Michael Annis
1762-1837

Michael Annis was born November 24, 1762 at Hopkinton, New Hampshire the son of Daniel (1735-1801) and Mary (Kimball) Annis (1744-1802). He married March 24, 1791, Hannah Loomis at Lebanon, New Hampshire, and they had twelve children, of which eleven grew to maturity.

Michael was a veteran of the American Revolution, having enlisted at Fort Washington on May 21, 1780, and he served with Captain Dearing's Company, New Hampshire Militia. He marched to the defense of Piscataqua Harbor, and received a pension for his service in 1831. The details of his service and pension follow:

County: Merrimack Co.
Name: Michael Annis
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: $36.66
Sums Received: $91.51
Description of service: New Hampshire militia
When placed on the pension roll: October 15, 1832
Commencement of pension: March 4, 1831
Age: 72

As a young boy of 11 years, Michael moved with his family from Hopkinton to Warner, New Hampshire, where his father purchased the Ira P. Whittier farm. He married at the age of 29, having probably met his wife in nearby Lebanon and it is here that his first 6 children were born. In 1801, Michael was taxed on 4 acres of plowing and 1 acre of pasture land at Lebanon. There are several records that mistakenly report him residing at Lebanon, Connecticut when actually it was Lebanon, New Hampshire..
It is not known when Michael became a member of the United Society of Believers, commonly referred to as "Shakers", but it probably occurred later in his life, after most of his children were all born. He spent the remainder of his life at the communal center at Enfield, New Hampshire, as did most of his children. Michael died at the age of 75 on August 24, 1837 at Enfield, New Hampshire and, although there is no record of his burial, he is most likely buried in an unmarked grave at the Shaker Cemetery in Enfield with his wife and several of his children.

The Shakers, founded in the 18th century in England branched off from a Quaker community. Shakers settled in colonial America, with initial settlements in New Lebanon, New York (called Mount Lebanon after 1861) and what is now Watervliet. Shakers were known for their celibate and communal lifestyle, pacifism, and their model of equality of the sexes, which they institutionalized in their society in the 1780s. They are also known for their simple living, architecture and furniture.
The Shakers composed thousands of songs, and also created many dances; both were an important part of the Shaker worship services. In Shaker society, a spiritual "gift" could also be a musical revelation, and they considered it important to record musical inspirations as they occurred. As a result of this, the Shakers were often bore the brunt of ridicule, as music and dancing were not a normal part of worship at that time in America.

A Shaker Communal Dining Hall

During the mid 19th century, an "Era of Manifestations" resulted in a period of dances, gift drawings and gift songs inspired by spiritual revelations. At its peak in the mid 19th century, there were 6,000 Shaker believers. Their celibacy resulted in the thinning of the Shaker community and their numbers were only increased by taking in orphans. By 1920, there were only 12 Shaker communities remaining in the United States. There is only one active Shaker village today, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, which is located in Maine.

The traditional Shaker work-song-hymn, "Simple Gifts" was originally published in The Gift to be Simple: Shaker Rituals and Songs. Since then this folk tune has acquired the status of an American classic.

'Tis the gift to be simple,
'Tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Till by turning, turning we come round right.

The Shakers are one of the few success stories resulting from the proliferation of communitarian and millenarian groups in eighteenth and nineteenth century Europe and America. Members were known as the "Shaking Quakers" and were viewed as radical for their communion with the spirits of the dead and impassioned shaking that would occur at their services. Happily they are best known now for their beautifully simple and functional furniture, and their willingness to live, and work hard together in simple harmony in their very successful communes.

Children:

1. Polly Annis, born December 29, 1791, Lebanon, New Hampshire; died August 29, 1877 at Enfield Center, New Hampshire, married March 29, 1819 John Kelly, Enfield, New Hampshire and had one son, Samuel Loomis Kelly (1819-1896).

2. Hannah Annis, born August 20, 1793, Lebanon, New Hampshire; died October 1, 1874 at Enfield Center, New Hampshire, unmarried and a member of the United Society of Believers.

3. Josiah Annis, born January 16, 1796, Lebanon, New Hampshire; died February 25, 1796, Lebanon, New Hampshire.

4. Parmelia Annis, born July 15, 1797, Lebanon, New Hampshire; died July 17, 1863, Enfield Center, New Hampshire; married August 27, 1847, Edward Storey (1802-1877), Enfield, New Hampshire.

5. Damon Annis, born May 18, 1799, Lebanon, New Hampshire; died January 9, 1873, Warner, New Hampshire.

6. Harriet Storer Annis, born April 16, 1801, Lebanon, New Hampshire; died December 17, 1850 at Enfield Center, NH, unmarried.

7. Henry Huntington Annis, born September 26, 1803; died May 2, 1872, Enfield, New Hampshire. Henry never married and remained at the Shaker communal center at Enfield his entire life.

8. Eliza Annis, born August 20, 1804, Enfield Center, New Hampshire; died November 29, 1862 at Enfield Center, New Hampshire, unmarried.

9. Emily Annis, born February 5, 1805, Enfield Center, New Hampshire; died December 8, 1875 at Enfield Center, New Hampshire, unmarried.

10. William Loomis Annis, born November 23, 1807, Lebanon, New Hampshire; died March 9, 1833, William married Hannah Fox, and both he and his wife were murdered by her insane brother, George Fox. They had no children, and are both buried at Lebanon, New Hampshire.

11. Harvey Kimball Annis, born March 1, 1810, Enfield Center, New Hampshire; died November 4, 1875. Harvey never married, He became an Elder in the Shaker religious commune at Enfield. He is buried at the Shaker village of Canterbury, New Hampshire.

12. Cynthia Caswell Annis, born March 27, 1812, Bath, New Hampshire; died January 24, 1904, Enfield, New Hampshire, unmarried.

We are fortunate indeed to have a photograph of Michael's youngest daughter, Cynthia. The photograph was taken when she was 72 years old (1884). The photograph was found in company with two other photographs that may have been friends or relatives of Cynthia Annis.

Left: Elder Abraham Perkins, age 75 and Frank W. Washburn, age 9 Center: Cynthia Annis, age 72 Right: Mary Falls

Reverse of above photographs

Of the many children of Michael and Hannah Annis, there are very few descendants today. Almost all the daughters all remained unmarried, and Damon, who probably did not join the Shakers, was the only son to have children.
Damon Annis married December 13, 1825, Hepsebeth Sawyer at Warner, New Hampshire. She was born November 24, 1799 at Methuen, Massachusetts, the daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca (Hardy) Sawyer.

Damon Annis was a farmer at Warner, New Hampshire and continued to reside there until his death on January 9, 1873. They had two children: Edwin Annis, b. October 2, 1826, d. February 25, 1876 and an unnamed daughter, who died as an infant.
Damon and his wife, who died November 10, 1886, are buried in a small cemetery called Tory Hill Cemetery, which lies along the road to "Pumpkin Hill" outside of Warner. His headstone reads "Husband thou art gone before us, and thy earthly form we miss, but in heaven we trust you are happy, happy in immortal blissHis wife and only son lie buried beside him.

Michael's lineage is: Daniel Annis 1735-1801, Daniel Annis 1711-1790, Abraham Annis 1668-1736, Cormac Annis 1638-1717

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