James William Ennis (1839 - 1923)

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

research of descendant James W. Ennis, my third great-grandfather, fought on the side of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Cousin, Eileen Ennis Fox, shared a little lore on the circumstance of James W. Ennis' conscription into Confederate service. It is passed on that an attempt was made to draftJames into the war cause and he decided to flee—his brother Marshall was taken in his stead. It is believed that James relented because Marshall had kids and a pregnant wife. When Marshall was returned to his family, he soon moved to Ohio. On 5 June 1864, James Ennis was captured at the battle of Piedmont, Virginia. He spent the remainder of the war at Indianapolis prison camp called, Camp Morton. He was released June 12, 1865—taking a very long time to return home (one cousin stated that he had walked home). As a result of James' long return home, his parents assumed he was dead and had given all his belongings away. In 1867, James W. Ennis married Hulda Jane Kincaid in Fayette County. Hulda was the daughter of James and Sarah Martin Kincaid of Fayette County. The Kincaid side of my family also has a story of three ancestral brothers that left Edinburgh Scotland for America. James Kincaid died in 1923 and his wife Hulda Kincaid Ennis died in 1938—they are buried in the Ennis Cemetery of Meadow Bridge. On September 9, 1897, James and Hulda Ennis's daughter, Susan Mary Ennis, married Sanford Samuel Grigsby in Fayette County, West Virginia. Sanford was the son of Charles and Annie Elizabeth Ailstock Grigsby of Bath and Rockbridge County, Virginia. Susan died shortly after the birth of their third child in 1902 Kanawha County, West Virginia. Susan's youngest sister, Annie Lee Ennis, was the last surviving child of James and Hulda Ennis. The oldest child of Sanford and Susan Mary Ennis Grigsby was Forrest Leonard Grigsby; Forrest was my great grandfather and the father of my grandmother, Alma Grigsby Mitchell.

James was born in 1847.

Sources

• Name: James W. Ennis

Age (Expanded): 20 years Birth Year (Estimated): 1847 Birth Date: Birthplace: Greenbrier Spouse's Name: Hulda J. Kincaid Spouse's Age (Expanded): 17 years Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1850 Spouse's Birth Date: Spouse's Birthplace: Greenbrier Event Type: Marriage Event Date: 05 Dec 1867 Event Place: Fayette County, West Virginia Father's Name: Sherod Ennis Mother's Name: Easter Ennis Spouse's Father's Name: James Kincaid Spouse's Mother's Name: Sarah Kincaid Marital Status: Single Previous Wife's Name: Spouse's Marital Status: Single Spouse's Previous Husband's Name: GS Film number: 584764 Digital Folder Number: 4227404 Image Number: 243 Reference ID: p5 Affiliate Repository Type: County Records

Citing this Record: "West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FB5R-VNT : 4 December 2014), James W. Ennis and Hulda J. Kincaid, 05 Dec 1867; citing Fayette County, West Virginia, p5, county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 584,764.

1910 census

Name: James W Ennis Titles and Terms: Event Type: Census Event Date: 1910 Event Place: Quinnimont, Fayette, West Virginia, United States District: ED 25 Gender: Male Age: 70 Marital Status: Married Race: White Race (Original): White Relationship to Head of Household: Head Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head Birth Year (Estimated): 1840 Birthplace: West Virginia Immigration Year: Father's Birthplace: West Virginia Mother's Birthplace: West Virginia Sheet Letter: A Sheet Number: 9 Sheet Number and Letter: 9A Household ID: 149 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T624 Affiliate Film Number: 1680 GS Film Number: 1375693 Digital Folder Number: 005157566 Image Number: 00468

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace James W Ennis Head M 70 West Virginia Huldy J Ennis Wife F 60 West Virginia Andrew A Ennis Son M 19 West Virginia Louie E Ennis Daughter F 17 West Virginia Annie L Ennis Daughter F 15 West Virginia

Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPJC-H59 : accessed 23 August 2017), James W Ennis, Quinnimont, Fayette, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 25, sheet 9A, family 149, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1680; FHL microfilm 1,375,693.

1920 census Name: James W Ennis Titles and Terms: Event Type: Census Event Date: 1920 Event Place: Quinnimont, Fayette, West Virginia, United States District: ED 40 Gender: Male Age: 79 Marital Status: Married Race: White Race (Original): White Can Read: Can Write: Relationship to Head of Household: Head Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head Own or Rent: Birth Year (Estimated): 1841 Birthplace: West Virginia Immigration Year: Father's Birthplace: West Virginia Mother's Birthplace: West Virginia Sheet Letter: A Sheet Number: 24 Sheet Number and Letter: 24A Household ID: 420 Line Number: 12 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T625 Affiliate Film Number: 1948 GS Film Number: 1821948 Digital Folder Number: 004969010 Image Number: 00481

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace James W Ennis Head M 79 West Virginia Hulda Ennis Wife F 69 West Virginia Andrew Ennis Son M 29 West Virginia Beatrice Ennis Daughter-in-law F 24 West Virginia Seput Ramsey Nephew M 17 West Virginia

Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNL9-4JK : accessed 23 August 2017), James W Ennis, Quinnimont, Fayette, West Virginia, United States; citing ED 40, sheet 24A, line 12, family 420, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1948; FHL microfilm 1,821,948.

1880 census

Name: James W Innis Event Type: Census Event Date: 1880 Event Place: Sewell Mountain, Fayette, West Virginia, United States District: ED 29 Gender: Male Age: 41 Marital Status: Married Race: White Race (Original): W Occupation: Farmer Relationship to Head of Household: Self Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Self Birth Year (Estimated): 1839 Birthplace: West Virginia, United States Father's Birthplace: Virginia, United States Mother's Birthplace: Virginia, United States Note: Sheet Letter: B Sheet Number: 82 Sheet Number and Letter: 82B Household ID: 13033728 Person Number: 0 Volume: 1 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T9 Affiliate Film Number: 1402 GS Film Number: 1255402 Digital Folder Number: 005162814 Image Number: 00169

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace James W Innis Self M 41 West Virginia, United States Huldy J Innis Wife F 28 West Virginia, United States William Innis Son M 10 West Virginia, United States John M Innis Son M 8 West Virginia, United States Sarah F Innis Daughter F 7 West Virginia, United States Mary S Innis Daughter F 1 West Virginia, United States

Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6R2-NG6 : 15 July 2017), James W Innis, Sewell Mountain, Fayette, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district ED 29, sheet 82B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1402; FHL microfilm 1,255,402.

Source:http://www.tedmrd.com/ENNIS/Ennis.htm#_Toc121894900

James W. Ennis, fought on the side of the Confederacy during the Civil War. It is passed on that an attempt was made to draft James into the war cause and he decided to flea—his brother Marshall was taken in his stead. It is believed that James relented because Marshall had kids and a pregnant wife. When Marshall was returned to his family, he soon moved to Ohio. On 5 June 1864, James Ennis was captured at the battle of Piedmont, Virginia. He spent the remainder of the war at Indianapolis prison camp called, Camp Morton. He was released June 12, 1865—taking a very long time to return home (one cousin stated that he had walked home). As a result of James' long return home, his parents assumed he was dead and had given all his belongings away. In 1867, James W. Ennis married Hulda Jane Kincaid in Fayette County. Hulda was the daughter of James and Sarah Martin Kincaid of Fayette County. The Kincaid side of my family also has a story of three ancestral brothers that left Edinburgh Scotland for America.

James W. Ennis (1839-1923) Dec. 5, 1923, Co. C 60th Va. Infantry C.S.A. An old resident of the eastern part of Fayette County died at his home at Red Springs December 5, 1923. He was born April 15, 1839, in Greenbrier County, but when 10 years of age, moved with his parents to Fayette County. Besides his wife, he is survived by the following: William, Noel, and Benjamin Ennis of Red Springs. John Ennis of Grandview, W. I. Ennis of Beckley, Andrew Ennis of Mahan. Mrs. F. J. Goad of Grandview, Mrs. A. A. Godard of Red Springs, Mrs. Cline Gwinn of Red Springs, and two grandchildren, Forest and Ralph Grigsby, sons of the late Susan Grigsby of Mahan.[61] James W. Ennis Civil War Records 60th Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army The 60th Virginia Infantry, originally known as the 3rd Regiment Infantry, Wise Legion, was formed on August 13, 1861, with 10 companies lettered A to K. An 11th company was added in Sept., but the regiment was again reduced to 10 companies when the original Company H was transferred to the 59th Virginia Infantry on November 5, 1861. Company A - Beirne Sharpshooters Company B - Greenbrier Mountain Rifles Company C - Dixie Rifles (Company of James W. Ennis) Company D - Allegheny Rifles Company E - Bruce Rifles Company F - James River Rifles Company G - Roane Rangers Company H1 - Richmond Light Guard Company H2 - Captain John A. Pack's Company Company I - Captain White G. Ryan's Company Company K - Osceola Guards."

The 60th Virginia Infantry was originally commanded by Colonel William E. Starke. While serving as the 3rd Regiment Infantry, Wise Legion under Brigadier General Henry Alexander Wise, the unit fought at Sewell Mountain on September 27, 1861. The 60th Virginia Infantry served in the Army of Northern Virginia in June and July 1862, and as such participated in the Seven Days Battles around Richmond and specifically at Gaines' Mill on June 27, 1862. Reassigned to the Department of Western Virginia and East Tennessee, served in the mountains from the fall of 1862 until the spring of 1864 as part of John McCausland's Brigade. From the spring of 1864 until the end of the war, the regiment served in the Shenandoah Valley as part of Smith's Brigade, Wharton's Division, under General Jubal Anderson Early. Engagements during this period include Cloyd's Mountain, Piedmont, Monocacy, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, and Waynesboro.

Summary of James W. Ennis Civil War Service[58] Enlisted: June 26, 1861 at Gauley Bridge by B. H. Jones. Aug 31, 1861 listed as absent after Gen. Wise fell back from Gauley Bridge. Dec 31, 1861 listed as sick at Salem Va. Feb 29, 1864 listed as absent for six days without leave. Oct 31, 1864 listed as absent. Remarks stated that he had been captured on June 5 at Battle of Piedmon. (1500 confederates were captured at this battle)

He appears on a roll of Prisoners of War at Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Indiana. He was received there on June 21, 1864.

He took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States on June 12, 1865 at Camp Morton, and was released on the same day.

According to a story in the book “The Flood and the Blood”, by Dennis Deitz, copyright 1988, the relatives of James W. Ennis assumed he had died during the war and were surprised when he showed up – after walking home from the prisoner of war camp.

Source: http://www.tedmrd.com/ENNIS/Ennis.htm#_Toc121894894 James W. Ennis (1839-1923) Dec. 5, 1923, Co. C 60th Va. Infantry C.S.A. An old resident of the eastern part of Fayette County died at his home at Red Springs December 5, 1923. He was born April 15, 1839, in Greenbrier County, but when 10 years of age, moved with his parents to Fayette County. Besides his wife, he is survived by the following: William, Noel, and Benjamin Ennis of Red Springs. John Ennis of Grandview, W. I. Ennis of Beckley, Andrew Ennis of Mahan. Mrs. F. J. Goad of Grandview, Mrs. A. A. Godard of Red Springs, Mrs. Cline Gwinn of Red Springs, and two grandchildren, Forest and Ralph Grigsby, sons of the late Susan Grigsby of Mahan.[61]

Contract between James W. Ennis and his sister, Margret Ennis Article of agreement entered into this the 19th day of February 1892 between James W. Ennis of the first part and Marget Ennis of the second part. The said Marget Ennis now gives up her entire possession and enters into a new contract. J. W. Ennis agrees to rent the said Marget Ennis the house which she now lives in for the term of one year and the said Marget is to move out and give the said J. W. Ennis full possession when the year is out and the said J. W. Ennis further agrees to let the said Marget Marget help him to work the field around said house in corn and the said Marget Ennis and Wallace is to help with the balance of the crop and her son Wallace is to help to put out work and gather the said corn and is to have one third of what is raised on said field and the said Marget is to have no fruit only what the said J. W. Ennis has cause to let her have and the said Marget Ennis is to have no authority whatever only what is named in this article of agreement and the said Marget Ennis is to harbor no men and if the said Marget forfits this contract in any way she is to move out and give the said J. W. Ennis full possession in ten days notice as witness our hand and seal Feb 19th 1892. J. W. Ennis Marget Ennis her mark Witness W. Ennis

James William was a farmer. In 1870, he owned property valued at $150.

James and Huldah had ten children.