CANON

ROSANNA EMILINE CANON was born on 25 April 1840 near Morgan Springs, Perry County, Alabama, and died on 5 December 1917 at Chester, Texas.(1-3) On 17 November 1857, in Perry County, Alabama; she married John Alexander Hopkins (see Hopkins), who was born on 12 October 1833, in Perry County, Alabama, and died on 12 February 1897 at Chester, Texas.(1-3) They are buried at the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Chester, Texas. Rosanna was a very efficient and capable person and her influence carried on into her children and grandchildren.

John A. Hopkins was wounded at the Battle of Lookout Mountain during the Civil War and Rosanna went to Atlanta to nurse him. When the war was over, they had lost everything and John could not make enough to provide for his family on his worn out farm. He decided they should move to Texas, but Rosanna did not want to leave her parents, especially since their children were little and she was then expecting another. She wanted her father to discourage the move, but he thought it was great and gave them one of the wagons he had built for his trip to Texas and said they could live, rent free, on the farm in Tyler County, Texas, which his brother John had given him in default of a loan. So, in November 1875, they started their six weeks' trip to Texas, arriving on 22 December 1875.

The Texas blacklands really produced crops, and Rosanna Emiline wrote home telling of the wonderful cotton crops and the corn and how one of the beets in the field measured 35 inches around. The other children of Malcolm Canon did not like the idea of their sister getting such a wonderful farm, rent free, so Malcolm wrote about 1877/78 and told John that he would have to pay rent or move. John and Rosanna decided to move about 20 miles west to the Moscow community. (5)

The children of Rosanna and John are listed under "Hopkins." Rosanna was the daughter of

MALCOLM DEMUS CANON was born on 4 May 1803 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and died on 29 July 1885(1) in Perry County, Alabama.

Malcolm moved to St. Clair County, Alabama, in 1817, and then to Bush Creek, Perry County, Alabama, in 1836. He married, first, on 21 June 1827, Babby Benson who died in 1834. Malcolm and Babby had two daughters: Margaret married James Henry Roach in 1844; and Jane E. married Joseph Abbot in 1847.(4)

Malcolm married, second, on 8 September 1836, in Perry County, Alabama,(2) Nancy Blackburn Boyd (see Boyd), who was born on 20 July 1818 and died on 24 July 1890(1) in Perry County, Alabama:(7) Both Malcolm and Nancy are buried in Providence Cemetery, out from Marion, Alabama.

Malcolm was very successful. He started out as a doctor but quit because he said doctors were frauds. He owned a large farm, a number of slaves, a cotton gin, and a blacksmith shop. He was the first up in the morning and started his own fire, and was in the blacksmith shop before breakfast. He worked all day and got back home about eight o'clock at night. Malcolm always wore broadcloth with collar and tie. He bought one of the first cooking stoves that was built, but it sat idle for many years as the cook wanted no part of the new, fancy gadget.

About 1870, Lambeth Hopkins and some of his family moved to Texas, and Malcolm wanted to move with them. Nancy did not want to and suggested that Malcolm take the trip to Texas and see if he really wanted to move. He enjoyed the trip, visiting with his brother, John, who had a farm in Tyler County, but decided he did not want to move.(5)

The children of Malcolm and Nancy were:(4) Frances Elmira, born 1838, died 1882, and married Oreen Jaspers Griffin; Rosanna Emiline (see above), born 25 April 1840, died 5 December 1917, and married John A. Hopkins; Mary Calhoun, born 1842, died 1915, and married Marcus de Lafayette Moore; John Boyd, born 1844, and died 1847; Job Irvin, born 15 November 1846, died 15 September 1908, and married Nancy Hopkins; Benjamin Franklin, born 9 December 1848, died 10 July 1890, and never married; Ann Eliza, born 1851, died 1938, and married William Welsey Morland; Emily Paralee, born 1853, died 1937, and married Leander Judson Crawford; David Welsey, born 1854, died 1936, and married Martha Ann Moore; Chelly Miranda, born 1857, died 1857; and Elizabeth Tramill, born 1862, died 1943, and married, first, J. W. Roberts, and, second, Rev. Derrell Harrison.

Malcolm was the son of

JOB CANON was born 5 August 1766 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and died on 21 June 1842 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.(4) He married about 1791, at the age 0f 54, Margaret Irvin, daughter 0f Edward Irvin, who died on 10 October 1790 and is buried in Hopewell Presbyterian Cemetery. Margaret was born on 21 September 1771 and died on 15 October 1860 in Perry County, Alabama. She is buried in Providence Cemetery.(4)

An interesting paragraph of the Job Canon Will, dated 10 May 1842, and filed in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, shows that Malcolm Demus had borrowed a considerable amount from his father. It is also interesting in giving a glimpse into the family life of those times. Part of the Will reads as follows:

"I will and bequeath to my son E. I. (Edward Irwin) Cannon on conditions he pays all my just debts of every kind and see that his mother is well taken care of in sickness and health and likewise see that she is not wronged out of any of her property I say on compliance with the above condition I will and bequeath to My son E. I. Cannon all my plantation except his mother's dower all the horses not willed to his mother, say old Jim, mare & colt, Ratler, the mule and Fly the two year old filly all the stock of cattle, sheep, and hogs half the wagon, all the farming utensils not willed to his mother and all household and kitchen furniture not willed to his mother all the carpenter tools rifle and shot gun silver watch and a negro boy named Henry and after all the bequeathments are paid out of what Malcolm D. Cannon is in due that I allow to come out of it if there is any more coming to me after that I will and bequeath it to E. I. Cannon one thing I recall before I sign Cynthea Hannah's part of the money arising from the sale of the negroe woman and the property that may be sold at the same time. I will and bequeath thirty dollars of the money to her daughter Margaret and the ballance of the fourth part of the whole I loan my daughter Cynthia clear of interest her lifetime, and after her death whatever may be found of said loaned money or anything I allow to return back to the three Perry children and if there is any more of my estate that this will does not embrace or comprehend I will the same to E. I. Cannon I will my old Bible to E. I. Cannon and my new Bible to my wife and after her death to E. I. Cannon.

"I allow E. Irwin and mother to get about half the value of the Books the half to be divided amongst the ballance of my children equally as call be done by two indifferent men if cant be done without."

The children of Job and Margaret, as listed in the Will of Job, were: 9. Mrs. Perry; Mrs. Cynthia Hanna; Mrs. Margery Henry; Jane I. married Rev. Reuben Tucker; John R.; Malcolm Demus (see above), born 4 May 1803, died 29 July 1885, and married, first, Babby Benson, and, second, Nancy Blackburn Boyd; and Edward Irwin Canon, born 15 February 1816, died 5 December 1844, and married Jane E. (possibly Alexander).

Job was the son of

JOHN CANON was born about 1730, probably in Ireland, and died on 19 January 1794 in North Carolina. He married Martha who was born in 1734 and died on 8 October 1798. John and Martha are both buried at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church, 14 miles north of Charlotte.

Some insight into the family is given in the Will of John. Part of this Will read as follows: "First of all, I give & bequeath to my beloved wife Martha, in lieu of her dowry, one mare called Bonny her choice of three cows & all the sheep with the whole of the grain for the use of the family & stock likewise a sufficiency of meat for her & the family with the whole of the house & kitchen furniture, including beds & beding chests, etc., etc., with the privilege of my Mansion House and all other houses & office with a comfortable maintainance for her & such children as may live with her life or widowhood.

"I give & bequeath unto my beloved son Job Canon the plantation on which I now live, provided that he maintains the family as aforesaid with the plantation tools & the old mare & hold horse I give him in trust for the use of the plantation & his choice of the two colts that is the Stallion colt or the year old colt with the next choice of a cow and my chest."

The children of John and Martha were listed in the Will as follows:(10-11) Mary Smith; James; Abigail (Abbey) Garrison; Anne Smith; John; Job (see above), born 5 August 1766, died 21 June 1842, and married Margaret Irwin; Joseph, died 4 April 1803 at age 34; Samuel (Sammie), died 21 May 1794 ( ? ) at age 22; Benjamin; and Martha.

Ref:

1. John A. Hopkins Family Bible, published by C. F. Vent, Cincinnati. 186~wned by Clifton Baker, Nacogdoches, Texas.

2. Marriage Records, Perry County, Alabama.

3. Mt. Hope Cemetery, Chester, Texas.

4. Letters-Rev. F. S. Moseley, Entaw, Alabama.

5. Interview with Mrs. Susan Hopkins Wyche, 14 September 1949.

6. Agreement between Heirs of M. D. Cannon, dec'd, 8 September 1885, Perry County, Alabama, Deed Book 18, Pages 325-37.

7. Christenberry-Boyd-Blackburn Family Bible, published by Merriam, Moore & Co., Troy, New York, 185o-owned by Mrs. Sue Thomas, Greensboro, Alabama.

8. Job Irwin Canon Family Bible.

9. Will of Job Cannon, dated 10 May 1842, filed in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.