The Sons of John Annis 1700-1771
Ezra Annis was born March 26, 1726 at Newbury, MA, the eldest son of John and Abigail (Rolfe) Annis. He married on December 20, 1752 to Sarah Long at Bradford, MA.
After the birth of their first two children, Ezra moved his family from Bradford and settled on a farm on the line between Andover and Tewksbury. On April 19, 1775, as a Private in Captain Joshua Holt's Company he marched from Andover and participated in the route of the British from Lexington in the opening battle of the American Revolution. Ezra was joined in his commitment to fight as a "Minuteman" by his two sons Phineas and Ezra Annis Jr. The Annis family was also represented by Ezra's younger brother, James Annis (1743-1829) on that famous day in world history.
With the end of the Revolution, Ezra sold his property in Massachusetts and followed his son John to Thetford, Orange County, VT. John was also a veteran of the Revolution and his service here near Orford, included skirmishes with hostile Canadian Indians while on frontier duty. John's experiences and time spent in this area induced him to return after the war, and he settled at Thetford, Vermont. He was responsible for encouraging many members of his family to join him on the frontier, including his parents, brothers Ezra, Phineas, and Jacob, as well as several uncles and cousins.
Ezra was a simple farmer, a pioneer, a patriot, and a faithful follower of Christ. He spent the last few years of his long and productive life at his daughter Ruth's home in Boscawen, NH and died there in 1818. In the Historical Gazeteer of Vermont may be found the following reference: Joel Symonds settled on the mountain in Thetford where Mr. Ezra Annis used to live in 1816." This would indicate that he did not go to Boscawen until his 90th year.
Children:1. Phineas Annis, born May 22, 1753
2. Ezra Annis, born November 3, 1754
3. Ruth Annis, born March 22, 1757; married October 15, 1778, Eliakim Walker at Tewksbury, MA.
4. James Annis, born 1758, twin, died as an infant.
5. Sarah Annis, born 1759, twin, died as an infant.
6. Sarah Annis, born November 28, 1759; married February 23, 1779, Josiah Jones at Andover, MA.
7. Eleanor Annis, born August 12, 1760
8. Jacob Annis, born February 26, 1763
9. John Annis, born August 20, 1764
10. Priscilla Annis, born November 1765
11. Dolly Annis, born November 1766 at Andover, MA; died at the age of 17 at Thetford, VT
12. James Annis, born 1768, died as an infant.
13. James Annis, born Febraury 10, 1770
14. Abigail Annis, born February 24, 1771; married 1789, Joshua Bradshaw at Canaan, NH.
15. Judith Annis, born May 2, 1773 at Andover, MA
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Photograph courtesy of Win Langill of New Hampshire
Rolfe Annis was born December 21, 1734 at Haverhill, MA, the son of John and Abigail (Rolfe) Annis. He married September 1, 1757, Sarah Rollins at Newbury, MA. Sarah's Rollin's mother was Hannah Annis, the daughter of Abraham Annis, and therefore a first cousin. Rolfe's marriage to Sarah is recorded at Bradford, MA where he was residing at that time, and his first three children were born there. He also resided at Methuen, MA by 1763, where his daughter Hannah was born, and Andover, MA in 1765 and 1767 where his youngest daughters were born.
On November 16, 1770 he sold land at Haverhill, when it was reported that he was residing at Windham, Rockingham County, NH. Like his father he was a cordwainer by profession, but records are both incomplete and conflicting as to the movement of Rolfe and his family after 1770. The date of his death and burial place are unknown. According to Massachusetts Archives (Eastern Land Deeds, Vol. I, pp. 420-422) Rolfe Annis, along with his son Benjamin, settled on Butter (or Annis Island) in Penobscot Bay, Maine before January 1, 1784. It is possible that Rolfe sold his land at Haverhill, moved to Maine, and spent the remainder of his life there. The name is recorded both as Rolfe and Ralph Annis.
Children:1. Benjamin Annis, born October 20, 1758; died November 26, 1844
2. Isaac Annis, born November 1759; died 1836 at Londonderry, NH
3. Sarah Annis, born August 30, 1761
4. Ralph or Rolfe Annis, born May 15, 1763
5. Hannah Annis, born February 24, 17656
6. Rebecca Annis, born April 05, 1767; married Samuel Black about 1765 in Sedgewick, Hancock, ME.
John Annis was born February 22, 1735/36 at Newbury, MA. There is but little known about John, except that he accompanied his Uncle Daniel Annis to Warner, NH 1762. He returned to Newbury, MA before 1776, at which time he served in the American Revolution. He enlisted in Captain Greenleaf's Company, Colonel Benjamin Tupper's Regiment on March 10, 1777 at Newburyport for three years. He was recorded that he was taken prisoner at Hubelton on July 7, 1777 and held prisoner in Canada.
There is no further record of John, but it is suspected that like many of his brothers he migrated to western New York state after the war. There are early records of a John Annis at Stafford and Batavia, New York, where many other members of the family settled, but more research is needed.
Charles Annis was born March 10, 1737/38 at Haverhill, MA; died 1804 at Whitby, Ontario, Canada; married circa 1768, Sarah Emerson {1746-1831} at Methuen, MA.
The earliest record of Charles is that he accompanied his elder brother Rolfe Annis to Windham, New Hampshire soon after his marriage (circa 1770). He returned to Essex County, Massachusetts, and later served several periods of military duty during the Revolution including:Enlisted Captain James Perry's Company, Colonel Sargent's Regiment, and marched to Breed's Hill on June 16, 1775 (Battle of Bunker Hill)
Enlisted September 13, 1777 into Captain Stephen Russell's Company, Colonel Samuel Bullard's Regiment, discharged November 30, 1777 with three months service with General Warner's Brigade in the Northern Department.
Although it has been reported in several family history research projects that he was an aide-de-camp to General George Washington during the Revolution, this is not recorded in any official record that, of this date, can be found and substantiated.
Charles did return to Windham, New Hampshire before the end of the Revolution, and this explains his service in a New Hampshire Continental Line Regiment. After the war he began a series of moves through New York and Pennsylvania, and the timeline of his movements does get much harder to follow. During the 1790 Federal census he was residing at Aurelius, Cayuga County, New York, and it is from here in 1793-1796 that he crossed the border into Ontario, Canada. His journey to Canada began by first exploring the north coast of Lake Ontario by boat, he than returned to New York, gathered his family, possessions, a mare horse and her colt, and went by ox cart to the area that is present day Whitby, Ontario. Legend has it that Charles was halted by British authorities at the Niagara River and asked if he was one of those who fought against England in 1776. He replied: "I will always fight for my home, and where my property is." It was reported that Governor Simcoe of Ontario, upon hearing this report, exclaimed: "That is the type of citizen we want."
After a two week halt at Toronto, the family pressed on through the heavily timbered district just east of Toronto where they camped in the midst of a fine forest of white pine, beech, and maple. It was here that Charles and his two eldest sons cleared the land of the virgin forest and built homes in the wilderness. This area is now part of Scarborough Heights. The original Royal land grant was still in the possession of his descendants in 1931. Sarah Emerson was born June 1, 1741, the daughter of Charles and Susanna (Silver) Emerson. She died December 5, 1831 at Whitby, Ontario, Canada.Children:
1. Mary Annis, born January 2, 1769 at Windham, NH, married Abram Terwilleger.
2. Charles Annis, born July 19, 1771
3. Sarah Annis, born December 17, 1773 at Windham, NH; married Abraham Coryell.
4. William Annis, born 1775
5. Elizabeth Annis, born June 19, 1780 Luzerne, PA; married April 5, 1804 Acheus Farewell at Whitby, Ontario, Canada; died May 4, 1851 at Whitby.
6. Levi Annis, born April 27, 1781 at Seneca Lake, NY.
7. Roger Annis, born 1783 at Cayuga County, NY.
8. Ezra Annis, born 1785 at Cayuga County, NY.
9. David Annis, born April 5, 1786; died May 28, 1861.
Jacob Annis was born August 11, 1741 at Haverhill, MA, the son of John and Abigail (Rolfe) Annis. He married 1st, circa 1764, Mary (Molly) Haggitt at Andover, MA and had five children; married 2nd, February 1, 1787, Anna Mace at Tewksbury, MA, and had one child.
Jacob served several periods of military duty during the Revolution, for which he drew a pension. He followed his brother Ezra Annis and his sons, to Vermont after 1787, and was residing at Strafford in 1798. On November 5, 1798 he endorsed and subscribed to a document that declared "an act for the support of the Gospel for a Universalist Society" formed at that town. Jacob died on October 18, 1812 and he is buried at Thetford, VT.
Children:1. Abigail, born September 30, 1765
2. Mary (Molly), born November 22, 1767
3. Jacob, born November 10, 1769; died September 6, 1848
4. Zelphe, born July 7, 1771
5. Lydia, born September 29, 1776
6. Anna, born May 27, 1787
James Annis was born September 9, 1743 at Bradford, MA, the son of John and Abigail (Rolfe) Annis. He married Beulah Griffin May 30, 1770 at Tewksbury, MA.
James was a "Minuteman" and marched to the alarm of April 19, 1775 at Lexington, MA with Captain Joshua Holt's Company from Andover, MA. He also served in Captain Ford's Company, Colonel Robison's Regiment from February 5 to April 1, 1776.
After the Revolution, James removed to Stamford, VT and resided there until at least 1800, after which time he emigrated to Madison County, NY. In 1800 his son Oliver, at the time 23 years old and single, was residing at Madison County, NY, and it may be possible his father followed him there. James was a millwright, carpenter, and farmer, and it has been recorded that he settled at Nelson, NY, and eventually constructed a grist mill on the Erieville Creek, approximately one and a half miles north of Erieville village. It has been recorded that James transported the grinding stone for the mill from Vermont. This mill was handed down to his youngest son, Truman who operated it until 1818. At that time Truman sold his interests in the mill to Oliver Poole, who eventually replaced the mill with a larger version upstream.
In 1807 James and his son Uriah were elected to the positions of overseers of highways and fencerows at Nelson, NY, which indicates that the family was both well known, and trusted, by the local citizens.
It was reported in Early Pioneers of Madison County New York that James died in 1829 at Locke, NY, at the home of his eldest son James Annas Jr. His final resting place is unknown.
Children:1. Diadama Annas, born April 22, 1771
2. James Annas, born January 25, 1774
3. Beulah Annas, born September 22, 1775 at Andover, MA ; died November 14, 1848 at Pompey Hollow, NY; married 1800, Reverend Timothy Dewey
4. Oliver Annas, born September 3, 1777
5. Salathiel Annis, born July 5, 1779
6. Uriah Annis, born May 13, 1781
7. John Annis, born August 12, 1783 at Andover, MA; died as an infant
8. Truman Annas, born September 2, 1786
The Battle of Lexington and Concord - An excellent short history of the events leading up to "The Shot Heard 'round the World"
The Children of James and Beulah Annis
James Annas 1774-1862 - Clergyman
Truman Annas 1786-1865
Jesse Annis was born August 8, 1745 at Bradford, MA, the son of John and Abigail (Rolfe) Annis. He married March 1, 1765, Sarah Emerson, who died soon after the birth of their son Joseph; married 2nd, December 15, 1768, Mary Emerson (Sarah's sister) at Haverhill, MA and had twelve children. It was reported that Jesse married a third time to Elizabeth ______, and there were no children born of that union.
Jesse was a tanner by trade, and removed to Londonderry, NH before the American Revolution. It was there, in 1776, that he signed the Association Test, a document that identified him as a patriot. He sold his property at Londonderry on May 5, 1789, and removed to Fairlee, VT, where he resided for about five years before moving on to Vershire, VT.
He is buried at Post Mills cemetery at Thetford and the inscription on his headstone reads: "In Memory of Mr. Jesse Annis Who died Sept. 20 - 1820 Age 75."
Children:1. Sarah Annis, born July 12, 1769 at Londonderry, NH, married June 26, 1788, George Bixby at Salem, NH.
2. Jesse Maslon Annis, born 1770.
3. William Henry Annis
4. Polly Annis, born 1780 at Londonderry, NH; married December 5, 1800, Elijah Merrill at Corinth, VT.
5. Betsy Annis, born July 1, 1782 at Londonderry, NH; married June 2, 1803, Jeremiah Merrill at Corinth, VT; died December 16, 1872 at Corinth.
6. John Brokelbank Annis, born 1783
7. Thomas Annis, born March 17, 1785
8. Patty Annis, born 1786 at Londonderry, NH; married November 5, 1815, John Eastman at Corinth, VT.
9. Lydia Annis, born October 30, 1788 at Londonderry, NH; married November 20, 1808, Orasmus W. B. Eastman at Corinth, VT; died December 24, 1863 at Corinth.
10. Asa Annis, born 1790
11. James Annis, born September 15, 1792 at Fairlee, VT.
12. Isaac Annis, born 1793
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