Chasing the Past

Ennis Thomas was born on 24 October 1871 in Carroll County, Virginia. He was the son of Allen Thomas and Mary Ann Nester.

His mother died in 1878 and his father married Susan Bolt.

He lived near Big Reed Island River along side his father and many Cox/Cock, Bolts, Nesters, Jacksons, and Goads.

In 1891, he married Martha Worrell. Before her death in 1898, they had 3 known children:

• Franklin
• Mary Etta
• Harrison David

The Raid at Big Reed Island River – March 1895¹

The dawn of March 25th, 1895, broke cold and gray over the rugged ridges of Carroll County, Virginia. Mist clung to the hollows, and the Big Reed Island River murmured against its rocky banks. Hidden deep in the mountainside, the faint scent of mash and smoke betrayed a secret enterprise — a moonshine still in full blast.

U.S. Revenue Agent Thomas N. Williams, joined by Deputy Marshal Lawson Worrell and Worrell’s brother, made their way through the brush, boots sinking in damp earth, hearts pounding with anticipation.

Inside a cave tucked into the mountain, two men — Ennis Thomas and James Cordell — were hard at work tending the still. The copper gleamed, fire crackled, and the rhythmic drip of liquor into waiting jugs filled the dim air. When the lawmen burst through the entrance, Ennis Thomas reacted in a flash, drawing his pistol. But before he could take aim, Williams leveled his own weapon, ordering him to drop the gun or be killed.

Ennis quickly lowered his hand. The confrontation ended without bloodshed, and both Thomas and Cordell were taken into custody.

That Friday night, word spread quickly through the hills. Eighteen other moonshiner, men who had expected to gather at the same still, learned instead that they had been caught.

In September 1895, both Ennis and James Candler, of Carroll, were found guilty of illicit distilling; sentence not pronounced.²

On May 8, 1897, the President made the following disposal of applications for clemency: Ennis Thomas, Virginia, illicit distilling, fine remitted.

In 1899, he married Luvena Nester. Their known children were:

• Stella
• Laymon Allen
• Lizzie
• Leonard Aaron
• Louisa
• Fred
• Charlie
• Noah
• Ennis Junior
• Della

In 1921, he married Mary Ann Jackson.

Both Luvena and Mary Ann had children out of wedlock. Some believe Ennis was the father of these children. DNA supports a relationship between Mary Ann’s youngest daughter, Betty Mae. However, is it because Ennis was her father or because of geographical endogamy? At this time, I don’t know if any descendants of other children have tested.

On June 12 1927, The Roanoke Times reported Ennis cut his knee with an ax last Tuesday and contracted blood poison.³ He died on June 30.

See Also

Ennis Thomas Profile at WikiTree

1. ”’1895 Newspaper”’: “Latest News…Ennis Thomas arrested” Newspapers.com, database with images
   ({{Newspapers.com|184209724}} : accessed 8 November 2025)
   citing Highland Recorder (Monterey, Virginia) Fri, Mar 8, 1895, page 1. ↩︎
2. ”’1895 Newspaper”’: “Ennis Thomas case disposed” Newspapers.com, database with images
   ({{Newspapers.com|184551771}} : accessed 8 November 2025)
   citing The News and Advance (Lynchburg, Virginia) Sat, Sep 14, 1895, page 3. ↩︎
3. ”’1927 Newspaper”’: “Thomas, Ennis cut knee with ax” Newspapers.com, database with images
   ({{Newspapers.com|162532170}} : accessed 8 November 2025)
   citing The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, Virginia) Sun, Jun 12, 1927, page 32. ↩︎