GEORGE CANNON (THE IMMIGRANT) and ANN QUAYLE

George was born December 3, 1794 to George Cannon and Leonora Callister. He was only 16 years old when his father died. The family's circumstances were suddenly altered. Captain Cannon was apparently prosperous, and his residence was accounted one of the interesting show places of the little town. Captain Cannon believed in scholastic training. Hence those of his children who, at the date of his death, were of an age to enjoy the advantages of scholastic training, received it. George and Leonora had this advantage.

But with the father's death, a complete and sudden change took place in the family's circumstances. While not left penniless, for they had their home and its valuable contents, as well as some vague and scattered shipping interests, they soon found themselves without a regular income. They rented their home, and the widow and her small children moved into a smaller house, while the two older ones, George and Leonora, went out to shift for themselves an well as help their mother. So George went to Liverpool, and Leonora crossed to England to act as a companion of a wealthy lady.

Ann Quayle to whom he married was the third of eleven children born to John Quayle (nicknamed "the Schemer") and Ellinor Callister. Leonora Cannon and Ellinor Quayle were first cousins; and their children George and Ann were second cousins, except that their grandfathers were half instead of full brothers. Ann was born in Peel, August 26, 1798. She married George when she was 27 years old.

During the Widow Cannon's great bereavement, one of the first to extend sympathy and offer aid was her cousins Ellinor Quayle.

Ann Quayle and George were married in St. Thomas Church, Liverpool, on October 24, 1825. Before their marriage they made a remarkable agreement that if they weren't able to have children they would give up their assured marital bliss in favor of a higher imperative duty, to bring children into the world to carry on the family name. Ann possessed the trait of thrift and careful management in temporal affairs. George had mastered the trade of carpenter and joiner (or cabinet-maker), and he was an industrious and clever workman. He earned good wages, but he was always lending his money. Very little of the money he lent came back to him. Besides he was contributing to the support of his widowed mother and her younger children. Therefore he didn't have much money to set up housekeeping as a family man. His wife was very thrifty and took care of the money well. From the earliest recollection of the children it was understood that mother controlled the purse-strings, which was common practice in England during that time.

George was about 5 feet ten and a half inches in height, he weighed about 160 pounds. He had black hair, blue-gray eyes and a fair complexion; erect, very energetic, sociable, good-natured and with a keen sense of humor. He had literary ability as evidenced by his letters and diary. Ann appears to have been plump. Her height was about 5 feet 4 inches, her weight about 130 pounds; in complexion fair with black hair, eyes hazel with brown spots, marvelously full and expressive; in temperament inclined to be nervous, quick in all her movements, and tirelessly industrious. Both were excellent conversationalists. Both enjoyed reading, George was indulgent to the children, slow to wrath, always seeking an excuse to spare the rod, while Ann was swift to apply it, was strict in requiring obedience and looked upon too much leniency as a parental weakness. Yet no mother could be more truly affectionate and tender with her children, and no father more observant and exacting in his insistence upon correct moral conduct and filial behavior. She quickly forgave and with a more abundant display of love made up for her seeming sternness. His reproofs so clearly reflected the sorrow which his children's mis-deeds caused him that nothing more was needed to make them deeply repentant for having incurred his displeasure.

Both were of a religious and inquiring turn of mind, but neither could be satisfied with any of the sects or denominations. The mother made this a matter of prayer.

Their children were: George (he didn't adopt the middle name Quayle until he was a grown man), born January 11, 1827; Mary Alice, born December 9, 1828; a son unnamed and dying soon after birth was born in the summer of 1830; Ann, born January 28, 1832; Angus Munn, born May 17, 1834; John Quayle, born March 25, 1836 (died at 3 years of age); David Henry, born April 23, 1838, Leonora, born September 11, 1840.

This is how Mormonism was brought into the Cannon household: Leonora had a friend who was going to Canada. She asked Leonora to go with her. Leonora declined to go, but she had a dream which directed her to go. So she went to Toronto, Canada in 1852. She married John Taylor. When he had first asked her to marry him she refused, but she again dreamed a dream which made her decide to marry him. They were converted to Mormonism by Parley P. Pratt. John Taylor went on a mission to England where he went to see his wife's family. The first time he came he did not speak of religion, but after that first visit, Ann remarked "There goes a man of God." He told them of the Gospel on his next visit. Before he left, most of his hearers had been fairly thrilled by his words, the wife especially being a firm believer from the beginning of his remarks, The husband was impressed, but not fully responsive. He determined to investigate fairly and devote as much time as possible reading the Book of Mormon until Brother Taylor returned. As he read the book his interest grew with every page, he could hardly lay it down. He read it all. When Elder Taylor returned he said, (the father said) he accepted it as of God. After being further instructed in Gospel principles, he and his wife were baptized February 11, 1840, exactly a month after Brother Taylor had set foot within their door. The children were baptized later. The three oldest at the same time, and the others as they reached the right age. They started saving money for their voyage to America to join the Saints. He paid the entire passage money for some of those who made the voyage with him, besides helping materially several others who did not have enough to make the voyage.

Various causes combined to delay the family's departure from Liverpool during the year 1841. For one thing Leonora was still a babe in arms, and none too vigorous in health. Also it was felt that it would be desirable that some resident stalwarts remain on hand at the port of sailing to give assistance and encouragement to their fellow religionists who halted there temporarily before going on board ship. This was an appeal to duty which could not pass unheeded by a couple as devout and hospitable as George and Ann Cannon. Their relatives and friends used every possible argument to get them not to go. It was very plain that it was the wife and mother who, as time went on, became more impatient at the delay in setting forth on the journey. She was impressed that if another season passed before the family left that she would not be alive to urge the journey another year. She was afraid that her husband being broken-hearted would indefinitely defer going--might indeed not go at all. Even if she should die before they completed their journey, she would know that they were with the people with whom they belonged. The thought that she might not survive the voyage was in fact more than a mere possibility--it was with her a certainty. She had a sure premonition that she should not live to reach America, and told her husband so. They all prayed, that God's blessings would attend them in doing what was best, to leave or stay.

They left Liverpool on September 18, 1842. The mother Ann died at sea on October 28, 1842, and was buried in the sea. They reached St. Louis on the 11th of December, and here they spent the winter of 1842-1843. In April they made their way to Nauvoo by way of steamboat. Their trip of 7 months journey was finally ended and they reached Nauvoo. They knew Joseph Smith at first sight. He had come to meet the boat.

George needed a mother for his children. He married Mary Edwards White on February 24, 1844.

After Joseph and Hyrum were killed, George helped prepare the remains for burial. He made the coffins, and as he was one of the few in the city who had a knowledge of the process, he took plaster casts of the faces and heads of the dead leaders as they lay in state. To George Cannon, therefore, and his versatility and skill, future generations have cause to be grateful for a correct outline of the heads and features of the devoted brothers who sealed their testimony with their blood.

George felt compelled to go to St. Louis for employment. Without warning he died on August 19, 1844, a victim of sunstroke. His place of burial is unknown.