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William Cannon was born 18 Nov. 1749 and died September 1819 in Calwell Co. Ky.. Flournoy Rivers, The Flournoy Family, Genealogies of Virginia Families from The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. III
Mount Ida, located on a commanding site above the Hardware River in Albemarle County, is architecturally significant for its parlor, one of the most formal and sophisticated late-eighteenth century rooms yet recorded in Virginia. The circa 1785- 1805 residence was built by William Cannon, a captain in the Buckingham militia during the American Revolution who became one of the largest landowners in the county. Most probably, at the height of his economic prosperity, Cannon allowed his unknown builder to lavish considerable attention to his parlor, the architectural elements of which
are derived from English builder's guides of the late eighteenth century. The parlor woodwork at Mount Ida, while unique, seems to be related to that at Woodlands, an Amelia County house, and several other houses built around the same time and most probably by the same hand.
Originally situated on the James River five miles from New Canton, Buckingham County, Mount Ida stood on what was once part of the Cannon family land. The Cannons held land in the area as early as 28 September 1730, when William Cannon patented 300 acres north of the Fluvanna (James) River in what was then Goochland County. In 1733 he addded 1700 acres on the south bank of Willis River. In addition, he acquired 374 acres on the James River from the Cocke family.
William Cannon died in 1749, when at least a portion of his estate passed to his son John. John who already owned land in the area and continued to add to his holdings. During his lifetime, John Cannon deeded 1,200 acres to his son, William. The remainder of the estate passed to William on his father's death in 1788. In addition William purchased 143 acres from the Lovell family (date unknown), and in 1794-1795 acquired a 500-acre Bear Garden tract from the Cocke family and an additional 150 acres from the Loving family. It is unclear exactly which of the Cannon land purchases in the Fluvanna Bear Garden area became the Mount Ida tract.
It seems likely that the second William Cannon was the builder of Mount Ida sometime between 1785 and 1805. He is also the most notable figure associated with the property. At various times he served as vestryman for Tillotson Parish, recorder of the county list of tithables, and county sheriff. A ferry was established in the county in 1776 on Cannon's land later served as a boundary point in a 1778 transfer of land from Buckingham County to Cumberland County. During the Revolution, Cannon was a captain in the Buckingham County militia. Records of claims for impressed property show his authority to requisition goods and transportation for the militia, as well as his own contribution of stores to the Continental Army. His requisition activities were associated with the movement of the Buckingham Militia to aid General Nathaniel Green in the North Carolina campaign of 1781.
The Buckingham County personal property tax lists indicate that William Cannon's greatest prosperity came during the period 1785-1787, when he owned as many as 50 slaves, 70 head of cattle, and 22 horses. On June 24, 1790, Cannon married his second wife, Martha Cocke, fourth child of James Cocke of Amelia County. Presumably, Cannon constructed Mount Ida in the years after this marriage. A reflection of Cannon's prosperity, the parlor woodwork at Mount Ida ranks among the most elaborate found in Virginia from the turn of the eighteenth century. Derived in part from English builder's guides, the woodwork demonstrates deft workmanship and knowledge of architecture on the part of its unidentified builder. No clue has been found to the builder's name; however, his work may survive in several other houses in central Virginia. One of them, Woodlands, now moved to Goochland County, was originally built 1789-1794 in Amelia County by Stephen Cocke, the brother of Martha (Cocke) Cannon, William Cannon's second wife. Hence, through kinship, there is more than just an architectural connection between the two houses. Like the parlor at Mount Ida, the ballroom at Woodlands is elaborately ornamented with a pedimented overmantel flanked by pilasters, pedimented doorcases, and details similar to, but more academic than, those found at Mount Ida.
William Cannon's enjoyment of Mount Ida was short-lived. His wealth declined after 1790 and he lost Mount Ida by 1805. Cannon and his family moved to Tennessee and eventually settled in Kentucky, where he died in 1820.
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1749 - 1819 (69 years)