George Cannon, the son of Captian George and Leonora Callister Cannon, was born December 3, 1794 in Peel on the Isle of Man. George married Ann Quayle, daughter of John and Ellinor Callister Quayle, in 1825. Through the efforts of George's sister and brother-in-law, John and Leonora Taylor, the family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The following is an excerpt from an article in the Ensign, Mar. 1987 entitled, "Among Family and Friends: John Taylor—Mission to the British Isles," written by Paul Thomas Smith…
It had been a rather stormy twenty-three-day voyage. John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Theodore Turley gratefully left behind their cramped steerage quarters aboard the packet ship Oxford and walked down the gangway onto the pier head in Liverpool to begin revitalizing missionary work in the British Isles.
Elder Taylor immediately made his way to No. 43, Norfolk Street, where his brother-in-law George Cannon lived with his wife, Ann Quayle Cannon, and their five children. Because he had never met the Cannons, Elder Taylor brought a letter of introduction from his wife, Leonora, George’s sister. Elder Taylor planned to share the gospel with the Cannons and other friends and relatives of his wife in Liverpool and on the Isle of Man, the British island home where she had grown up. (Picture of Leonora Cannon below.)
It had been a rather stormy twenty-three-day voyage. John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Theodore Turley gratefully left behind their cramped steerage quarters aboard the packet ship Oxford and walked down the gangway onto the pier head in Liverpool to begin revitalizing missionary work in the British Isles.
Elder Taylor immediately made his way to No. 43, Norfolk Street, where his brother-in-law George Cannon lived with his wife, Ann Quayle Cannon, and their five children. Because he had never met the Cannons, Elder Taylor brought a letter of introduction from his wife, Leonora, George’s sister. Elder Taylor planned to share the gospel with the Cannons and other friends and relatives of his wife in Liverpool and on the Isle of Man, the British island home where she had grown up. (Picture of Leonora Cannon below.)
George was not at home when his brother-in-law called, so Elder Taylor visited briefly with Ann and the children, who received him warmly. It was Saturday, 11 January 1840, the thirteenth birthday of the eldest son, George. Although Elder Taylor left without having taught the gospel to the family, Ann Cannon turned to her son and said, "George, there goes a man of God. He is come to bring salvation to your father’s house."The elder George Cannon and his sister Leonora had left the Isle of Man as teenagers and moved to England seeking work after their father’s death.
George had established himself as a skilled turner and cabinetmaker in Liverpool. There he married his second cousin, Ann Quayle, also from the Isle of Man. Leonora had returned to the island, but she later accompanied a newlywed friend on her wedding trip to Canada. Leonora met and married John Taylor in Toronto; and they joined the Church there.
It was Leonora’s great desire to welcome George and other family members into the Church, so she and her husband were delighted when Elder Taylor was called to his native land, England, as a missionary.
After his first visit, Elder Taylor returned to the Cannon home on the evening of Januar
y 11 and was heartily welcomed by his brother-in-law. Though religious by nature, George was dissatisfied with the doctrines taught by churches of his acquaintance and was looking for a religion he could believe in. John Taylor wasted no time in sharing the message of the restored Church with the Cannon family. He sang a few songs of Zion, testified to the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and left a copy of the Book of Mormon, promising to spend more time with them as soon as he had completed important business in the city of Preston……The elders made it a practice to teach people of all economic and social backgrounds, in spite of the pronounced class consciousness then prevalent in English society. One convert recalled a dream in which he "saw two men come to Liverpool, they cast a net into the Sea and pulled it out full of fishes, he was surprised to see them pick the small fish out first and then the large." Recounting the dream by letter to his wife, Leonora, Elder Taylor reacted, "Well, if we get all the fish I shall be satisfied."
George and Ann Cannon were among those caught in the gospel net. They were baptized on 11 February 1840, just one month from the day of Elder Taylor’s first visit. Ann had been a believer from the beginning. George had not responded as quickly, but once he began reading the Book of Mormon, he became so absorbed that he read as he labored at his joiner’s bench, during his meals, and far into the night. He read it through twice, then declared to Elder Taylor that the book was of God, for "no wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so."
Early one day in June, Elder Taylor had just finished breakfast with Elder Parley P. Pratt, who was visiting him at the Cannons, when Elder Pratt, as if moved by sudden inspiration, queried, "Elder Taylor, have you preached the Gospel to these children? Some of them want to be baptized now." Looking directly at the Cannons’ daughter, Mary Alice, he asked, "Don’t you?" "Yes, sir," she promptly answered.
Mary Alice Cannon
Elder Taylor was embarrassed that George, Mary Alice, and Ann, all of baptismal age, had been overlooked when their parents were baptized in February. That matter was resolved within a few days.
Soon afterward, thirteen-year-old George quit school to work full-time in a counting-house to supplement the family fund to emigrate to America. His zeal and determination were eventually channeled into many opportunities for church service. In 1860, he would be ordained an Apostle and would later serve as counselor to four prophets of God. As an adult, he adopted his mother’s family name, Quayle, as his middle name—George Quayle Cannon.
They decided to emigrate from England to America. They departed from England on the ship Sidney. Shortly after they began their voyage, Ann, who was pregnant at the time, became ill. She was ill during the entire voyage, and died just before the ship arrived in New Orleans. She and her unborn child were buried at sea. The following is an excerpt from the journal George kept while immigrating to America . . .
Soon afterward, thirteen-year-old George quit school to work full-time in a counting-house to supplement the family fund to emigrate to America. His zeal and determination were eventually channeled into many opportunities for church service. In 1860, he would be ordained an Apostle and would later serve as counselor to four prophets of God. As an adult, he adopted his mother’s family name, Quayle, as his middle name—George Quayle Cannon.
They decided to emigrate from England to America. They departed from England on the ship Sidney. Shortly after they began their voyage, Ann, who was pregnant at the time, became ill. She was ill during the entire voyage, and died just before the ship arrived in New Orleans. She and her unborn child were buried at sea. The following is an excerpt from the journal George kept while immigrating to America . . .
On Sunday, the 18th, we all left Liverpool in good spirits, and nothing caused me so much regret as leaving so many of the Saints behind, anxious to go but without the means to do so.
We are now launched on the bosom of the mighty deep, and sea-sickness had made the passengers for the most part very ill. My dear Ann is dreadfully affected with this nauseous sickness, perhaps more so on account of her pregnancy. In how may ways and shapes are we tried! Not a morsel of food or drink will remain on her stomach--the moment she lifts her head she is sick almost to death. Yet I have never heard one complaint from her on her own account, but regret at not being able to assist me in the care of the children. Her stomach seems to have changed its functions, and this is the tenth day without anything passing through her.
"And how am I all this time! Well in body, but if depending on my own strength I should be in despair. But thanks be to our Heavenly Father, he has removed a fear from my mind which has preyed on it for years. Many years since I dreamed a dream which time or circumstance has never been able entirely to remove. I was impressed with a conviction that my wife should die while in a state of pregnancy. This was before I thought of marrying. Many would think this preceded from imbecility of mind or superstition; but my dreams (those I mean which made a deep impression on my memory) have been fulfilled so plainly that I never could doubt but that God sent them for some good purpose. I have never seen my wife pregnant without this fear of her death, and always felt thankful to God in a twofold sense when this critical time was past. She was aware of this feeling of mine, and it was a trial of our faith to cross the sea while she was in this state. But thoughts of undertaking the voyage in the spring when the weather was so cold, and with an infant of two or three months old, was in her estimation worse; and both of us feeling, while in England, that we were away from home and could not rest satisfies, although worldly circumstances favored us, still our hearts were in Zion and with our children, however persecuted, calumniated and belied.
While racking my mind and considering and devising what more I could do for my Ann-- I had given her consecrated oil, castor oil, pills, salt water, etc., had the hands of the elders laid on her, still she continued in the same state and I feared that inflammation would take place. Sister [Harriet] Chandler had no apparatus for administering an injection. I applied to Brother [Franklin D.] Richards, who got all that was requisite of the captain, and this was the means under the hand of God of removing one fear from my bosom, and causing me to rest in peace that night--the first for many nights and days. Leonora and David have had no sickness and are less trouble than I expected, but George, Mary Alice, Anny and Angus have all been very sick, particularly George and Anny.
Children of George Cannon (Mary Alice back-right)
Perhaps a more agreeable ship’s company, both of the Saints and seamen, never crossed the Atlantic. The captain and officers are kind and humane men and so far from disputes or hard feelings that the sailors say they never saw a family who agreed better: and they wonder how a company of people who were many of them strangers to each other can bear and forbear in the manner they do. One of the sailors, an intelligent man, told [p.111] me that he had been in the passenger line of shipping for years and never saw anything like it: in general the captain kept his distance and did not allow of freedoms from the passengers: but here he allowed them every indulgence, took pleasure in having the children round him on the quarter-deck and would play with them as if they were his own. May the Lord bless him for his kindness!
This is Tuesday, the 4th of October-- a delightful day; the wind is fair and the vessel going about five knots. I am sitting in the stern of the vessel. On each side of the deck are laid some spars, on which and on the vessel’s sides--not too high up-- are seated men, women and children, the younger children scrambling about the deck, while my poor old woman is lying on the hatch under the boat still very ill and unable to hold her head up for any length of time. This is the only drawback to my pleasure, as all the rest of us are well.
Saturday, 8th of October--Up to this time nothing of consequence occurred on board.
My poor Ann still continues very sick and is getting weaker every day. This morning a child of Brother John Yates’ died, a fine little boy [Robert] three years old. This afternoon we committed his little body to the deep. Brother [John] Greenhow addressed us in a very impressive manner on the occasion, and was listened to by the whole on board with the most marked attention. On Thursday, the 13th, a fine young sailor fell from the foreyard on deck. He was taken up insensible and died next morning and was committed to the deep the afternoon of the same day. His name was George Hill, belonging to the state of Maine, U. S.
During the whole of this time my dear Ann continues very and is still getting weaker. There is not a drop of wine or porter in the vessel, and she wishes very much for a little porter or ale. This day I learned for the first time that there was some porter on board, belonging to the cargo in the lower hold. The captain got some of it taken up to his cabin, and from that time I have got as much as I wanted for my wife. When she got the porter I was in hopes that she would retain strength until we got to land; but it was ordained other ways. We had performed the first half of our voyage in less than three weeks, but from that time it has been a series of calms with a light breeze, sometimes in our face. My heart used to die or sink within me along with the breeze. "Are we far from New Orleans that I may get some grapes and wine?" as my dear Ann’s constant inquiry when I came down off deck, as she is too weak to be taken on deck herself. I endeavored to speak words of comfort to her, while I had no prospect of her ever seeing the land of Joseph in this life. Dear Ann, the next wine thou shalt get will be pure in the Kingdom of Heaven! She talked of her death as of a sleep, told me not to lament her, that if she lived to reach the Mississippi she must be buried on land, if not, the great deep must receive her poor body that is shrunk to a mere skeleton.
I will not attempt to describe the nights in particular which I have passed while watching by the side of one of the best wives that ever man was blest with--to see the grim tyrant approaching slowly but steadily to his victim; yet with all her sufferings no complaint ever escaped her, but the words, "Dear George, what am I to do?" These words are never to be forgotten by me while I have memory. O God, how mysterious are thy ways! Teach me resignation to thy will!
This morning, Friday 28th of October, she fell asleep without a sigh, and in the performance of what she considered the commands of God, at half past four o’clock, and was buried in that element which needed no consecration, it never being cursed, in Latitude 24.37 North, Longitude 69.50 West, at five o’clock in the afternoon of the same day.
How soon our plans and prospects are changed! Although in expectation of bearing many things which are not of a pleasant nature--privation or poverty we agreed to share with the Saints, but we are tried in a more tender
part, and were it not for our helpless children’s sake I should like to repose under the peaceful blue waters with her who shared my every joy and sorrow. Heavenly Father keep me from repining! But seeing other people enjoying the society of those they love, my heart sickens and I long to be at rest with my dear wife.
The following are some letters from George to his sister Ann, who was married to John Taylor:
This is Tuesday, the 4th of October-- a delightful day; the wind is fair and the vessel going about five knots. I am sitting in the stern of the vessel. On each side of the deck are laid some spars, on which and on the vessel’s sides--not too high up-- are seated men, women and children, the younger children scrambling about the deck, while my poor old woman is lying on the hatch under the boat still very ill and unable to hold her head up for any length of time. This is the only drawback to my pleasure, as all the rest of us are well.
Saturday, 8th of October--Up to this time nothing of consequence occurred on board.
My poor Ann still continues very sick and is getting weaker every day. This morning a child of Brother John Yates’ died, a fine little boy [Robert] three years old. This afternoon we committed his little body to the deep. Brother [John] Greenhow addressed us in a very impressive manner on the occasion, and was listened to by the whole on board with the most marked attention. On Thursday, the 13th, a fine young sailor fell from the foreyard on deck. He was taken up insensible and died next morning and was committed to the deep the afternoon of the same day. His name was George Hill, belonging to the state of Maine, U. S.During the whole of this time my dear Ann continues very and is still getting weaker. There is not a drop of wine or porter in the vessel, and she wishes very much for a little porter or ale. This day I learned for the first time that there was some porter on board, belonging to the cargo in the lower hold. The captain got some of it taken up to his cabin, and from that time I have got as much as I wanted for my wife. When she got the porter I was in hopes that she would retain strength until we got to land; but it was ordained other ways. We had performed the first half of our voyage in less than three weeks, but from that time it has been a series of calms with a light breeze, sometimes in our face. My heart used to die or sink within me along with the breeze. "Are we far from New Orleans that I may get some grapes and wine?" as my dear Ann’s constant inquiry when I came down off deck, as she is too weak to be taken on deck herself. I endeavored to speak words of comfort to her, while I had no prospect of her ever seeing the land of Joseph in this life. Dear Ann, the next wine thou shalt get will be pure in the Kingdom of Heaven! She talked of her death as of a sleep, told me not to lament her, that if she lived to reach the Mississippi she must be buried on land, if not, the great deep must receive her poor body that is shrunk to a mere skeleton.
I will not attempt to describe the nights in particular which I have passed while watching by the side of one of the best wives that ever man was blest with--to see the grim tyrant approaching slowly but steadily to his victim; yet with all her sufferings no complaint ever escaped her, but the words, "Dear George, what am I to do?" These words are never to be forgotten by me while I have memory. O God, how mysterious are thy ways! Teach me resignation to thy will!
This morning, Friday 28th of October, she fell asleep without a sigh, and in the performance of what she considered the commands of God, at half past four o’clock, and was buried in that element which needed no consecration, it never being cursed, in Latitude 24.37 North, Longitude 69.50 West, at five o’clock in the afternoon of the same day.
How soon our plans and prospects are changed! Although in expectation of bearing many things which are not of a pleasant nature--privation or poverty we agreed to share with the Saints, but we are tried in a more tender
part, and were it not for our helpless children’s sake I should like to repose under the peaceful blue waters with her who shared my every joy and sorrow. Heavenly Father keep me from repining! But seeing other people enjoying the society of those they love, my heart sickens and I long to be at rest with my dear wife.The following are some letters from George to his sister Ann, who was married to John Taylor:
Liverpool, 15 Oct., 1840
Dear Sister:
I bless the Lord that I ever saw your husbands face, and I now see plainly our dear mothers prayers has not only been answered for you, but extended to me and my family, thro you, for if my dear brother had not come to live with me (so much have I preached against the various sects and parties warring against each other.) I should never I fear have embraced the Gospel in its fullness as it was, I tried to consider it another new sect added to the number that wrest the word of God to their own purposes, but faith comes by hearing, and of his infinite mercy he showed me that I was poor and miserable and blind. Ann was a believer from the first time of her hearing their testimony. We entered by the door into the sheepfold and George, Mary Alice, and poor Anny has been baptized since. You will be tired my dear sister with so much of myself and family, but I am a wonder to myself and see the hand of the Lord so visible in all that has happened to me these last four years, that I cannot help telling you of it. I left off drink at that time and have drank nothing stronger than coffee since. This was principally on my childrens account, as I knew example was better than precept and with all my faults I loved my children. I was happy in all, affectionate wife, promising children, health, plenty of work, and always a pound to spare, but still there was a want of something what made me very low spirited at times. I strove to pray and to return God thanks for the mercies, particularly after some escape from danger of myself or family. In the month of September last my poor John died of a brain fever. Dear Nora I shall never forget that boy-‑he was three years and a half old, the countenance of Brother John, particularly about the mouth, but his eyes were black but such a boy. Well I shall see him yet, my hard heart was softened with the death of this child when Brother Taylor came to Liverpool I was humbled before the Lord and sincerely desirous to lead a new life. We had the words whereby I might be saved and tho slow of belief at first, and not seeing the necessity of Baptism yet God of his infinite mercy opened my eyes.
(Oct. 25) Dear Leonora, I had just read your letter which came by the postman, over when I received your other second letter by B. F. Snow. He landed last night after a six weeks passage in good health. Your dear husband is in the Isle of Man with Br. Clarke. They went there the 16th of September he is well and doing well. Bro. Clarke came to conference by Bro. Taylor could not come, as he had to answer some of their pious men. He says the harvest is ripe there and they have only to put in the sickle. Bro. T. has sent me some Manx papers. I have forwarded two to you of different dates. One to Bro. Joseph, one to B. S. Rigdon, and one to Messrs Smith and Robertson. I cannot get your letters sent to Brother until Monday, as the packet only sails twice a week, and I received them a few hours too late. Dear Sister I am grieved to hear you have been ill and your dear little ones. I have felt a great deal for your situation and I know that nothing but the Lords work could keep your husband from you, but I have a belief that I shall see you yet in this life. Bro. T. had wished in one of his letters from the Island that I would write to you, as he was so occupied he had not a moment to spare. He says I find Mr. A. Clarke is a Methodist, Miss Brannan I have not called on. I find it here as in other places, those that are very pious do not need anything. He has a room over the market in Douglas that will hold one thousand people and has only to give out a meeting to have it filled. He has all kinds of hearing him big and little, friends and foes, Holy people and ungodly, you will see by the papers that he has many to oppose him but truth will stand without propping, and they all go to the ground. There has been a good many baptized and many at the edge of the water. Dear Sister I know this will give you pleasure.
Nov. 4th I have just received a line from Bro. Taylor. It is only a line saying that he is well, and three newspapers which I forwarded (to you, Bro. Joseph Smith and Bro. Sidney Rigdon) I think by this time some of the Methodists begin to find their craft in danger. Miss Brannan had sent to Br. T. for two books she lent you and he has brought them for her, so you may guess how she feels. There never was such an excitement in the Island before. The people begin to have their eyes and ears opened to the truth and wonder they did not see these things before. He has not mentioned receiving your letters and I waited expecting some news or word to send you. Perhaps I may get some before I send this. Dear Sister you are anxious to have all the news about us. In the first place Bro. T. is comfortable in the Island and has a comfortable little sitting room and bedroom with a Mr. Cowill, and he says he has many warm friends there. Sister Elinor is in service in St. Georges Square. She has two children in Stafford shore, and one by the second husband, three years old. He is at nurse, she is well and will have another husband before long or I am mistaken. I have had a letter from David and one from John last March. They were both well when they wrote. David is in Sidney and doing well. John is in Port Philip and he is getting a small vessel built between himself and a carpenter. Poor John is going to make a fortune directly. He always counts the chickens before they are hatched. He wishes we were out there with him. Joiners wages is 14 shillings a day. We have six children living. George 14 years next 11th Jan. Mary Alice 12 years 9th Dec. next. Ann 9 years 28th of Jan. next, Angus 6 years 17th May last. John born 3rd March 1836 and died 13th Sept. 1839. David born 23rd April 1838, Unkle calls him the Squinter beg.* He squints badly poor fellow, and Leonora, born 11 Sept. 1840. A fine little baby. We are all well at present and I am going to make winkers to put on Davids eyes to cure him of squinting. Mary Alice learned him to squint after he was 9 months old. Aunt Covkill is dead, and Thomas Covkill died some time before her. Unkle Covkill is in the preventive service in Banjor in Ireland. Aunt Covkill died in Ireland. Ann is grown fine young woman. Uncle Kaighin is dead 5 years, and Aunt Kaighim died last June very soon after her sister. You have heard of Aunt Pollus death, all the children are married but Leny, John married a daughter of Quaggin the Millers in Peel, and they lived with the old man, they could not agree and John sold Uncle Mylchreests place, which so angered the old man, that he sold his own place to Mickeal Oates for twenty pounds a year while (he) lives. He is likely to live many years, but he is troubled with pains. Lenny was out here about 4 months since. They are a queer squad altogether, She says that he, the old fellow her father may live a hundred years to vix Michael Oates. I have just heard of Mr. Ratcliffs death, he was deacon, class leader and a popular man in Liverpool and had three or four hundred a year for different offices he held in Bible societies and other religious institutions. You had called on him and preached the Gospel to him. He did not deny anything but said these are tremendous conclusions. Then we must be all wrong. Bro T. said he did not condemn anyone, it was the everlasting Gospel he preached. Miss Brannan came to Liverpool. She did not come to our house, but sent for Bro. T. to Mr. Ratcliffs. They had a long discourse in presence of Mr. R. shen about to leave them he asked Miss B. if he should call on her in the Island as he meant to visit it. She said if he preached like other men she would be happy to see him, but she hoped he would not come to the Island to preach what he preached to her. She told Henry Gills wife (Miss Collister that was) that she cried and prayed greatly to the Lord that he might show him the error of his ways. Mrs. Gilland her Sister both attended our meetings before Miss Brannan came to Liverpool. She is much blinded and opposed to the truth. I have just received 5th Nov. another line from Bro. Taylor he has got your letters and will be here the beginning of next week and will write you a letter himself. Dear Sister you may expect a number of the saints from Liverpool in spring. If it is the Lords will I am ready to go any time, and I have as much money as will take me there and perhaps a little to spare. You have never mentioned what sort of a country it is or how people are employed there, how land is sold, whether it is a good fishing or fowling country. Write me a letter soon as you receive this, Ann and the children send their kind love to you and their little cousins. I remain your loving
Brother George Cannon
The following is an excerpt from the David H. Cannon website, son of George (http://www.davidhcannon.org/)…Dear Sister:
I bless the Lord that I ever saw your husbands face, and I now see plainly our dear mothers prayers has not only been answered for you, but extended to me and my family, thro you, for if my dear brother had not come to live with me (so much have I preached against the various sects and parties warring against each other.) I should never I fear have embraced the Gospel in its fullness as it was, I tried to consider it another new sect added to the number that wrest the word of God to their own purposes, but faith comes by hearing, and of his infinite mercy he showed me that I was poor and miserable and blind. Ann was a believer from the first time of her hearing their testimony. We entered by the door into the sheepfold and George, Mary Alice, and poor Anny has been baptized since. You will be tired my dear sister with so much of myself and family, but I am a wonder to myself and see the hand of the Lord so visible in all that has happened to me these last four years, that I cannot help telling you of it. I left off drink at that time and have drank nothing stronger than coffee since. This was principally on my childrens account, as I knew example was better than precept and with all my faults I loved my children. I was happy in all, affectionate wife, promising children, health, plenty of work, and always a pound to spare, but still there was a want of something what made me very low spirited at times. I strove to pray and to return God thanks for the mercies, particularly after some escape from danger of myself or family. In the month of September last my poor John died of a brain fever. Dear Nora I shall never forget that boy-‑he was three years and a half old, the countenance of Brother John, particularly about the mouth, but his eyes were black but such a boy. Well I shall see him yet, my hard heart was softened with the death of this child when Brother Taylor came to Liverpool I was humbled before the Lord and sincerely desirous to lead a new life. We had the words whereby I might be saved and tho slow of belief at first, and not seeing the necessity of Baptism yet God of his infinite mercy opened my eyes.
(Oct. 25) Dear Leonora, I had just read your letter which came by the postman, over when I received your other second letter by B. F. Snow. He landed last night after a six weeks passage in good health. Your dear husband is in the Isle of Man with Br. Clarke. They went there the 16th of September he is well and doing well. Bro. Clarke came to conference by Bro. Taylor could not come, as he had to answer some of their pious men. He says the harvest is ripe there and they have only to put in the sickle. Bro. T. has sent me some Manx papers. I have forwarded two to you of different dates. One to Bro. Joseph, one to B. S. Rigdon, and one to Messrs Smith and Robertson. I cannot get your letters sent to Brother until Monday, as the packet only sails twice a week, and I received them a few hours too late. Dear Sister I am grieved to hear you have been ill and your dear little ones. I have felt a great deal for your situation and I know that nothing but the Lords work could keep your husband from you, but I have a belief that I shall see you yet in this life. Bro. T. had wished in one of his letters from the Island that I would write to you, as he was so occupied he had not a moment to spare. He says I find Mr. A. Clarke is a Methodist, Miss Brannan I have not called on. I find it here as in other places, those that are very pious do not need anything. He has a room over the market in Douglas that will hold one thousand people and has only to give out a meeting to have it filled. He has all kinds of hearing him big and little, friends and foes, Holy people and ungodly, you will see by the papers that he has many to oppose him but truth will stand without propping, and they all go to the ground. There has been a good many baptized and many at the edge of the water. Dear Sister I know this will give you pleasure.
Nov. 4th I have just received a line from Bro. Taylor. It is only a line saying that he is well, and three newspapers which I forwarded (to you, Bro. Joseph Smith and Bro. Sidney Rigdon) I think by this time some of the Methodists begin to find their craft in danger. Miss Brannan had sent to Br. T. for two books she lent you and he has brought them for her, so you may guess how she feels. There never was such an excitement in the Island before. The people begin to have their eyes and ears opened to the truth and wonder they did not see these things before. He has not mentioned receiving your letters and I waited expecting some news or word to send you. Perhaps I may get some before I send this. Dear Sister you are anxious to have all the news about us. In the first place Bro. T. is comfortable in the Island and has a comfortable little sitting room and bedroom with a Mr. Cowill, and he says he has many warm friends there. Sister Elinor is in service in St. Georges Square. She has two children in Stafford shore, and one by the second husband, three years old. He is at nurse, she is well and will have another husband before long or I am mistaken. I have had a letter from David and one from John last March. They were both well when they wrote. David is in Sidney and doing well. John is in Port Philip and he is getting a small vessel built between himself and a carpenter. Poor John is going to make a fortune directly. He always counts the chickens before they are hatched. He wishes we were out there with him. Joiners wages is 14 shillings a day. We have six children living. George 14 years next 11th Jan. Mary Alice 12 years 9th Dec. next. Ann 9 years 28th of Jan. next, Angus 6 years 17th May last. John born 3rd March 1836 and died 13th Sept. 1839. David born 23rd April 1838, Unkle calls him the Squinter beg.* He squints badly poor fellow, and Leonora, born 11 Sept. 1840. A fine little baby. We are all well at present and I am going to make winkers to put on Davids eyes to cure him of squinting. Mary Alice learned him to squint after he was 9 months old. Aunt Covkill is dead, and Thomas Covkill died some time before her. Unkle Covkill is in the preventive service in Banjor in Ireland. Aunt Covkill died in Ireland. Ann is grown fine young woman. Uncle Kaighin is dead 5 years, and Aunt Kaighim died last June very soon after her sister. You have heard of Aunt Pollus death, all the children are married but Leny, John married a daughter of Quaggin the Millers in Peel, and they lived with the old man, they could not agree and John sold Uncle Mylchreests place, which so angered the old man, that he sold his own place to Mickeal Oates for twenty pounds a year while (he) lives. He is likely to live many years, but he is troubled with pains. Lenny was out here about 4 months since. They are a queer squad altogether, She says that he, the old fellow her father may live a hundred years to vix Michael Oates. I have just heard of Mr. Ratcliffs death, he was deacon, class leader and a popular man in Liverpool and had three or four hundred a year for different offices he held in Bible societies and other religious institutions. You had called on him and preached the Gospel to him. He did not deny anything but said these are tremendous conclusions. Then we must be all wrong. Bro T. said he did not condemn anyone, it was the everlasting Gospel he preached. Miss Brannan came to Liverpool. She did not come to our house, but sent for Bro. T. to Mr. Ratcliffs. They had a long discourse in presence of Mr. R. shen about to leave them he asked Miss B. if he should call on her in the Island as he meant to visit it. She said if he preached like other men she would be happy to see him, but she hoped he would not come to the Island to preach what he preached to her. She told Henry Gills wife (Miss Collister that was) that she cried and prayed greatly to the Lord that he might show him the error of his ways. Mrs. Gilland her Sister both attended our meetings before Miss Brannan came to Liverpool. She is much blinded and opposed to the truth. I have just received 5th Nov. another line from Bro. Taylor he has got your letters and will be here the beginning of next week and will write you a letter himself. Dear Sister you may expect a number of the saints from Liverpool in spring. If it is the Lords will I am ready to go any time, and I have as much money as will take me there and perhaps a little to spare. You have never mentioned what sort of a country it is or how people are employed there, how land is sold, whether it is a good fishing or fowling country. Write me a letter soon as you receive this, Ann and the children send their kind love to you and their little cousins. I remain your loving
Brother George Cannon
At the time of the martyrdom of the prophet Joseph Smith, George’s son David H. said, "I remember my father standing at the gate at the front of the house, his arms kind of leaning on the gate; he turned and as he did
so, said, 'My God, they have killed our prophet.'" When the prophet Joseph and his brother, Hyrum, were martyred the ground was very muddy and wagons got stuck in the mire, so to get the bodies home they had to make a drag (kind of like a large sled) to get the bodies back into Nauvoo. George made the drag they brought the bodies in on. He also made death masks of the two. (It was popular at that time to take plaster casts, called death masks, of your loved ones.) David H. said, "I remember going with my father at the time that this took place. A lock of the prophet's hair was caught in the plaster mask, and I remember Father taking some scissors and clipping the hair and then giving me the scissors to hold while he went on with this work." George died on 17 August 1844. He was working in St. Louis, Missouri which is about 200 miles down the Mississippi River from Nauvoo. One account says that he died of heat stroke.
In 1845 Mary Alice's new husband, Charles Lambert, was appointed guardian of the three youngest orphan Cannon children: Angus, David H., and Leonora. The two older children, George Q. and Ann, were living with their Aunt Leonora and Uncle John Taylor.
The Lamberts and the Cannon children stayed in Nauvoo until they were driven out by the mobs. They were quite destitute and couldn't accompany the Saints who left in the Spring. They stayed on the west side of the Mississippi until they could obtain a team to take them on to Winter Quarters. They suffered many hardships at that time. David H. was eight years old at this time and he tells of the miracle of the quail, "...we witnessed the power of the Lord in sending great flocks of quail that fed the saints who were fairly in a state of starvation, through being driven from their homes in this inclement season of the year without shelter or sufficient food to eat. These birds were caught by thousands."
Following are some websites to research more about George Cannon and his family:
The farm that used to belong to the family of George Cannon on the Isle of Man is called Cooil Shellagh, which means "willow nook." The farm is now owned by Paul & Lindsey Hotchkiss. They currently rent out cottages to tourists. http://www.willownook.com/
The George and Ann Quayle Cannon Family website http://www.sedgwickresearch.com/cannon/cannon.htm
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