The following transcription is of an original letter by Noble Cannon, grandson of Moses and Rachel Cannon of Harford County, MD. The contents of this letter have been an invaluable starting point for tracing my roots.

Many thanks to Fran Sommerfeld for the transcription of this letter as it appears here.

Harford County, Maryland

Perryman Ville, October 5th 1844

Dear Cousin

After being separated something like 35 years, I met with a young man on Wednesday last at the Election who had lately visited you was assured you I was not a little gratified to hear from you and of your whereabouts. It was Mr. Wm. Bowmans he desired me to say to you that he arrived home safe and found his family & friends well. I scarcely know where to begin, as I want to give you all the information I have room for in this about your family here on your Father's side, and will proceed by beginning with myself - I am living one fourth mile due south of the old Spesutia Church on the Bush River Neck Road. Keeping a country store, Was married in 1834 at the age of 33 and have 2 children a daughter 8 and a son 2-1/2 years old all enjoying a tolerable share of health. Not so rich as to be in danger of becoming proud, but sufficiency of the comforts of this life to be happy, and in the enjoyment of a well grounded hope of Eternal Life at the right hand of my Heavenly Father. My Father (WILLIAM CANNON) died in 1813 and left he his only child. Grandmother RACHEL CANNON died, or as I might more justly say fell asleep in the arms of her Jesus, in 1822. Uncle JOHN died a widower in 1833 leaving a daughter & a son. His son JOHN W. Is living almost within gun shot of me, keeping the P.O. Tavern & Depot of the of the Phila, Wilmington Baltimore Rail Road that passes through this place, via of Havre de Grace has 2 children, a girl and boy, his sister married and went to Cincinnati in 1834 and is now a widow there. Uncle MOSES CANNON that lived on the Eastern Shore Md. Is dead and left 4 children, 2 sons and 2 daughters, 3 of which are dead also one daughter a widow now living in Baltimore and has one child. Uncle HENRY & AUNT ELIZABETH CARVER that lived in Havre de Grace are both dead, and all of their children except AARON, JOHN HENRY & JOSEPH. AARON & JOSEPH still lin in H de G both have large families and some of their children married. JOHN H., GEORGE, HENRY, ELIZA & HARRIETT all went to Cincinnati many years ago - and I think they are all dead but JOHN 26. Aunt ARTRIDGE RIDER died about 15 year ago, had married her second husband, had 4 children by uncle NOBLE RIDER 3 sons & 1 daughter. WILLIAM the oldest is married and lives somewhere about Harpers Ferry or Cumberland, JAMES & SARAH is living in Baltimore. NOBLE the youngest is keeping the water station on the Rail Road here at Perryman Depot not married and is crippled in his left arm. Aunt RACHAEL ALL lost her husband during the last war, she still lives in Baltimore and has but one child living (a daughter) her oldest child RACHEL that lived with Uncle JOHN when you went away married and went to Frankfort, KY. And has since died and left a large family of children who still live there. DEAVER was her husbands name. Aunt MARY McLAUGHLIN is living and still in Baltimore, has a son GEORGE living in Knox County, Ohio, one son and one daughter married in Baltimore, and one son & one daughter dead, Aunt CAROLINE McGRAW is still living, is a widow has had 4 sons, 3 of which are living and all in this County. I think it about time to close this part of my first, as I hope to have an opportunity of writing a second, my respects to all of your brothers and sisters that are living, together with their children and the children of them that are not. ?(Tell all)? Well to write to me, you of coarse I shall expect to hear from as soon as possible, after the Receipt of this. If not again you cannot reasonably expect to hear from me soon. Please remember me to dear old Aunt (your mother) and tell her I really hope she is all packed up, Ready, With her work done, and well done, having nothing to do but gather us her feet and depart in Peace. There is an old friend of hers of this description now at my home that desires to be remembered to her/ Mrs. ANN DOUGHERTY widow of JOHN DOUGHERTY died. As my sheet is growing short I must congratulate you as one of the crew of the old ship Zion for I too have the honor of being a hand before the mast on Board the same Bank. Well, my Dear Bro, go on she has landed many a one safe over and if we are faithful she will land us. By the help of God I will try and meet you on the sunny Banks of Deliverance. Pray for the peace of our church and the present clouds may yet be dispersed. I am no divisionist. I must bid you good bye for the present hoping this will reach you and yours in health. When you write to this is footed.

To
Mr. Moses Cannon

By
Noble Cannon

Perryman Ville P.O.
Harford County, Maryland

(Evidently notes were added on October 6th, 1844, some of which were vertical on the paper. I shall note those with a V.)

1V. Our state Elections have just closed and we Whigs have hardly left a ? (Peace of Place) of the Laco.

2V. Dont forget old Harry of the west he is all the go here.

3. Perryman Ville, Oct. 6th 1844. Mr. MOSES CANNON, New Athens, Harrison County, Ohio.

4. PS: I had like to have sent this away without inviting you to see us. Do some of you try and visit old Harford again - we should be glad to see you for fear you have forgotten I will remind you that JOHN CANON, MOSES CANON and WILLIAM CANON (my Father) so are you Father’s Brothers and ELIZABETH CARVER, RACHEL ALL, MARY McLAUGHLIN & CAROLINE McGRAW & ARTRIGE RIDER were his sisters of in friendship love & truth.

Initialed M Initialed A.C.

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