Notebook:Samuel Snoddy of Hunting Creek, Iredell County, NC

On January 30, 1748, in London Britain Township, Chester County, PA, Samuel Snoddy witnessed the will of William McCollock/ McColloch, and on March 14, 1748, testified to the will. In 1749 and 1751, a Samuel Snoddy was on the tax lists for the same township and county stated above; paying “2 shillings, 3 pence” in 1749, and “2 shillings, 6 pence” in 1751. These dates are consistent with Stutesman 1748 immigration date.

The earliest direct record for Samuel Snoddy in North Carolina is a petition from settlers to the King of England and the Earl of Granville, dated 1759. Other signers were William Morrison and John Ireland, who were granted land in the Elk Creek area in 1751. The next record of Samuel is his 1764 bounty claim of four wolf scalps on the Rowan County court.

Samuel’s son, John, states in his Revolutionary War pension application, that he was born February 23, 1758, in Rowan County, NC, indicating that Samuel was in North Carolina before that date. He is listed on the "Taxables for the District of Fort Dobbs", October 18, 1768 of Rowan County. On April 16, 1755, John Snoddy purchased 205 acres in Anson County, North Carolina "...on the east side of Caudle [Coddle] Creek..." which today lies in Cabarrus County. Samuel settled on Elk Shoals Creek, which today lies in Alexander County.

John died by July 20, 1758, when "An Inventory of the Goods and Chattels of John Snoddy, deceased" was reported to the Anson County Court by "Agness Snoddy", administratrix of his estate. The listing included 6 horses, 16 cattle, several of which were farm-trained oxen, 15 hogs, and some farm equipment. This is evidence that John Snoddy was a well-established, successful farmer, but his life on Coddle Creek had been brief.

In August 1759, "James Neil" made bond in Rowan County Court for his marriage to "Ann Snoddy". "Ann Snoddy" appears to be a transcription error for "Agnes Snoddy" as in August 1793, "Agnes Neill" names in her will, "Son Andrew Snoddy."

John and Agnes had two sons that are documented; John, Jr. and Andrew. Andrew was born circa 1755-59, and was still a minor when his elder brother, John Jr. made his will in February of 1775. In his will, John states: "I give to my brother Andrew Snoddy all my Estate provided he lives to the age of Maturity. But in case he Dies a Minor and without legitimate Issue I allow My Cousin John Snoddy the sum of Ten Pounds. And I do Constitute the said Andrew under the Guardianship of my Uncle Samuel Snoddy and of Joseph Steel." This statement establishes that John Snoddy and Samuel Snoddy were brothers.

In April 1781, John’s son, Andrew became the Adjutant of the First Regiment of South Carolina State Troops under the command of Lt. Colonel Wade Hampton. After the war he returned to North Carolina and in January 1786, he signed a security bond in Rowan County for the marriage of his half-sister, Elizabeth Neill. He then shifted west, stopping first in the Nashborough settlements, then continuing into Louisiana where the 1810 Federal Census counted him in Rapides Parish on the Red River. In 1819, his half-brother, James "Nail [Neil]" swore in Butler County, Kentucky, court that "Andrew Snoddy died near Natchitoches Pecan Point." Pecan Point was one of the principal early settlements on the Red River in the Arkansas Territory north of Louisiana.

It is possible that other of Samuel’s children were born in North Carolina, but the first documented proof we have is that of his fifth child, John, stating in his Indiana revolutionary war pension application, that he was born in Rowan County on February 23, 1758. All the other children born prior to 1758 were either born wherever the family landed in America (probably Pennsylvania) or while the family was migrating into the North Carolina frontier.

The family was in North Carolina in 1759. William would have been 10 years old, Eleanor-8, Sarah-6, Elizabeth-4, Margaret-3, John-1, and Fergus was only born in October of 1759. Traveling through the wilderness frontier of hostile Indians with five small children and a pregnant wife would have been very challenging. These children were raised on a farm in what is now the southeast corner of Alexander County. At the time of Margaret’s birth in 1756, the Cherokees were burning out the settlers on this frontier. Fort Dobbs was the center of protection and resistance for the pioneers. It was constructed in 1756, about three miles north of the Fourth Creek Settlement, and a short distance south of the South Fork of the Yadkin River.

By 1764, Samuel had seven children: (1) William, (2) Eleanor, (3) Sarah, (4) Elizabeth, (5) Margaret, (6) John, and (7) Fergus, [four other children were born prior to 1768]: (8) Mary, (9) Agnes/Nancy, (10) Martha Sloan, (11) Samuel Jr., and (12) Thomas.

On July 22, 1768, Samuel (age 48) and his son, William (age 19), were listed in the Rowan County, North Carolina, tax table in Captain Purviance’s district [one of Purviance’s sons, John, was later to marry Samuel Snoddy`s daughter, Martha, in 1791]. Between 1771 and 1779, William served in the North Carolina state militia during the "War of Regulation". He is listed on the payroll for a company of state militia in Captain William Morrison’s district, which served under General Hugh Waddell.

On February 11, 1775, Samuel was appointed one of the commissioners to lay off a road from the provincial road at Morrison's Mill to the Lime Kilns on the Cattaba River. On February 21, 1775, Samuel's daughter, Sarah (age 22), married Andrew Mitchell in Rowan County, NC. Sarah took the place of her sister (Margaret) who eloped with Joseph McCorkle after a license was issued for Margaret to marry Andrew Mitchell. This was a scandalous happening for the strict Presbyterian ideals of 1775.

In 1778, Samuel's son, John (age 20) married Agnes Niblock in North Carolina. Around 1780, John migrated to Kentucky and in June of 1787, John and Agnes were admitted to the Walnut Hill Presbyterian Church near Lexington, Kentucky (Fayette County). Agnes died between 1792 and 1795, leaving John with six young children. He moved to Bourbon County circa 1795 and on February 22, 1796, John married Nancy Neel/McNeel. He remained there until circa 1829-30 since he was in the 1800 census and land records show he purchased 133 acres on Rockbridge Creek on April 16, 1803. At this time, he moved to Owen County, Indiana and bought 60 acres in Wayne township, near Gosport. He is listed in the 1830 census and died there on March 22, 1843.

In Wilkes County, North Carolina on March 4, 1778, William Snoddy, Sr. (at age 29) entered 300 acres on the north side of the Yadkin River. On May 6, 1778, Samuel was appointed a "justice". "In November 1778, William was a chain-bearer on a survey of land in Wilkes County for his brother-in-law, Joseph McCorkle." On February 5, 1779, he entered 300 additional acres on Blue Ridge, near the head of the Buffalo and Elk Rivers. On May 6, 1779, he was appointed overseer of a road "from Kerr’s bridge on 3rd Creek through Captain Purviance's district, along with Matt Troy, Joseph Steel and James Brandon."

On March 1, 1780, he received a North Carolina land grant (No. 138) of 195 acres in Wilkes County (text of grant shown below). "In 1783, William was granted a tract of land in what is now Tennessee under the regulations for laying off the land granted to the Continental Line. Although no service record has survived, it can be properly presumed that William, about thirty years old, marched in the infantry regiments of that ‘line’ which held the central strength of the army of General Washington."

"In 1782, William sold the above land to General William Lenoir", a Revolutionary War hero. This land now lies in Caldwell County near the town of Lenoir. "William Lenoir lived in the log cabin presumably built by William Snoddy called "Old House Hill." In Lenoir’s papers of 1798, he describes the house as "an old log house about 17 by 22, shingle roof, a small kitchen, and smokehouse, both of logs, a tobacco pen and stable" and in 1813 described as "a dwelling house for the miller of logs with shingle roof and stone chimney."

On September 26, 1782, at age 33, William, Sr. married Margrite McNeely [daughter of ?David McNeely] in Rowan County, NC. Several researchers of the Snoddy family believe that William could have had an earlier marriage, but no proof has been found to date.

On the same date, William sold his land in Wilkes County to Elijah Isaacs for 500 pounds. This land record states that William was from Washington County, NC.

On January 30, 1784, William, Sr. received a North Carolina land grant for 640 acres in Davidson County, Tennessee. In August of 1784 he was still in North Carolina, but by 1787 had migrated to Sumner County and is listed in the Sumner County, Tennessee tax records for that year.

At age 67, Samuel Snoddy must have been in poor health because on May 9, 1794, he signed his will "with a clear but slightly scraggy ‘Sam’l Snoddy’." "The patriarch would not die as soon as he had expected because the 1800 census counted him in Iredell County with a wife and nine slaves. In 1803 he transferred to his son, Thomas, the title to the 600 acres on Elk Shoals Creek, where he had been living since his settlement in North Carolina."

On August 16, 1806, Samuel’s son, Thomas (executor), made an "inventory of the goods and chattles of Samuel Snoddy, deceased. The inventory is as follows: "one negro girl, two beds and furniture, one dozzen of cups and saucers, two coffee pots, two pots, one oven, one skillet, half dozen knives and forks, one pot rack, half dozen chairs, one table of cherry and one of pine, one chest, two bedsteads, one large Bible, the works of John Flavel, one confession of faith, some pamphlets, three head of cattle, one little wheel, one big wheel, half dozzen of plates, one large dish, and some tin ware, one candlestick.." "All other property devised in the will was conveyed by the Testator subsequent to the signing sealing and publication of his will and before his decrease." "The Court Minutes of Iredell County are missing for the years 1806-1807, which means that there is no record of formal probate of his will. It is quite reasonable to place the date of Samuel’s death in 1806 in view of the inventory of his estate in mid-August of that year." Samuel’s widow, Elizabeth, survived for nine more years. She probably lived with her widowed daughter, Sarah Mitchell since on December 16, 1815, Elizabeth made her will and left all her property to Sarah. In August 1828, "Andrew Mitchell of Lawrence County, Alabama" sold the land in Iredell County, North Carolina which had been "originally granted to Andrew Mitchell, deceased, and willed to Samuel Mitchell, late deceased, and myself." "That sale of the old homestead suggests, but does not prove, that Sarah Snoddy Mitchell had died."

On February 10, 1822 Thomas Snoddy (son of Samuel) sold 701 acres in NC to ? Alexander for $2100. (This was part of the state grant to Samuel and part of a grant from Earl Granville to Andrew Morrison in 1762.) Information from Heritage Book of Iredell County, North Carolina - Volume II, page 131. Item #136 - "Some Descendants of Allen Ulysses Alexander and Nancy Murdock". Their son James Leander Alexander, married Jenny Lewis and one of their son's, John Ivey Quinton Alexander, inherited the Samuel Snoddy place. "John Ivey Quinton Alexander was given the old Samuel Snoddy place which was at the crossroads of the present county line and Sharon School Road." [The land is in both Iredell and Alexander counties.]

"Many stories abound about the Snoddy house. A brick, dated 1751, was discovered by relatives who were repairing the old chimney. Legend indicates that it was built on the plan of a ship, and that was the reason one had to walk out on the porch to get to the kitchen. Whether the legend is true or not, it is a true tragedy that this structure no longer stands. One of the most commanding views can be seen from this old homestead. On a clear day you can see Grandfather Mountain."

George Erskine Alexander's widow, Ruth, and their son, Richard, still live on the property. The old chimney was eventually taken to the Lewis Alexander farm, formerly the Festus Alexander place, to cover a smoke house." [This information from the Heritage Book of Iredell County, article written by Jerry Lynn Dagenhart.]

William Snoddy, Sr. served in the state militia as a lieutenant and is mentioned in The Draper Papers which describes an Indian raid by the Indian Chief Doubletree. By 1787, William and Margrite had migrated to Sumner County, Tennessee and four more children were born there. Margrite died between 1799 and 1801 since in October of 1801, at age 52, William married Betsy Orr in Sumner County, Tennessee. Betsy Orr Snoddy petitioned for a divorce on July 28, 1803. The divorce request was dismissed by the presiding judge, Andrew Jackson. The divorce proceedings state that Betsy was "delivered of a child", but no child of the appropriate age is ever mentioned either in later wills or census records. When William, Sr. died in April 1812, he listed only his children - no wife.

On July 7, 1812, three months after his father's death, William, Jr. married Elizabeth Alexander, the daughter of Matthew Alexander, also of Sumner County, Tennessee. William and Elizabeth’s daughter, Elizabeth Margaret, was born about 1814. William's wife either died in childbirth or within the next two years since William married Sally Withers on Sept 27, 1817 in Sumner County. In March of 1818 he purchased land on the Elk River in Lincoln County.

The next record of William is also in Lincoln County, Tennessee, where on July 20, 1818, he signed legal papers. On November 2, 1818, he deeded property in Lincoln County to his brother, David. From Lincoln County he migrated to Lauderdale County, Alabama, where on July 27, 1820, he married Elizabeth Mumford Fuqua, the daughter of landowner Archibald Fuqua. They had three boys (William Giles born and died: 1822; Thomas Archie b: 1823; and David b: 1824). On February 28, 1821, William purchased land from George Coalter in Lauderdale County. On May 22, 1822, he was commissioned into the Alabama state militia (1st Division, 2nd Brigade, 10th Regiment) from Franklin County, Alabama. On December 21, 1824, he deeded 13 acres in Lincoln County, Tennessee ["...lying on Vanzant`s Creek on the south side of Elk River"] to his brother, David, and on March 30, 1825, he purchased 348 acres on the Elk River in Lauderdale County, Alabama ["...section 1, township 3, range 7W]. This property is near where the Elk River flows into the Tennessee River. The Girl Scout Camp is located on this property now. William and his brother, Adam, went into business at this time, managing a ferry business, cotton gin, and general store.

William signed his will on April 7, 1825 and it was proven on May 11, 1825 by his brother, Graham, who was living in Lincoln County at that time. William left all his estate to his father-in-law, Archibald Fuqua. In a letter from William Mason Snoddy (grandson of William), dated July 7, 1912, he states, "My mother told me that William Snoddy was called back to Kelso, Tennessee on some business about 1825 and was taken sick and died very soon in a few hours. She told me he was married to a Miss Alexander before he was married to my Grandmother and had one child named Margaret I. Snoddy who left this country with her uncle, an old bachelor, when she was small and went to Texas and married and her husband was killed by the Indians and she married a second time but she did not know what became of her." So, it is assumed that William Snoddy died at Kelso, Tennessee, and that possibly, he is buried at the Old Rocky Point Cemetery (also known as the Snoddy Cemetery). It hasn’t been established as to what happened to William’s daughter by Elizabeth Alexander. (Note of interest: There was an Eliza M. Snoddy who married E. W. Bull on October 2, 1837 in Bexar County, Texas.)

It is also assumed that Adam died at Kelso, Tennessee and is buried at the same cemetery. Adam’s will was executed by his brother-in-law, Edwin Alexander in July of 1825, in Lauderdale County, Alabama.

In 1825, William's sons (Thomas Archie 2 years old and David 1 year old then) were assigned to a guardian, John Donahoo (their Aunt Mary Fuqua's husband). Their mother remarried in 1830 to William T. Smith and left them with John and Mary Donahoo. They were ages six and seven at this time. Later, when Thomas Archie and David were older, they were overseers for members of the Fuqua family; David was overseer for William Fuqua, and Thomas Archie was overseer to John Fuqua. David enlisted in the Confederate army at Unionville in March of 1863, was captured at Chattanooga, Tennessee on November 13, 1863 and sent to a Federal prison at Louisville, Kentucky for five days and then transferred to Camp Morton, Indiana. From there he was sent to City Point, Virginia via Baltimore, Maryland for exchange. He was then sent to the C.S.A. General Hospital in Danville, Virginia, where on March 19, 1865, David died of chronic diarrhea caused by tapeworms due to terrible sanitary conditions.

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Note2

Ancestry Trees

Name: Samuel Snoddy Sex: M Birth: 23 APR 1727 in Larne, Co. ANTRIM, Ireland Death: 1794 in IREDELL Co. NC. Note: 1759 - Samuel Snoddy signed a petition to the King of England, John Earl Granville, Viscount Carteret and Baron Carteret of Hawnes in the county of Bedford, England. 13 Oct 1764 - Record of Samuel Snoddy in North Carolina of his claim of 4 wolf scalps (bounty) on the Rowan County court. "Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, North Carolina (1763-1774)." 22 July 1768 - Samuel and his son, William, listed in the tax table for Rowan Co, NC (p-204). Listed them in Col. Morrison's district. 11 Feb 1775 - Samuel appointed one of the commissioners to lay off a road from the provential road at Morrison's Mill across the three little rivers, three creeks to the Lime Kilns on the Cattaba River. "Abstracts of the Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions", Rowan Co, NC (1775-1789). 5 May 1778 - Samuel Snoddy appointed overseer of road from Kerr's bridge on 3rd Creek through Capt. Purviance's district. 10 Feb 1787 - Samuel Snoddy appointed juror for the next court session, Rowan Co, NC, superior court. 9 Aug 1787 - Samuel Snoddy given Land Grant No. 1531, 600 acres of land on big branch of Elk Shoals Creek, next to John Ireland, Andrew Morrison and Allen Alexander. 4 Oct 1791 - Samuel sold 3 slaves (Primus, Ephraim and Sampson) to his son, Thomas, for 500 pounds. 9 May 1794 - Samuel made his will. Will Book I, page 215, Iredell Co, NC.

Sources: 1. 1997 research of Carol Snoddy Byler, Email: csbyler@@traveller.com subref: book by John Hale Stutesman, 305 Spruce St, San Francisco CA. 94118 [all information] 1244 descendant gedcom on file, Byler has much mor

Marriage 1 ELIZABETH SLOAN b: SEP 1725 in Co. ANTRIM, Ireland Married: 1748 in Ireland or PA. Children

William Snoddy b: 20 APR 1749
Eleanor Snoddy b: 15 DEC 1751 in NC.
Sarah Snoddy b: 15 MAY 1753 in NC
Elizabeth Snoddy b: 1 FEB 1755 in NC
Margaret Snoddy b: 18 AUG 1756 in NC.
John Snoddy , Sr b: 23 FEB 1758 in ROWAN Co. NC.
Fergus Snoddy b: 16 OCT 1759 in NC.
Mary Snoddy b: 11 NOV 1761 in NC.
Agnes (Nancy) Snoddy b: 6 APR 1763 in ROWAN Co. NC.
Martha Sloan Snoddy b: 16 MAR 1766 in ROWAN Co. NC.
Samuel Snoddy , Jr b: 20 MAR 1768 in ROWAN Co. NC.
Thomas Snoddy b: 25 NOV 1772 in ROWAN Co. NC.

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