Mr Ernest Cann 1 was born on 6 February 1883 2 in Amble, St Kew, Cornwall, England and was baptised a year later on 27 February.
He was the son of William Cann (b. 1826), a farm labourer, and Sarah Jane Teague (b. 1846), a charwoman, both Cornwall natives who had married in 1880. He had four known siblings: Mary Ann (b. 1878, later Mrs Frederick Jenkins), Albert (b. 1881), Edward (b. 1884) and Frederick John (b. 1897).
Ernest first appears on the 1891 census living at Tregildersin, St Kew. His father apparently died in 1899 aged 73 and the family moved to Gloucestershire, settling in Frampton Cotterell where Ernest's mother ran a boarding house; the family are listed there on the 1901 census and Ernest was described as a railway navvy. What became of Ernest's mother is unknown.
Around 1905 Cann returned to Cornwall, settling in St Austell where he worked as a clay miner and also attached himself to the Wesleyan Church and its Sunday school. At the time of the 1911 census he was boarding at Rosevear, Bugle, St Austell and was described as an unmarried clay miner.
A very pretty wedding took place at Troverbyn Church near St. Austell, on Saturday. The contracting parties were Miss Emmie Johns (formerly of Stithians) and Mr. Ernest Cann, of Wadebridge. The ceremony was performed by Rev. E. Carey. The bride, who looked charming in a navy costume with picture hat to match, was given away by her cousin, Mr James Tozer (Stithians), and was attended by her sister, Mrs. Pendray of Bugle. Mr. Arthur Beard, of Johannesburg, acted as best man. After the ceremony the bridal party drove to Truro.
Mr. and Mrs. Cann were the recipients of many costly and useful presents.
On 4 November 1911 in Treverbyn Parish church, Ernest was married to Emma "Emmie" Johns (b. 1878), a dressmaker who hailed from St Stithians, Cornwall and the daughter of Joseph Johns and the former Mary Jane Rule. The couple would have no children.
Messrs. WM John Matthews, Ernest Cann, and WM. Sandercock [sic] are sailing for America this week. Messrs. Cann and Sandercock, who have been connected with the Wesleyan Sunday School were each presented with a teacher’s Bible before leaving.
Mr Cann boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger along with his friend William Saundercock. They may have also been acquainted with William Nancarrow, another clay labourer from St Austell. Ernest's ticket (number 2152) cost £8, 1s but his destination in the USA is not certain. Before leaving, Cann and Saundercock were presented with a Sunday School teacher’s Bible. A member of the Temperance movement and a Freemason alongside his friend Saundercock, Cann had reportedly only been inducted at St Austell’s Rechabite Lodge weeks prior to departing for America.
Ernest Cann died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.
The sum of 12s, 6d per week has also been allocated to Mrs Emmie Cann, of Carloggas, whose husband also went down in the Titanic. Mr Ernest Cann came into the neighbourhood from Mount Charles some eight years ago. He associated himself with the Wesleyan Society and Sunday school. His marriage took place not many weeks prior to his departure for America. He was aged 29.
His widow Emmie never remarried and continued to live in Cornwall; also heavily involved with the Wesleyan Church, Emmie never emotionally recovered from the loss of her husband, which perhaps accounted for a downward spiral in her physical health. Despite several surgical interventions to save her life, Emmie died on 26 February 1914.
DEATH OF VICTIM'S WIDOW AT PENWITHICK.
After a lingering illness of many months’ duration and undergoing operations at Plymouth and St Austell Hospitals, Mrs. Emmie Cann passed away on Thursday last at the residence of her sister, Mrs. George Pendray, Bowling Green. Desceased, aged only 36, was a native of Stithians, but had resided in the neighbourhood for many years, and was generally liked. Her husband, Mr. Ernest Cann, was a victim of the Titanic disaster, and she never really recovered from the shock his death inflicted. Her valued services will be greatly missed at the Wesleyan Church and Sunday school.
Comment and discuss
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Hi, If anyone has any info on third class passenger who did not survive the sinking could they please send it to my email address please. regards Nick Cann
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If you haven't checked it out yet, what ET has on Mr. Cann may be found here: You might want to follow some of the links in these articles.
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Thanks Micheal..Unfortunitlly i have already attaned this info.thanks anyway.... Regards Nick
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His wife, Emma Johns, was from Cornwall and had at least 6 brothers and sisters.
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Thanks i wasn't aware if that. Do you know what any of there names were?Did Ernest and Emma ever have a child before he died?
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