Big Willy Ennis of Kircubbin

[Erato]

I am looking for information on my ggg grandfather, William Ennis of Kircubbin.  He must have been born about 1780 as his son, John Ennis, was born in 1805 (in Kircubbin).  John married Mary McGee and emigrated to Canada.  Family lore says that William was known as "Big Willy" and that he was "champion wrestler of Co. Down."

[Christopher]

Hello Erato,

What denomination were your Ennis ancestors of Kircubbin?

You'll have to rely on Church records as civil registration in Ireland was not introduced until 1864. Non Catholic marriages were registered from 1845 onwards. When registration for BDMS started in 1864 some people didn't bother with the registration for a few years after that date. Keep your fingers crossed that church records still exist. 

Christopher

[Erato]

The Ennises were Presbyterians.  One family story has it that the McGees were Catholics.  In this version of the family history, the 10 Ennis-McGee children [2 born in Ireland, 2 in Canada and 6 in  Wisconsin]  were alternately raised as Catholic or Protestant.  However, all the burials I have been able to find were in Protestant cemeteries, including Mary McGee herself, so there is little to support this theory.

[dollylee]

A wrestler wearing tights called Big Willie.....that's a lot of pressure.   

[Mael.Gwyn]

Wow, what luck hat I'd run into this forum! I'm doing heritage research and I believe that I am related to you. I have several documents that form a family tree of sorts...

John Ennis and Mary McGee left Ulster Ireland for Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 1839. They had ten children: Thomas (born 1835 in Ireland), William (born 1838 in Ireland), Eliza (born 1839 in Canada), Mary (born 1841 in Canada), John (born 1843 in Canada), Hugh (born 1844 in Canada), George (born 1846 in Canada), James (born 1848 in Canada), Samuel (born 1850 in Wisconsin), and Daniel (born 1852 in Wisconsin).

I am descended from John and Mary's fifth son John Ennis. His daughter Eliza (named after his sister) married John McGoorty and had nine children, one of which was named Norma Cecelia. She married Joseph R. Smith in 1914 I believe. My name is Alex Smith, and I live in San Diego, CA, USA. Nice to meet you.

[Erato]

Nice to meet you, too.  Yes, we are related.  I am descended from Hugh Ennis.  I have quite a lot of information on the Ennis family.  If you write a couple more posts, we will then be able to communicate by personal message.

Meanwhile, here’s some Ennis family history, as related by my grandfather:

http://www.wiroots.org/wimarquette/ennisdiary.html

[Mael.Gwyn]

That diary is extraordinary! I was stunned when I read the bit about them living on John Muir's farm.

I don't have a lot of information about Hugh Ennis so this was a pretty cool way to learn about him.

Here are some of the documents I have:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii141/PallidValiance/1001.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii141/PallidValiance/2001.jpg

I also have some military discharge papers for John Ennis (Hugh's brother, not his father) from the 32 Regiment Wisconsin Infantry, Co. G and a scanned copy of the Union Defenders Certificate he received for fighting for the Union.

[Erato]

It’s late here so I can’t start looking for documents now.  I’ll have a look at yours tomorrow.  Thanks.  I have a copy of old John Ennis’s naturalization application.

You have to post three times before you have access to the personal message system so, if you answer this message, we will be able to communicate further by PM.

Just two quick questions, though.  Do you know what became of William Ennis [brother of John and Hugh]?  And, secondly, do you know if the family story of alternating Catholic and Protestant children is true?  [Hugh was a Protestant].

[Mael.Gwyn]

I have no knowledge of their religious backgrounds, sorry.

As for William, it looks like he had no children (either that or the number of children is unknown) and married no one. The documents I have do not mention a wife.