Cannon Cemetery
2015
Washington County, Tennessee Tombstone Inscriptions by Charles M. Bennett and the Watauga Association of Genealogists. Information used with the permission of Lorraine Bennett Rae.
From volume 2, page 277 – entry WCCL
“CANNON – 7 miles South of Limestone near the Gillis place, in the 1st district. Established in 1864 by the Cannon family. It has been abandon for several years.”
As several Cannon males lived on this farm of about 180 acres, it is unclear who may have technically established the burial ground.
This farm is about ½ mile from the Liberty Freewill Baptist Church.
A descendant of W.C. Gillis pointed out the gravesite.
LOCATION – 123 Oscar Gillis Rd, Chuckey. It is about 1500 feet southwest of the farmhouse and across Moore Branch. There are ruins of the original home place near the burial ground.
GPS Location: +36 08.090N and -82 37.960W
DEEDS – Deed Book 47, Page 42 (1879) – “the old John Cannon farm” conveyed to E. N. Griffith. Deed Book 48, Page 176 (1881) – E. N. Griffith to Washington G’Fellers. Deed Book 56, Page 139 (1887) – Washington G’Fellers to W. C. and Sarah Gillis. Several deeds, which will not be listed here, conveyed interests of the other heirs of W. C. Gillis unto William E. Gillis. This parcel has largely stayed intact and has remained in the Gillis family since 1887.
CENSUS –
1850 – John Cannon, 47; Elizabeth, 48; Mary A, 25; Albert (Elbert), 22; Martha, 20; William, 19; Matilda, 18; Stephen, 11. Son George, 27, lived adjacent.
1860 – William Cannon, 29; Jane, 25 (William’s second wife – married in 1858); Martha E, 6; Mary A, 4; Elizabeth, 63. Sons George, 38, and Elbert, 34, lived adjacent. William married his first wife, Barbara, in 1853 – she was the mother of the two girls.
1870 – Elizabeth Cannon, 73; M.A. (Mary), 12. Sons George, 49, and Elbert, 45, lived adjacent.
BURIALS – Because of overgrowth, it is a little difficult to determine, however, there are two planted limestone rocks in a small grove. It is possible that there may be a few more graves, however, this appears to be a rather small burial ground. The names of the interred are unknown. From census records, it appears that John died between 1850 and 1860. His burial location is unknown. If the establishment year is correct, it would appear that he is not buried at this location.
The present Gillis descendant indicated that family tradition spoke only of a few graves.
Cannon Cemetery View
Researched, surveyed, transcribed, and donated to the Washington County TNGen Web September 2015 by Gordon M. Edwards, member of the Cemetery Survey Team of Northeast Tennessee.
Copyrighted 2015 by the Cemetery Survey Team of Northeast Tennessee. No part of this work may be copied without written permission from the Cemetery Survey Team.