I am trying to make the next leap forward (actually backwards) on my 3GGF,
John CANNON. Currently, I have very little to help in making this
connection and I hoping that some of this may ring a bell with other
researchers until the day comes that I can get to GA & SC and do some first
hand research.
The earliest that I have John CANNON is in the early 1790's in Wilkes Co.,
GA. He was a landowner and taxpayer in the area around Newford Creek. Into
the same area came 3 other CANNON men -- Howard CANNON, Horatio CANNON and
Pugh CANNON.
I have a document dated 10 June 1797 in which a Henry CANNON sold a slave
in Winton Co., SC. Howard and Horatio (Horatio signed his name as Rashey
and was also know to sign his name Rasha) CANNON signed the deed as
witnesses. Pugh CANNON signed as a witness on several documents, two of
which involved transactions by Thomas RICHARDSON. Seems Thomas bought some
land, lost the title and Pugh gave oath that he witnessed the original sale
of land to Thomas. In another transaction, Pugh CANNON and John RICHARDSON
witnessed a sale of land by Dr. Abel ANDERSON to Azariah ANDERSON. To add
to the mix, Howard and a Hugh CANNON (this is most probably Pugh CANNON)
witnessed the sale of land by Dr. Abel Anderson to James SUMMERS. The date
of this transaction was 5 Feb 1796.
Thomas RICHARDSON had 2 known brothers: William Jr., and John. John
RICHARDSON is also my 3GGF (his daughter Anna married Henry B. CANNON, the
son of John CANNON). So there is evidence that John CANNON, Pugh, Howard,
and Horatio all knew each other.
While I have no data to tie these 4 CANNON men together by blood, they sure
traveled together. About 1807, after the death of William RICHARDSON, Sr.
(father of the RICHARDSON brothers), these CANNON men, the RICHARDSON
brothers and several other families picked up and moved to Maury Co., TN.
(You can review a document covering this mass migration at:
http://www.metronet.com/~jrc/stiversville.html). All except Horatio settled
in Stiversville -- Horatio moved to Wilson Co., TN.
My lineage goes from John CANNON to Henry B. CANNON to John S. CANNON to my
Grandfather, John Richard CANNON. John S. first son was named William
Henry. All were first-born males and were named after their grandfather
(grandfathers in the case of William Henry as he was named for both
grandfathers). Using this convention for names, John CANNON's father should
be Henry. Since Howard and Horatio knew a Henry CANNON and Winton Co., SC
is just over the line from Wilkes Co., GA, he is my best suspect. However,
I have found that the names Henry and John can cover about 95% of all
CANNON males and it's been difficult in determining which is which without
some clues or help.
There is one interesting item that may tie these CANNON men together -- the
name Lucy. In 1795, John CANNON and John RICHARDSON witnessed a purchase of
land by a lady named Lucy CANNON. Lucy bought 140 acres of land in April of
1795 and sold the same 140 acres in November of 1795. This has raised
several questions in my mind. Who was she and was she related to John
CANNON? At that time, it was unusual for a woman to be buying land. Was her
Husband dead? Why did she keep the land only 7 months -- hardly enough time
to get one crop in! Interestingly, John CANNON, Howard CANNON, Horatio
CANNON, and Pugh CANNON all had daughters named Lucy!
Hopefully, this information will strike a familiar chord with someone doing
research in the areas mentioned.