CANNON and HARDESTY Family Genealogy

If only genealogy were simple...

When first researching the CUNARD family, I was told Jesse Cannon and Frances Hardesty were the parents of Mary "Comfort" Cannon who married John Cunard, a 4th great-grandfather. That was in 1993. Since then, I haven't been able to find proof one way or the other. So here is what I know of the CANNON family, in hopes that they are mine :-)

1A. Jesse CANNON (1761-1834)

Most people agree there are at least two Jesse CANNONs in historical records. One was a sailor during the Revolution, and died without children (mark him off our list.) The other is tracked backwards from his place of death, Lawrence County, MS. It is not clear if this is our Jesse Cannon, or even if we should be looking for a Jesse Cannon at all.

From the "Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi", Volume 1, Jesse D. Cannon, Sr. was born in 1761 in Virginia, and moved from Georgia to Mississippi after the death of his wife Frances Hardesty Cannon. Most of their children, though grown, moved with him. Nine daughters (two of whom remained in Georgia, five lived in MS, and two went on to Texas) and three sons survived Frances. The list of children given in the article are: Jesse D. Jr., Joseph, Matthew B, Nancy, 2 daughters in GA, 2 daughters in TX, and leaving 3 daughters in MS. From this and other sources, I think this family fleshes out to:

  1. Jesse D. Cannon, Jr. - b. 1 APR 1815, d. 3 OCT 1859 Lawrence Co., MS, he m. Adeline L. OATIS
  2. Joseph Cannon -
  3. Nancy Cannon - b. 17 AUG 1811, m. Norvel ROBERTSON 17 NOV 1835 in Lawrence County, MS. Her death is given in places as 17 NOV 1905 Hancock County, GA. Norvell ROBERTSON died 16 SEP 1855 at Leaf River Baptist Church Cemetery, MS.
  4. Mary "Comfort" Cannon - (may be 1 daughter in Georgia) - this is my link, see section 2 for details.
  5. Mary Hardesty Cannon - (1 daughter in Georgia) - b. 29 JUL 1800 Brooks County, GA, d. 12 AUG 1880; she m. Mathias McCORMICK (b. 18 MAY 1794 Burke Co., GA d. 10 JAN 1879) on 10 SEP 1819, probably Pulaski County, GA. If this Mary belongs to Jesse and Frances, then this couple named two daughters "Mary". It has been done, but it seems odd.
  6. Matthew Bonds Cannon - m. Arcadia/Arcinda Scarborough 23 AUG 1820 Pulaski County, GA.
  7. Frances or Georgia Frances - (1 daughter in MS) - m. 11 MAR 1821 Irwin Scarborough in Pulaski County, GA.
  8. Hannah Cannon (daughter in Mississippi or on to Texas?) - b. 1795
  9. daughter - on to Texas
  10. daughter - in MS
  11. daughter - in MS

1B. Frances HARDESTY (17??-182?)

I have seen Frances HARDESTY who m. Jesse CANNON listed as the daughter of Joseph HARDESTY, granddaughter of Thomas HARDESTY, both of whom left wills in Carteret County, NC (1805, 1758 respectively). I have not seen these wills, and so have no idea as to the truth of this claim.

KNOWN TIMELINE for Jesse Cannon:

1809 - 1812 - Hancock County, GA - court records

1811 - Hancock County, GA - a James Cannon left a will. Eunice Cannon(w/ minor children William, Lovey B. and Elizabeth), Jesse Cann, and James Simmons were Executors.

1815 - Hancock County, GA - Mary Comfort Cannon, supposedly Jesse's daughter married. Usually a marriage took place in the bride's home county.

1817 - 1825 - Pulaski County, GA - Jesse has a letter in the post office, in court records, jury duty, etc.

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2. Mary "Comfort" Cannon (1794 - 1832)

Mary, called "Comfort" in family histories, but recorded as "Mary" on her marriage license, was born 13 OCT 1794 in Georgia. She married John Cunard in Hancock County, GA on 24 APR 1815. A Cunard family record indicates:

  • John Cunard the son of Edward Cunard and Judith his wife was born on the 15th of Feb 1786
  • Comfort Cunard the daughter of Jesse and Frances Cannon was born on the 13th of October 1794.
  • each child of this couple is listed as being "of John Cunard and Comfort his wife

    • See the CUNARD Family page for information on this family.

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    Last revised: 29 OCT 2007