Birth: 1698Death: May 12, 1777
Family links:
Spouse: Abigail Brigham Snow (1715-1799)
Burial: West Burying Ground, West Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, USA
found on findagrave.com
John Snow home in Chesterfield, New Hampshire.
James Snow was the eldest son of his father, Capt. Zerubbabel, and is the first child mentioned in the latter's will, 17 March 1794. In deeds dated 9 December 1796 and 23 January 1797 he
disposed of property in Lot No. 13, in Chesterfield, being called "James Snow of Chesterfield,
Yeoman."
On March 12, 1800, his widowed mother, Mrs. Mary Snow, married Lt. James Robertson of Chesterfield. On 29 January 1800, "Mary Snow of Chesterfield...Widow of Captain Zerubbabel Snow" as his Executrix, deeded her third part of the stream known as Catsbain Brook and her third part of the saw mill standing on said stream on lot No. 11. On 23 September 1816, Mary Robertson and James Robertson, her husband, deeded to her son John Snow one third part "of the real estate of Zerubabel Snow late of Chesterfield, deceased, it being given and bequeathed to me, the said Mary in the last will of the said deceased." James Snow was one of the witnesses at Chesterfield.
On 21 April 1817, "James Snow of Chesterfield in the County of Cheshire, Yeoman," for $50.00 paid by his brother-in-law Ezekiel Harris, "both for myself and my wife Abigail Snow," quit claims all their right and title formerly owned by his brother-in-law Joshua Farr (his wife's brother), deceased. Witnesses included Abigail Snow, Elijah Snow and Eli A. Snow, his children. In 1819, James Snow acknowledged this deed in Caledonia County, Vermont. This indicated the approximate date of his removal to St. Johnsbury.
James Snow continued to reside thereafter in St. Johnsbury, and is on record there in the census returns for 1830, 1840, and 1850, the last being taken only a few weeks before his death. He outlived his wife thirteen years.
found on ancestry.com
John Snow home in Chesterfield, New Hampshire. |
Example Colonial Sawmill One
Owned
a Sawmill - Saw mills were one of the first mills built in local
communities, for they supplied the lumber to build all other
establishments as well as so many of the household goods and furniture.
Later cloth and food mills, for processing grains and other food
products, were common place.
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| Owned a Sawmill - Saw mills were one of the first mills built in local communities, for they supplied the lumber to build all other establishments as well as so many of the household goods and furniture. Later cloth and food mills, for processing grains and other food products, were common place. |
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Inside Snow Home 3, West Chesterfield, NH
West Chesterfield, NH
The original Snow home in West Chesterfield, NH is still standing.
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Replica of sign, Inside Snow Home, West Chesterfield, NH
West Chesterfield, NH
Sign hanging inside the home. This is a replica the owner made of when the Snow home was built.
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Edge of Snow Property, Connecticut River
October 2013
West Chesterfield, NH
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West Chesterfield, New Hampshire
Inside Snow Home. Kitchen and Dining Room
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Revolutionary War Rolls
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| Sons of the American Revolution Membership Application |
JOHN SNOW
Includes sketches on Erastus Snow, Zerubbabel Snow, James Snow
John Snow, son of Zerubbabel [Snow] and Jemima Cutler, was born 30 March 1706, at Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He died 12 May 1777, in his 72nd year, at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire; and was buried at Clay Hill Cemetery in West Chesterfield. He married, at Marlborough, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, 25 March 1729, Abigail Brigham. She was born at Marlborough, 25 November 1708, and was baptized before 3 July 1720, the daughter of Gershom Brigham and Mehitabel Warren. She died at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, Massachusetts, 6 March 1790, "in her 84th year."
Children of John Snow and Abigail Brigham:
1. John, born 25 November 1729 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts
2. Edmund, born 1 May, 1732 in Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
3. Seth, born 11 March 1733 in Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
4. Warren, born 12 February 1734-5 in Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
5. Abigail, born 27 December 1736 in Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
6. Mehitabel, born about 1738 of Leicester, Worcester, Massachusetts
7. Zerubbabel, born 12 August 1741 in Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts
8. Phebe, born 5 November 1748 in Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts
John Snow lived in a number of different towns, moving steadily to the west and north from his birthplace at Woburn. Since he left no will, it is possible there were still other children. Births of his known children have been found in Marlborough, Southborough and Rutland, and he lived for a time at Leicester. He settled as one of the pioneers at Chesterfield, New Hampshire, in 1762. A saw-mill was built that year by John Snow and Moses Smith. The proprietors granted two pieces of land to Snow and Smith, on condition that they should erect a mill, keep it in good repair for the following five years, and saw boards at as reasonable a rate as was done in other places. There is a tradition that, after the first boards were sawed, they were laid down so as to form a kind of rude floor, upon which the settlers danced, to celebrate the event. The mill was built upon Catsbane brook in the west part of the town. He signed an order, 14 May, 1767, as one of the Selectmen of Chesterfield. He was party to a deed to Josiah Willard in 1773; and one to Nathan Bishop recorded in 1778.
On June 12, 1776, John Snow, his son Warren, and his son-in-law, Moses Smith, Jr., then one of the Selectmen, signed a Declaration promising to "at the risque of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies." Another son-in-law, Eseck Earl, refused to sign. After John's death in 1777, his son Zerubbabel owned the sawmill and the grist-mill near it.
--Copied from Family Exaltation by Archibald F. Bennett, pp.325-327.
John Snow had a grandson whose name was Levi. Levi married Lucinda Streeter, and they had a son by the name of Erastus, who was well-known in Church History. In the book Family Exaltation by Archibald F. Bennett, it is shown how Erastus was related through his mother to David W. Patten, and to John Adams and John Quincy Adams who were both Presidents of the United States. Also in the same book on pp. 315-316 is found the following about Erastus Snow:
In the veins of Erastus Snow was the blood of freedom's champions. He, himself, held that torch high throughout his life. He, too suffered persecution for his religion, being driven from his home like his forefather, Roger Williams. Like him, he helped establish a new community where the right of free worship was accorded to all. He was a foremost pioneer and colonizer, one of the first two men of the first pioneer company of 1847 to set foot in the Salt Lake Valley; he was an ardent missionary and the leader of those who introduced the gospel to Scandinavia. He was also a wise and able statesman. Of him, President Joseph F. Smith wrote:
"As an orator and profound reasoner, I always felt impressed he had no superior, especially when he warmed to his subject and entered into his discourse with the full force and energy of his active and vigorous mind. As a colonizer and builder and as a legislator and statesman he was the peer of any of his associates. For the accomplishment of the mission assigned him, he devoted the whole force of his vigorous and noble spirit. I esteem him as one of the great men, not only of the Church, but of the world."
His son was Edward H. Snow, who served as President of the St. George Stake, President of the Eastern States Mission, and President of the St. George Temple. To him, President Heber J. Grant wrote this estimate of his father, Erastus Snow:
"As a pioneer and colonizer, I look upon your father as having been second only to Brigham Young. To me he was the ideal apostle in the Council. He was in very deed the servant of the people and labored unselfishly for their advancement. Your father was loyal, true, patriotic and devoted. In thought, word and deed, he was true to God, to his Church, and to his fellowmen. From the bottom of my heart I earnestly pray that you and all of the sons and daughters of Erastus Snow may so live that your lives will be worthy of the noble example of your most splendid father."
Captain Zerubbabel Snow (son of John Snow and Abigail Brigham, father of James and Levi Snow and grandfather of Erastus) is also chronicled in Archibald Bennett's book. The following is taken from that book:
Captain Zerubbabel Snow, son of John Snow and Abigail Brigham, was born 12 August 1741 at Rutland, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He died at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, 12 April 1795. He married Mary Trowbridge. She was born 25 February 1745, at Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, the daughter of James Trowbridge and Jerusha Park. She married 2nd, 12 March 1800, at Chesterfield, James Robertson. She died at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, 24 July 1818.
Children of Zerubbabel Snow and Mary Trowbridge (born in Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire):
1. Mary (called Molly), born 24 December 1767
2. James, born 28 January 1770
3. Lydia, born 18 March 1772
4. Abigail, born 17 April 1774
5. Sally, born July 1776, died age 14 months
6. John, born 2 July 1778
7. Sally, born 1780
8. Levi, born 22 July 1782
9. Jerusha, born 7 November 1784
10. Zerubbabel, born 20 May 1788
The Chesterfield Town Records, Volume 1, begin September 15th 1770. Zerubbabel Snow was living in Chesterfield before that date. "At the annual town meeting for the year 1773, which took place on the 3d of March, Zerubbabel Snow, Ephraim Baldwin and Martin Warner were elected selectmen.....At the annual town meeting for the year 1774, held March 2, the same selectmen were elected as at the annual meeting in "73." He bore the title of Captain subsequent to the Revolutionary War, as shown by the Town minutes. The same title is carved on his tombstone in the Clay Hill Cemetery, West Chesterfield. The home he built or occupied after his father's death is still standing, and is "undoubtedly one of the oldest houses in the town."
The Will of Zerubbabel Snow of Chesterfield, dated 17 March, 1794; proved 17 June 1795 is recorded in Cheshire County, New Hampshire Wills and Inventories, Vol. 3. A brief abstract
follows:
"I Zerubbabel Snow of Chesterfield.....Gentleman being sick and weak.....I do appoint Mary Snow my true and loving wife to be the sole and only Executrix...." He bequeaths to her one third part of the farm on which he now dwells, one third part of his dwelling house, the household furniture and one third part of a certain saw-mill on catsbain brook near the said house; also one third part of lot No. 8 in Chesterfield. To his son James Snow, 35 pounds; to his daughter Mary Farr, ten pounds; to his daughter Lydia Farr, ten pounds; to his daughter Abigail Snow, twenty pounds; to his daughter Sally Snow, twenty pounds; to his daughter Jerusha Snow, twenty pounds; to his son Zerubbabel Snow "all that parcel of land together with the buildings thereon in said Chesterfield, which I the said Zerubbabel Snow purchased of Isaac Earle;" to his "sons John Snow and Levi Snow in equal shares, two thirds of the mansion house and farm on which I now dwell....together with two thirds of the said saw-mill standing on catsbane Creek....also two thirds of....a part of lot No. eight....together with all my live stock and husbandry tools and implements used on said farm in equal shares." He authorizes his Executrix to sell 150 acres of land in the town of Stratton, Vermont.
In the Inventory of his estate, his name appears both as Zebulon Snow and Zerubbabel Snow.
Zerubbabel's son, James, also appears in Bennett's book:
James Snow, son of Captain Zerubbabel Snow and Mary Trowbridge, was born 28 January 1770 at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. He died 2 September 1850 at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont. He married at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, 28 May 1787, Abigail Farr. She was born in 1769, at Hardwick, Worcester County, Massachusetts, the daughter of Jonathan Farr and Mercy Winslow. She died at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont, 25 January 1837, age 68. Both she and her husband are buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery there.
Children of James Snow and Abigail Farr (born in Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire:
1. Eli Airs, born 1 November 1787
2. Kimball, born 28 June 1789
3. Alpheus, born 10 May, 1791
4. Gardner, born 15 February 1793
5. Elijah Jackson, born 7 January 1795
6. Polly, born 4 March 1798
7. Jerusha, born 24 June 1800
8. Selina, born about 1802
9. Sarah S., born 1806
10. Mercy, born 1808
11. Thirza C., born 22 Aprul 1813
Includes sketches on Erastus Snow, Zerubbabel Snow, James Snow
John Snow, son of Zerubbabel [Snow] and Jemima Cutler, was born 30 March 1706, at Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He died 12 May 1777, in his 72nd year, at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire; and was buried at Clay Hill Cemetery in West Chesterfield. He married, at Marlborough, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, 25 March 1729, Abigail Brigham. She was born at Marlborough, 25 November 1708, and was baptized before 3 July 1720, the daughter of Gershom Brigham and Mehitabel Warren. She died at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, Massachusetts, 6 March 1790, "in her 84th year."
Children of John Snow and Abigail Brigham:
1. John, born 25 November 1729 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts
2. Edmund, born 1 May, 1732 in Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
3. Seth, born 11 March 1733 in Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
4. Warren, born 12 February 1734-5 in Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
5. Abigail, born 27 December 1736 in Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts
6. Mehitabel, born about 1738 of Leicester, Worcester, Massachusetts
7. Zerubbabel, born 12 August 1741 in Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts
8. Phebe, born 5 November 1748 in Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts
John Snow lived in a number of different towns, moving steadily to the west and north from his birthplace at Woburn. Since he left no will, it is possible there were still other children. Births of his known children have been found in Marlborough, Southborough and Rutland, and he lived for a time at Leicester. He settled as one of the pioneers at Chesterfield, New Hampshire, in 1762. A saw-mill was built that year by John Snow and Moses Smith. The proprietors granted two pieces of land to Snow and Smith, on condition that they should erect a mill, keep it in good repair for the following five years, and saw boards at as reasonable a rate as was done in other places. There is a tradition that, after the first boards were sawed, they were laid down so as to form a kind of rude floor, upon which the settlers danced, to celebrate the event. The mill was built upon Catsbane brook in the west part of the town. He signed an order, 14 May, 1767, as one of the Selectmen of Chesterfield. He was party to a deed to Josiah Willard in 1773; and one to Nathan Bishop recorded in 1778.
On June 12, 1776, John Snow, his son Warren, and his son-in-law, Moses Smith, Jr., then one of the Selectmen, signed a Declaration promising to "at the risque of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies." Another son-in-law, Eseck Earl, refused to sign. After John's death in 1777, his son Zerubbabel owned the sawmill and the grist-mill near it.
--Copied from Family Exaltation by Archibald F. Bennett, pp.325-327.
John Snow had a grandson whose name was Levi. Levi married Lucinda Streeter, and they had a son by the name of Erastus, who was well-known in Church History. In the book Family Exaltation by Archibald F. Bennett, it is shown how Erastus was related through his mother to David W. Patten, and to John Adams and John Quincy Adams who were both Presidents of the United States. Also in the same book on pp. 315-316 is found the following about Erastus Snow:
In the veins of Erastus Snow was the blood of freedom's champions. He, himself, held that torch high throughout his life. He, too suffered persecution for his religion, being driven from his home like his forefather, Roger Williams. Like him, he helped establish a new community where the right of free worship was accorded to all. He was a foremost pioneer and colonizer, one of the first two men of the first pioneer company of 1847 to set foot in the Salt Lake Valley; he was an ardent missionary and the leader of those who introduced the gospel to Scandinavia. He was also a wise and able statesman. Of him, President Joseph F. Smith wrote:
"As an orator and profound reasoner, I always felt impressed he had no superior, especially when he warmed to his subject and entered into his discourse with the full force and energy of his active and vigorous mind. As a colonizer and builder and as a legislator and statesman he was the peer of any of his associates. For the accomplishment of the mission assigned him, he devoted the whole force of his vigorous and noble spirit. I esteem him as one of the great men, not only of the Church, but of the world."
His son was Edward H. Snow, who served as President of the St. George Stake, President of the Eastern States Mission, and President of the St. George Temple. To him, President Heber J. Grant wrote this estimate of his father, Erastus Snow:
"As a pioneer and colonizer, I look upon your father as having been second only to Brigham Young. To me he was the ideal apostle in the Council. He was in very deed the servant of the people and labored unselfishly for their advancement. Your father was loyal, true, patriotic and devoted. In thought, word and deed, he was true to God, to his Church, and to his fellowmen. From the bottom of my heart I earnestly pray that you and all of the sons and daughters of Erastus Snow may so live that your lives will be worthy of the noble example of your most splendid father."
Captain Zerubbabel Snow (son of John Snow and Abigail Brigham, father of James and Levi Snow and grandfather of Erastus) is also chronicled in Archibald Bennett's book. The following is taken from that book:
Captain Zerubbabel Snow, son of John Snow and Abigail Brigham, was born 12 August 1741 at Rutland, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He died at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, 12 April 1795. He married Mary Trowbridge. She was born 25 February 1745, at Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, the daughter of James Trowbridge and Jerusha Park. She married 2nd, 12 March 1800, at Chesterfield, James Robertson. She died at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, 24 July 1818.
Children of Zerubbabel Snow and Mary Trowbridge (born in Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire):
1. Mary (called Molly), born 24 December 1767
2. James, born 28 January 1770
3. Lydia, born 18 March 1772
4. Abigail, born 17 April 1774
5. Sally, born July 1776, died age 14 months
6. John, born 2 July 1778
7. Sally, born 1780
8. Levi, born 22 July 1782
9. Jerusha, born 7 November 1784
10. Zerubbabel, born 20 May 1788
The Chesterfield Town Records, Volume 1, begin September 15th 1770. Zerubbabel Snow was living in Chesterfield before that date. "At the annual town meeting for the year 1773, which took place on the 3d of March, Zerubbabel Snow, Ephraim Baldwin and Martin Warner were elected selectmen.....At the annual town meeting for the year 1774, held March 2, the same selectmen were elected as at the annual meeting in "73." He bore the title of Captain subsequent to the Revolutionary War, as shown by the Town minutes. The same title is carved on his tombstone in the Clay Hill Cemetery, West Chesterfield. The home he built or occupied after his father's death is still standing, and is "undoubtedly one of the oldest houses in the town."
The Will of Zerubbabel Snow of Chesterfield, dated 17 March, 1794; proved 17 June 1795 is recorded in Cheshire County, New Hampshire Wills and Inventories, Vol. 3. A brief abstract
follows:
"I Zerubbabel Snow of Chesterfield.....Gentleman being sick and weak.....I do appoint Mary Snow my true and loving wife to be the sole and only Executrix...." He bequeaths to her one third part of the farm on which he now dwells, one third part of his dwelling house, the household furniture and one third part of a certain saw-mill on catsbain brook near the said house; also one third part of lot No. 8 in Chesterfield. To his son James Snow, 35 pounds; to his daughter Mary Farr, ten pounds; to his daughter Lydia Farr, ten pounds; to his daughter Abigail Snow, twenty pounds; to his daughter Sally Snow, twenty pounds; to his daughter Jerusha Snow, twenty pounds; to his son Zerubbabel Snow "all that parcel of land together with the buildings thereon in said Chesterfield, which I the said Zerubbabel Snow purchased of Isaac Earle;" to his "sons John Snow and Levi Snow in equal shares, two thirds of the mansion house and farm on which I now dwell....together with two thirds of the said saw-mill standing on catsbane Creek....also two thirds of....a part of lot No. eight....together with all my live stock and husbandry tools and implements used on said farm in equal shares." He authorizes his Executrix to sell 150 acres of land in the town of Stratton, Vermont.
In the Inventory of his estate, his name appears both as Zebulon Snow and Zerubbabel Snow.
Zerubbabel's son, James, also appears in Bennett's book:
James Snow, son of Captain Zerubbabel Snow and Mary Trowbridge, was born 28 January 1770 at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. He died 2 September 1850 at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont. He married at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, 28 May 1787, Abigail Farr. She was born in 1769, at Hardwick, Worcester County, Massachusetts, the daughter of Jonathan Farr and Mercy Winslow. She died at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont, 25 January 1837, age 68. Both she and her husband are buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery there.
Children of James Snow and Abigail Farr (born in Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire:
1. Eli Airs, born 1 November 1787
2. Kimball, born 28 June 1789
3. Alpheus, born 10 May, 1791
4. Gardner, born 15 February 1793
5. Elijah Jackson, born 7 January 1795
6. Polly, born 4 March 1798
7. Jerusha, born 24 June 1800
8. Selina, born about 1802
9. Sarah S., born 1806
10. Mercy, born 1808
11. Thirza C., born 22 Aprul 1813
James Snow was the eldest son of his father, Capt. Zerubbabel, and is the first child mentioned in the latter's will, 17 March 1794. In deeds dated 9 December 1796 and 23 January 1797 he
disposed of property in Lot No. 13, in Chesterfield, being called "James Snow of Chesterfield,
Yeoman."
On March 12, 1800, his widowed mother, Mrs. Mary Snow, married Lt. James Robertson of Chesterfield. On 29 January 1800, "Mary Snow of Chesterfield...Widow of Captain Zerubbabel Snow" as his Executrix, deeded her third part of the stream known as Catsbain Brook and her third part of the saw mill standing on said stream on lot No. 11. On 23 September 1816, Mary Robertson and James Robertson, her husband, deeded to her son John Snow one third part "of the real estate of Zerubabel Snow late of Chesterfield, deceased, it being given and bequeathed to me, the said Mary in the last will of the said deceased." James Snow was one of the witnesses at Chesterfield.
On 21 April 1817, "James Snow of Chesterfield in the County of Cheshire, Yeoman," for $50.00 paid by his brother-in-law Ezekiel Harris, "both for myself and my wife Abigail Snow," quit claims all their right and title formerly owned by his brother-in-law Joshua Farr (his wife's brother), deceased. Witnesses included Abigail Snow, Elijah Snow and Eli A. Snow, his children. In 1819, James Snow acknowledged this deed in Caledonia County, Vermont. This indicated the approximate date of his removal to St. Johnsbury.
James Snow continued to reside thereafter in St. Johnsbury, and is on record there in the census returns for 1830, 1840, and 1850, the last being taken only a few weeks before his death. He outlived his wife thirteen years.
found on ancestry.com
Revolutionary War
John Snow - born 3-30-1706 - died 5-12-1777
married (1) Abigail Brigham - Patriotic Service New Hampshire
DAR Patriot Index, Volume III, page 2511
JOHN SNOW born 1708 in Woburn, settled in Chesterfield, New Hampshire about 1782, in which year he and Moses Smith built the first saw mill, in the town. His wife was Abigail _______ and she died 6 March, 1790, in her 84th year. He died 12 May, 1777, in his 72nd year.
Ancestry of Erastus Snow
Ancestry of Erastus Snow
John Snow
John Snow, son of Zerubbabel [Snow] and Jemima Cutler, was born 30 March 1706, at Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He died 12 May 1777, in his 72nd year, at Chesterfield, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire; and was buried at Clay Hill Cemetery in West Chesterfield. He married, at Marlborough, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, 25 March 1729, Abigail Brigham. She was born at Marlborough, 25 Nov. 1708, and was baptized before 3 July 1720, the daughter of Gershom Brigham and Mehitabel Warren. She died at Chesterfield, Cheshire Co., Massachusetts, 6 March 1790, "in her 84th year."
Children of John Snow and Abigail Brigham:
1. John, born 25 Nov. 1729 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Mass.
2. Edmund, born 1 May, 1732 in Southborough, Worcester, Mass.
3. Seth, born 11 Mar. 1733 in Southborough, Worcester, Mass.
4. Warren, born 12 Feb. 1734-5 in Southborough, Worcester, Mass.
5. Abigail, born 27 Dec. 1736 in Southborough, Worcester, Mass.
6. Mehitabel, born abt. 1738 of Leicester, Worcester, Mass.
7. Zerubbabel, born 12 Aug. 1741 in Rutland, Worcester, Mass.
8. Phebe, born 5 Nov. 1748 in Rutland, Worcester, Mass.
John Snow lived in a number of different towns, moving steadily to the west and north from his birthplace at Woburn. Since he left no will, it is possible there were still other children. Births of his known children have been found in Marlborough, Southborough and Rutland, and he lived for a time at Leicester. He settled as one of the pioneers at Chesterfield, New Hampshire, in 1762. A saw-mill was built that year by John Snow and Moses Smith. The proprietors granted two pieces of land to Snow and Smith, on condition that they should erect a mill, keep it in good repair for the following five years, and saw boards at as reasonable a rate as was done in other places. There is a tradition that, after the first boards were sawed, they were laid down so as to form a kind of rude floor, upon which the settlers danced, to celebrate the event. The mill was built upon Catsbane brook in the west part of the town. He signed an order, 14 May, 1767, as one of the Selectmen of Chesterfield. He was party to a deed to Josiah Willard in 1773; and one to Nathan Bishop recorded in 1778.
On June 12, 1776, John Snow, his son Warren, and his son-in-law, Moses Smith, Jr., then one of the Selectmen, signed a Declaration promising to "at the risque of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies." Another son-in-law, Eseck Earl, refused to sign. After John's death in 1777, his son Zerubbabel owned the sawmill and the grist-mill near it.
--Copied from Family Exaltation by Archibald F. Bennett, pp.325-327.
John Snow had a grandson whose name was Levi. Levi married Lucinda Streeter, and they had a son by the name of Erastus, who was well-known in Church History. In the book Family Exaltation by Archibald F. Bennett, it is shown how Erastus was related through his mother to David W. Patten, and to John Adams and John Quincy Adams who were both President of the United States. Also in the same book on pp. 315-316 is found the following about Erastus Snow:
In the veins of Erastus Snow was the blood of freedom's champions. He, himself, held that torch high throughout his life. He, too suffered persecution for his religion, being driven from his home like his forefather, Roger Williams. Like him, he helped establish a new community where the right of free worship was accorded to all. He was a foremost pioneer and colonizer, one of the first two men of the first pioneer company of 1847 to set foot in the Salt Lake Valley; he was an ardent missionary and the leader of those who introduced the gospel to Scandinavia. He was also a wise and able statesman. Of him, President Joseph F. Smith wrote:
"As an orator and profound reasoner, I always felt impressed he had no superior, especially when he warmed to his subject and entered into his discourse with the full force and energy of his active and vigorous mind. As a colonizer and builder and as a legislator and statesman he was the peer of any of his associates. For the accomplishment of the mission assigned him, he devoted the whole force of his vigorous and noble spirit. I esteem him as one of the great men, not only of the Church, but of the world." [Italics in the quote]
His son was Edward H. Snow, who served as President of the St. George Stake, President of the Eastern States Mission, and President of the St. George Temple. To him, President Heber J. Grant wrote this estimate of his father, Erastus Snow:
"As a pioneer and colonizer, I look upon your father as having been second only to Brigham Young. To me he was the ideal apostle in the Council. He was in very deed the servant of the people and labored unselfishly for their advancement. Your father was loyal, true, patriotic and devoted. In thought, word and deed, he was true to God, to his Church, and to his fellowmen. From the bottom of my heart I earnestly pray that you and all of the sons and daughters of Erastus Snow may so live that your lives will be worthy of the noble example of your most splendid father."
Captain Zerubbabel Snow (son of John Snow and Abigail Brigham, father of James and Levi Snow and grandfather of Erastus) is also chronicled in Archibald Bennett's book. The following is taken from that book:
Captain Zerubbabel Snow, son of John Snow and Abigail Brigham, was born 12 August 1741 at Rutland, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He died at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, 12 April 1795. He married Mary Trowbridge. She was born 25 February 1745, at Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, the daughter of James Trowbridge and Jerusha Park. She married 2nd, 12 Mar. 1800, at Chesterfield, James Robertson. She died at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, 24 July 1818.
Children of Zerubbabel Snow and Mary Trowbridge (born in Chesterfield, Cheshire Co., N. H.):
1. Mary (called Molly), born 24 Dec. 1767
2. James, born 28 Jan. 1770
3. Lydia, born 18 Mar. 1772
4. Abigail, born 17 Apr. 1774
5. Sally, born July 1776, died age 14 months.
6. John, born 2 July 1778
7. Sally, born 1780
8. Levi, born 22 July 1782
9. Jerusha, born 7 Nov. 1784
10. Zerubbabel, born 20 May 1788
The Chesterfield Town Records, Volume 1, begin September 15th 1770. Zerubbabel Snow was living in Chesterfield before that date. "At the annual town meeting for the year 1773, which took place on the 3d of March, Zerubbabel Snow, Ephraim Baldwin and Martin Warner were elected selectmen.....At the annual town meeting for the year 1774, held March 2, the same selectmen were elected as at the annual meeting in "73." He bore the title of Captain subsequent to the Revolutionary War, as shown by the Town minutes. The same title is carved on his tombstone in the Clay Hill Cemetery, West Chesterfield. The home he built or occupied after his father's death is still standing, and is "undoubtedly one of the oldest houses in the town."
the Will of Zerubbabel Snow of Chesterfield, dated 17 March, 1794; proved 17 June 1795 is recorded in Cheshire Co., N.H. Wills and Inventories, Vol. 3. A brief abstract follows:
"I Zerubbabel Snow of Chesterfield.....Gentleman being sick and weak.....I do appoint Mary Snow my true and loving wife to be the sole and only Executrix...." He bequeaths to her one third part of the farm on which he now dwells, one third part of his dwelling house, the household furniture and one third part of a certain saw-mill on catsbain brook near the said house; also one third part of lot No. 8 in Chesterfield. To his son James Snow, 35 pounds; to his daughter Mary Farr, ten pounds; to his daughter Lydia Farr, ten pounds; to his daughter Abigail Snow, twenty pounds; to his daughter Sally Snow, twenty pounds; to his daughter Jerusha Snow, twenty pounds; to his son Zerubbabel Snow "all that parcel of land together with the buildings thereon in said Chesterfield, which I the said Zerubbabel Snow purchased of Isaac Earle;" to his "sons John Snow and Levi Snow in equal shares, two thirds of the mansion house and farm on which I now dwell....together with two thirds of the said saw-mill standing on catsbane Creek....also two thirds of....a part of lot No. eight....together with all my live stock and husbandry tools and implements used on said farm in equal shares." He authorizes his Executrix to sell 150 acres of land in the town of Stratton, Vermont.
In the Inventory of his estate, his name appears both as Zebulon Snow and Zerubbabel Snow.
Zerubbabel's son, James, also appears in Bennett's book:
James Snow, son of Captain Zerubbabel Snow and Mary Trowbridge, was born 28 January 1770 at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. He died 2 September 1850 at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont. He married at Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, 28 May 1787, Abigail Farr. She was born in 1769, at Hardwick, Worcester County, Massachusetts, the daughter of Jonathan Farr and Mercy Winslow. She died at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont, 25 January 1837, age 68. Both she and her husband are buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery there.
Children of James Snow and Abigail Farr (born in Chesterfield, Cheshire Co., N. H.:
1. Eli Airs, born 1 Nov. 1787
2. Kimball, born 28 June 1789
3. Alpheus, born 10 May, 1791
4. Gardner, born 15 Feb. 1793
5. Elijah Jackson, born 7 Jan 1795
6. Polly, born 4 Mar. 1798
7. Jerusha, born 24 June 1800
8. Selina, born abt 1802
9. Sarah S., born 1806
10. Mercy, born 1808
11. Thirza C., born 22 Apr 1813
James Snow was the eldest son of his father, Capt. Zerubbabel, and is the first child mentioned in the latter's will, 17 Mar. 1794. In deeds dated 9 Dec. 1796 and 23 Jan. 1797 he disposed of property in Lot No. 13, in Chesterfield, being called "James Snow of Chesterfield, Yeoman."
On March 12, 1800, his widowed mother, Mrs. Mary Snow, married Lt. James Robertson of Chesterfield. On 29 Jan. 1800, "Mary Snow of Chesterfield...Widow of Capt. Zerubbabel Snow" as his Executrix, deeded her third part of the stream known as Catsbain Brook and her third part of the saw mill standing on said stream on lot No. 11. On 23 Sept. 1816, Mary Robertson and James Robertson, her husband, deeded to her son John Snow one third part "of the real estate of Zerubabel Snow late of Chesterfield, deceased, it being given and bequeathed to me, the said Mary in the last will of the said deceased." James Snow was one of the witnesses at Chesterfield.
On 21 Apr. 1817, "James Snow of Chesterfield in the County of Cheshire, Yeoman," for $50.00 paid by his brother-in-law Ezekiel Harris, "both for myself and my wife Abigail Snow," quit claims all their right and title formerly owned by his brother-in-law Joshua Farr (his wife's brother), deceased. Witnesses included Abigail Snow, Elijah Snow and Eli A. Snow, his children. In 1819, James Snow acknowledged this deed in Caledonia Co., Vt. This indicated the approximate date of his removal to St. Johnsbury.
James Snow continued to reside thereafter in St. Johnsbury, and is on record there in the census returns for 1830, 1840, and 1850, the last being taken only a few weeks before his death. He outlived his wife thirteen years.
Found on FamilySearch.org
SNOW FAMILY
Richard Snow* was an early resident of Woburn, though not
one of the group who signed the “Town Orders” in December 1640. But before September 8, 1645, he had brought
to the town his wife Avis** as well as their two older sons, John and James,
for on that date he was included in the list of those who were taxed there, in
a rate for the country” (colony tax) which was that town’s earliest extant tax
list. He received land from the town in 1647-8—perhaps also earlier. His home lay to the west of the homestead of
Joseph Carter (Thomas).
There is no slightest hint of a
derogatory nature found relative to Richard or to his family, but on the other
hand there is almost nothing of any sort recorded of his life. He evidently took no part in official or
public life; no proof is seen of church membership or of the acquirement of
freemanship—indeed the vital records even fail to show his death-yet indirect
proof is found that he was neither an irreligious nor a careless man, and be
careful attention much information about his character may be deduced. As to his religious views, it must be
recounted that the General Court had ruled that when a town lacked a pastor
they must not allow preaching by a lay brother without going through the
procedure of getting the opinion and approval of the elders of four nearby
churches, or the permission of the County Court. This was especially hampering to sparsely
settled communities; and in the earliest days of Woburn itself, they tried for
about two years before they got their pastor, The Rev. Thomas Carter, who was
so well liked. But the Woburn men felt,
as to the principle of the matter, that in any given town the church
organization which had examined and accepted its own members was in a better
position to judge of their qualifications than any outsiders would be. So, though the inhibition did not pertain to
these men of Woburn since they already had a pastor, they had the courage of
their convictions to a sufficient extent to prepare, impersonally, a very
lengthy petition to the General Court, couched in the most deferential terms,
but explaining how their opinions differed from the decision of the court. Twenty-nine Woburn men signed that petition
on August 30, 1653, and Richard Snow was one of them. It required real moral fibre, and a courage
of high degree to put one’s name to what amounted to a formal criticism of the
highest court in the land, for principle’s sake alone, and Richard possessed
those qualities. Incidentally, this
petition for a rescinding of the earlier ruling was not granted, but the
document itself has been referred to ever since as the “Woburn Memorial for
Christian Liberty” and its signers are called “the bold petitioners.”
In the next place, as early as
1642, the very year Woburn was incorporated, the General Court, with careful
concern for the religious education of the children and youths of the colony,
had passed a law “that all masters of families do once a week (at the least)
catechize their children and servants in the grounds and principles of
religion”, adding that if they are unable to teach thus themselves, the said
masters should procure instruction by some one else, so that the young people
might be able to answer the questions on the catechism when they were examined
by the selectmen or others. This same
requirement obtained down through the years.
Add to this obligatory religious instruction, the courageous
independence of the petition referred to above and the fact that at his death
Richard Snow owned two Bibles “and other sermon books” and the trend of his
character seems fairly well established.
He was undoubtedly hard working and thrifty for when one of the original
settlers, George Farley, was removing to Billerica, Richard on November 19,
1656, was able to buy that man’s home and twenty acres of land. This purchase
seems to have included Farley’s right to the undivided town land for in a
distribution of common lands and timber made as late as 1668, Richard received
a share, though, as has been stated, he was not an original proprietor. He must have been either ailing or injured in
his later life for in 1659 he was dismissed or relieved from ordinary
trainings*** “in consideration of his insufficiency to bear arms”. So we have the picture of a man of unusual
moral courage, of careful attention to military duty, until unknown
circumstances prevented, of thoughtful provision for his wife and family as
will be shown by his will, with an estate of over 188 pounds at death and with
the record of having reared four sons who lived useful, honorable lives. The three older sons married and reared
families while his youngest son Zachariah died without issue, either a bachelor
or a widower, for his estate was divided among his brother, nephews and
nieces. This Zachariah was one of the
thirteen Woburn men in Capt. Davenport’s Company, with John Carter, at the
Great Swamp Fight (see Carter, p. 149), was wounded there and endured that
dreadful all-night march back to Wickford (see Upham, p. 627) either staggering
wearily through the storm or carried by his comrades-according to the location
and severity of his wound. Many years
later when land grants were being made to survivors or their heirs, a reminder
of this service is seen in the fact that a claim was made by the husband of a granddaughter
of James Snow, nephew of him who served, and land in Narragansett Township No
6, later Templeton, Massachusetts, was granted on the record of Zachariah.
Richard Snow died at Woburn on or
before May 5, 1677, having made his will on January 30, 1676. It was witnessed by Francis Wyman, Allen
Converse and his son Zachariah Converse and was probated on June 19, 1677. It made the widow Avis and son Zachariah the
executors. It gave to John Snow “the
parcel of land that his house now standeth one and one parcel of meddow that he
hath now in possession”. It gave land to
the three other sons and added:
“I
do require that my sons equally do pay to my beloved wife twenty bushels of
corne (grain) yearly as followeth; five bushels of wheat and five of ry: and
five bushels of barley; and five bushels of Indian corne: and the keeping of two cowes summer and
winter yearly; and foure cords of wood yearly. . .).
The inventory of the estate of
Richard taken May 5, 1677, showed a valuation of over 188 pounds.
The children of Richard and
Avis(---) Snow, the last three born at Woburn, were:
1.
John, see following.
2.
James, b. abt. 1642; d. not later
than 1711, prob. At Lancaster; m. by 1670-1, and had sic children; removed 1704
to Lancaster.
3.
Daniel, b. Feb. 4, 1645; d. July
18, 1646.
4.
Samuel, b. May 28, 1647; d. June
15, 1686; m. 1st by 1669 Sarah Wildon (John) and Hannah (James?) who
d. June 15, 1686; m. 2nd Aug. 9, 1686, Sarah Parker called daughter
of John and Joanna Parker of Cambridge.
5.
Zachariah, b. Mar. 29, 1649; d. at
Woburn Apr 14, 1711.
John Snow (Richard) was
born about 1640 at an unknown place and spent his life from early childhood
until his death, on November 25, 1706, in Woburn. He married there by 1667 Mary Greene and in
1671 had occasion to sign a receipt to her uncle Capt. John Carter for her
share of her fathers’s estate. He had
received during his father’s life, and doubtless at the time of his marriage,
land to live upon and meadow and this property was confirmed to him by his
father’s will in January, 1676. He, in
common with his three brothers, was bound to provide food and fuel for their
mother. Search in published material has
revealed no details of the life of John. He, as well as his father, was
evidently one of the pioneers who performed their daily work so unobtrusively
that it attracted no comment, did not stand out noticeable, yet such men were
the backbone of the colony. So the only
way we can approximate an understanding of the conditions he faced is through
study of the history of Woburn during the period of his life, with the addition
of a few incidents.
Apparently the purveying of
sensational tales, regardless of authenticity, is not exclusively a modern
fault for about 1660 it reported in England.
“That 18
Turksman of war (on) the 24 of Jan’y 1659-60 landed at a town (referring to
Clarlestown, mother of Woburn) three miles from Boston, killed 40, took Mr.
Sims minister prisoner, wounded him, killed his wife and three of his little
children, carried him away with 57 more, burnt the Town, carried them to Argier
(Algiers?) their loss amounting to 12,000 pounds—the Turk demanding 8,000
pounds ransom to be paid within seven months”.
The only discrepancies in the
above take are that Turkish men of war did not raid or burn Charlestown, the
Rev. Symmes and others were not kidnapped or held for ransom, none of his
family were killed and his children were all adult by 1659-60 instead of being
“little”. When Josselyn visited the
colony and reported this wild English tale to the pioneers it must have created
a sensation!
The tragic losses by fire in
those days, when every necessity cost such a burden of effort, seem most
appallingly heavy, and to our modern minds the methods of fighting fire seem
needlessly crude. In this connection, we
find a ruling of 1661 which would have had its bearing on every one of our
Woburn families, for it was “Ordered that Thomas Brigden, sr., deliver the town
buckets to any person. . .upon notice of fire within the town; provided the
said Brigden was searched for or awakened and the church visited.
In October, 1667, twenty-five
citizens of Woburn petitioned the General Court “May it please this honorable
court to vouchsafe some help to our town of Woburn in dividing a lump of this
wilderness earth”; and “The selectmen mette the 5.day of Octob. 1674, and
agreed on the 15 day of this instant mo. To goe throo the Towne, and ecsamin
the familys about Catichising.”
Richard Snow would have
experienced the earlier anxieties over the threatened loss of their charter and
John would have felt the injustice of Andros’ regime in the greatly increased
taxes, the threatened loss of their lands and other strictures.
About 1686 a farmer of Woburn was
called to account for his wife’s extravagance in dress. He answered, “That he thought it no sin for
his wife to wear a silk hood and silk neck (neckerchief?); and he desired to
see an example before him!” probably meaning that if it was to be considered a
sin, he desired proof of the claim.
Kindly treatment of the aged or
infirm is frequently seen in the Woburn records, in the remitting of taxes, in
the restoration of land forfeited for non-payment of taxes, or in actual
furnishing of food and clothing in cases of need.
Of the seven children of John
Snow, at least four married and reared families of well behaved children. Ebenezer died in young manhood; Nathaniel was
probably crippled or ailing for he received his small share of his father’s
property in money rather than in land which the other sons shared. At the age of fifty-one, Mary was still
unmarried; the life of Timonthy was spent in Woburn, where he served the
military company as sergeant from 1716 until 1737; Hannah with her husband had
removed about 1715 to Killingly, Connecticut, (where some of her Snow relatives
later followed her) and the two older
sons removed to New Hampshire, John, who became an ensign, settling permanently
in what is now Hudson in that state and becoming one of the most useful men of
the town until his death in 1735.
Zerubbabel evidently lived for a time near Concord, New Hampshire, but
apparently returned to Woburn before his death.
An interesting tale is told of an experience
of his which gave its name to Snow Pond in Concord Township, east of the
Merrimack River. Zerubbabel was out
hunting and was treed by a pack of wolves just at night. “He fired away at them all the balls he had,
and then cut off buttons from his coat and discharged them; but the wolves kept
round the tree till broad daylight next morning, when they went off and he
escaped,” and the nearby pond was given his name.
John Snow died intestate in
November, 1706, and on April 12, 1707, his widow and children signed an
agreement as to the disposition of his property. At his death his estate owed 16 pounds to his
eldest son John and 12 pounds to Timothy as though they might have helped to
maintain the family. John Cutler signed
the agreement in behalf of his wife Hannah.
By this document, the widow Mary was to use for life all the household
stuff and one-third part of the other movables, housing and lands; John was to
retain the home and over twenty acres already in his hands on condition that he
pay 12 pounds to Timothy and 3 pounds to his sister, Hannah Cutler. In view of their payment of certain amounts
to the other heirs, Zerubbabel and Timothy were to divide between them, the
remainder of the housing and lands, including the widow’s third after her
death. The description of land includes
reference to the Hungry-plain field.
The children of John and Mary
(Greene)Snow all born in Woburn were
1.
John b. May 13, 1668; rec’d share
of est. of uncle Zachariah; d. at Hudson, N.H. Mar. 21, 1735, called 68-4-3; m.
at Chelmsford Feb 13, 1693-4, Sarah Stevens (John and Elizabeth (Hildreth),
sister of the man his cousin, Sarah (Samuel) married.
2.
Zerubbabel, b. May 14, 1672; with
Samuel Snow he was administrator of estate of Zachariah; d. at Woburn Nov 20,
1733; m. there Sept. 22, 1697, Jemima Cutler (James).
3.
Timonthy, b. Feb. 16, 1674-5;
rec’d share of est. of uncle Zachariah; d. at Woburn Nov 20, 1747-8, aged 73-4;
m. there Jan. 16, 1705-6, Lydia Pierce (Samuel, Thomas, Thomas).
4.
Hannah, b. June 6, 1677; she rec’d
a share of est. of uncle Zachariah; d. at an unknown date; m. Feb 6, 1700-1, at
Woburn John Cutler. It was probably she
who m. 2ndly at Killingly Nov 2 1736, Deacon Eleazer Bateman.
5.
Mary, b. Aug 4,1680, unmarried in
1711 when she shared in the estate of he uncle Zachariah.
6.
Ebenezer, b. Oct 6, 1682; d. Feb
11, 1704, prob. Unm.
7.
Nathaniel, b. Nov 17, 1684; shared
in the estate of his uncle Zachariah in 1711.
*As to the origin of this family
in England, nothing has been proved, but suggestion has been made that possibly
a man named Richard Snow who was born in the parish of Barnstaple in col.
Devon, England, in 1608, may have been he; and possibly one of this name, aged
twenty-eight who on November 20, 1635, received “license to go beyond the seas”
along with two hundred and five other men, embarking on the “Expedition” for
the Barbadoes, may have been our ancestor.
It is well known that frequently emigrants who sailed for the Barbadoes
presently continued their journey to New England, and it is a fact that on the
“Expedition” there sailed also one William Greene, and that our own Richard
Snow and our William Greene both appeared early at Woburn and that members of
their families intermarried. These
fellow voyagers may have been our ancestors.
** This name has frequently, but erroneously, been printed
as “Annis”.
*** Others who signed were Francis Kendall, John Tidd, and
the three Parker brothers Abraham, James, and John, brothers of our Jacob.
****Until 1686 military service in the colony was required
of all able bodied men from the age of sixteen upward.” “Men of sixty were always found drilling in
the ranks and men of seventy-six and even older were active in the ordinary
training.” In England it had been the
practice to enlist men in the train band at sixteen and to dismiss them at
sixty, and in 1689 that plan came into effect in the colony. The officers often served much later in life.
Found on Ancestry.com
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