The Cann Family of Blackwood (Part 1)

Written by Francis Dillon (Matheson-Cann) with thanks to Olive, Herb & Betty Cann.

The Cann Family on the back veranda of the Cann Family Hotel, Blackwood. Circa 1883.

L to R; John Kennedy Cann, Rebecca Cann, Harry Perry, William, Herbert Holman.

In Front: Edwin, Arthur and Lucy on steps.

John Kennedy Cann was born on 14 August, 1843 in England. He was the eldest of five children born to John and Anne Cann. Other children born were William Henry Walter Cann born 13-8-1845, London. Jane Mary Cann, born 22-11-1847, London. Anne Adelaide Cann born 3-9-1850 in Adelaide, South Australia, and Mary Charlotte Cann, born on 11-3-1854 in Richmond, Victoria. John Cann Senior married Anne Agnes Holman on the 28th July, l842 at Old Church, Saint Pancras, London, England. They left for Australia some time after their third child Jane was born, arriving in South Australia, where their fourth child Anne was born. They had settled in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond by the time of the birth of their youngest child, Mary.

John Cam is believed to have been a baker. With Melbourne being in the grip of 'gold fever" at the time of the family arriving, it wasn't long before the family was caught up with the rush to the gold fields. John and Anne Cann with their young family arrived on the Blackwood Gold Fields in 1856. He operated the "Staff of Life Bakery'", Kangaroo Flat, Blackwood. By 1859 records show that he was the proprietor of the "Kangaroo Inn", Mount Blackwood. By 1861 he was the hotelkeeper of the "Southern Cross Hotel", actually purchasing the hotel in 1862. John Cann Senior died on 18-4-1883. Eldest son, John Kennedy Cann married Rebecca Olivia May Perry daughter of Thomas and Sarah Jane Perry (see Ward) on 26th of March, 1869 at St Stephens Church Richmond.

They had seven children altogether. These being: Harry Perry (born at Blackwood on 24-1-1870),

Herbert Holman (born at Richmond on l 5-5-1872), John William (born at Blackwood on 6-9-1874), Lucy May Kinnear (born at Blackwood on 6-12-1876), Edwin Thomas (born at Blackwood on 20-10-1878), Margaret Sophia (born at Blackwood on 18-4-1881, died aged 3 years on 26-4-1884) and Arthur George (born at Blackwood on 25-11-1883). John was an expert coachman and blacksmith; he operated a mail coach service as well as running the Royal Mail Hotel in Golden Point before taking over the Family Hotel at Blackwood in 1877. He purchased the hotel some twelve years later.

The family continued to run the hotel as well as the coach house and stables at the back of the hotel. In later years John Kennedy, due to poor health did not drive the coaches very much. Harry Perry and Edwin both took over driving the mail coaches. It was during this time that Captain Moonlight, the notorious outlaw held up the Blackwood stagecoach. Edwin who was driving the coach at the time had his gold watch stolen, as well as the mail bag.

Becoming a citizen of Blackwood, John was very involved in the operations of gold mining, being a director on many different companies. He took an active interest in sporting clubs, the Mechanics Institute, lodge, school and the Church of England. The church was always very important to the family. The family actually having their own "locker" in one of the pews to hold their prayer books. John was elected as a councillor on the Ballan Shire Council in 1885, serving for nine years, being Shire President for a term during that time.

John Kennedy Cann died on 14-2-1895 at just fifty one years of age.

His wife Rebecca and son John William (Bill) continued to operate the Family Hotel until they sold it in 1916. Rebecca died on 18-10-1916, aged 72 years of age, at Richmond.

William (Bill) continued as licensee of the hotel until 1927. This was the end of a fifty-five year Cann connection with the hotel. Cyril Jones bought the hotel at this time renaming it the Blackwood Hotel.

Olive Cann remembers fondly on visiting her Grandmother Rebecca on the way home from school. She would give all her grandchildren a drink of raspberry lemonade and toast as an afternoon snack-even though Olive was hoping for a cake or a biscuit!

Sarah (Hill) Cann, wife of Harry Perry Cann, with her daughter Vera Edith Liilian Cann Born at Blackwood on 13th Febryary 1903.

Harry Perry Cann, the eldest, always drove the mail coaches and was presented with a gold watch on his retirement. Also taking passengers, the stage coaches were a popular mode of transport.

Harry Perry married Sarah Hill at Simmons Reef on the 14th November 1902. Their children were Vera Edith Lillian, John Joseph and Harry Perry. Sadly Sarah died from complications after the birth of her youngest son Harry, on 9th February 1906. She was just 27 years of age. Jack and Harry being brought up by their Grandmother Eliza Hill and Uncle Charlie, together with their father Harry Perry. Vera was brought up by Grace and Edwin Cann.

The Hill family home was in Simmons Reef on the right hand side going up towards Tom Quicks' home that was up past "Jack Cann Reserve" next to 'The Garden of St Erth" today.

Harry, boarding in Melbourne, then worked at the Williamstown shipyards a position he held until he retired. On his retirement he returned to Blackwood. His eldest nephew, Gary Matheson, was a favourite of Harry Perry's (affectionately called “Unkie") - he would take Gary as a young child, for long walks every day to collect grass for the canaries and Freda the guinea pig.

Harry Perry died on 23rd of October, 1950 - the day after his grand daughter Lindy was born.

Herbert Holman Cann married Ellen Plews, daughter of Doctor Edward and Mary Plews of Blackwood. Mary (Sandford) Plews was also the nurse. Doctor Plews was also a coroner and ran a chemist shop as well. They were married at St Columbus Church, Glenferrie on the 9th June 1899. They had three children - Ida (born 22- 10- 1900, died at 10 years of age, on 12-2-1911), Lucy May (born 26-8-1902) and Herbert Claude (born 1 5-4- 1913).

Herbert Holman worked in the gold mining industry. He was a mining registrar and also a

Justice of the Peace. He specialised in cyanide mining, installing and operating many plants in the district. He spent 18 months prospecting for gold at Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. Only coming home when he had got the news that they had struck it rich in the "Rip Van Winkle" mine. Being in partnership in this mine with William and Alec Byres and Charlie Gribble. There had been a lot of work done on this mine before a rich deposit had been found close to the start of the mine. Herbed then worked at the Easter Monday Mine in Simmons Reef

In 1903, being part of a gold mining and prospecting syndicate he travelled to ArItunga a newly discovered goldfield east of Alice Springs, actually travelling by camel with the hope of making his fortune.

Herbert and Ellen always lived in Blackwood in the home the family still has today. They celebrated their Golden Anniversary at Blackwood in l 949.

Herbert died on 31st August, 1950. Ellen died on 5^th July, 1968.

Recently Herbert Holman's son, Herb (Herbert Claude), aged 92, reproduced two books on his and his father's experiences in gold mining. One recording his father's letters home to his mother during his days of working in central Australia. Herb worked with his father in cyanide gold mining. They prospected at Maryborough with good friend Captain John Williams. They then reworking the Easter Monday Mine in 1 35, this finally closed in 1938. After this they prospected at Gordon then Daylesford.

Having done an engineering course at Ballarat School of Mines. Herb worked for three years at the Ordinance Factory at Maribyrnong during the war years.

In 1949 he bought the Trentham Bakery, which also included a milk round. Selling out in 1953, he returned to goldmining buying the Premier Mine leases near Kyneton. Besides having great prospects, Herb had a lot of trouble with the 'red tape' of the Mining Department of Victoria. He sold of the last allotment in 1992. He still says the hill is full of gold.

Herb married Betty Day at the Upwey Baptist Church on 29-5-1954. They returned to Blackwood to live. Having three children, Kenneth, Susan and Cheryl. Kenneth being the last baby born in

Trentham Bush Nursing Hospital in 1957. Shifting to Melbourne in 1960, Herb worked as an engineer at Mayne Nick less for three years before getting a caretakers job at Ormond East Primary School. A position that he and Betty held for 33 years.

Herb, many years earlier had retrieved gold mining equipment that was being auctioned off from the abandoned mines. The particular crushing plant had been used to operate both the Rip Van Winkle and Easter Monday Mines. Herb and his son Kenneth with the assistance of Ken Whiffin and the Progress Association had it erected in the main street of Blackwood. This equipment, being part of a six head battery, was one of the first to come to the Blackwood area. Today it certainly is a wonderful monument to the gold mining days.

Herb's sister Lucy married Kenneth McLennan on 14 August, 1943 at St Mary's COE in Woodend. Ken was an optician in Footscray. Ken came to Blackwood through the Masonic Lodge Social Club. Arnold Noall formed the Social Club in 1923. Arnold along with Mr Overgard were foundation members of the club. The Lodge operated their Social Club from the house in Simmons Reef that is "The Garden of St Erth" today. The house was used as a country retreat for important meetings and social functions. Mr Overgard drove a "Chandler" car - this was a beautiful custom built American car.

Not wanting to miss an opportunity, Grace Cann offered her services of catering for the Social Club. Along with her daughters Edith, Nelland Olive, they catered for many functions held there. Menus being printed for special occasions.

Often large functions were held in the Mechanics Hall in Blackwood.

Lucy was a buyer for the fine china department of Myers in Melbourne. Later taking the same position at Buckley's. Lucy would get rides home to Blackwood with Ken coming up for the weekend. After they married, Ken and Lucy bought the house at Simmons Reef off the "'Rogers Foundation" and lived there for many years. Ken became a leading citizen of Blackwood becoming a councillor on the Ballan Shire Council, being Shire President during this time. Bill Matheson was elected to Council on Ken McLennan's retirement in 1953. During this time, keeping their Simmons Reef house, they moved down to Blackwood, purchasing the house opposite "Blackwood House" were Ted and Kay Walker live today. On selling this house they shifted back up to Simmons Reef before finally selling up and moving to Kyneton. Moving twice in

Kyneton, they remained there for the rest of their lives.

Ken McLennan died on 12-2-1979 aged 97 years. Lucy died on 26-9-1980 aged 78 years.

Part 2 continued in next issue of the Blackwood Newsletter followed by Part 3 in the Dec/Jan issue.

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