The Enty Family in the Civil War (3)

A multi-post series on an African American pioneer settler in the Lykens Valley area and his descendants, up through their service in the Civil War.

The earliest member of the Enty family to settle in the area near the Lykens Valley appears to be Tobias Enty, who according to some researchers on Ancestry.com, was born around 1762 in Haiti and emigrated to the United States some time before 1800.  However, no sources have been found that confirm any of this information.  It is believed that of the eight identified children of Tobias Enty, three of the sons connect to Civil War soldiers.

Yesterday, the post looked at Joshua Enty Sr. (c. 1775-1842), son of Tobias Enty, who married a member of the Simmy family, and had a son and two grandsons who served in the U.S. Colored Troops.  In addition, one of his granddaughters married Benjamin Crabb, whose two brothers, John Peter Crabb and Edward Crabb also served in the military during the Civil War.

Today, the post will examine Abraham Enty (c. 1791-c. 1842), another son of Tobias Enty, who had three grandsons who served in the U.S. Colored Troops.

A son of Abraham Enty (c. 1791-c. 1842) was Abraham Enty II (1812-1890) who married Amey Bryce (or Brice) and had three known sons who served in the Civil War – specifically in the U.S. Colored Troops.  These sons were:  (1) Peter Bryce Enty (c. 1842-1864); (2) Abraham Enty III (c. 1847-?); and (3) a possible twin brother, Isaac S. Enty (c. 1847-1864).  Note that two of these men died during the Civil War.  Abraham Enty can be connected to the area near Gratz and to Tobias Enty, but it is not known for certain when the family moved to western Pennsylvania.  All three of the Civil War soldiers discussed in today’s post seem to have been born in western Pennsylvania.

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Peter Bryce Enty was born around 1842, possibly in Perry Township, Jefferson Co., Pennsylvania.  It is possible that the father, Abraham Enty II had been born in Schuylkill County and at some point took the family west.  Other members of the Enty family appear to have traveled to this same part of the state at around the same time.

In 1862, Peter was living in Ringgold Township, Jefferson County and working as a laborer.  In 1862, in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, he married a woman named Caroline.  Only one child was born of this marriage, but the child died the same day in December 1863.  According to testimony given when Caroline applied for a widow’s pension, she must have been very pregnant when Peter went off to war (considering the death date of the child).  On 14 September 1863, Peter B. Enty enlisted in the 6th U.S. Colored Troops, Company H, as a Private.  He was 21 years old at the time, had dark complexion, dark hair and dark eyes.  He stood 5 foot 6 inches tall.

The information given on the above military record card includes the statement that Peter B. Enty died at the base hospital on 23 November 1864, but does not give the cause of death.  Caroline indicated to the Pension Bureau that she did not recall being given the cause of death, but on the application, information was provided that his death was due to chronic diarrhea (shown below) and occurred at Point of Rocks, Virginia.

Peter B. Enty was buried at City Point National Cemetery, Hopewell, Virginia.  The complete widow’s pension application file is available from Fold3.

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Abraham B. Enty III was born 29 March 1847 and some evidence suggests that he was the twin of Isaac S. Enty.  He enrolled in the 43rd U.S. Colored Troops, Company E, as a Private, on or around 28 March 1864 at Brookville, Pennsylvania.  He was a farmer and laborer who claimed birth in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.  On 1 September 1864 he was promoted to the rank of Corporal.

From Abraham Enty III‘s military record index cards (available from Fold3 and shown above) it is learned that was 5 foot 6 inches tall and had a dark complexion.  But another record card (below) noted that he had curly black hair and a yellow complexion.  The card also stated that Abraham was “a good reliable soldier with company in actions” and reported his promotion to Color Corporal.

Abraham B. Enty III was the only one of the three brothers who survived the war.  After the Civil War, he married a woman named Mary and the family is found in Armstrong County in 1880 where he was working as an ore miner.  One child, Walter Enty, age 8, was living in the household.

Abraham’s Civil War service qualified him for a pension which he applied for and received after 1884.  When he died in 1914, Mary applied for a widow’s pension which she collected until her death.  There is some confusion in the records in that the Census of 1910 names an “Emma Enty”, age 50 (two years older than Abraham), who appears to the the wife of Abraham, whereas the wife Mary, who is named in the 1880 Census was much younger than Abraham.  Mary is also the name on the Pension Index Card (shown above, from Ancestry.com).

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The third brother, Isaac S. Enty, possibly the twin of Abraham B. Enty III, was born around 1847 (if he was the twin, then his birth date was 29 March 1847).   Isaac enrolled at Brookville, Pennsylvania, in the 43rd U.S. Colored Troops, Company G, as a Private.  According to military records, he was born in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.

As can be seen by the card shown above, Isaac had a black complexion, was 5 foot 8 inches tall, and was a farmer when he enrolled at age 18. The record shown below indicates that he died at Grant General Hospital, Willets Point, New York, on 27 October 1864, of “phthisis pulmonatis haemoptysis.”

Other records found in his military file state that he was buried in Cypress Hills National Cemetery, Brooklyn.  Isaac was not married and no survivor pension application has been located.

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Much research still needs to be done on this branch of the Enty family.  The genealogical connection to Tobias Enty must be more fully documented.  The complete pension application records must be examined for Abraham Enty III who had a wife and children who survived him – the only one of the three brothers who actually had surviving children.  The pension records could give more clues as to his relationship with his brothers and possibly connect him better with Tobias Enty.  The records are presently available only at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.   When and why this branch of the family left the Lykens Valley area also needs to be further researched.

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Peter Enty (c. 1802-c.1875), a third son of Tobias Enty, had one son who served in the U.S. Colored Troops.  This family will be the subject of the blog post tomorrow.  In addition, one Enty who served, but who has not yet been connected to Tobias Enty will be presented, with the known information about him.

This research is still in its initial stages, so any information that anyone can supply would be very welcome.

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Previously posted on the Civil War Blog, February 22, 2013.

The photo at the top of this post is not of any member of the Enty family. It is of a representative Aftican American Civil War soldier.

Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.

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COMMENTS ADDED TO THE ORIGINAL POST

Tim McDonald says: December 9, 2014: My mother said she was a descendant of the Entys and Brice’s from Templeton, Pa, and I am looking into finding out more about the family. Any help you can give would be appreciated.

  • Steven Farrar says: February 13, 2017: Mr. McDonald my name is Steven Farrar, my sister and one of my cousins David Casella are trying to find a connection with our Great Grandmother who’s name was Jesse Casella. Her maiden name was Butler on her father’s side but her mother we believe was a Anna Bell Butler or Anna Bell Brice somehow though she (my great grandmother Jesse and her mother) are tied to the Enty family and if you have any information or know who might could you send it to me at farrar5063@gmail.com. it would be greatly appreciated. Our great grandmother Jesse married a Thomas Casella from Italy. My great grandfather. From what I’ve dug up on Ancestry.Com she Anna Bell Butler was born in 1863.

Susan Kerr says: February 1, 2016: Back in July 2014, I used some of the information from your site for an article I was writing for The Leader-Vindicator newspaper in New Bethlehem, Pa. The Enty family story has been in the back of my mind ever since. Yesterday, while perusing tax and census documents for Lower Mahantango Township, Schuylkill County, related to two branches of my family who settled there, I saw an entry for the Enty family. As families tended to relocate in the company of neighbors and other family members, it is logical to think the Enty family moved to the Armstrong, Clarion and Jefferson county areas sometime between 1820 and 1830 when my Lucas and Schreckengost forebears did. Hope this helps. Note: Clarion County was erected in 1839 from portions of Armstrong, Jefferson and Venango counties.