In 1865 Melbourne was visited by a fully rigged steam sloop flying The Confederate Ensign; at the time the American Civil War was in progress. Samuel Amess feted Captain Waddell and his crew although some people were against The Confederate cause. The Captain was most appreciative and presented Samuel Amess with the small cannon.Coloured photograph showing the Cannon from the Confederate Ship "Shanandoah" in the garden of the homestead on Churchill Island.local history, photographs, buildings - historical, rural industry, coloured photograph, john cook, churchill island, cannon

The cannon dates from the 1870s during Samuel Amess's ownership of Churchill Island. He claimed it was a gift from Captain Waddell of the Confederate raiding ship "Shenandoah", but research has proven this to be unlikely. It may have been given to Amess by Captain John Cleeland of "Woolamai House". The cannon was fired every New Years Eve during the Jenkins and Campbell eras (1936-1972).This photograph records a regular event that was a fixture in the New Years celebrations at Churchill Island and endured through generations of owners. Framed rectangular colour photo of Churchill Island cannon firing on New Years Eve 1967 in a wooden frame. 1967 New Years Eve[on frame]/ from John Brown '97cannon, samuel amess, jenkins, margaret campbell, churchill island, shenandoah, cleeland, woolamai house