Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

James Ennolds (b. circa 1820 - d. 1893)
MSA SC 3520-15844
USCT Soldier, Dorchester County, Maryland

Biography:

    James Ennolds was born around 1820 (44 years old at the time of his enlistment) in Dorchester County, Maryland.1 He came from "Choptank, Eastern Shore when he was a boy."2 Before James was born, James's father was a slave and was able to purchase the freedom of James's mother.3 Rebecca was certain that James was not a slave before the war.4 She continued be stating that she "never heard Jim speak of a white man named James Donnell."5 James Donnell appears as the slaveowner of James Ennolds in a pension document and military service record.6 It's difficult to know if James was owned by James Donnell as he does not appear on the bounty rolls (both free or slave rolls). Rebecca also stated that James "never got any bounty after the war."7 He was due "$300 bounty on the installment plan."8

    By 1863, the U.S. Army was actively pursuing colored men to join the ranks. Ennolds joined Company G of the 39th U.S. Colored Troops regiment when it was formed in 1864.9 Although the regiment was organized at Baltimore from March 22 to 31, 1864,10 Ennolds did not enlist as a private until July 1, 1864.11 During his time in the service, the 39th regiment participated in the the battle of The Crater, Virginia and helped to capture Fort Fisher in North Carolina where they remained until the end of the war.12 The regiment also participated in the Battle of Hatcher's Run, Virginia in February of 1865.13 Ennolds was officially discharged from his military service on July 4, 1865.14

    Before the war, he and Rebecca Smith were married by Reverend Solomon Jackson at Baltimore, Maryland.15 The exact date is unknown because the certificate was lost when the reverend who married them died.16 Several depositions stated they were married before the war. Sarah C. Cornish testified that they were married "about 10 years before the war."17 On Rebecca Ennolds's widow's pension, it stated they were "married before war in slavery."18 James and Rebecca had ten children together.19 Rebecca mentions in an affidavit that he was employed as a sailor until "he got too old."20 They lived in Baltimore for nearly 40 years before James Ennolds passed away while residing at 902 Leadenhall Street.21

    While residing in Baltimore, James suffered from disease of the stomach, affection of the spine and back, and general debility.22 At the age of 77, James Ennolds passed away from organic heart disease on July 13, 1893.23 He was buried at Loudon Park National Cemetery on July 16, 1893.24 After his death, Rebecca Ennolds was entitled to a widow's pension that commenced on July 18, 1893 at a rate of $8.00 per month.25 James Ennolds was receiving a pension amount of $12.00 per month for "rheumatism and senile debility" commencing in 1891.26 

Endnotes:

1. Ancestry.com. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Record for James Ennells [Ennolds]. Company Descriptive Book. Company G. 39th Regiment. Page 223.

2. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) [MSA SC 4126] James Ennolds, Box 18, Folder 374, Page 82.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid., 118.

    Ancestry.com. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Record for James Ennells [Ennolds]. Slave of James Donnell. Company G. 39th Regiment. Page 225.

7. Ibid., 82.

8. Ibid., 70.

9. ADJUTANT GENERAL (Muster Rolls) 1863-1866. U.S. Colored Troops. 39th Regiment. Company G. James Ennels. Image 364. Line 13. Location: 02/06/03/025. MdHR Number 50,055-50. MSA S936-50.

10. L. Allison Wilmer, J. H. Jarrett, and Geo. W. F. Vernon. History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-65. Vol. 2 (Baltimore, MD: Guggenheimer, Weil & Co., 1899), 261.

11. ADJUTANT GENERAL (Muster Rolls) U.S. Colored Troops. 39th Regiment. Company G. James Ennels. Image 364. Line 13. MSA S936-50.

12. Wilmer, History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-65. Vol. 2, 261.

13. Ibid.

14. Ancestry.com. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Record for James Ennells [Ennolds]. Muster Out Roll. Company G. 39th Regiment. Page 236.

15. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) James Ennolds, Page 18.

16. Ibid., 18, 38.

17. Ibid., 34.

18. Ibid., 42.

19. Ibid., 80.

20. Ibid., 82.

21. BALTIMORE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS (Death Record), James Ennolds, Dates: 06/1893-10/1893, [MSA CM1132-49].

22. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) James Ennolds, Page 86.

23. BALTIMORE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS (Death Record), James Ennolds, Dates: 06/1893-10/1893, [MSA CM1132-49].

24.  Ibid.

25. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) James Ennolds, Pages 26, 42.

26. Ibid., 42, 86.

Written and Researched by Tanner Sparks, 2012.

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