Christmas is not a just day. Instead, it is a 12 day celebration that begins (in some traditions) on December 25th and continues for 12 days (until January 6th). As a reminder, we have the 12 Days of Christmas carol.
For each of the 12 days of Christmas, I will be posting one event / person from my genealogical research that relates (sometimes in a rather convoluted way) to the particular gift of that day in The 12 Days of Christmas. If you wish to peruse the entire schedule, check previous posts for Days 1-6 and Days 7 – 12.
January 5 – Eleven Pipers Piping (Day 11)
Theological interpretations of the carol suggest that the 11 Pipers represent the 11 faithful apostles. Of course, the unspoken word here is that there was a 12th — a blacksheep. In doing a bit of googling for this post, I learned that there is an International Blacksheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG) Interestingly enough, the IBSSG has a “Tender Lambs Corner” for private sharing of stories that might have a negative effect on a living individual or on the family in general. Have you discovered one or more blacksheep among your ancestors? Can you write about them? If so, share the story with us.
Encer (Ensor, Enser) Cole was my 3g-grandfather. He was a deserter in the War of 1812. He served as a private in Captain George W. Magee’s infantry company, 1st Regiment, Maryland Militia.
Pictured above are two of the Company Muster Roll and Company Pay Roll for Enser Cole’s company. They show that he began service in Magee’s Company on 22 July 1814. From that date to 13 October 1814, he was paid $21.23 for 2 months and 23 days service. The second Company Muster Roll (14 October 1814 to 10 January 1815) bears the simple message that Enser Cole “Deserted Dec. 6. 1814.”
Enser married Elizabeth Shaffer in about 1812. Not to long after that Enser and Elizabeth moved from Maryland to Columbiana County Ohio. Did Enser desert in order to marry Elizabeth? or Had they already been married? Was Encer’s move to Ohio occasioned by his desertion? These are questions I have not yet been able to answer. Other than the War of 1812 Muster Rolls, the earliest records I have for Enser are Tas Assessment for his farm in Beaver Township, Columbiana County, Ohio in 1833 and the 1840 Census for Columbiana County.