John Annis 1700-c.1771

Image: Annis Coat



John Annis was born May 1, 1700 at Newbury, Massachusetts the son of Abraham and Hannah (____?) Annis. John and Abigail Rolfe had their marriage intentions published on October 3, 1724 at Newbury, and they married on the following December 16th at Newbury with the marriage ceremony having been performed by one Reverend John Tufts.

John removed to Haverhill, Massachusetts in 1732, after selling his land and cordwainer shop at Newbury. He purchased property at Merry's Creek Pond for 280 Pounds Sterling, and resided there until about 1743. It was then that he removed to Bradford, Massachusetts. While residing at Bradford in 1748 he was mustered under Captain Goffe for scouting against the Indians. During that period of the French and Indian War, Bradford and Haverhill, Massachusetts, as well as many other frontier settlements, were under constant threat, and raiding parties of Native Americans, sanctioned and encouraged by the French, were a common occurrence.

According to Essex County records John and Abigail returned to Newbury in 1760 and purchased 19 and 3/4 acres of land on September 7, 1761 from Moses Hale, housewright, of Newbury.

There are several deeds that are on record concerning John, including a parcel of land at "New Hopkinton" (now Hopkinton, New Hampshire) that he sold to his brother Daniel in 1758. It is possible that this "frontier land" may have been granted to him for his service in the war. John was a cordwainer by profession. His sons, and their descendants, are the most numerous, and most frequently recorded lineage from Cormac Annis. Abigail Rolfe was the daughter of Ezra and Abigail (Bond) Rolfe.

Recently discovered records indicate that John was, quite possibly, a slave owner. In the following Haverhill Vital Record is found reference to a slave child being baptized:

Vital Records of Haverhill Volume 1

Records of births, marriages and deaths in Haverhill from its inception to 1849. These records were kept by town clerks, in church records, cemetery inscriptions, and Family Bibles.

"Pompi, "slave to John Annis about 2 years old entered " May 14, 1737. [bp. Aug. --, 1736. C. R. 3.]"

Evidently, "Pompi" was a child of John's black slave(s) and was baptized when he became of age. It has already been shown by the records that John was residing at Haverhill from 1732 to 1743.

Children:

1. Ezra Annis, born March 26, 1726

2. Sarah Annis, born June 12, 1729, died August 15, 1729

3. Sarah Annis, born May 22, 1730, married January 18, 1756 to Thomas Mitchell at Bradford, MA

4. Rolfe Annis, born December 21, 1734

5. John Annis, born February 22, 1735/1736

6. Charles Annis, born March 10, 1737/1738

7. Jacob Annis, born August 11, 1741

8. James Annis, born September 9, 1743

9. Jesse Annis, born August 8, 1745

10. Abigail Annis, born September 9, 1747, married November 12, 1772 to William Bemis at Westminster, MA

11. Lydia Annis, born June 1750, married Oreb Montague before 1799.




Annis Family Association



Links

The Annis Family in the US and Canada

Abraham Annis 1668-1738

The Children of John Annis 1700-c.1771