BSbros [Sometimes it is important to share information about possible connections even though the exact relationship between individuals (if any) still eludes us. It is in this context that Richard "Dick" Baldauf shares his thoughts on the possible siblings of Benjamin Sneed (subject of his recent reports.) As in all these things, the ideas and data are his; typos are mine. Dick's e-mail is Rbbsw@aol.com ; Trueman Farris (another SNEED researcher) can be contacted at jfarris@execpc.com LSS] Benjamin Sneed (1721 - 1819): The Brothers By Richard `Dick' Baldauf March 2002 The sons of William, presumably brothers of Benjamin b. 1721, vary in numbers and birth dates from one source to another, with updates along the way. And strange it is, that with so large a number of descendants, there is so little to verify their relationships. In _The Sneads of Fluvanna_ Mrs. Hatcher has this to say: "There is a well-founded tradition that the children of _William Snead_, who came over with his father, Samuel, were named _Charles, Zecharia, William_ and _Robert_. The Kentucky Sneeds of Diamond Springs are descended from Zecharia. Others in Louisville have Charles for an ancestor. It is thought by some that William is the ancestor of the Fluvanna branch. From the following item it is seen that William was living in Henrico in 1740: `The attachment obtained by _William_ Snead against the estate of Story Hall is dismissed in the Plaintiff's costs -- 1758.' It is also stated in the Albemarle records that `_Charles Snead witnessed for a will in 1740 in presence of David Lewis and Abram Musick.' We must note before proceeding further that the _William_ mentioned by Hatcher and others as father of the brothers is the wrong William. That William, who was presumably a boy in 1635, could hardly have been living in 1740 as stated above. Moreover, we have this record in the Register of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co., VA: _Henry_ son to _Jno Snead_ bapt ye 8th day of May, 1687 _William_ son to _John Snead_ bapt ye 9 Novemb, 1690 This William, born in 1690, would seem to be the likely father of the brothers. Note that Hatcher names only four sons for William and gives no birth dates. In a handwritten note by _Ms. Frances Trader (b. 1903)_ of Sedalia, MO, we have this reference: _William_ Sneed had son (sic): -- Grayson _Benjamin_ b. 1721 ? d. 1819 Danville, KY _Alexander_ 1736 will 1818 _Zachariah_ 1737 Sneeds of Diamond Springs, KY _Charles_ 1738 Louisville, KY Sneeds _William_ 1734 Hanover Co. & Louisa Co., VA _Robert_ 1740 12 children Benj. Of Fancey Hill Ref. Virkus Compendium 1925 p. 834 1937 p. 461 [Note: Our Sneed line is from Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle. Dated: 12/2/1981] Elsewhere we have an early typed record from Frances Trader showing much the same data on the brothers. In this version William of Hanover, living in 1740, is also shown as the son of William b. 1630. In a typed record by _Lucy Walker Sneed (b.1852) we have this version: "_Wm Snead_ born probably in England but living in Hanover Co., Virginia in 1740" __Benjamin Sneed_ b. about 1735 [corrected to read: b. 1721 d. 1819 Wm Sneed of Louisa Co. VA] M. 1st Jemimah M. 2nd Mary Ann [corrected to read 1755-1856 . John Sneed, secretary to Jefferson] [corrected to read Sarah {Peggy} & others (names not known] _Alexander_ Snead / Sneed Executed deed in Albemarle Co. VA in 1762 from Jacob Sneed etc. _Zachariah_ Snead / Sneed _Charles_ Snead / Sneed b. 1738 _Wm._ Snead / Sneed of Hanover Co. Va _Robert_ Snead / Sneed b. 1740 .. Thomas Loundes Sneed & Rev. Ed. Sneed are grandsons of this Robt. // Jesse Snead, Albert Snead & others Still another version of the Sneed brothers is on file, this probably from the Trader files. 3. _William_ b. 1700, d. about 1745. He lived in Hanover, Virginia in 1740 4. _Benjamin_ b. 1735 executed a deed, 1785, to wife Jemimale, (sic) also in 1801 and 1806 to wife Mary Ann. Family tradition says Polly Perry was the mother of Jno. next below. Which of these was Polly? 4. _Alexander_ b. 1736. A deed in Albemarle Co., Virginia, 1762 B 3P 206 from Jacob Snead by patent dated September 10, 1755. 200 A. granted Jacob Snead by patent dated September 10, 1755. Also Jacob & wife Mary in deeds of 1770 and 1771. Not clear. 4. _Charles_ b. 1738 4. _William_ b. 1739 He lived in Hanover, Virginia. The Sneads of Fluvanna come from this William. 4. _Robert_ b. 1740 4. _Zechariah_ b. 1737 Diamond Springs Sneads come from Zechariah Another document from _Francis McClure_ includes this item: II _William Sneed_, no wife listed. Sons: _Zachariah_, descendants to Kentucky; _Charles_ remained in Louisville; _William_, descendants south; _Robert_, Accomac county. And finally, we have this from Ms. Pearl E. Snead in `the Family of Benjamin, Richard, and Mary Ann McGhee Sneed," 1635-1973: "William Sneed_, living in Hanover Co., 1740. Issue: 1 _Benjamin_ b. 1735, Albemarle Co.; 2 _Alexander_ 1736-1762, Albemarle Co.; 3 _Zechariah_ b. 1737, m. Martha Nance, lived in Henrico Co.; 4 _Charles_ b. 1739; 5. __Robert_; 6 _Jacob_ m. Mary." [VA State Library] Note the addition of _Jacob_. Thus we are given a variety of brothers and dates with little to support their inclusion. The exception may be the _Zachariah Snead who appears in the data of _Jack Hockett . We quote from that source: "_Zachariah Snead_ b. 1740; d. 17 Oct. 1781 of pneumonia after a forced march in the rain from Danville, VA to be at the battle of Yorktown; m. Martha `Patty' Nance, who died in 1783. At the death of Zachariah Snead, the court summoned William Snead from Abbysville in Lunenburg Co. (now Charlotte Co., VA). After Zachariah's death, his children were bound out by the vestry of Camden Parish, Pittsylvania Co. VA to their grandfather _William Snead_, who subsequently brought them to NC. However, IGI records, among others, assert that Zachariah Snead was born in 1726 in Henrico Co. VA, s/o William Snead, and that he married in that county in 1764, Martha `Patsy' Nance. "A _Robert Snead was born 23 Jan. 1760, Amelia Co. VA, where he enlisted in the Rev. War and continued to live until 1790, when he moved to Wake Co. NC, where he applied [for a pension] in Nov. 1832. A _James Nance b. in Amelia Co. 02 Feb. 1762 stated he knew the soldier well. _Robert and _Zachariah were brothers, and _James Nance was surely close kin of the Zachariah who married Martha Nance." As a precaution, we should point out that there appears to have been another _Zachariah Snead_ who purchased property in Pittsylvania Co. in 1768. [In Pittsylvania Co., VA 1:88, 26 Feb. 1768 Zachariah Snead purchased land from William Thomas.] This Zachariah migrated from Henrico Co. sometime after 1765, where he died, leaving no will. Both _Zachariah_ and _William_ Snead are listed on the tax list of Amelia Co., VA, Nottoway Parish, Middle & Lower End. [Research of Mr. E. Frost, performed at the VA State Archives at Richmond.] Additionally, a _William Sneed_ and a _Robert Sneed_ witnessed the 12 Oct. 1776 deed of Joshua Leak to Jeane Crockett; proved 28 Nov. 1776. [Pittsylvania Co. Will Abstracts 1768-1800] We apologize for this hodge-podge of data. However, with so little evidence to support these relationships, it seemed best to include as much as we could find. The sheer volume of the data does suggest that some sort of fraternal relationship must exist. Further study of this material will be required before any satisfactory results can be obtained. Meanwhile, we can only hope that new pieces of evidence may come before us.