now known as
the Delaware Water Gap). During this time, in the Minisink Valley,
attacks from Native Americans who had sided with the British were a
legitimate concern. In fact, in 1779, Joseph Brant, "a
Dartmouth-educated Mohawk warrior commissioned a colonel in the British
Army," had led a group of Iroquois Indians and Tories in a raid and
"swept through the Neversink Valley settlements of Peenpack and
Mahackamack destroying farms, a school, a church, and other buildings,
leaving a path of misery and bringing great fear to the frontier." ("The
Battle At Minisink Ford," Minisink Valley Historical Society website, http://www.minisink.org/minisinkbattle.html,
accessed 17 Feb 2019) So, on 20 April 1780 (although a newspaper
reported this date as the 17th and the subsequent battle as taking place
on the 20th), when Phillip McCarty's family discovered signs of Indians
near their home, they informed Major Samuel Westbrook and Captain Peter
Westbrook.
The Westbrooks then immediately gathered troops and crossed the river
that night. At "about sun rise the morning following," they "Discovered
the Indians Nigh the Barnn and began the attack" (see John Van Campen's
letter). Samuel Helm reported that "soon after we had landed on the
Pennsylvania shore we discovered the Indians in Ambush. After we had
discharged several guns at them and received their fire several times
the Indians retreated to the Mountains with the loss of their
party who appeared to be their Commander or chief from the appearance of
his Dress." After the Indians retreated, "the major was Reinforced by
Capt. Vannatten, with three of his sons & son in Law." (Van Campen
letter). This captain was Lena's father, Johannes Van Etten, and
Benjamin was the son-in-law mentioned.
The colonial soldiers "Pursued the Indians by the Blood, & about two
miles Came up with them...Renewed the attack, Drove the Indians in a few
minutes, they Ran to the edge of a thick wood." Johannes Van Etten and
Major Westbrook's troops held their ground but "Captain Westbrook's men
left him at the first fire from the Enemy in the woods, which was the
ruin of the whole; but the ground maintained for some time & the
retreat secured by the Major & Vannatten" (Van Campen letter). One
of Captain Westbrook's men, Gideon Cole, explained, "The Company under
command of Captain Peter Westbrook to which the deponent was attached
after marching about three miles from the Delaware River came up with
the Indians who were laying in ambush. A battle ensued and after
hard fighting with our enemy behind rocks and trees and after having
lost our Captain and a number of the soldiers we were compelled by a
quantity superior force to retreat." Samuel Helm reported that "when in
about Pistol Shot distance from them (they being in Ambush) we received
their fire from so sudden and unexpected an attack we were thrown into
some confusion but by the Bravery & example of our commanding
officers soon again were called and returned their fire. The
Battle lasted some time hot & bloody." Upon Captain Westbrook being
killed, according to Samuel Helm, "Capt Johannes Van Etten took the
Command finding our Captain & Lieutenent killed & some of the
Soldiers wounded and our numbers small compared to that of the Indians
we were obliged to retreat.
On the colonists' side, three were dead (Capt. Peter Westbrook, Lt.
Benjamin Ennis, and Pvt. Richard Rosenkrans) and two were wounded
(Samuel Helm and James Van Etten). On the opposite side, there were at
least two deaths. Benjamin's brother-in-law Barnardus Swartwood (husband
of Lena's sister, Rymerich) gave additional details about Benjamin's
death: "Captain Peter Westbrook & Lieutenant Benjamin Ennis were
killed the last named officer was scalped...The said Benjamin Ennis was
the brother in law of this deponent and the deponent saith he helped to
carry the said Benjamin Ennis after he was killed to the Fort above
mentioned." (The fort was one that had been "thrown up around the house
of Captain Johannes Van Etten for the term of five months.")
Magdalena was pregnant at the time of Benjamin's death. That November,
their youngest child, Benjamin, was born.
It has been suggested that Magdalena supported her family by teaching
school. In The History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey,
there was a mention of "a Madam Benjamin" who took over as the
schoolteacher in Montague, Sussex, New Jersey after William Ennes. No
time frame for this Madam Benjamin's tenure is given in this history. If
Madam Benjamin was a nickname, the theory about how Magdalena supported
her family could be possible.
In 1790, "Leanah Annes" was listed as the head of a household of 3
females and 4 males in Delaware, Northampton, Pennsylvania. Magdalena
eventually moved to Tioga county, New York. One county history states
that her sons "Alexander, John, Emanuel, and Benjamin Ennis settled near
Cayuta Creek above the Swartwood families in 1798" (another history
states that they settled "near the junction of the Cayuta and McDuffie
Creeks"). Another history states that they moved to what is now Cayuta,
Schuyler, New York in December of 1799 and settled at Jackson's Hollow
there. They and their descendants were noted as "worthy citizens." Her
daughter Elisabeth and her family were there by 1800, when Abraham was
enumerated with his household at Owego, Tioga, New York. Daughter Maria
and her family moved to the area between 14 October 1807 (when they had
a daughter baptized in the Minisink area) and 1810 when Maria's husband
is enumerated on the census in Spencer, Tioga, New York).
It is not known for sure exactly when Magdalena moved to Tioga county. A
Widow Ennes does appear on a 1798 tax list, living at Delaware,
Northampton, Pennsylvania on just over 147 acres owned by John Van Etten
and John Emmins. On 20 March 1812, the State of Pennsylvania granted
Magdalena relief as the widow of a slain Revolutionary War soldier in
the form of a gratuity of $40 and an annuity of $40 to be paid
half-yearly during her life. It is not clear if she was still living
there at the time or not.
Magdalena was living in Tioga county when her will was written 9
February 1819. It was proved 17 November 1819. In her will, she
specified that her son and executor Alexander would have power to
receive all money due from the State of Pennsylvania.
Benjamin and Magdalena’s children are:
| 1 | Elisabeth
Ennis, born 17 Nov 1769 in Pennsylvania (although, the 1855
New York census says New Jersey), baptized 14 Jan 1770 in
Deerpark, Orange, New York, married Abraham Decker,
mentioned (along with her husband) in her mother's will, moved to
Pulteney, Steuben, New York about 1814 (had been living in
Pulteney for 41 years in the 1855 census), enumerated in the
household of her son John Decker in Pulteney, Steuben, New
York in 1855, died 6 Mar 1856, buried at Drew Cemetery, Urbana,
Steuben, New York. Husband: Abraham Decker, enumerated at Owego, Tioga, New York in 1800, enumerated at Spencer, Tioga, New York in 1810. |
| 2 | Alexander Ennis, born
6 Dec 1770 (according to the age on his gravestone), baptized 29
Apr 1772 in Deerpark, Orange, New York, called eldest son in his
mother's will, married 1) Jane Dewit 29 May 1796 in Sussex
county, New Jersey, living at Delaware, Pike, Pennsylvania at the
time of his marriage to Jane, settled at Tioga county, New York in
1798, enumerated at Owego, Tioga, New York in 1800, elected a
fenceviewer at Spencer, Tioga, New York 1 Apr 1806, enumerated at
Spencer, Tioga, New York in 1810, married 2) Jerusha (Butler?),
enumerated at Spencer, Tioga, New York in 1820, built a union
church (a church to be used for two or more denominations) with
his brother Benjamin in 1826, enumerated at Cayuta, Chemung, New
York in 1840 and 1850, married 3) Amanda Dakin 17 Jul 1845
in Spencer, Tioga, New York, living at Cayuta, Chemung, New York
at the time of his marriage to Amanda, resided in Chemung county,
New York at the time of his death, will written 30 Jul 1845, died
1 Feb 1853, buried at Ennis Cemetery, Cayuta, Schuyler, New York,
will presented for probate 20 Jul 1853, and proved 1 Aug 1853.
Besides making bequests to his wife and children, he also left
$100 "to be appropriated equally to home and forreign missions." Wife 1: Jane Dewit, b. 7 Nov 1777 to Cornelius Dewit, living at Upper Smithfield, Northampton, Pennsylvania at the time of her marriage, d. 7 Jun 1819, bur. Ennis Cemetery, Cayuta, Schuyler, New York. Wife 2: Jerusha --, b. 6 Dec 1766, d. 24 Mar 1844, bur. Ennis Cemetery, Cayuta, Schuyler, New York. She was probably Jerusha Butler. Jerusha Butler's son Julius Ranney wrote in a letter, "Mother has married a very wealthy Dutch farmer, a man of ability and means by the name of David Ennis." No David Ennis can be found living in or around Spencer, but both Alexander and Benjamin married women by the name of Jerusha. According to Emily Wilder Leavitt, Jerusha (Butler) (Ranney) Ennis was seriously ill 4 Feb 1844 and bade farewell to her family, implying that this illness was terminal. The Jerusha who married Benjamin was alive at the time of the writing of Benjamin's will in 1858 but Jerusha who married Alexander is known to have died in Mar 1844. In addition, Ms. Leavitt estimated that Jerusha Butler was born somewhere about 1768, only two years off from Alexander's second wife's birth, as noted on her gravestone. Therefore, Jerusha, wife of Alexander, is most likely to have been Jerusha Butler. If so, Jerusha was prob. b. in Stockbridge, Berkshire, Massachusetts, dau. of Silas Butler and Jerusha Spencer, m. 1st Julius Ranney, resided in Bethlehem, Litchfield, Connecticut, returned to Stockbridge after Julius's death in 1802 and supported her family by boarding pupils at Rev. Dr. Bellamy's Academy, bought a farm in Spencer, Tioga, New York in 1810, which she "managed skilfully and with great success." She was noted for "her marked ability and strong characteristics" and it was said of her, "If she had been a man, she would have become a major-general." Ms. Leavitt also wrote: "Throughout her life she exhibited a strong religious spirit, and her letters contained many exhortations to a Christian life. She left a sum of money to be used for the erection of a chapel in the little village of Cayuta, a Dutch settlement, which was originally a part of the township of Spencer." Wife 3: Amanda Dakin, b. 23 Aug 1791 in North East, Dutchess, New York to Caleb Dakin and Rhoda King, m. 1st Thomas Pert, living at Spencer at the time of her marriage to Alexander, moved to Chenango, Broome, New York about 1854 and was living in the home of Edwin and Mary Gates (her son-in-law and daughter) in that town in 1855, lived with the Gates family in Athens, Bradford, Pennsylvania in 1860, lived at Binghamton, Broome, New York at the time of the writing of her will, d. 8 Apr 1865, buried at North Spencer Cemetery, North Spencer, Tioga, New York, will written 23 Feb 1865, proved 13 Apr 1865, and recorded 29 Apr 1865. |
| 3 | John Ennis, called
both John and Johannes (the Dutch version of John), born 18 Nov
1773, baptized 23 May 1774 in Deerpark, Orange, New York, called
second son in his mother's will, married Catharine --,
settled at Tioga county in 1798, enumerated at Owego, Tioga, New
York in 1800 (oddly, however, only one female age 16-25 and no
males are listed in his household), was (with his wife) among the
first members of the Hedding Methodist Church, Swartwood, Chemung,
New York in about 1805 and censuses seem to suggest that he had a
wife and children, enumerated at Spencer, Tioga, New York in 1810,
built the first Cayuta's gristmill two miles below Cayuta in 1817,
enumerated at Spencer, Tioga, New York in 1820, enumerated at
Cayuta, Schuyler, New York in 1840, died 25 Aug 1847, buried with
his wife at Barnes Cemetery, Cayuta, Schuyler, New York. Wife: Catharine --, b. abt. 1783, d. 8 Oct 1852, buried with her husband at Barnes Cemetery, Cayuta, Schuyler, New York. |
| 4 |
Maria
Ennis, baptized 25 Nov 1776 in Deerpark, Orange, New
York, married Wilhelmus Ennes (both her first and second cousin)
in December 1796 in Deerpark, Orange, New York, mentioned (along
with her husband) in her mother's will. Her husband was enumerated
in Spencer, Tioga, New York in 1810 and possibly bought land in
Reed, Seneca, Ohio in 1830. Husband: Wilhelmus Ennis, bp. 1 Sep 1775 in Deerpark, Orange, New York, son of Joseph and Margrieta (Van Etten) Ennes and Maria's first cousin on their fathers' side and second cousin on their mothers' side. Wilhelmus and Maria's fathers were brothers and their mothers were first cousins, making Wilhelmus and Maria both first and second cousins, in addition to husband and wife. |
| 5 |
Emanuel Ennis, called
third son in his mother's will, married Jane --, settled
at Tioga county in 1798, enumerated at Owego, Tioga, New York in
1800, one of the first members (with his wife) of the Hedding
Methodist Church, Swartwood, Chemung, New York in about 1805,
enumerated at Spencer, Tioga, New York in 1810, enumerated at
Spencer, Tioga, New York in 1820, resided at Cayuta, Tioga, New
York at the time of the writing of his will, died 26 Jan 1828,
buried at Ennis Cemetery, Cayuta, Schuyler, New York, will written
17 Mar 1826 and proved 12 May 1830. He would have been born after
John and before Benjamin. Note that Maria was baptized about two
years after John and there is a nearly five-year gap between Maria
and Benjamin's baptisms, so I have tentatively placed Emanuel
between Maria and Benjamin in birth order. Emanuel left bequests
to his wife Jane, seven-year-old son Solomon, and nephew Emanuel
Ennis Junr. (son of Benjamin). Wife: Jane --, apparently m. 2nd -- Crane by 12 Jun 1830 when she renounced her role as executrix of Emanuel's will. |
| 6 |
Benjamin Ennis, born
21 Nov 1780 (according to the age on his gravestone) in
Pennsylvania, baptized 19 Aug 1781 in Deerpark, Orange, New York,
called fourth son in his mother's will, settled at Tioga county,
New York in 1798, married Jerusha --, one of the first
members (with his wife) of the Hedding Methodist Church,
Swartwood, Chemung, New York in about 1805, enumerated at Spencer,
Tioga, New York in 1810, enumerated at Spencer, Tioga, New York in
1820, built a union church with his brother Alexander in 1826,
enumerated at Cayuta, Chemung, New York in 1840 and 1850,
occupation given as landlord in 1850, will dated 20 Jul 1858,
enumerated at Van Etten, Chemung, New York in 1860, resided in Van
Etten, Chemung, New York at the time of his death, died 5 Apr
1865, buried at Ennis Cemetery, Cayuta, Schuyler, New York,
executors of his will appeared before the court 26 Apr 1865, will
proved 21 Aug 1865. His neighbor, Emanuel Ennis 2d (not his son
Emanuel Ennis "Junr." but perhaps a relative), described, during
the probate, Benjamin's state of mind at the time of writing of
his will: "He asked me to draw it [the will] by asking me if I
could draw up a piece of writing for him & I told him yes
& he said he wanted to make his will. He was smart as usual
for him. He could do his chores around. He was not a bit childish
& he never drank liquor." Emanuel also testified that Benjamin
wrote a previous will in spring of 1855, at which time he was
planning on being cared for by a Mr. House (probably William
House, who married his daughter Catherine). However,
Mr. House backed out of the arrangement before fall of that year
and Benjamin "destroyed that will because he wished to leave his
property differently after House refused to perform that
agreement." Wife: Jerusha --, b. abt. 1782 in Pennsylvania, living at the time of the writing of Benjamin's will. |
Summary of Sources
- Minisink Valley Reformed Dutch Church Records, 1716-1830, facsimile reprint by Heritage Books, Bowie, MD, 1992.
- Ancestry.com. U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Dutch Reformed Church Records from New York and New Jersey. Holland Society of New York, New York, New York. Dutch Reformed Church Records from New Jersey. The Archives of the Reformed Church in America, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
- Sussex County (New Jersey) County Clerk, Marriages, 1795-1878, vol. A-B; index, 1795-1924, p. 7, FHL Film 961018, DGS 4541238, from New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939Z-1Z93-YK?wc=9X51-YWL%3A146362601&cc=1803976, image 130, accessed 16 Feb 2019.
- Book of Remembrance, Presbyterian Church, Spencer, N. Y., 1815-1915, FHL Film 17942 Item 1, available at https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/209548-book-of-remembrance-presbyterian-church-spencer-n-y-1815-1915?viewer=1&offset=0#page=30&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=, accessed 16 Feb 2019.
- Ennes, Calvin, A Bit about the Ennes, privately printed
manuscript, Au Gres, MI, 1969. Transcription available at http://www.boydhouse.com/darryl/ennis/book/cover.htm,
last accessed 8 Jan 2019.
Snell, James P. (comp.), The History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey, Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1881. The section on Montague was written by E. O. Wagner. - Towner, Ausburn, Our County and its People: A History of the Valley and County of Chemung, Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co., 1892, ch. 7 (Van Etten).
- Gay, W. B. (ed.), Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County, New York, 1785-1888, Syracuse, NY: W. B. Gay & Co., 1888, p. 453.
- Peirce, H. B., History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins, and Schuyler Counties, New York, Phildelphia: Everts & Ensign, 1879.
- Sexton, John L., History of Seven Counties: An outline history of Tioga and Bradford counties in Pennsylvania, Chemung, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins and Schuyler in New York, Elmira, NY: Elmira Weekly Gazette, 1885.
- Leeson, M. A., History of Seneca County, Ohio, Chicago: Warner, Beers, & Co., 1886.
- First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- Second Census of the United States, 1800. NARA microfilm publication M32 (52 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Second Census of the United States, 1800: Population Schedules, Washington County, Territory Northwest of the River Ohio; and Population Census, 1803: Washington County, Ohio. NARA microfilm publication M1804 (1 roll).
- Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
- Ancestry.com. New York, State Census, 1855 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Census of the state of New York, for 1855. Microfilm. Various County Clerk Offices, New York.
- New York, Probate Records, 1629-1971," images, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YCY-D35?i=33&wc=Q7PG-MNP%3A213301801%2C213948601&cc=1920234 : accessed 08 Dec 2013), Tioga > Wills 1818-1840 vol C-D, 4, 8 > images 33-35 of 478.
- Ancestry.com. New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: New York County, District and Probate Courts.
- Hazard, Samuel, Pennsylvania Archive: Selected and Arranged from Original Documents in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth...Commencing 1779, Vol. VIII, Philadelphia: Joseph Severns & Co., 1853, pgs. 202-203. Available at Archive.org.
- Article on the Battle of Coneshaugh, New-Jersey Gazette, 3 May 1780.
- Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- United States Direct Tax of 1798: Tax Lists for the State of Pennsylvania. M372, microfilm, 24 rolls. Records of the Internal Revenue Service, 1791-2006, Record Group 58. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
- Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: From the Fourteenth Day of October, One Thousand Seven Hundred, vol. 5, Philadephia: John Bioren, 1812, p. 334. Available at Google Books.
- Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls.
- Leavitt, Emily Wilder, Palmer Groups: John Melvin of Charlestown and Concord, Mass. and His Descendants, Boston: Press of David Clapp & Son, 1901-1905, pgs. 384-386. Available at Hathitrust.
- Dakin, Albert Harlow, Descendants of Thomas Dakin of Concord, Mass., Rutland, VT: The Tuttle Publishing Company, 1948, pgs. 54-55. Available at Archive.org.
- Gravestone of Elizabeth (Ennis) Decker, Drew Cemetery, Urbana, Steuben, New York.
- Gravestones of Alexander Ennis, Jerusha (Butler?) Ennis, Jane (Dewit) Ennis, and Benjamin Ennis, Ennis Cemetery, Cayuta, Schuyler, New York.
- Gravestone of Amanda (Dakin) Pert (Ennis), North Spencer Cemetery, Spencer, Tioga, New York.
- Boyd, Joseph, Ennis Cemetery, Town of VanEtten, Chemung County, New York, 23 Sep1979, typed by Ruth Bryan, as appears on Tice, Joyce M., Tri-Counties Genealogy & History Sites, http://www.joycetice.com/cemc/enniscem.htm, accessed 15 Feb 2019.
- "The 1780 Account of the Battle of Conashaugh," Minisink Valley Genealogy, Sep 2013, https://minisinkvalleygenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/09/1780-newspaper-account-of-battle-of.html, accessed 15 Feb 2019.
- "The Battle of Conashaugh Affidavits," Minisink Valley Genealogy, Sep 2013, https://minisinkvalleygenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-battle-of-conashaugh-depositions.html, accessed 15 Feb 2019.
- "The 'Widow Ennes,' Magdalena Van Etten, of Delaware Township, 1798," Minisink Valley Genealogy, May 2013, https://minisinkvalleygenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-widow-ennes-magdalena-van-etten-in.html, accessed 15 Feb 2019.
- "Magdalena Van Etten Ennes, 1751 - 1819," Minisink Valley
Genealogy, Sep 2015, https://minisinkvalleygenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/09/magdalena-van-etten-ennes-1751-1819.html,
accessed 15 Feb 2019.
Source Materials
Click on each category below to expand and see the copies of sources used to create the biography above (copyrighted and other restricted items are listed in the summary of sources above but not included below). Click again to close.
Records of Baptisms of the Reformed Church at Machackemeck (Deerpack).
| Page Number |
Baptism Date |
Parents |
Child |
Witnesses |
| 105 |
1743 |
William Ennes |
Benjamin |
Benjamin Quik, |
| May 3 |
Elisabeth Quik |
Heilje Wessebroek |
||
| 123 |
1751 |
Johannes van Etten |
Magdalena |
J. C. Fryenmoet, |
| Oct. 6 |
Maria Consales |
Magdalena Van Etten, his wife |
||
| 157 | 1770 | Benjamin Ennes | Elisabeth | William Ennes, |
| Jan. 14 | Lena Van Etten | b. Nov. 17, 1769 | Elisabeth Ennes | |
| 160 | 1772 | Benjamin Ennes | Alexander | Johannes Van Etten, |
| April 29 | Magdalena Van Etten | Maria Gonsalis | ||
| 164 | 1774 | Benjamin Ennes | Johannes | Johannes Van Netten, |
| May 23 | Magdalena Van Netten | Mare Counsoles | ||
| 167 |
1776 |
Benjaman Ennes |
Maria |
Manel Van Netten, |
| Nov. 25 |
Magdalen Van Netten |
Maria Helm |
||
| 180 |
1781 |
Benjamin Ennes |
Benjamin |
|
| Aug. 19 |
Helena Van Etten |
Marriage Record
1737-97 (Machackemeck)
| Page |
Date |
Married |
| 274 | 1769 - August. | Benjamin Ennis to Lena Van Etten. |
| 278 |
1796 - Dec. |
Wilhelmus Ennes, Maria Ennis. |
Source: Minisink Valley Reformed Dutch Church Records, 1716-1830, facsimile reprint by Heritage Books, Bowie, MD, 1992.
Deer Park, Vol II, Book 11
Images of church records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the record in another tab.
Ennis and Lena Van
Etten
Ennes and Maria Ennis
Source: Ancestry.com. U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Dutch Reformed Church Records from New York and New Jersey. Holland Society of New York, New York, New York. Dutch Reformed Church Records from New Jersey. The Archives of the Reformed Church in America, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Book of Remembrance
Presbyterian Church, Spencer, N. Y., 1815-1915
Ennis, Alexander § Died March 1853.
Ennis, Amanda Pert (Mrs. A.) § Widow of Thomas Pert, married 2nd A.
Ennis.
Letter to Cong. Ch. Candor, June 1853. Died
1865.
Ennis, Jerusha § Died March 24, 1844. Aged 77.
...
1845, July 17. Alexander Ennis of "Cyuta" to Amanda Pert of Spencer.
Source: Book of Remembrance, Presbyterian Church, Spencer, N. Y.,
1815-1915, FHL Film 17942 Item 1, available at
https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/209548-book-of-remembrance-presbyterian-church-spencer-n-y-1815-1915?viewer=1&offset=0#page=30&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=,
accessed 16 Feb 2019.
Images of marriage records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the record in another tab.
Ennes and Jane Dewit
Source: Sussex County (New Jersey) County Clerk, Marriages, 1795-1878, vol. A-B; index, 1795-1924, p. 7, FHL Film 961018, DGS 4541238, from New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939Z-1Z93-YK?wc=9X51-YWL%3A146362601&cc=1803976, image 130, accessed 16 Feb 2019.
A Bit about the Ennes
Pages 10-12:
WILLIAM ENNES JR. (II), 1711-1804 was the son of William (I). A
summary of his biography can best be given by a “Copy of records from
the Old Ennis Bible”:
William (Jr.) Ennis, in his own hand viz. 1711 January 10th was I.
William Ennis, born at Mormal. (town off Marbletown N.Y., see church
records)
1739 May 18th was I married
to me wife Elizabeth Quick.
1740 Sept. 28th is born my
eldest daughter Cornelia.
1743 Jan. 24th departed
this life my said daughter Cornelia.
1743 April 25th is born my
eldest son Benjamin.
1745 Nov. 30th is born my
second son Daniel.
1748 June 28th is born my
second daughter Margaret.
1751 July 9th is born my
third son Joseph.
1754 Mar. 9th is born my
fourth son John
1756 Nov. 26th is born my
fifth son Cornelius (1st).
1759 Aug. 16th is born my
sixth son Alexander.
1760 Sept. 10th departed
this life my son Cornelius (1st).
1761 Nov. 5th is born my
seventh son Cornelius (2nd).
1764 May 24th Is born my
third daughter Catherine.
1769 Oct. 11th departed
this life my sixth son Alexander.
1778 June 21th departed
this life my son John.
1780 April 20 departed this
life my son Benjamin, killed by Indians, being my eldest son.
1771 April 8 departed this
life my dearly beloved wife, Elizabeth, on Wednesday at 2 o’clock.
William Ennes Jr. (II) and his wife Elizabeth Quick are buried in the
Old Dutch Cemetery on the Mine Road in the northeast corner of
Sandyton township, Sussex County, New Jersey.
House—The home of
the one-armed school
master who resided
here in 1751. This picture
was taken in 1968 by C.V.
Crane, President of
Minnisink Historical Society.
Mr. Crane is standing in
front of building.
More relating to William Ennes (II) is learned by reading a condensed
copy of his will.
Summary of Will
Archives of the State of New Jersey. First Series Vol. XXXVIII
Calendar of N.J. Wills, etc. Vol. V. 1801-1805, pp. 153-154
1799, April 19. ENNES, WILLIAM, of Sandyton, Sussex Co.; will to
Grandson, Alexander Ennes (sic) (son of eldest on, Benjamin, dec’d) 5
shillings for his birthright. Daughter Catharina, (wife of Simon
Cartroght) farm where I now live (16 acres); she to pay £ 50. Son,
Cornelius, the improvement purchased from Solomon Decker, where George
Quick now lives; he to pay £ 20. To the 6 children (unnamed) of son,
Benjamin, dec’d. £ 18 to be divided among them, Sons, Daniel, Joseph
and Cornelius, wearing apparel. Daughter, Margaret (wife of James
Hornbeck), bed and bedding. Residue to sons, Daniel and Joseph, heirs
on son, Benjamin, dec’d, and daugh-Margaret (wife of James Hornbeck)
In 4 equal shares.
Executors—sons, Daniel and Joseph Ennes.
Witnesses—Lydia Capron, Alexander Ennes,
Thomas Kyte,
Proved—July 22, 1804. (Recorded, Surrogate’s
Office, Sussex Co.) File 1010S.
More About William Ennes (II)
William Ennes is mentioned in the history of the settlement of the
Minisink Region. The first school in Montague township, Sussex County,
New Jersey was built in 1731. William Ennes was the third teacher. He
was followed by Madam Benjamin, the wife of his deceased son,
Benjamin. In Sandyton township, Sussex Co., New Jersey, (territory
once part of the province of New York, later made part of New Jersey)
early opportunity was offered for the education of the youth. History
states, “The first instructor in Sandyton was William Ennes, an early
settler, an upright man, who came from Kingston, in the 1730’s,
Although he was one-armed, he was skillful in making quill pens for
his youths. He had superior ability as a teacher”. He was a deacon in
the church. He held civic offices and signed his name with the date
following it.
William Ennes (II) married Elizabeth Quick (II).
...
Page 13:
BENJAMIN ENNES, born 1743, farmer, lieutenant in the American
Revolution, killed in battle in 1780, married to MAGDALENA VAN ETTEN.
They bore: Elizabeth, b. 1-16-1769; Alexander, b. 4-29-1772; Johannis,
b. 5-23-1774; Marie, b. 11-23-1776; Emanuel, IV, b. ?; Benjamin, b.
8-19-1780, after his father's death.
Events Leading to Benjamin's Death
Brant the renegade, was hired by the British to lead the Indians in
attacks on the Colonists. The British paid Indians for scalps. In
1780, Jeremiah Van Auken, was dragged out of his school while in
session and killed. While the boys were being tomahawked,
outside,-some escaped-Brant took some ink and made a mark in the apron
of a girl, saying it would save her life. Brant then went outside to
help catch the boys. The other girls quickly marked all their aprons
with similar ink marks and saved their lives.
Battle of Conneshaugh-1780
Because of the atrocity, troops and scouts were rushed in. Brant and
his Indians were located on Raymondskill Creek over the Delaware River
in Pennsylvania. During the night reinforcements were called. Captain
Van Etten, Captain Westbrook and Lieutenant Ennes came, all rushing
troops toward Raymondskill Creek. On the way the troops were ambushed
by the Indians. Many fled, but Captain Westbrook and Lieutenant Ennes
stood their ground, on that rainy day in April, 1780. Lieut. Ennes and
twelve other men were killed. Their bodies were buried in the Old
Minisink Cemetery near the Old Ennis Home. Benjamin, the youngest son
of Lieutenant Ennes was born in August after that
battle.
The children's mother, Madam Benjamin then taught school to help keep
the family together. It was Alexander Ennes, her son, to whom William
Ennes gave the birthright when he made his will in 1799.
In 1798, all the members of Benjamin's family, along with kinfolks,
the Van Ettens and others moved from the Minisink Region to Cayuta
Township, Tioga County, New York in the Susquehanna Valley-more later.
Page 18:
Ennes Move Westward
WILHELMUS ENNES b. 6-14-1775, son of Joseph Ennes and Grietje Van
Etten married his cousin Marie (Ennes), daughter of Benjamin and
Magdalena Van Etten. (who may have been two brothers marrying
sisters).
They bore in 1793 or 1794, William A. Ennes, then moved from New
Jersey in 1798 to Tioga Co., New York with Marie's mother, brothers
and sisters and other Van Etten kinfolk.
The federal census of 1810 for Tioga Co., Spencer Township-Van Etten
Township, Chemung County, now-lists the following Ennis residing there
at that time:
| Manuel Ennis | -males: 1 under 10; 1 between 26 and 45 females: 1 between 16 and 26 |
| John Ennis | -males: 2 under 10; 1 between 26 and 45 females: 4 under 10; 1 between 10 and 16; 1 between 26 and 44 |
| Wilhelmus Ennis (Joseph's son) |
-males: 1 under 16 and 26; 1 between 26 and 45 females: 1 under 10; 1 between 10 and 16; between 26 and 45; 1 over 45 |
| Benjamin Ennis | -males: 2 under 10; 1 between 21 and 45 females: 2 between 10 and 16; 1 between 26 and 45 |
| Alexander Ennis | -males: 1 under 10; 1 between 21 and 45 females: 2 between 10 and 16; 1 between 21 and 45 |
Other censuses of this region show that for the next forty years
Emanuel, John, Benjamin and Alexander and their descendants remained
here.
Wilhelmus and Marie moved to Catherine Twp., Cayuta County, sometime
after 1810, for he was on the 1820 census there at that time.
Note: The 1798 move noted above is probably too early. Note Elizabeth
Ennes's baptism date. MB
Source: Ennes, Calvin, A Bit about the Ennes, privately printed manuscript, Au Gres, MI, 1969. Transcription available at http://www.boydhouse.com/darryl/ennis/book/cover.htm, last accessed 8 Jan 2019.
Palmer Groups: John Melvin of Charlestown and Concord
Jerusha Butler, daughter of Silas and Jerusha (Spencer) Butler, was
probably born in Stockbridge, Mass., 1768; she married 1785, Julius,
son of Jeremiah and Martha (Stowe) Ranney, who was born in Woodbury,
Conn., 1765.
April 11, 1785, Julius Ranney owned a house, with a small lot of land
and a blacksmith's shop in Woodbury North Purchase, which was called
Bethlehem. This land was on Kasson's Hill, adjoining the farm of
Solomon Butler, and the estate was taxed in Woodbury. September 28,
1802, Julius Ranney's estate was administered, he dying intestate. It
consisted of a house, homestead lot and a blacksmith shop, the whole
property amounting to £456 68. He died in Bethlehem, July 12, 1802.
After his decease, his widow, Mrs. Jerusha Ranney, went to
Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Mass., where she supported her family
of young children by boarding pupils of Rev. Dr. Bellamy's Academy.
Among these was Wade Hampton. About this time there was an active
movement to purchase lands in central and northern New York, and Mrs.
Ranney became owner of a farm in what is now Spencer, Tioga County, in
1810. This she managed skilfully and with great success. Her children
married and settled on adjacent farms. Family letters speak of her
marked ability and strong characteristics, and one enthusiastic
descendant wrote: "If she had been a man, she would have become a
major-general."
October 7, 1819, her son, Julius Butler Ranney, wrote: "I live on
mother's farm and try to cultivate it. Sister Susan died; mother and
all the family attended the funeral, save Oliver Ranney of Chester,
Ohio. As to brother James, husband of sister Susan, his son Oliver and
sister Lucy keep house for him. James has removed to Union Village,
ten miles below Ithaca; their youngest child was named Jerusha." In
the same year, 1819, Mrs. Lucy Palmer wrote: "Brother Iram (Hawes) and
sister Polly are at our house in Union Village. Our little Jerusha has
died."
For a while, Hiram Hawes who had married Polly Ranney lived in Danby.
From Kingsville, on April 11, 1829, Mrs. Lucy Palmer wrote to her
brother, Oliver Ranney: "While we were stopping at Burton, Mr. Palmer
was taken ill. Brother James has come back here to live." Again her
son, Julius, wrote: "Mother has married a very wealthy Dutch farmer, a
man of ability and means by the name of David Ennis."
In a letter dated 1836, Mrs. Jerusha (Butler) Ranney-Ennis described a
visit she had just paid in Poughkeepsie, New York, to her two
brothers, Charles and George Butler, at their residences in Market
street. In 1830, Thomas Stow Ranney, another son, was editing the
"Albany Argus" and wrote that he had just received a visit from his
cousins, Elizabeth and Hannah Butler, daughters of his uncle, Charles
Butler, of Poughkeepsie, and added: "The youngest cousin, Elizabeth,
has just been married to Mr. Hiram Veltman and was here on her wedding
trip."
From Poughkeepsie, where Thomas Stow Ranney was editing another
newspaper, he wrote to his brother Olim in 1841: "I recall the time
when Julius came hither from Vermont. It seems but a brief while since
mother, Susan, Thomas and you were at our fireside and Polly, Lucy and
Julius at no great distance; now my wife has gone, Lucy too."
From Rome, New York, Rev. Urban Palmer wrote to Mrs. Lynda Ranney at
Chester Cross Roads, Ohio: "I was married September 30, 1839, to a
widow."
February 4, 1844, Mrs. Ennis, then suffering from a severe illness
that she thought would terminate fatally, bade farewell to her family.
Throughout her life she exhibited a strong religious spirit, and her
letters contained many exhortations to a Christian life. She left a
sum of money to be used for the erection of a chapel in the little
village of Cayuta, a Dutch settlement, which was originally a part of
the township of Spencer.
December 16, 1862, her son, Thomas Stow Ranney, who was residing in
Poughkeepsie, wrote somewhat at length concerning his uncle, Charles
Butler, and his oldest daughter, "my cousin," Mrs. Lee, and her
brother Theron Butler, another cousin, then of Chenango County, New
York.
Julius and Jerusha (Butler) Ranney had children, born in Bethlehem,
Litchfield County, Connecticut:
1. Polly Ranney, born September 14, 1790, probably the Mary of whom
her mother wrote in her last letter, dated 1844, that she had recently
died in Michigan.
2. Julius Ranney, born August 24, 1792.
3. Lucy Ranney, born July 19, 1794; married Rev. Urban Palmer.
4. Oliver Ranney, born September 17, 1796.
5. Susan Ranney, born February 28, 1799.
6. Thomas Stow Ranney, born August 22, 1801.
Source: Leavitt, Emily Wilder, Palmer Groups: John Melvin of
Charlestown and Concord, Mass. and His Descendants, Boston:
Press of David Clapp & Son, 1901-1905, pgs. 384-386. Available at
Hathitrust.
Descendants of Thomas Dakin of Concord, Mass.
275 Amanda6 Dakin (Caleb5 , Simon4, Simon3, Simon2 , Thomas1), dau.
of Caleb (116) and Rhoda (King) Dakin, b. North East, N. Y., 23 Aug.
1791; d. 8 Apl. 1866; m. North East, 11 June 1814, Thomas Pert; b.
Salisbury, Conn., 2 Jan. 1789; d. 2 Apl. 1844. He resided at Spencer,
N. Y.
Children: Pert. (Born at Spencer, N. Y.)
661. i. William W. 7 , b. 24 Aug. 1815; d. -; m. Spencer, 15 July
1840, Lucinda Fish, b. 27 Oct. 1820.
662. ii. Luther B. 7 , b. 17 Oct. 1817; d.-; m. Spencer, Ellen P.
Smith.
663. iii. Susan A. 7 , b. 20 Sept. 1819; d. 18 Feb. 1843; m. Spencer,
5 July 1842, Joseph B. Voorhes.
664. iv. Thomas 7 , b. 10 Mar. 1829; d. Owego, N. Y., 20 Oct. 1893; m.
Great Barrington, Mass., 2 Jan. 1854, Mary E. Chatfield, b. 9 Sept.
1829; d. 29 Oct. 1901, dau. of John and Elizabeth (Ives) Chatfield.
Children: Fred Chatfield 8 , b. 28 Dec. 1858; Willis Ives 8 , b. 27
May 1866.
665. v. Mary E. 7 , b. 10 Mar. 1829; d.-; m. Edwin Gates.
Source: Dakin, Albert Harlow, Descendants of Thomas Dakin of
Concord, Mass., Rutland, VT: The Tuttle Publishing Company,
1948, pgs. 54-55.
Available at Archive.org.
The History of Sussex and Warren Counties
Page 366:
Montague.
VI.— SCHOOLS.
As a part of the school history of the township, it may be proper to
state that ground was given for a school-house in the Minisink as
early as 1731 by Johanes Westbrook. which is elsewhere described. It
is, however, not probable that a school was erected upon it at that
early date.
The earliest school recollected by the oldest surviving inhabitant was
located near the residence of Jacob Hornbeck. and built of logs,
during the beginning of the present century. The first teacher was one
Master Cooper, a rigid disciplinarian. His severity caused him to be
long remembered by the scholars upon whom it was exercised. A later
pedagogue was Master Daniel Kimball, whose terms were twelve shillings
per scholar for a period of twelve weeks. He was followed by Master
Wright, who is remembered as a skillful penman, and later by William
Ennes, after which a Madam Benjamin became the directress of the
educational interests of the neighborhood.
Source: Snell, James P. (comp.), The History of Sussex and Warren
Counties, New Jersey, Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1881. The
section on Montague was written by E. O. Wagner.
Our County and its People (Chemung county)
Page 523:
Alexander, John, Emanuel, and Benjamin Ennis settled near Cayuta Creek
above the Swartwood families in 1798. They were the sons of Benjamin
Ennis, a Revolutionary patriot who was killed in 1778. His father,
William Ennis, emigrated from Scotland and settled near Port Jervis.
The Ennis families inherited those traits of character which made them
and their descendants worthy citizens of the town and the county.
Page 531:
The Hedding Methodist Church at Swartwood had its origin soon after
the first settlement of the town. Religious meetings were held at
private houses. A class was formed about 1805. John Shoemaker, Emanuel
Ennis, Benjamin Ennis, John Ennis, and the wives of each of the four
were some of the first members. In 1826 Benjamin and Alexander Ennis
erected a church which was first used as a place of free worship. Ten
years later it was purchased by the Methodist Society.
Source: Towner, Ausburn, Our County and its People: A History of
the Valley and County of Chemung, Syracuse, NY: D. Mason &
Co., 1892, ch. 7 (Van Etten).
Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County
Town of Spencer.
At a town-meeting held at the inn of Jacobus Schenichs, Tuesday, April
1, 1806, the following named officers were elected: ...John I. Speed,
John English, Joseph L. Horton, Jacob Herinton, Alexander Ennes, and
Lewis Beardslee, fence-viewers.
Source: Gay, W. B. (ed.), Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County,
New York, 1785-1888, Syracuse, NY: W. B. Gay & Co., 1888, p.
453.
History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins, and Schuyler Counties
Chapter LXXXV (Cayuta)
Page 603
John Ennis, with his brothers Emanuel, Saunder, and Benjamin also
arrived before the dawn of the present century (in December 1799).
They are dead. They settled in Jackson's Hollow, where several of
their descendants still reside.
Page 604:
The first grist-mill was built by John Ennis, two miles below Cayuta,
in 1817. It remained in the family for fifty years and was then sold
to the present proprietor, James Green.
Chapter LVII (Van Etten)
Page 368:
Nearly all of the first settlers came from the valley of the Delaware
River. They were generally of Holland Dutch descent, and represented
families living on both sides of the river from the mouth of the
Lackawaxen to the Delaware Water-Gap. They were men accustomed to
scenes of danger and hardship, as rugged and enduring almost as the
mountains bordering the valley from which they emanated. Loyal to
their country, their homes, and themselves, many had passed through
the stirring scenes of the war for our independence, while all had
been sufferers or witnesses of the savage warfare waged alike against
men, women, and little children by the Indians, and their more brutal
allies, the Tories, during the campaign of 1778, which culminated in
that hand-to-hand conflict at their very doors-the battle of Minisink.
Page 369:
William Ennis, the grandfather of the brothers who settled here, came
from Scotland, and settled in the valley of the Delaware River, near
Port Jervis. His son, Benjamin, raised up a family of four sons and
two daughters, and was killed in an encounter with the Tories and
Indians in 1778. The four sons, viz., Alexander, John, Emanuel, and
Benjamin, came here in 1798, and settled just above the Swartwoods,
near the junction of the Cayuta and McDuffie Creeks. They were very
worthy people, and their descendants are to be found here in large
numbers, occupying the lands opened by the pioneer brothers.
Page 371:
The Hedding Methodist Episcopal Church at Swartwood.
A class was formed here as early as 1805. Among the number were
Benjamin Ennis and his wife, John Shoemaker and his wife, Emanuel
Ennis and his wife, and John Ennis and his wife. They worshiped in
private houses and school-houses until 1826, when their present house
of worship was erected, by the brothers Alexander and Benjamin Ennis,
as a union church. The society bought the house in 1836. It will seat
200 persons, and is valued at about $1200. The society is part of the
Van Ettenville charge. Has a membership of 58, and 50 scholars in the
Sunday-schools. Charles Brockway, Superintendent. Rev. J.W. Jenner, of
Van Ettenville, present pastor.
Source: Peirce, H. B., History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins, and Schuyler Counties, New York, Phildelphia: Everts & Ensign, 1879.
History of Seven Counties
Page 149:
Van Etten Township.
...
Early settlers: ...William Ennis, Alexander Ennis, John Ennis, Emanuel
Ennis, Benjamin Ennis, James Van Etten, Emanuel Van Etten, Joshua Van
Etten, James Van Etten, Jr....
Source: Sexton, John L., History of Seven Counties: An outline
history of Tioga and Bradford counties in Pennsylvania, Chemung,
Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins and Schuyler in New York, Elmira, NY:
Elmira Weekly Gazette, 1885.
History of Seneca County, Ohio
Page 1067:
Reed Township.
Town 2 N, Range 17 R.
Wilhelmus Ennes, e. 1/2 s. e. 1/4 sec. 13, May 4, 1830.
...
Wilhelmus Ennes, w. 1/2 n. w. 1/4 sec. 14, May 9, 1830.
...
Benjamin Enness, w. 1/2 n. e. 1/4 sec. 21, May 16, 1833.
Page 1069:
Reed Township.
Fractional T. 2 N., R. 18 E.
Wilhelmus Ennes, 115.48 a, n, w. pt. of n. w. 1/4 fr. sec. 18, May 4,
1830.
Source: Leeson, M. A., History of Seneca County, Ohio, Chicago: Warner, Beers, & Co., 1886.
Images of probate records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the record in another tab.
New York, Probate Records, 1629-1971:
Probate records of Magdalanah Ennis
Source: New York, Probate Records, 1629-1971," images, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YCY-D35?i=33&wc=Q7PG-MNP%3A213301801%2C213948601&cc=1920234 : accessed 08 Dec 2013), Tioga > Wills 1818-1840 vol C-D, 4, 8 > images 33-35 of 478.
New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999:
Probate records of Alexander Ennis
Wills, 1836-1923; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (Chemung
County); Probate Place: Chemung, New York
Notes: Wills, Vol 0003-0004, 1850-1862
Probate records of Emanuel Ennis
Will Books (Record of Probate, Letters of Administration, Wills)
1798-1905; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (Tioga County); Probate
Place: Tioga, New York
Notes: Will Book, C-D, Vol 004, 8, 1818-1840
Probate records of Benjamin Ennis
Wills, 1836-1923; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (Chemung
County); Probate Place: Chemung, New York
Notes: Wills, Vol 0005-0006, 1862-1866
Probate records of Amanda Pert
Wills, Letters, Vol 0001-0002, 1864-1870
Source: Ancestry.com. New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: New York County, District and Probate Courts.
JOHN VAN CAMPEN TO PRES. REED, 1780
Lower Smithfield, April the 24th, 1780.
Hon'd Sir,
I hope my last by Mr. Mixer is Come to hand informing you of the
Incursion of the Indians at the house of Manuel Gunsaleyes. I herewith
inform your honour of their later attempts. James McCarte with his
family was Removed to the Jersey, on the 20th Instant his Sons went to
their home to feed the Cattle, Discovered sings of Indians, Returned
to the Jersey Immediately & acquainted Major Westbrook and Captain
Westbrook the sings they had Discovered, they Sent Immediately for
some of their best men & Croos'd the River that night, about sun
rise the morning following Discovered the Indians Nigh the Barnn and
began the attack ; the number of the Enemy is supposed to be about
fourteen; the Major Received no Damage with his party; the Indians
retreated to the woods ; the major was Reinforced by Capt. Vannatten,
with three of his sons & son in Law, Pursued the Indians by the
Blood, & about two miles Came up with them. As it is without Doubt
three of them was wounded, Renewed the attack, Drove the Indians in a
few minutes, they Ran to the edge of a thick wood; Captain Vannatten
maintained his Ground with his few men, the Major with his men also,
Captain Westbrook's men left him at the first fire from the Enemy in
the woods, which was the ruin of the whole; but the ground maintained
for some time & the retreat secured by the Major & Vannatten;
Kill'd & missing on the part of the Major & Vannatten: Captain
Westbrook missing, not yet found, Benjamin Ennis kill'd, son in law to
Capt. Vannatten, Richard Rosekrans kill'd and two more wounded. Of the
Enemy Kill'd, two found, one an officer, appearing by his Dress, found
in his pocket a Regular Journal from the first of March until the 16th
Inst., as appears by his Journal there is three hundred & Ninety
marched from Niagagari, divided into Different parties, the Officer
was a White man.
Respective Sir,
I'me now under Difficulties of mind, what the Event will be God only
knows, the people are Determined to Evacuate the Country, as there
appears no prospect of Relief by the millitia.
I am Sir, with Due Respect,
Your Most Huble servt.,
John VanCampen.
P. S. The said McCartee, where the attack began, is about two miles
Below Wells' ferry, on the Banks of Delaware.
Capt. Vannatten lives in Delaware Township, one mile Below McCartee's.
Directed.
To his Excellency, Joseph Reed, President of the Executive Council,
Philadelphia.
Source: Hazard, Samuel, Pennsylvania Archive: Selected and
Arranged from Original Documents in the Office of the Secretary of
the Commonwealth...Commencing 1779, Vol. VIII, Philadelphia:
Joseph Severns & Co., 1853, pgs. 202-203. Available at
Archive.org.
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New Jersey Gazette
Source: New-Jersey Gazette, 3 May 1780.
Pension Records Mentioning Benjamin Ennis
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Gideon Cole (S9210)
Abraham Decker (S5332)
Andrew Dingman (S22731)
Samuel Helm (S4356)
Barnardus Swartwout (S22522)
Source: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Images of tax records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the record in another tab.
Northampton and Wayne
records
Source: United States Direct Tax of 1798: Tax Lists for the State of Pennsylvania. M372, microfilm, 24 rolls. Records of the Internal Revenue Service, 1791-2006, Record Group 58. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
Images of legislative records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the record in another tab.
Magdalena Ennes,
widow of the late
lieutenant Benjamin
Ennes
Source: Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: From the Fourteenth Day of October, One Thousand Seven Hundred, vol. 5, Philadephia: John Bioren, 1812, p. 334. Available at Google Books.
Images of excerpts from lineage society applications are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the excerpt in another tab.
Excerpts from the application of Erwin Kenneth Allen, Elmira, NY, 24
May 1952
Sons of the American Revolution (National number 75637, State number
8692)
of the lineage of the
applicant
information on
Jerusha, wife of
Alexander Ennis
Source: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls.
Copies of census records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the record in another tab.
1790
Delaware, Northampton, Pennsylvania
Name: Leanah Annes
Home in 1790 (City, County, State): Delaware,
Northampton, Pennsylvania
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over: 2
Free White Persons - Females: 3
Number of Household Members: 7
Source: First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm
publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census,
Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
1800
Spencer, Tioga, New York
Abraham Decker,
Alexander Annis,
John Annis
Emanuel Annis
Name: Abraham Decker
Home in 1800 (City, County, State): Owego, Tioga,
New York
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 4
Number of Household Members Over 25: 1
Number of Household Members: 6
Name: Alexander Annis
Home in 1800 (City, County, State): Owego, Tioga,
New York
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 2
Number of Household Members Over 25: 1
Number of Household Members: 4
Name: John Annis
Home in 1800 (City, County, State): Owego, Tioga,
New York
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Number of Household Members: 1
Name: Emanuel Annis
[Amanuel Annis]
Home in 1800 (City, County, State): Owego, Tioga,
New York
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 2
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 3
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 4
Number of Household Members Over 25: 1
Number of Household Members: 7
1810
Spencer, Tioga, New York
Alexander Ennis,
Manuel Ennis,
John Ennis,
Wilhlmus Ennis,
Benjamin Ennis,
Abraham Decker
Name: Alexander Ennis
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Spencer, Tioga,
New York
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 : 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 4
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 6
Name: Manuel Ennis
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Spencer, Tioga,
New York
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 : 1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 1
Number of Household Members Over 25: 1
Number of Household Members: 3
Name: John Ennis
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Spencer, Tioga,
New York
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 : 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 4
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 7
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 9
Name: Wilhlmus Ennis
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Spencer, Tioga,
New York
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 : 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 2
Number of Household Members Over 25: 3
Number of Household Members: 6
Name: Benjamin Ennis
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Spencer, Tioga,
New York
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 : 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 3
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 5
Name: Abraham Decker
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Spencer, Tioga,
New York
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 3
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 : 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 6
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 9
Source: Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
1820
Spencer, Tioga, New York
Name Alexander Ennis
Home in 1820 (City, County, State) Spencer, Tioga,
New York
Enumeration Date August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25 2
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15 1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture 3
Free White Persons - Under 16 2
Free White Persons - Over 25 2
Total Free White Persons 6
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other 6
Name John Ennis
Home in 1820 (City, County, State) Spencer, Tioga,
New York
Enumeration Date August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 3
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25 2
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15 2
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture 3
Free White Persons - Under 16 6
Free White Persons - Over 25 2
Total Free White Persons 11
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other 11
Name Emanuel Ennis
Home in 1820 (City, County, State) Spencer, Tioga,
New York
Enumeration Date August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 1
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture 1
Free White Persons - Under 16 2
Free White Persons - Over 25 2
Total Free White Persons 5
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other 5
Name Benjamin Ennis
Home in 1820 (City, County, State) Spencer, Tioga,
New York
Enumeration Date August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 4
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10 2
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture 1
Free White Persons - Under 16 8
Free White Persons - Over 25 2
Total Free White Persons 10
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other 10
Source: Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
1840
Cayuta, Chemung, New York
Name: Benjamin Ennis
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Cayuta, Chemung,
New York
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 4
Free White Persons - Under 20: 3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 3
Total Free White Persons: 8
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored,
Slaves: 8
Name: Alexander Ennis
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Cayuta, Chemung,
New York
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 70 thru 79: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 2
Free White Persons - Under 20: 1
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 1
Total Free White Persons: 4
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored,
Slaves: 4
Name: John Ennis
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Cayuta, Chemung,
New York
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 4
Free White Persons - Under 20: 4
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 8
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored,
Slaves: 8
Source: Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
1850
Cayuta, Chemung, New York
Ennis, Benj Ennis;
Roll: M432_486;
Page: 149A;
Image: 301
Source: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
1860
Van Etten, Chemung, New York
Ennis;
Roll: M653_730;
Page: 862;
Family History Library
Film: 803730
Athens, Bradford, Pennsylvania
Roll: M653_1080;
Page: 68;
Family History Library
Film: 805080
Source: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
1855 New York
Pulteney, Steuben, New York
Chenango, Broome, New York
Source: Ancestry.com. New York, State Census, 1855 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Census of the state of New York, for 1855. Microfilm. Various County Clerk Offices, New York.
Photos are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the photo in another tab.
Drew Cemetery, Urbana, Steuben, New York
Photo credit: Anthony
Townsend, findagrave.com
Inscription:
ELIZABETH
wife of
ABRAHAM DECKER
DIED
March 6, 1856
Aged 86 yrs.
3mos. 19ds.
Ennis Cemetery, Cayuta, Schuyler, New York
Photo credit:
B. Carkido,
findagrave.com
b. 6 Dec 1766,
d. 24 Mar 1844
Photo credit:
B. Carkido,
findagrave.com
Photo credit:
B. Carkido,
findagrave.com
Photo credit:
Renee Arnold,
findagrave.com
of Benjamin and
Magdalena)
Photo credit:
B. Carkido,
findagrave.com
Ennis Cemetery
Located in the Town of Van Etten (partly in the Town of Cayuta,
Schuyler County), south of State Route 224. Brackets enclose
data not found on the markers, but added for interest or
clarification.
...
Last Name: ENNIS
First Name: EMANUEL
Relationship/Inscription/Comments: In memory of, who died January 26,
1828. (He was an early settler in what became the Town of Van Etten.
The tombstone is an excellent shale.)
Source: Boyd, Joseph, Ennis Cemetery, Town of VanEtten, Chemung
County, New York, 23 Sep1979, typed by Ruth Bryan, as appears on
Tice, Joyce M., Tri-Counties Genealogy & History Sites,
http://www.joycetice.com/cemc/enniscem.htm, accessed 15 Feb 2019.
North Spencer Cemetery, Spencer, Tioga, New York
Photo credit: Fred/Kathy,
findagrave.com
Barnes Cemetery, Cayuta, Schuyler, New York
Ennis, John d.8-25-1847 age 73-9-7
Catharine his wife
d.10-8-1852 age 69
Source: Fenton, William E., "Barnes Cemetery, Town of Cayuta, Schuyler co., NY," Schuyler co., NY Genweb Site, http://schuyler.nygenweb.net/BarnesF.html, last accessed 11 April 2021.
Notes about this cemetery from William E. Fenton: "This is on the south side of Rt 224 (east of Cayuta) almost to the county line. Going east watch for a farm with a long low building on the left side of the road. On the right watch for the small green survey signs along the road. The top line says '224' the middle says '6302' and the bottom line is '1003'. If you park by that sign there is an open field on the right. The cemetery is in the brush and trees at the southeast corner of that field. It is overgrown and difficult to get thru. All stones visible checked on 9-24-1996. There are large areas where no stones are visible."
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Author: Michelle A. Boyd
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Last updated 11 April 2021