William Cannon: Builder of Mount Ida
James River at New Canton and Cannon’s Landing, Photo by Joanne Yeck
According to the nomination form for Mount Ida to the National Register of Historic Places:
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 (which) 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.
In the mid-19th century, the Leitch family owned Mount Ida. Irishman William Leitch (1790-1871) purchased the plantation c. 1833–1834. A wealthy merchant and tobacco planter, Leitch later elaborated the house.
For the complete nomination form for Mount Ida: Mount Ida
Coming next: Legends of Mount Ida
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Brenda,
Thanks for your comment. The house at Mount Ida was moved. Follow this link to learn more:
https://slateriverramblings.com/2014/03/22/saving-mount-ida/
Also search the archives for more posts about the house and farm. Be sure to read the comments as well.
Joanne
I have a record showing that my great grandmother , Florence Elizabeth Clopton, was born at Mount Ida on Nov. 23, 1861. Married Frank Thomas Isbell. She is buried there. June 15, 1909.
Is the name still Mt Ida? How can I verify this information. I would like to visit the site.
The link for the nomination form is broken
Thanks, Randy. The link for Mt. Ida is updated as of 11/20/2018.
David and Julianna Ross were owners of Mt. Ida in 1818.
Randy,
Thanks for adding this connection between Mt. Ida and David Ross.
Joanne
Thank you for posting this about William Cannon and Mt. Ida. I’m a descendant of W. Cannon thorough his daughter that married Silas Flournoy.
Brittany, Many thanks for dropping in at Slate River Ramblings. There will doubtless be more posts about Mount Ida in the future. Joanne
If what I see on the internet is correct, the referenced William Cannon of Mount Ida married both Sarah “Sally” Mosby and Elizabeth Cocke, and he eventually moved to Caldwell, Co., KY (where he died in 1819). If anyone has different information, please let us know. That William Cannon was a son of John Cannon and Martha Woodson, a grandson of William Cannon and Judith Woodson and a great-grandson of John Cannon and Esther Pledge.
The above William Cannon and Judith Woodson had a daughter who was named Elizabeth Cannon, and she married Abraham Childers “III”….and they were my 6X great-grandparents (their daughter Tabitha Childers married Hezekiah Davidson). As I recall, Judith Woodson was a descendant of the John Woodson who came to Jamestown, VA in 1619 on the ship “George.”
Bill, You will find more about the William Cannon family here, including the move to Kentucky: https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=P0Q9AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&authuser=0&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA7