Death of Father, Hugh Cannon
Two and a half months after
returning from the second voyage of the Iris, George’s father, Hugh Cannon,
died. Following are writings from the parish register, Hugh’s gravestone, and
the probate proceeding:
Parish Register of German (Burial)
Hugh Cannan Febry
6th 1801
Gravestone: “Here lieth the body of HUGH CANNON of this town
who departed this life the 5th day of February Anno Domini 1801 in
the 60th year of his age.”[1]
“Peeltown At an Ecclesiastical Court
holden in the Parish of Kk Patrick on the 14th Day of September
1801.
Hugh
Cannon of Peeltown having departed this life in or about the Month of February
last past Intestate and the Court having received Intelligence thereof hath
Decreed his six Children, namely George, Hugh, William, Christian, Elinor and
Helen Cannon [not naming John or Ann who must be deceased] as administrators of
all and singular his Goods, Rights, Credits, Chattels and Effects movable and
immovable whatever and the said Helen being under Age, and all the other
Children excepting the said George being off the Island or absent from Court,
and he the said George having surrendered his Right to the Administration to
Elinor Cannon his Mother, the Court has thereupon, for the Preservation of the
Rights of all Persons interested in the Estate of the said Intestate, committed
the Administration thereof to the said Elinor Cannon Sen. in Trust for the
Benefit of all Person’s interested therein as aforesaid and she is sworn well
and truly to administer the same, to exhibit into the Episcopal Registry a full
true and perfect Inventory thereof, to pay all the just debts of the said
Intestate so far forth as his Goods and Effects will extend and the law bind
her, to be guardian and supervisor of the said Helen, and to render a just
Account of her said Administration when thereunto lawfully required, and to
these Ends She hath given Pledges in form of Law, namely the said George Cannon
her Son and Robert Christian of Kk Patrick.
Decrelum
esh [?]
Ev. Christian
28th Sept. 1801 Claims
entered agst. the Estate of Hugh Cannon decd. viz.
L.
s. __
“ Hugh
Shimin claims Brit.
30.. 0 .. 0’
Nov. 20 Mrs.
Elinor Moore claims Brit.
16.. 0 .. 0
Dec. 31st Robt.
Farrant Esq. as one of the Brit.
15.. 0 .. 0
Exors
in Trust of the Will of Mrs.
Bissy
Jorrect dec, claims
1802
Febry 11 Wm. Sayle claims Brit. 3.. 0 .. 0
16 John Callister Do. 4 .. 5 .. 6
Apl. 17th Wm.
Hugh Cluers Do. 30.. 0 .. 0
May 18th Dan
Beddaugh Do. 5.. 0 .. 0
June 5th John
Crain Do. 5.. 4 .. 9
An Inventory of the Goods or Effects of Hugh Cannon of P___
late Deceased being Valued and apprised by four Sworn Men Viz John Cottier
Danl. Mylrea Thos. Cortion and Wm. Lace and Being Sworn by John Shimmin Sumner
of German this the 22nd day of Decbr. 1804
S.
D. L.
S. D.
% a Teable 3..6 the Deads part thereof 0..1..9
% a Big Chair 4..8 Do. 0..2..4
% Two Chairs 2..4 Do. 0..1..2
% Two Rush Bottom Chairs 4..8 Do. 0..2..4
% Four Broken Chairs 2..0 The half Do. 0..1..0
% 3 Stools 0..6 Do. 0..0..3
% A Small Teable & firm 2..0 Do. 0..1..0
% A Pot 2..0 Do. 0..1..0
% A Griddle and Saucepan 2..0 Do. 0..1..0
% Two Kettles 2..0 Do. 0..1..0
% A Frying Pan 1..0 Do. 0..0..6
% A Crock 0..6 Do. 0..0..3
% Two Old Canes 0..8 Do. 0..0..4
% A Knife Box 0..6 Do. 0..0..3
% A Bowl and Bath stoon etc.1..2 Do. 0..0..7
% A Bellows & Lanshom 0..6 Do. 0..0..3
% A Wooden Thray 1..6 Do. 0..0..9
% A Spade and Cole Cralix 0..10
Do. 0..0..5
% A Cash 0..6 Do. 0..0..3
% Two Barrels 2..0
Do. 0..1..0
% Two Tubs 0..10 Do. 0..0..5
% 5 Bottles and Small Crock 1..2 Do. 0..0..7
% A Fox Teable 2..0 Do. 0..1..0
% A Round Teable 2..0 Do. 0..1..0
% A Leaf Teable 4..0 Do. 0..2..0
2..4..10 The half 1..2..5
[beginning a new
page]
S.
D. L.
S. D.
% A Corner Cupboard 2..0 The Deads part therof 0..1..0
% A Looking Glass 3..6 Do. 0..1..9
% Three Blanketts 6..0 Do. 0..3..0
% An Old Quilt and Blankett 1..6 Do. 0..0..9
% A Feather Bed an Bolster 1..14..0
Weight 68 pounds
at 6__
% A Bedstead & Curtains 12..0 0..6..0
% A Small Bedstead 4..0 0..2..0
% A Small Round Teable 0..10 Do. 0..0..5
% Two Casks and Two Bags 1..6
Do. 0..0..9
% A Spinning Wheel 1..6 Do. 0..0..9
% Iron Sheets 4..8 Do. 0..2..4
% A Chaff Bed 4..0 Do. 0..2..0
% 3 shirts 6..0 Do. 0..6..0
% Two Coats and Weanticks 4..0 Do. 0..4..0
L. 3..4..9
Brought forward the Deads Part of the within Amount adds 1..2..5
Total amount
of the value of the Deads Part L. 4..7..2
The Within and aforesaid Goods are Valued and apprized by us
as before Going and this we Return for our Answer or Verdict. This the 22nd
day of December 1801
Thomas
Corkanney x mark
Jurors… Wm. Lace
Names
is John Cottier
Danl.
Mylrea
Returned by Elinor Cannon the
Adminitratrix in Trust of the Estate of the
said Hugh Cannon.
Ev.
Christian
To the Revd. Evan Christian Vicar
General
the Humble Petition of Elinor
Cannon wife of Hugh Cannon
decd. of the town of Peel
Sheweth
That your
Petnr. on or about the Month of August 1801 was Sworn Administrator and to
Return an Inventory of the good & Effects of her Deceased husband and to
Pay of all Just debts as set forth as the Goods will extend and the Law shall
bear. Your Petr. accordingly hath Returned an Inventory of the goods and
Effects of the Decd. to the Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Court wherein your
Petr. apprehends that the Personal Estate of your Petitioner and the said Hugh Cannon
is Greatly Deficient to Pay of the Amount of the Debts which is Already Proved
in the aforsd. Court.
That your
Petitioner apprehends and is fully convinced that at the time of the death of
sd. Husband he was Indebted to several Persons in Other Strange countries as
well as in this Isle which has been Lately demanded & claims to be Entered
for older.
Therefore
your Petr. is now fully Convinced that she is not able with saftey to Pay of
and Discharge any Claim whatsoever so Provd. against the Aforsd. Estate in the
Spiritual Court until the Expiration of Three years and a Day etc.
Your
Petitioner most humbly Prays that your Revd. will be Graciously Pleased to take
this matter to your most Judicious consideration so that all Orders now
Enforced against your Petitioner may be Stayed and suspended untill all Foreign
claims and Proceeding may be Entered and Proved before the Space of Three years
from the time of Administration hereof so that your Petr. may know the whole
and full Debts and Incumberances of the Decd. Hugh Cannon therefore your
Petitioner in Duty Bound Shall Pray etc.
Ordered
that the beforegoing Petition do come on to be heard at a Consistorial Court to
be holden in the Court house in this Parish on the last Thursday in the Month
of April next and that in the mean time the said orders and Judgments of the
Ecclesiastical Court against the Petitioner be stayed and suspended whereof all
proper Parties & Persons to have due Notice.
Given at Kk
Patrick 9th March 1803.
Ev.
Christian
At a Consistorial Court holden in
the Parish of Kk Patrick on the 28th Day of April 1803
Upon
having the beforegoing Petition in the Presence of the Petitioner and of some
of the principal Creditors of the Estate of the said Decedent and upon
Consideration had thereof an also of what was otherwise pleaded argued and
alledged by and on Behalf of the said Parties respectively it is hereby ordered
adjudged and decreed that the Deputy
Episcopal Register do forthwith ascertain the Amount of the said Estate
and after deducting therefrom the funeral Expenses of the said Decedent and
Debts that have a Priority of Payment out of the said Estate that he do divide
&. distribute the Remainder thereof pari ____ amongst the common Creditors
of the said Decedent and that the Petitioner do afterwards pay all the
Creditors of the said Estate their Claims against the same agreeably to the
Order of Distribution so under by the said Register as aforesaid sub Paenas
Giris with all _____.
Ev.
Christian
John
Crellin
Purchase of 7 Michael Street, Peel
Captain Cannon's house
was located at 7 Michael Street in Peel (for photos of how it looks now, seehere). A property advertisement that appeared in the paper in 1816, after
George had died, described the property as follows: “A large dwelling house,
together with a stable, backyards &c. The above house is three-stories
high, having four rooms on each with excellent cellar under the whole. Situated
in one of the most convenient and pleasant streets in Peel.”[2]
The deed, dated
October 6, 1801, is as follows:
Know all men by these Presents that I Thos. Gell of the
Parish of Kk. Patrick with the consent of my wife Ann Gell Al[ia]s. Callow
Divers Reasons and considerations as hereunto moving but more especially for
and in considerations of the just sum of one Hundred and Twenty six pounds
British by and from the hands of George Cannan of Peeltown to be paid unto us
at the attestation hereof Have given Granted Bargained & sold and by these
Presents do give grant Bargain passover alienate and absolutely for ever sell
from us our Heirs Ex’ors Adm’ors and assigns all our right Tittle property and
Interest that We now have or Hereafter might or could have a certain premises
upon part whereof formerly was a House commonly known by the Name of Samuel
Wattleworth house adjoining unto the Rent of Mathew Quirk on the West and unto
Ceasar Corras on the North unto the Street on the East and South the Premisses
being Abbey Lords Land and of such annual Lords rent as the selling Quest[?]
shall proportion thereon to have and to hold unto him the said George Cannan
the Premisses aforesd. together with all ways waters water courses Easements
Liberties properties & appurtenance hereunto belonging in any wise
appertaining from the date hereof without let stop or molestation of any person
or persons whatsoever yielding and paying the Abbey Lords rent together with
all other dues duties Boons writs and Services due & payable out of the
same and We the afores Thomas Gell and Ann Gell do hereby bind and oblidge
ourselves our Heirs Ex’ors Adm’ors and assigns to uphold maintain awarrant and
Defend the aforesd. Premisses unto him the said George Cannan his Heirs Ex’ors
Adm’ors and assigns against all manner of Person or Persons who shall sue to
the contrary hereof or in any wise Also to obtain the Honourable Deemster
attestation the Honourable courts confirmation hereof and to do or cause all
other things to be done deemed further Necesssary in Law for the firmer
Ratification of this Deed For true[?] and faith full performance hereof We the
aforesd. Thomas Gell and wife aforesd. do hereby bind and oblidge ourselves our
Heirs Ex’ors Adm’ors in and under the Penalty and forfeiture of Two Hundred and
Fifty pounds to be Levied according to Law in Testimoney whereof We have
Subscribed or added our marks the[se] our Names this 6th of Octre.
1801.
Signed and Delivered Thomas Gell my [mark] in Presence of
Ann Gell
John Callow my [mark]
Philip Quirk
Peel 7th October 1801
Thomas Gell and Ann Gell the granting Parties to the
before written Deed of sale acknowledged the same to be their proper Act and
Deed and to be fully paid the consideration money therein mentioned
------------- Before me Geo. Savage
High Bailiff
At an
Abbey Court holden at St. John’s 12th[?] Abt. Noon[?] The before
written Deed of sale having been acknowledged before the High Bailiff and now
openly published in court and no objection offered against it – The same is
ordered to be recorded. - John
Sa…[?]
[Cover]
12. German Abbey
Thos. Gell
to Sale
Geo Cannon
The deed indicates it is Abbey Lords Land. In the manx notebook
[http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/towns/peel/prop/1796_ab.htm], there is
a page giving Abbey Land's Rents in Kirk German in 1796. It indicates that the
Abbeyland properties in Peel were in the area bounded by Market Street, the
Shore, Bridge Street and Michael Street.
The deed indicates it was
formerly the property of Samuel Wattleworth. I don't see a Samuel Wattleworth
listed, but there are many Wattleworths listed in that area. The deed lists
Mathew Quirk living to the west. A "Mat. Quirk" is listed on property
23. The deed lists Ceasar Corras to the north and a "Caesar Corris"
is also listed on property 23. The sellers were Thomas and Ann Gell. An
"Ann Gell with Phil Kelly her husband" are listed on property 32.
Also of interest, "Hu: Cannon and Ellen his wife" are listed on
property 20. George Cannon's parents were Hugh and Eleanor Addy Cannon. It
appears George was purchasing a property near the home of his mother and
father. This would be consistent with the 1814 census which lists two Mrs.
Cannons [the only Cannons in Peel] living very close to each other (both George
and Hugh had died by that time). Further, Cesar Wattleworth and Thomas Garrett
both gave pledges for George Cannon's estate when he died. "Casar
Wattleworth Junr" is listed on property 34 and "Thomas Garret &
Abigail his wife" are listed on property 26.
In the October 1814 Mortgages Index
No. 2, “Leonora CANNON of Peeltown Widow of the late Capt. George CANNON
borrowed 103 pounds 15s. from Patrick Carran of Peeltown at 6% interest. The
security was her undivided part of her dwelling house where she dwells.[3]
From this, it
seems pretty clear that the Michael Street property was purchased by George in
1801, after obtaining the substantial sum from his slave trading voyages on the
Iris, and that the property, with the large basements, was built well before
George obtained it and likely was not used by George Cannon for smuggling
purposes, as Frances Wilkins surmised. My guess is that it may have been used
for smuggling or warehousing earlier in the 18th century before George
purchased it.
Hugh and Eleanor Cannon House
Liber
Mon, Peeltown, May 1787, Cottage No. 20.
Christian Quirk married John Addy and had three children: Thomas Addy,
George Addy and Elinor Addy. When John Addy died, his will “revested her
moiety” in the rent. When she died intestate, her interest went four ways to
her three children and her later husband, John Cain. Hugh Cannon, who married
Ellinor Addy, became entitled to one-fourth (likely because she couldn’t hold
title as a woman). John Cain transferred his one-fourth to Hugh Cannon by deed
dated April 1, 1771. Thomas Addy transferred his one-fourth to Hugh Cannon by
his will dated August 18, 1763. Daniel Clark (another marriage to Christian?)
stands for his moiety and had to pay a fine for his mortgage on the one-fourth
part from John Cain which was allowed to be cancelled without entry. So
apparently, Hugh and Elinor Cannon have three-fourths and George Addy has the
remaining one-fourth of the moiety of Christian Quirk, which is 1 1/2d rent,
part of 4 1/2d. It is unclear how Dan Clark fits into the picture. [When did
Hugh and Eleanor start living here – was George Cannon born and raised here?]
In October 1795, Cottage No. 20 shows Hugh Cannon & Ellr his wife for 1d +
a qtr of a hen and George Addy for ¼ of a d + qtr of a hen. It appears Hugh and
Ellinor may have purchased George Addy’s interest by a deed of sale on April
23, 1783 from John Gell, Coroner of Glanfaba. In April 1807, Cottage No. 20,
shows Hugh Cannon and Elinor as 1 1/2d + part of a hen and John Morrison as
part of the 4 1/2d. On April 5, 1800, Hugh and Ellinor mortgaged the premises
to James Crawford, who by deed, dated May 22, 1800, assigned it to John
Morrison. In April 1810, Cottage No. 20, Wm Garrett is shown as 1 1/2d and John
Cannon is part of 4 1/2d rent. Wm. Garrett’s mortgage was discharged and John
Cannon was entered as heir at law of John Cannon [Hugh’s brother?]. In 1858,
Cottage No. 20, Charles Cannon is listed as 1 1/2d part of 4 1/2d rent.[4]
In
the Abbey Rental Books for 1786 to 1874, a 1796 entry for No. 20, shows a
rental of 1 1/2d. (1 ½ pennies), part of 4 1/2d. + 1 hen. It is for Hugh CANNON
& Ellr. His wife to Robt. Boodle. In the 1858 entry, No. 20 shows Charles
Cannon paying a rental of 1 1/2d part of 4 1/2d + 1 hen.[5]
In
the 1851 Census in Peel, Charles Cannon (brother of John Cannon) was living at
18 Michael Street. He was 70 years old, born in Peel [about 1781] and a Tailor.
Elizabeth Cannon (sister of John and Charles Cannon) was living at 19 Michael
Street, next door, age 62, born in Peel [about 1789] and a Knitter. These two
cottages probably make up Abbey Rentals No. 20.[6]
Birth of John Cannon – 4th child
On April
21, 1802, Captain Cannon’s fourth child was born, the first while he was at
home. He was named John, a name also held by Captain Cannon’s grandfather, an
uncle who was also a ship captain, and a brother, as well as the name of one of
Leonora’s brothers.
Ship Minerva
About 22 months
after his last long voyage, Captain Cannon was out to sea again. This time as captain
of the slaving ship Minerva,[7]
owned by James Ackers, with 24 crew. The Minerva left Liverpool on September
29, 1802, authorized to obtain 216 slaves.[8] It
was headed to Bonny for slaves. One of Captain George’s men drowned on the
outward passage.
Bonny
The Minerva
arrived in Bonny about the same time as the ship Thomas under Captain Robert
Pince, the ship Thomas under Captain Thomas Tobin and the ship Otway under
Captain Luke Mann, all from Liverpool.[9]
Nassau, Bahamas
The Minerva then
delivered 212 slaves to Nassau, in the Bahamas, on April 19, 1803, arriving the
same date as the 500 ton Kingsmill, with 395 slaves. Seven British slave ships
imported 2,200 slaves to the Bahamas in 1803. Of these, the Minerva was the
second smallest and imported the second smallest number of slaves.
Interestingly, 2,182 of the 2,200 slaves imported into the Bahamas were
exported: 2,059 to St. Augustine, Florida; 72 to Havana, Cuba; 40 to East
Florida; 6 to Principe; 2 to Holqum; and 3 to Honduras.[10]
Liverpool
Captain Cannon arrived
back in Liverpool on August 16, 1803 after less than nine months at sea.[11]
This is the last voyage of Captain Cannon that we can pinpoint with any
confidence.
[1] Letter
from Priscilla Lewthwaite to Robert Cannon, dated April 17, 2008.
[2] Manx
Annals. Eighty Years Ago. 1901/2, Chapter XVIII. Property Advertisements,
showing the listing as being in 1816. In 2001 the house was refurbished by
Jonathan Irving and split into three residential apartments, each one occupying
its own floor, and two ground floor retail premises, which include the cellars.
The first and second floor have three bedrooms and the third floor was actually
attic space among the eaves of the building which was converted to a penthouse
apartment with two bedrooms. It was marketed as “Captain Cannon’s”. The
developer’s streetheritage.com website indicates the house was built in 1794.
(E-mail from Michael Rickard, the owner of the first floor apartment, to Robert
Cannon, on February 13, 2006).
[3]
Lewthwaite 4/17/08 Letter
[4]
Lewthwaite 4/17/08 Letter
[5] Lewthwaite
4/17/08 Letter
[6] Letter
from Priscilla Lewthwaite to Robert Cannon, dated April 17, 2008 (“Lewthwaite
4/17/08 Letter”).
[7]
The Minerva was a 186 ton brig with a single deck and was built in Lancaster in
1795. It is listed in Lloyd’s Register 1804 under Captain William Brown, who
was the captain in 1803 and 1804. Check to see if it is listed in Lloyd’s
Register for 1802.
[8]
The Minerva was cleared to leave on September 28. “Geo. Cannan” is listed as
captain. (Parliamentary Papers 1806)
[9]
Lloyd’s List, dated March 13, 1803. The ship Thomas, under Captain Pince, left
Liverpool on September 8, 1802 and ultimately delivered 296 slaves in Kingston,
Jamaica. The ship Otway, under Captain Mann, left Liverpool on October 11, 1802
and delivered 302 slaves in Kingston, Jamaica. The ship Thomas, under Captain
Tobin, left Liverpool on October 11, 1802, the same date as the ship Otway, and
delivered 280 slaves in Trinidad. (Slave Trade CD).
[10] Parliamentary Papers, 1806 (265), XIII
(Parliamentary Papers 1806)
[11]
Lloyd’s List, dated May 17, 1803 and August 19, 1803; Behrendt Letter (PRO, BT
98/63, No. 354, Liverpool muster roll 1803; Family History Library, Film 870319
(“Second Iris Voyage”); Lloyd’s Register of Shipping 1804; Parliamentary
Papers, 1806 (265), XIII, no. 1 (and no. 2?).
