Posted on: CANN Queries
Board URL:
http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/surnames/c/a/CANN/queries?read=14
Surname: Cann
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Below is some info that I received from Bristol UK
Art Smith
Subject: Re: Bristol Web: Ideas
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 07:43 +0100 (BST)
From: cstiles(a)linkcheck.co.uk (Cynthia Stiles)
Reply-To: cstiles(a)bristol-web.co.uk
To: bknthumb(a)olypen.com
CC: cstiles(a)bristol-web.co.uk
Hello Art
Interestingly enough, no John Cann listed as owning/leasing property in
Topography of Bristol book, so
perhaps that may be a useful clue.
Latimer's Annals are large tomes written by Bristol historian/antiquarian
John Latimer at the end of 19th and
beginning of 20th century - he covered 16th, 17th, 19th and 19th centuries,
one volume for each. A
second-hand bookshop may have copies. There is a set or two in Bristol
Central Lending and Reference
Library and I'll have a check through the relevant one when I next visit,
if they're not being used.
I do have some notes re Sir Robert's actions during the Baptist persecution
as I produced an audio/visual
history of a local Baptist Church some years ago and had access to records.
Now this church has the
tradition of being founded by a John Cann, a Baptist and the pastor of
the ancient English Church in
Amsterdam who visited Bristol 1649-41. He was ' a very eminent man in his
day, for godliness and for
reformation in religion, having great understanding in the way of the Lord.
To those who could not
conscientiously conform to the Established Church (Church of England) he
gave instructions showing how
they should join together and receive members. After staying some time
in the city he went to Westerleigh
(Gloucestershire) about 7 miles away where he had liberty to preach in
a publick place called a church in the
morning of the Lord's Day following. But in the afternoon he could not
have entrance. The obstruction was
caused by a very godly great woman that dwelt in that place, who was somewhat
severe in the profession of
what she knew. Hearing that Mr Cann was a
Baptist and not of her way of thinking, she caused the doors of the publick
place to be made
fast. Her prejudice was shared by others.'
Mr Cann then disappeared from the records of the church I was writing about
and I know nothing more about
him. He may have originally come from Bristol. There was a trading link
and definitely a largish English
community, many of whom were disaffected with the Established Church. Probably
he went back to
Amsterdam and possibly he ended up in America. Certainly several groups
sailed there from Holland. I'm
sorry I can't shed any more light on him at present, but let me know if
I can be of any further help.
Best wishes
______________
Cynthia Stiles