May, 1891, and copied the above records from the old family bible of his great-grandfather, Joseph Cannon.

this old book had indeed a venerable appearance. Gibson Cannon's home is the old homestead of his grandfather, Jacob Cannon. Hear I also saw an old negro woman servant, "aunt Easter," seventy-three years old, who was born a slave at this place, and has always lived with the family here, and still makes the famous antebellum "sweet pone cornbread" and also has the old-time "Johnnycake" board for baking corn cakes before the fire, some of which she brought out for me to eat, that I enjoyed very much, reminding me very forcibly of a half century ago. After this little diversion, I will return to Clement Hearne, who bought and settled on the small farm mentioned before. By deed of record we find that he bought from Planner Shores, May 9, 1787, fifty acres, known by the name of "Pleasant Grove," situated in Sussex Co., Del., but formerly Worcester co., Md.; he paid for it fifty pounds sterling ($250).

He lived here eleven years, and sold it, as shown by deed of record May 11, 1798, to his brother, Ebenezer Hearne, with seven acres additional (except one acre given to the Greenville Episcopal Church), known by the name of "Good Hope," for the sum of one hundred pounds sterling ($500).

May 15, 1798, my grandfather, Clement Hearne, who was a great-grandson of the first William, left Delaware with his family and his brother Joseph and perhaps his wife, for the far West. Surely their feelings must have been similar to those of Abraham and Jacob in the patriarchal days when they left the parental roof and journeyed to a far-away land, they knew not where. For several days and weeks before, they doubtless were busily engaged in preparing and loading in the wagons their household effects, clothing, etc., and a good supply of food for both man an beast, to sustain life and strength on the long and perilous journey.

Clement Hearne's family consisted of himself and wife, his daughter Sally, aged eight years, and three son, William, aged six; Burton, aged five, and Minos, aged three years; also several negro slaves of different ages.

I can imagine the scene on a bright May morning in the long ago, when the kindred for many miles around gathered early to give them a last loving embrace, impart the tender kiss, bid them

[Continued on page 280]

Thanks to Candy Hearn for transcribing this page.