Charles Annis

Charles "Cormac" Annis

Birth: 1638 z-*Fermanagh, Ireland Death: Dec. 19, 1717 Newbury Old Town Essex County Massachusetts, USA

Charles "Cormac" Annis was born in the town of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ulster Province, Ireland in the year 1638. Charles is often referred to in the early records of Essex county, Massachusetts as "Curmac", "Curmack" or "Cormac". The latter is correct, as that name is the Irish, or more properly, Celtic translation of Charles. It has been established with certainty that Cormac was considered an Irishman by his fellow citizens of Newbury, Massachusetts. He was not a "freeman" when he arrived at Newbury, and although the record of whom he was indentured to has not been discovered, we do know that in 1678 he took the Oath of Allegiance. On April 18, 1678 Cormac was made a Freeman, with all the duties and privileges that came with that station.

Immigrant

Old things behind me now I follow the westward sinking sun It seems to rise for me Behind me, Ireland, laws I cannot stand, Land I cannot own, religion I will not follow Behind me is the eternal darkness I own a darker future ahead I reach for the light I seek adventure,prosperity and FREEDOM

Family links:

Children:

 Joseph Annis (1666 - 1758)*

 Abraham Annis (1668 - 1738)*

 Isaac Annis (1672 - 1712)*

Spouse:

 Sarah Chase Annis (1646 - 1726)

*Point here for explanation

Burial: First Burying Ground Newbury Old Town Essex County Massachusetts, USA

---------------------------------------------------------------

Charles “Cormac” Annis was born in the town of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ulster Province, Ireland in the year 1638. Although it has been suggested by some that the name of Charles' birthplace may have some connection with the surname Annis, in actuality the name is English in origin. The name can be found in Huntingdonshire and Nottinghamshire as early as the beginning of the 13th century.

It has been established with certainty that Cormac was considered an Irishman by his fellow citizens of Newbury, Massachusetts. He was not a "freeman" when he arrived at Newbury, and although the record of whom he was indentured to has not been discovered, we do know that in 1678 he took the Oath of Allegiance. On April 18, 1678 Cormac was made a Freeman, with all the duties and privileges that came with that station. The History of Newbury, Massachusetts, by Joshua Coffin hints that Cormac Annis, and several other Irish settlers at Newbury, were among the first to introduce potatoes as a viable food crop in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This was an important addition to the diet of the lean and hungry colonists. Cormac is recorded as a "Planter", and from the evidence of his many land holdings and homesteads in his possession at the time of his death, he was a very successful one as well.

Two years after his arrival at Newbury, at the age of 28, Cormac married Sarah Chase, the eldest daughter of Aquila and Ann Chase. The marriage vows were exchanged on May 15, 1666 at Newbury, and during the course of their married life, Cormac and Sarah accumulated a substantial amount of property in the Newbury area. According to "The Ancestry of Annis Spear 1775-1858", by Walter Goodwin Davis (1945), Cormac settled in the western portion of Newbury near his wife's family. A list of his properties, who he purchased them from, and the final disposition of the properties is listed here. Acquired Properties of Cormac Annis Sarah Chase Annis was born July 6, 1647 at Newbury, Massachusetts, of Aquila Chase {1626-1670} and Ann Wheeler {1629-1687}. Her father was an early mariner and is credited with being the first to navigate the Merrimack River.

In 1669, Cormac was one of those protesting against the methods of the selectmen in assigning seats in the town's meeting house. In 1674, Cormac and his wife Sarah were character witnesses for Thomas Tewkesbury, saying, "he carried himself well all the time he lived in the house with widow Bartlett".

Cormac deeded a parcel of land at Newbury on May 10, 1708 to Anthony Morse and Major Henry Somersby. There may also be found in the early records vague references concerning other marsh grassland and orchards. Cormac was, without doubt, a man of property and position in the coastal environs of northeast Massachusetts.

Other interesting Essex County, Massachusetts records concern the livestock and taxes that Cormac paid taxes in 1685. The list includes: "3 heads, 1 house, 5 acres plowland, 3 horses, 5 cows, 20 sheep". In 1698 he paid taxes on "3 heads, 1 house, 9 acres of plowland, 1 horse, 2 cows, and 1 hogg". While residing at Newbury he owned an Indian servant by the name of "Malaky Edwards", and this man is mentioned in the Will of Cormac as "my Boy". Malaky Edwards was to continue in service to Sarah, and is again mentioned in Sarah's Will of 1726 as "my Indian servant".

Although Cormac Annis was not the earliest recorded Annis colonist, he was the original emigrant ancestor of the vast majority of extant Annis families in the United States and Canada. He and Sarah had eight children, seven having survived to adulthood. They were, Joseph, Sarah, Abraham, Aquila, Isaac, Priscilla, Hannah and Anne. Aquila was born June 6, 1670 and died in infancy, April 17, 1672, five days after the birth of his brother Isaac.

It appears that Cormac may have had a brother that either came with him to Newbury, or settled there shortly after Cormac's arrival. In several early records there is mention of Michael Annis also a native of Enniskillen, Ireland. In the book Immigrants to America Before 1750 (page 63), there is an entry that reads: ANNAS (Annis, Ennis), Michael, from Enniskillen, Ireland; settled at Newbury, Mass. (perhaps same as Curmas alias Charles); (M419). Cormac's entry in the same book (page 64) reads: ANNIS (Annes, Annice), Curmac or Charles (b. Enniskelen, Ire., 1638 [says Coffin] - d. Newbury, Mass., Dec. 19, 1717), came from Ire. to N. E. and settled at Newbury, Mass., planter; m. May 15, 1666, Sarah Chase (d. before 1726).

Unfortunately, there is no further record of Michael Annis at Newbury, but there are other tantalizing scraps of information that could lead to the supposition that he was the founder of a separate branch of the Annis clan in New England.

In about 1664, he set sail for America and settled in Newbury, MA. Two years after his arrival at Newbury, at the age of 28, Cormac married Sarah Chase, the eldest daughter of Aquila and Ann Chase. The marriage vows were exchanged on May 15, 1666 at Newbury, and during the course of their married life, Cormac and Sarah accumulated a substantial amount of property in the Newbury area. Although Cormac Annis was not the earliest recorded Annis colonist, he was the original emigrant ancestor of the vast majority of extant Annis families in the United States and Canada. He and Sarah had eight children, seven having survived to adulthood. They were, Joseph, Sarah, Abraham, Aquila, Isaac, Priscilla, Hannah and Anne.

• ----------------------------------------
• Full text of "Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens;"
• http://www.archive.org/stream/encyclopediaofco03amer/encyclopediaof...
• CHASE, Charles Edward, Active Factor in Insurance Circles.
• The Chase family, of which Charles Edward Chase, chairman of the board of directors of the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, and a prominent public official, is a worthy representative, is of English origin, being among the ancient and highly honored families of England, the name being derived undoubtedly from the French word, Chasser, to hunt. They are one of the families entitled to bear a coat-of-arms, described as follows : Gules four crosses patence argent (two and two), on a canton azure a lion rampant or.
• (VII) Aquila (2) Chase, youngest son of Aquila (i ) Chase, was a native of England, born in 1618, and died in Newbury, Massachusetts, December 27, 1670. He was the emigrant ancestor of the family, but the date of his coming to the New World is not here recorded ; he was a resident of Hampton, New Hampshire, in 1640, from whence he removed to Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1646, where he was granted four acres for a house lot, and six acres of marsh on condition that he go to sea and do service in the town with a boat for four years. He was a mariner, and shipmaster, and the supposition is that he was employed by his uncle or brother, Thomas Chase, who in 1626 was part owner of the ship, "John and Francis." He married Anne, daughter of John Wheeler, and she bore him nine children, as follows : 'Sarah, became the wife of Charles Annis' ; Anna, born July 6, 1647; Priscilla, March 14, 1649; Mary, February 3, 165 1 ; Thomas, July 25, 1654; John, November 2, 1655 ; Elizabeth, September 13, 1657; Ruth, March 18, 1660; Daniel, December 9, 1661 ; Moses, of whom further. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Chase married (second) June 14, 1672, Daniel Mussiloway. Her death occurred in May, 1688.
• ------------------------

  ---

Created by: MichaelAnnis Record added: Jun 15, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 38364812

Charles "Cormac" Annis was born in the town of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ulster Province, Ireland in the year 1638. Charles is often referred to in the early records of Essex county, Massachusetts as "Curmac", "Curmack" or "Cormac". The latter is correct, as that name is the Irish, or more properly, Celtic translation of Charles. It has been established with certainty that Cormac was considered an Irishman by his fellow citizens of Newbury, Massachusetts. He was not a "freeman" when he arrived at Newbury, and although the record of whom he was indentured to has not been discovered, we do know that in 1678 he took the Oath of Allegiance. On April 18, 1678 Cormac was made a Freeman, with all the duties and privileges that came with that station.