Joseph Snowden (son of William Sr. Snowden and Abigail Woolley) was born Abt. 1725 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and died 1799 in Brooke County, West Virginia. He married Sarah L. Hamlin on Abt. 1754 in New Jersey.
Notes for Joseph Snowden: Joseph Snowden Sr., son of William Snowden and Abigail Wooly Snowden, was born between 1725-1730 in Perth Amboy N.J., and died sometime shortly, in 1799, after the writing of his will August 3, 1799. His will was filed in what was then Brooke County, VA, which is now present day Wellsburg, Brooke County, West VA. The probate date is not given; however, the document is found in a will book with court documents in chronological sequence, so one might assume that it was submitted for probate in 1799. His wife Sarah Snowden, born 1725 in New Jersey, died after 1799. Joseph Sr. and Sarah Snowden were married about 1754 in New Jersey. Sarah Snowden's maiden name is unknown. Sarah was alive in 1795 when she signed a deed, in Washington County,PA. ( Deed book 1L, pg. 136) Sarah died sometime between 1795 and 1799, most likely. Family tradition indicates that they were buried in the Fairview Cemetery, although no stones can be found. Those children recognized in his will are listed below.
David was firstborn, Sarah, Joseph Jr., William, John, Rachel
Joseph's Records of Land Holdings While Joseph Snowden is first positively identified as a landowner in Washington County, PA in 1778, he lived with his family in New Jersey prior to coming to Western Pennsylvania. His oldest son, David, in his Revolutionary War pension papers so stated. David, who moved from Washington Co. PA, to Estill, KY, appeared there in open court August 20, 1832 and under oath signed a deposition saying "that he was born in N.J. near Amboy in 1759, about when he was three years old, his father Joseph, moved to the Western Part of PA and when the Revolutionary War commenced he was residing with his father, and mother, in what is now the county of Washington, PA.(Taken from his pension paper, Pension Papers, Cert. #W9308, Nat'l Archives Record Center) This puts Joseph in N. J. near Amboy in 1759, and puts Joseph, Sarah, and David, in Washington Co. Pa in 1762 when they moved there when David was three, and puts Joseph Sarah and David in Washington co., PA when the revolutionary war commenced, and again in Washington, Co, in 1778.
Prior to the Revolutionary War Prior to the Revolutionary War, early territorial disputes developed between the colonies of Virginia and Pennsylvania over ownership of the western lands lying beyond the Alleghenies and extending to the Ohio River. Conditions grew so chaotic that between 1776 and 1780 the settlers circulated petitions and sent them to the Continental Congress, asking that a new state be established out of this land. The names David, William, sons of Joseph Snowden Sr., and Joseph Jr. Snowden are found on these documents. Joseph is found in three places on the petition, likely representing both himself, and his son Joseph Jr. The Snowden family chose to settle on part of this disputed territory.The early Yohogania Co, VA, records show Joseph Snowden was farming in that county by March 25, 1778, when he asked that his cattle mark (brand) be recorded, " a crop and a slit in the left ear and an upper and lower cut in the right ear." One year later, on March 23, 1779, he was appointed by the Yohogania Court along with James Bradford and Thomas Edginton " to view a road the nearest and best way from Catfishes Camp (Washington County, PA), to Pentecost's Mills and make a return to the next court." By 1781 the states boundaries had been settled, and Joseph and David were on the Supply Tax list for Stranbane Twp. Washington, County, PA. Joseph Snowden taxed on 70 acres, 1 horse, 4 cattle, 4 sheep. David Snowden, taxed on 70 acres, 2 horses, 2 cattle, 2 sheep. (PA Archives, Series III, vol.22, pg. 781) There is no conclusive evidence when or whe either ovtained the 70 acres on which each was taxed in 1781, there is conclusive evidence of land ownership 1783. In Washington Co. PA, (Deed Book l B2, pg. 268), Joseph Snowden sold on July 18 to Charles Dodd, " for the consideration of Twenty-four pounds Pennsylvania currency. twelve acres of land lying in the head of a hollow between Joseph Snowden's dwelling place and David Hoges line."
More land holdings records of Joseph and Sarah On Sept. 3, 1788, John Dodd, Tavern keeper and his wife Mary of Washington Co. PA, sold to Joseph Snoden (Snowden) Senr (SR.) X his mark, yeoman (farmer) of Washington Co. PA, for forty pounds Pennsylvania money a tract of land situated near the town of Washington whereon the said Snowden now lives. containing 305 acres twenty perches, called Prulir. (Deed Book, ID, pg. 242, Washington County, PA) Joseph and his wife Sarah, in three parcels, later sold this land. The last piece was sold on April 23,1795 to David Moreton for 145 pounds: "Joseph Snowden and Sarah his wife of Canton Twp...(sold) a parcel of land lying and being near the town of Washington on the waters of Chartiers Creek whereon David Snowden, first born of Joseph and Sarah, lived, the same being a tract of land granted by the Commonwealth of PA, to John Dodd.conveyed to Joseph Snowden, on December 13,1788. This last deed, signed by Joseph and Sarah Snowden, in 1795, has interlined witnesses in a different ink, which appear to have been inserted at another time: Issac Leet, William Snowden son of Joseph and Sarah, Ann Snowden (Williams wife), and Rachel Snowden (Williams' sister, daughter of Joseph and Sarah). This deed was not recorded until Jan. 17,1818. The interlined witnesses may have been considered necessary because the deed was not recorded until some 23 years after the sale, ( Deed Book 2 B, page 495, Washington Co. PA.) Sometime after this last sale (1795/96) Joseph and Sarah moved to the northern section of what was then Brooke County, VA, now Hancock County., W VA. On 3 August, 1799, Joseph wrote his will, which is on file in Wellsburg, Brooke Co., W. VA. Josephs Snowden Sr.'s Will "I do freely give to my beloved wife one hundred dollars and a cowe (cow) I do give to my son William one hundred dollars and my mare and my tules(tools) I do give my Son John one hundred dollara and the colte I do give my daughter Sarah fifty dollars I do give my daughter Rachel fifty dollars My sons David and Joseph have had their part in my lifetime and if they do get the three hundred acres of land and one hundred pounds of Sheppard hands that is to be divided amonst (amongst) them all equal. I do apoint (appoint) Henry Pittinger Senr (SR) and James Bruce to see it setlad (settled) it amonst (amongst) my children.
Joseph Snodon(Snowden) Senr (SR) his X mark August the 3 day of 1799
(*The mention of Sheppard may refer to Col. David Sheppard, who from time to time raised companies of militia men in Washington Co. PA, ith the promise of later payment in money and land) The above will, the probate date is not given; however, the document is found in a will book with court documents in chronological sequence, so that one might assume that it was submitted for probate in 1799. Joseph Snowden, Sr., died shortly after the writing of the will.
More About Joseph Snowden: Date born 2: Abt. 1725
More About Joseph Snowden and Sarah L. Hamlin: Marriage: Abt. 1754, New Jersey.
Children of Joseph Snowden and Sarah L. Hamlin are:
+David Snowden, b. 1758, Perth Amboy, New Jersey, d. February 06, 1839, Estil Hill, Kentucky.
Joseph Snowden (b. Abt. 1725, d. 1799)
Notes for Joseph Snowden: