Person:Sarah Snellings (1)

From Beverly Roberts, "1 BIO:Sarah Snelling was married Nov 2 1841 in Morgan Co Ga according to the Wozencraft Family History. The 1850 census of Clarke Co lists her at age 24 which gives us a birthdate of 1826, making her 15 at marriage. From the diary of her husband James Lawrence in 1866, she became ill in Sept 1865 & lingered for 9 months. Her youngest child Robert Lee would have been 3 years old at the time of her death. She was apparently living near or with some of her family in Rehobothville, Morgan Co at the time of death as JL mentions receiving word from H I Snelling on June 26th & responded to H D Snelling in Madison, Morgan Co on the same date. JL received notification of Sarah's death from Sarah Jane on July 4 1866 in Rome Ga.; so perhaps her sister in law was living with them. JL received a letter from MB Snelling on August 8th perhaps hand carried by Williams from Madison,Morgan Co & responded on August 20th. We think JL & Sarah were married in Morgan Co, we do not know where the first 7 children were born but James Wm was born in Atlanta in 1858, the family of 9 children were living in Dalton Ga in 1860 according to the census & John Beverly was born there in Dec 1860 but by 1863 they were back in Morgan Co because that is where Robert Lee was born. If she was born in 1826 she was 40 at the time of her death & had born 11 children at approximately every 2 years. In the Morgan Co census' we find further information on her family: In the 1870 census taken in Madison on 5 July by Leroy M Willson we find on page 121, dwelling 973, a Diannah Snellings age 47 born Ga, living with Diannah M Wozencraft age 21 born Ga & John B Wozencraft age 9 born Ga. We know that Sarah's & James' daughter Diana stayed in Morgan Co in 1866 from JL's diary, the ages for Diana & John B are correct. So we may surmise that this Diana is the sister of Sarah. In that same year taken July 4 on page 117, dwelling 935 we see Madison B Snellings listed at age 60, farmer, real estate 1500.00 & personal property 800.00 born Ga, with wife Nancy age 47, children Madison A 18, Fanny M 16, Mary E 15, John A 13 & Antoinett 11 & 3 black laborers. Then in the 1860 census taken in the Wellington District of Madison 21 July page 33 we find a Virginia Snellings age 78 farmer, real estate 300.00,personal property 600.00 born Va living with Dianah age 38 born Ga. So this supports the theory that Dianah is the sister of Sarah but it is not yet proven. We also have the census taken 14 July by CC Harris page 10, dwelling 63, which lists Henry D Snellings age 36 born Ga with wife Cornelia A age 22 born Ga. He seems a more likely age to be the brother of Sarah than Madison B who seems too old for a brother, although not impossible & too young for a father, but possibly okay for an uncle. Henry & Madison are listed in the Morgan Co Marriage Records 1808-1865 & Madison's first marriage was 1838, the 2nd 1853 & Henry's 1859 & a John H Snellings who married Antoinette Dawson in 1855. Sarah was married in 1841 well between 1838 & the 1850's. Further investigation is obviously neces- sary. The names of Madison's children are also suggestive of connec- tions to these various people."