Archibald Cannon was the son of John Cannon and Sary (or Mary..last name
unk). Records indicate he was born in NC about 1754. The county is not known
at this time. He was the only Cannon on the first U.S. Population Census in
Bladen County, NC in 1790. The census listed Archibald Cannon as head of
household; three (3) males 16 & up; three (3) males under 16; and four (4)
females. All of these family members are known by name and the approximate
year of their birth is also known.
A land grant of 100 acres to Archibald Cannon dated 16 July 1795 was found
in the Bladen County Courthouse in 1992. This grant was made for the
"consideration of 50 pounds paid into the Treasury by Archibald Cannon".
Archibald married Mary Jordan in NC probably around 1775. It is believed
that he might have been living in Wake County, NC when they married. (Up
around Raliegh) This is where he lived when he deserted his post at Kingston
while serving in the State Militia in 1782 during the Revolutionary War. It
must not have been very bad and could have been just a misunderstanding,
because he was paid for Militia duty in 1783 while living in Dobbs County.
This was after he was listed as a deserter at Kingston Post. He was listed
as "five feet, six inches tall and age twenty seven with swarthy complexion
living in Wake County" when he left his post.
Mary Jordan was born in 1741 in Jamestown, VA. She was the daughter of James
Jordan and Mary Glover. It is believed that James and Mary were born in
England. Not sure if they married there or in Virginia. Also not sure when
they moved to NC.
Archibald and Mary had nine children; six sons and three daughters, acording
to information received from the Mormon Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
However, all the birthyears are "approximate" with the exception of one
daughter. All Children were born in NC.
1. John born 1776
2. Jackson born 1778 married Elizabeth (unk) 1805 in NC Died in GA 1 October
1843 (my line of ancestry)
3. Dempsey born 1780 married Rebecca (unk)
4. Thomas born 1782
5. Archibald Jr. born 1784 married Mary Cribb 19 Jan 1811
6. Reddick born 1785 married Mary Green 6 May 1812 Died 27 Dec 1878
7. Mary born 1787 married Simon Driggers 22 Sep 1808
8. Sarah B. born 3 Aug 1789 married Covington Cribbs 13 Jan 1816 Died 7 Jun
1868
9. Martha born 1790 married John Green 21 Jan 1812
Research over the years had led to believe Jackson Cannon was born around
1770 instead of 1778. Census records have been the best source of
information since none of the deeds found in Bladen and Colubus Counties
gave his age. No other official document has ever been found listing his
age. The approximate birth years listed on the Mormon document may be closer
to being right than the censuses since none of the censuses gave exact ages
before 1850. His marriage record was probably burned.
Archibald has not been found on any of the censuses after 1790 of Bladen
County. The land grant in 1795 tells us he was still living then, but
nothing else has been found on him after that. He was still a young man and
barely at middle age in 1795. He would have been only forty-six years of age
when the 1800 census was taken. It is very possible the census missed him,
but that seems unlikely since this area of NC was not heavily populated at
the time.
It is believed Archibald died in Bladen County before 1800. Other family
historians believe Mary died around 1843..probably in Georgia.
Reprinted by permission of the author:
Rayford L. Cannon
Source of Information:
Bladen County Courthouse
Census Records
Mormon Library
North Carolina Archives