Abraham Cann notes (1887)

CANN Abraham the Dict states VIII 410 was baptized at Colebrooke near Crediton 2 Dec 1794 and was the son of Robert Cann a farmer from whom he inherited a love of wrestling. Having thrown all the best wrestlers in Devonshire he was known as the champion of the county and in Oct 1826 wrestled near Devonport with James Polkinghorne the champion of Cornwall when after several falls and much wrangling the match was declared to be drawn. Cann died at Colebrooke 7 April 1864 See Ann Reg 1826 p 157 Hone II 1009 and 1337 Evans speaking of Dartmoor says Footnote p 91 Abraham Cann the famous pugilist was a native of the moorland district and thereby makes two slips: 1st) Cann was not a pugilist ie boxer but a wrestler 2d) His native parish instead of being on the moor is at least 7 miles from its nearest marginal point.