Person:Lawrence Snapp (3)

Acquistion of Land in Dunmore County, VA

Acquisition of Land from Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants 1742-1775, Vol. 2:

• P-92: Laurance Snapp of Frederick County, 406 acres on Funk's Mill Creek in said Co. Surv. Peter Stephens. Adj. Little, Phillip Glass, Stoner, Funk. 18 Dec. 1771. [Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775, Vol. 2, pg. 214].

• P-153: Laurance Snapp of Dunmore County, 234 acres on Funk's Mill Run in said County. Surv. Peter Stephens. Adj. said Snapp, Frederick Stoner, George Dellenger. 26 Sept. 1772. [Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775, Vol. 2, pg. 218].

Will Transcript

Will of Lawrence Snapp

In the name of God, Amen. I, Lawrence Snapp of the County of Frederick, State of Virginia, being sound of memory although in a weak state of health, think it proper to make my last will and Testament, in the following manner.

First, I give to my beloved wife one third of the plantation I now live on, the use of one half the dwelling house, that part on the left hand coming in at the front door, next unto the mill, together with the Negro woman named Hannah, also the saddle she usually makes use of and the choice of beds and furniture thereto belonging.

Second, I order and direct my personal estate, including my Negroes and the one given my wife after her death (and her children if any), be sold for ready money, also my lot of land in Woodstock purchased of William Slaughter, be divided in eleven parts, one part thereof to my wife, and the other remaining ten parts to my ten children, share and share alike.

Item. I give to my son John Snapp and his heirs and assigns forever the tract of land whereon he now lives which I purchased of R. Campbell.

Item. I give and devise to my son Lawrence Snapp his heirs and assigns forever, the tract of land containing 419 acres, some laid off lately by Jacob Rinker and for which I have obtained a deed from the proprietors office excepting 45 acres or thereabouts which is surveyed and returned to the proprietors office but may be obtained for the same occasion by the death of Lord Fairfax.

Item. I give and devise to son Peter Snapp his heirs and assigns forever, a tract of land containing 400 acres being the same whereon the mill stands, lately laid off by Jacob Rinker, Jr., but devise subject to the condition of grinding all the grain his mother shall occasion for herself and for during her natural life toll free.

Item. I give and devise to my son Phillip Snapp and his heirs and assigns forever, a tract of land containing 430 acres as the same as lately laid off by Jacob Rinker and is the same son Phillip now lives on.

Item. I give and devise to my son Joseph Snapp, his heirs and assigns forever one half of a moiety land I purchased of Samuel Vance which moiety contains 200 acres and where said Samuel Vance formerly lived.

Item. I give and devise to my son Abraham Snapp his heirs and assigns forever the other half of moiety of said tract containing 200 acres being that part John Vance formerly lived on.

Item. I give and devise to my son Jacob Snapp and his heirs and assigns forever a tract of land containing 548 acres being same more or less Tract of land of 1791 as lately surveyed by Jacob Rinker being part which dwelling house and subject to the devise before mentioned to my wife.

Item. I give and devise to my daughter Christina, wife of Michael Speagle and to her heirs and assigns 264 acres of land, being one half of moiety of tract I purchased of John Magill, attained in fact of John Gibson and others of the City of Philadelphia and same lately laid off by Jacob Rinker.

Item. I give and devise to my daughter Margaret, wife of Henry Kellar to her heirs and assigns forever the other half as moiety of the last half mentioned tract of land containing 264 acres.

Item. I give and devise to my daughter Susannah Snapp and to her heirs and assigns forever 413 acres of land purchased of William Wadlington 190 acres part thereof now in possession of John Buck and for the recovery of which I have now brought an ejectment in the Court of Shenandoah and in case same should not be determined in my favor then I give out of my personal estate before same is divided to my said daughter Susannah the sum of 100 pounds specie in lieu thereof and do direct that prosecution of suit be supported out of my personal estate.

Item. I do direct in case any of my children should die before they come of age and unmarried their part of my estate shall to and pass to the survivors of them and their heirs and assigns forever.

I appoint my son John Snapp and my son-in-law Michael Speagle executors, giving to each 25 pounds for their trouble and expense.

5 April 1782

(signed) Lorentz Schnepp

Witnesses: John Crookshanks [signed in German], George Kellar, Matthew Zipering

[Shenandoah County, Virginia will Book A, 1772-1784, p. 420]

Information on Lawrence Snapp

[Snapp.FBK,fbc.FTW]

Notes for LAWRENCE SNAPP: Lawrence Snapp came to Pennsylvania in 1733 on the ship Samuel out of Rotterdam. He was 10 years old at that time. Shortly thereafter he moved with his parents to the Opequon settlement of Jost Hite in northern Virginia near present day Stephens City. About 1745 he married Margaret Stephens (there is no proof that Margaret was a Stephens or a Gaines, but it should be noted that family tradition of one branch of the Snapp family indicates she was a Gaines. Evidence seems to indicate that Margaret is the daughter of Peter Stephens however. The Snapp and Stephens families lived in the same neighborhood, they stood as sponsors at baptisms for each others children, they had property dealings and the names of some of the children of Lawrence and Margaret reflect the same names found in the Stephens family. Also it would be highly unusual for the Germans to marry outside of their own group in this generation and Gaines is believed to be an English name). Lawrence purchased or rented a small farm near his father. About 1754 he moved to Strasburg in what is now Shenandoah Co. VA where he became a merchant of general supplies. About 1764 he purchased Jacob Funk's mill on Tumbling Run sometimes known as Snapp's Mill Run (approx. 1 mile west of Strasburg). Shortly thereafter he became an Elder of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and with the creation of Dunmore Co. in 1772 (eventually to become Shenandoah Co.) he was elected a vestryman of Beckford Parish. The stone dwelling which he purchased of the Funk heirs, newly erected by them in 1762, stands today at its original site. The building is mentioned in his will as his dwelling house adjacent to the mill. His business was already moderately successful at the beginning of the Revolution. From 1776 to 1778 he with 3 sons lived and worked in Philadelphia where, according to local history in Shenandoah Co, it is believed they sold supplies to the Continental Army at Valley Forge and New Jersey and may have known Baron Von Steuben. Anyhow, he made large profits. Returning home in 1780 he settled at Tumbling Run and in 1781 he purchased more land in Shenandoah Co. and let his sons run his store in Strasburg. He died May 1782 at Tumbling Run. A large part of this Snapp farm at Tumbling Run later became the site of the battle of Fisher's Hill in the Civil War.

Land records for Lawrence Snapp: 400 acres, no warrant, surveyed 7 May 1750 on West Run where on he now lives (house drawn on plat) adj. Jacob Crisman, surveyed by John Baylis. Patent granted July 1750.

May 3, 1760 Lawrence Snapp buys of Lewis Stephens for 10 lb. three Lots: Lot No. 16, containing 1/2 A;, Lots No. 68, and No 97, of 5 A each; all in the town of Stephensburg. Lot 16 was on Fairfax and German Sts,; lot 68 was on Squirrell Lane; lot 97 was on Rabbit Lane. All were a part of a 424 A tract obtained by Lewis Stephens from Peter Stephens, May 23, 1755; the latter secured the land in a tract of 674 A, patented to him Oct 3, 1734. (my note - Lot No. 16 in Stephensburg was later resold to Lewis Stephens either by Lawrence Snapp, Sr or his son Lawrence Snapp....source, will of Lewis Stephens dated 10 Feb 1797).

406 acres, no warrant, surveyed 4 Aug 1763 on Funks Mill Run, adj Phillip Glass, Stoner & Funk. Surveyed by Peter Stephens. Patent granted 18 December 1771.

234 acres, partial warrant, surveyed 4 Aug 1768 on Funks Mill Run adj. his own land (formerly John Funk's), Frederick Stoner & George Dellinger. Surveyor Peter Stephens. Patent granted 26 Sept 1772.

632 acres, warrant & surveyed 26 Jan 1773 on Tumbling Run a branch of North River Shando near Strasburg, adj. his own 406 acre particle and a 95 acre particle where he lives. Surv. Richard Rigg ...note land records from "Abstracts of Virginia's Northern Neck Warrants & Surveys - Frederick County" and "Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants Vol. II & III".

20 Jan 1775 - Between William Wadlington of Dunmore County to Lawrence Snapp of County aforesaid... Consideration of One Hundred pounds of current money ....Tract of land on the North River of Shannadoah....corner to George Boands (sic).... containing 413 acres of land....signed William Wadlington. Wit. Jona. Clark, Rich'd Campbell, John Clark, Jr. Recorded 23 Jan 1775....Deed Book "B", 1772-1784 Shenandoah Co., VA by Amy Gilreath

2 August 1777, Frederick Co., Virginia Deed Book 17, Page 366. Samuel & Sarah (his wife) Vance, of Frederick Co., Virginia, leases to Lawrence Snapp Sr., of Shenandoah Co., Virginia, for 5 shillings, 400 acres near Cedar Creek...in David Logan's line. Signed Samuel Vance and Sarah Vance, in the presence of no one. the property was released the next day for 1500 pounds.

Wayland, A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia, PP 406-408. In the pastor's study, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Strasburg hangs an old parchment signed by Lord Fairfax, whereby 200 acres of land on the west side of the "North River of Shenandoah" were granted on December 23, 1771, to Hieronomus Baker, Martin Roller, Laurence Snapp, and Henry Felkner, elders of the Lutheran Church and congregation. The records of this church indicate that a building was erected in 1769. this was probably the first church house built by the Lutherans at this place. It is probable that a church building which stood in the vicinity in 1747 and thereabout was the joint property of the Lutherans and the Reformed."

"The German Element of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Wayland, John Walter, BA, Ph.D., Original Research for PH D, published by the author in 1907, Lib Cong. 78/81/233/149.

Lawrence Snapp was patriot of the Revolutionary War (A Captain of the Shenandoah County Militia).

Pension Application to the government of the United States: Burkhart, Henry S.8129 19 Oct 1832, Smyth Co., VA Henry Burkhart, aged 71, declares he was drafted in Shenandoah Co., VA, in June 1781 and placed under Capt. Laurence Snappe. He was marched to headquarters by Lt. John Neil, the captain not attending the place of rendezvous. They joined the encampment of Headquarters at Drinking Spring above Williamsburg and were placed under Capt. Thomas Marshall.... 19 Oct. 1832, Smyth Co., VA John Mosser, aged 74, declares Henry Burkhart has been his neighbor for forty years. They were Drafted at the same time and served in the same regiment. Henry Burkhart of Smyth Co., VA., private in the company of Capt. Snappe in the regiment of Col Campbell in the Virginia line for eight months, was placed on the Virginia pension roll at $26.66 per annum under the Act of 1832. Certificate 16168 was issued 13 July 1833. Arrears of pension to 11 Dec. 1838, the day of his death was paid to the children of Henry Burkhart. (note this may be Lawrence, Sr's son Lawrence, Jr.)

April 5, 1782, Lawrence Snapp made his will and signed it in German. It was proved Thursday, June 27, 1872. See Will Book A, Shenandoah County, Virginia.

At the time of his death it appears Lawrence Snapp owned 3403 acres of land. The number of acres each child received is mentioned in the will except for the oldest son, John, who received "the tract of land whereon he now lives". This tract is believed to contain 265 acres.

More About LAWRENCE SNAPP: Naturalization: November 05, 1746

Lawrnece Snapp Sr., was a vestryman in tehLutheran Church and became a large landowner. Durring the Revolution, he was a patriot who provided material aid for General George Washington's Army, and at least three of his sons served as commissioned officers.

The last Will & Testament of Lawrence Snapp, Dec'd was Proved by the

oaths of John Crookshanks, George Keller & Mathias Zairing & ordered

to be recorded...sworn to be John Snapp & Michael Speagel Exors.

Therein named...George Keller, George Huddle & Lawrence Snapp-

Securities... Source: Court records of Shenandoah County, Virginia

Lawrence Snapp and his wife, Margaret Stephens, were very early settlers of Shenandoah Co., VA. They were married about 1745 in Frederick Co., VA. He was a patriot in the Revolutionary War - being a Captain in the Shenandoah County Militia. He was the s/o Johannes Schnepp whose will can be found in Will Book 3, page 35 and dated Nov. 30, 1761 in Frederick Co., VA. The Schnephs were from Alsace, Germany. Due to their early arrival in this area, it is easy to see that this family had many early connections to other families of the area. Descendants of this family married into the Baker (Becker), Speagle (Spiggle), Hockman, Wendle, and Keller families. For a very detailed record of the Snapp family, see From the Rhine to the Shenandoah, Volume I, page 150 by Daniel Bly.

1.   Lawrence Snapp, in Linn (editor), John Blair; William Henry Egle (editor); Pennsylvania General Assembly; and Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania archives. Second series: printed under direction of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: E.K. Meyers, 1876-1890, 1896)
   Volume XVII / p.81.

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