Chapter I
Legends
One tells of an Ennis family who left Ireland and came to Bracebridge, Canada, across Lake Huron, east of Alpena, Michigan. Because of differences in religious belief, people in Ireland were feuding. To avoid the turmoil this family sold their belongings and with their five children and one that was unborn sailed for America.
On the way the mother and the unborn child died. Then the father died. Before he died, the father gave his money and a ticket for their baggage to his eldest son who was fifteen. The son was afraid to sleep because of being robbed. At last weariness overcame him. He fell asleep, When he awoke the money and ticket were gone—five children alone on a crowded ship, destitute. Kind people aided them. After two years and much hardship the children arrived in Bracebridge. Many Ennis families in Michigan today are descendants of that family. One operates an insurance agency; another is a merchant (1967).
Another
Ennis legend (there are many versions of it) tells of three brothers who
left the Erne River Valley near Enniskillen, Ireland, and went to Holland.
From there they sailed to America with the early Dutch who settled along
the Hudson iiver. Here they intermarried. From the Hudson Valley some of
the families moved to the Minisink Region of the Delaware River where New
York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania join. Later some of these Ennis’ along
with their kinfolks, the Van Ettens, DeWitts and other families migrated
to the Susquehanna Valley and formed settlements. About the same time other
Ennis and their kin settled in Mohawk Valley.
Dutch In New York
Dutch farmers
came to New York about the same time as the Pilgrims came to Massachusetts.
They purchased their property from the Indians, usually for a small sum.
They were friendly and dealt fairly with the Indians, The Dutch built towns
on the Hudson River. Soon after they came, copper and other minerals were
discovered in the mountains east of the Delaware River. To mine these minerals
the Dutch made a road of an old Indian trail from Esopus southwestward
to what is now Port Jervis and the ancient Minisink Village were some of
the places along the way.
The Minisink Region
South of
what is now Port Jervis, New York was a region that was a paradise to the
Indiana. The soil in the valleys which they tilled was rich, It produced
excellent crops. The forest was filled with game. The Minisink Indians
were friendly with the Dutch living in this region for nearly one hundred
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