James Cannon was born 5 Jun 1755 in Ninety-Six District, South Carolina. From James Cannon's Revolutionary War Pension Application.....He volunteered in December 1775 for 9 months in Capt. Jared Smith's South Carolina Troops during the Revolutionary War. During this period he marched Allison's Fort, to Nabours Creek and to Smith's Station on the frontier of South Carolina about 40 miles from James' residence. He was stationed there for nine months and assisted in guarding the frontier against attacks by the Cherokee Indians who were supposed to be urged to hostilities by the Tories. Indians were also held at Smith's Station during that period.

In May 1777, he volunteered again and served in Capt. James Grear's Company of Col. McCreary's South Carolina Regiment. During this period he marched for about 100 miles to Augusta, Georgia, from there to St. Mary's River in Florida serving for three months. During the march he crosses Rivers Oguchy, Albamahaw and St. Mary's through a principally wilderness country. At St. Mary's River, the regiment joined an army of regular soldiers, numbering about 1500 commanded by Major General Robert Howe. The regulars had come by water up the St. Mary's. The object of this expedition was to attack a Col. Brown, a tory, who had fortified himself with about 500 troops about twenty miles from where he joined the regulars. They camped at St. Marys for about nine or ten days. A small party of the army was dispatched to Brown's fortification and had a skirmish with the Tories and returned. Afterwards, a strong party was sent against Brown, but on coming to his fortification, found it evacuated. A deserter afterwards informed our army that Brown's party had retreated to a great swamp in the neighborhood. Many of the regulars and volunteers became sick, it being a very sickly country and the army returned, the regulars by water and the volunteers by land.

The regiment to which James Cannon belonged was discharged and went immediately home; The company to which he belonged returned under Col. McCrary until they reached the Georgia settlements, when they separated from him, and James Cannon went to his residence is Ninety Sixth District. Directly after crossing the St. Mary's River, James became sick and it was with great difficulty he returned. He received no written discharge, but served the entire three months he volunteered.He volunteered again in December 1778 serving 3 months in Capt. Sexton's Company of Col. James Wilson's South Carolina Regiment. He was directly marched towards Augusta, Georgia, and joined Col. James Williams regiment about ten miles from home at a place called Mudlick. After joining this regiment, James proceeded by forced march to Savannah River opposite August where the regiment took up quarters and remained there nearly three months, during which time General Ash was defeated on Grier Creek about 50 miles from where James was stationed. The said regiment was placed and remained opposite Augusta for the purpose of guarding about 200 prisoners, Tories who had been taken by scouts and placed under the care of his regiment. James recollected that during his stay at this place several companies of volunteers passed their encampment and went to join General Ash. Shortly after the defeat of General Ash, the regiment to which he was attached marched back with the prisoners. At the time he returned a General Court was sitting in Ninety Six and the prisoners being Tories, were tried there before that court for their lives. They were all acquitted except seven violent Tories who were condemned to be hanged and were executed accordingly at Ninety Six. James recollected that among those who were hanged were Aquilla Hall, James Lindley, John Clagg and John Anderson. During the sitting of the Court at Ninety Six, the time of his service expired and shortly thereafter he was discharged and went to his pace of residence in the same district of Ninety Six. He was never in any battle except skirmishes.

He was born in the District of Ninety-six, South Carolina 5 Jun 1755, but has no record of his age except this account from his parents. Shortly after the war he went to North Carolina to see his relatives and there married Montgomery County where he resided until about 1790 when he removed to Lee County, Virginia. After living in Lee County, Virginia for about 20 years, he removed to Indiana territory into the district which now forms Daviess County, where he has ever since resided. James Cannon's first son, John Cannon was born in 1785 in Montgomery Co., North Carolina. He then moved to Lee Co., Virginia where he resided for about 20 years until about 1810. Children William, Mary, Joseph, Zelpha, James and Nelly were probably all born in Virginia. James resided on the border of Martin and Daviess Counties near the town of Alfordsville.

He is buried in Old Union Cemetery in Alfordsville. His tombstone inscription is: James Cannon Died Oct 1849 Aged 95 years, 4 mo., 4 days. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and ever after retained the principals the then fought for.

There is also a plaque put up by the DAR: James Cannon Pvt. South Carolina Troop Revolutionary War........................................PENSION RECORD OF JAMES CANNON, #32186. While residing in Ninety Six District, South Carolina, James Cannon entered in December 1775, for nine months, served in Captain Jared Smith's Company, South Carolina troops, marched to Smith's Station on the frontier of South Carolina, where he was stationed during the whole period for which he had enlisted, engaged in guarding the frontier against the attacks of the Cherokee Indians. He volunteered again in May 1777, served in Captain James Greer's Company, Colonel McCrary's South Carolina Regiment, marched to Augusta, Georgia, from thence to Saint Mary's, Florida, length of this service, three months. Volunteered in December 1778, and served three months in Captain Sexton's company, Colonel James William's South Carolina regiment, was stationed on the Savannah River, opposite Augusta and was engaged in guarding about two hundred Troy prisoners held at that place. Shortly after the Revolution he moved to North Carolina and lived until about 1790, then moved to Lee County, Virginia and lived there about twenty years, thence to Indiana territory. He was allowed pension executed May 11, 1833, while a resident of Daviess County, Indiana. James Cannon, stated that he married while in Mongomery, County, North Carolina, but did not give the date of him marriage or the name of his wife and there is no referrence to children.……………..

James and Hannah Baker Alford,In 1816, the year that Indiana became a state, James Alford resided in Wytheville, Wythe County, Virginia. There he associated himself with a man by the name of Reeder and the family of each occupying the same wagon moved westward. James Alford (called Captain by his friends) and Hannah Baker Alford first settled on the south bank of the White River at Portersville, Dubois County. After a few years they moved northward about 5 miles to a two story hewed log house. This was the first building in what was to be Alfordsville. He gave the land for the first Christian Church, which most of the Alfords attended in Reeve township, Daviess County, Indiana. He also gave the land for the first school house in Reeve Township.,

Hannah (Baker) Alford moved to Chautauqua County, Kansas, with her granddaughter, Orlena Harris Alford and her husband William H. Alford. James Alford had died in 1861 in Daviess County and is buried in the Christian Cemetery at Alfordvsille, Indiana. Hannah was Presbyterian, having a strong religious faith. She was a descandant of ancestors who lived in the highlands of Scotland, migrated to Ireland and were known as Scotch-Irish. After James died, Hannah moved to Chautaugua County, Kansas, and lived with her granddaughter Orlena Harris and William A. Alford.…………………….

Contributed by Michele