Dr. William Snelling

From page 171 of The Magazine of History, with Notes and Queries, Volumes 7-8 "The Armorial Families of New England."

William Snelling came from Chaddlewood, in Devonshire, to Boston, Mass., as early as 1647. He was the fourth son of Thomas Snelling, Esq., of Chaddlewood, Plympton St. Mary, Co. Devon, and Joan his wife. He m. in Boston, July 5, 1648, Margaret Stagge. He removed to Newbury, Mass., but returned to Boston before Feb. 2, 1653-4. In his will, dated at Boston in 1674 he styles himself "youngest sonn of the late Thomas Snelling of Chaddenwood in Plimton mary in the County of Devon." He d. in Nov., 1674.

His wife, Margaret, d. June 18, 1667, a. 46 years.

His family arms are: " Argent, three griffins' heads, erased gules, a chief indented ermine."

Issue:

• 1. William, b. June 24, 1649; physician; m. Margaret, daughter of William Rogers [SIC: widow of William Rogers]; d. in 1677-8.
• 2. Anne, b. March 2, 1652.
• 3. Anne 2d, b. in Boston, May 7, 1654; was living May 7, 1674.

biography

From [age 342-343 of The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 52. July 1898.

• AN ACCOUNT OF DOCTOR WILLIAM SNELLING, WHO CAME
• TO NEW ENGLAND IN 1647; ALSO OF HIS NEPHEW
• JOHN SNELLING, WHO PROBABLY ACCOMPA-
• NIED HIM; WITH A BRIEF NOTICE OF SOME
• OF THE LATTER'S DESCENDANTS.
• By Rev. Samuel Snelling, of Whitemarsh, Pa.

The pedigree of the family of Snelling, of Chaddlewood, Plympton St. Mary, goes back to 1529, the date of the first heraldic visitation; and their arms are thus recorded: "Argent, three griffins' heads erased gules and a chief ermine."* In the Book of the Visitation of Devonshire in 1620, the name of the fourth son of Thomas Snelling, Esq., of Chaddlewood, Plympton St. Mary, in the County of Devon; and Johan (daughter and heiress of Thomas Elford, Esq., of Bridge House) is given as William.

This William Snelling was a fine classical scholar, and a physician of the best education possible at that time. He came to America early in 1647, and settled in Newbury, Mass. Our first notice of him is the record of his marriage, which reads as follows: "5 July, 1648, was maryed at Boston William ye fourth son of Thomas Snelling, Esquire, & Johan his wife dwelling at Chaddlewood in Plympton Mary in Devon; & Margaret, eldest daughter of Gyles Stagge, gent, & Anne, his wife, dwelling at Southwarke in Barnaby Street at the sign of the Christopher." (Newbury Town Records. Book I.) As the name of Stagge does not appear in any list of early settlers, it is quite possible that this Margaret was the daughter of Capt. Stagge, who commanded a London ship of 24 guns, which came to Boston to announce the overthrow of the royal government, and proclaim the Parliament. Shortly after his arrival in Newbury, Dr. Snelling purchased an estate which he afterwards sold to Tristram Coffin. In September, 1651, we find the following court record: "This is to certify that we the subscribers being called to testify against William Snelling for words by him uttered, affirm that being in way of merry discourse, a health being drank to all friends, he answered:—

• "I'll pledge my friends, and for my foes;
• A plague upon their heels, and a poxe for their toes."
• Since when he hath affirmed that he only intended the proverb used in the
• West Country, nor do we believe that he intended otherwise.
• William Thomas,
• Thomas Milward."

"Mar. 12, 1651. All which I acknowledge, and am sorry I did not express my intent, or that I was so weak as to use be foolish a proverb. Guilielmus Snelling." Nevertheless it is recorded that " William Snelling on his presentment for Cursing is fined 10 shillings & the fees of Court."

In spite of this offence in the eyes of strait-laced Puritanism, Dr. Snelling was held in high esteem by his fellow-townsmen. Of this we have evidence in a letter from the Rev. John Wilson to John Winthrop, Jr., written on the 2rt. of the 12"1 mo. 1653: ”"Honoured Sir, Having some hint that Master William Snelling, late of Newbury, now sojourning in Boston & practising in our parts, with very good reputation, is desired by some judicious ones in your parts, that desire to promote the common good there; I could do no lesse, then, out of my owne good experience of him in that kind, & my love to that end of the country than to encourage the motion thus far, that I believe that he is an able & experienced physition, well studied or versed both in the theory and practise, and that he may be very useful where there is need, both in preventing & curing of diseases of all sorts, the Lord vouchsafeing to go along with his blessing; & if his advise & help were added to your owne in cases of difficulty, it would be a singular priviledge to the country." ( Winthrop Papers, Series 4. Vol. vii. Mass. Hist. Coll.) On the invitation of Mr. Winthrop, Dr. Snelling removed to Boston in 1654. The writer has in his possession a very old copy of a deed, which bore the seal with the family arms, wherein "William Snelling, gent." sells to Tristram Coffin of Salisbury "a house & laud situate & being in Newburie in the County of Essex in New England: with a free-hould thereunto belonging." This deed was signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of two witnesses before Deputy Gov. Richard Bellingham, who attached his signature to the document with these words: "William Snelling & Margaret his wife did acknowledge this deed before me, and the said Margaret did voluntarily & freely give her consent to the sale of the premises in this deed mentioned being examined by me this 22 10th mo. 1655. Ri. Bellingham, Dep. Govor."

On his removal to Boston, Dr. Snelilng purchased an estate on the north corner of Winter street, consisting of a house and gardens with an orchard. Not long afterwards he sold this estate and bought another in Charter street,—two houses which he made one large building, by connecting them by a sort of Gothic cloister. This structure, which stood in the midst of extensive grounds, was torn down in 1750, or thereabouts. Dr. Snelling was employed as the town physician, and frequent reference to him is made in the early records of Boston. For example: "April 25, 1660. It is ordered that the Treasurer shall pay Mr. Snelling fifty four shillings for physick administered to Robert Higgins." His name also appears as a witness to several wills. Among his chief friends were Nathaniel Wales and Edward Rawson. The latter, who was Secretary of the Colony for 36 years, the Doctor made his executor, and mentioned in his will as " my faithful & loving kinsman, Mr. Edward Rawson."

Dr. Snelling's wife Margaret, who was greatly beloved and respected, died on the 18th of June, 1667. And among the earliest inscriptions in Whitmore's Copp's Hill Epitaph is one that reads as follows:”

" Margaret, ye wife of William Snelling, aged 46 years, deceased the 18 day of June 1667."

Two children survived her; William, born 24 June, 1649, and Anne, born 7 May, 1654.

William adopted his father's profession, and became a physician. He married Margaret, widow of William Rogers, by whom he had one child, a daughter. He died, together with his wife and child, in the terrible visitation of smallpox in the winter of 1677-78.

Anne was married to Francis Davenport, whom she survived twenty years, dying in 1697.

On the 7th of May, 1674, Dr. Snelling made his will, which bears his seal with the family arms. This will is valuable not only as affording clear evidence of his descent from an old Devonshire family, but as an expression of his deep religious feeling. "Boston in New England this 7th of May, 1674," it begins.

"In the name of God. Amen. I, William Snelling, ye youngest sonn of the late Thomas Snelling of Chaddlewood in Plimpton Mary in the County of Devon, now of Boston in the County of Suffolk in New England gentleman: being in my ordinary health, blessed of God, but under the sense of the many infirmities of age & stricken in years, yet of good memorie & sound understanding, attending to God's Command & my duty, & desiring to sett my house in order, do therefore in the first place commit, commend, & leave my pretious soule into the hands of my Creator, God, that gave it; & my body to the grave, to be interred by my Executor & executrix of this my last will & testament, as near to my late beloved wife as may be, in hope of a joyful resurrection at the Last Day, amongst the Saints in Glory, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, my Saviour & mighty Redeemer: & after my funeral expenses & such debts as I shall owe if any be paid; I give & bequeath & dispose of that estate the Lord hath given me, & betrusted me with, in manner following: Imprimis, I give & bequeath unto my only son, William Snelling, all my Physick books & Books of Chirurgerie in Latin & English, excepting three or four English books treatises on Physicke, & Recipes, which my daughter, Anne, may desire & choose to enjoy "

After leaving one of his houses to his son, William, together with a clear half of the orchard extending back to the street, Dr. Snelling also bequeaths to him "my silver Seale, as being most proper for him."

To his daughter, Anne, he leaves the other house with various house-hold goods, and the remaining half of the orchard extending back to the street. He also commends her most affectionately to the care of his faithful friends, Mr. Edward Rawson and Rachel his wife (Dr. Snelling's cousin), begging that she will not marry without their consent and approbation.

Dr. Snelling died early in November, 1674. A few days after his decease we find it recorded that "Mr. Edward Rawson & John Maverick appeared before Jno. Leverett esqr. Govor & Edward Tyng esqr. Assist., this 12th of N',r 1674: & made oath that they Being present subscribed their names as witnesses to this lustrum', which Doc'. William Snelling signed, sealed & published to bee his last will & testam'. and that when hee soe Did liee was of a sound Disposing mind to the best of their knowledge. This was done as Attest, ffree Grace Bendall, Recorr."

• " The Visitation of Devonshire, 1620," Ed. Frederic Thomas Colby, B.D., F.S.A., page 266.
• t Coffin's Hist, of Newbury, p. M. Weeden's Economic and Social History of New England. Vol. I., p. 224.

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The eldest brother of Dr. William was John Snelling, Esq, of Chaddlewood. In Foster's Alumni Oxonienses, we find this notice of him: " Snellinge, John, of Devon, gent. Exeter Coll., matric. 3 March 1597-8. Aged 17." In 1604, he married Frances, daughter of Walter Hele, Esq., of Gnaton, in the Parish of Newton Ferrers. (See Polwhele's History of Devonshire, Vol. II., p. 328.)* The Register of the Parish of Plymptou St. Mary tells us that the youngest son of this John Snelling of Chaddlewood and Frances Hele his wife, was named John, and was baptized 17 January, 1624-25. This is also stated in Lt. Col. Vivian's Amplification of the Visitations of the County of Devon, p. 694. John Snelling of Chaddlewood died Dec. 27, and was buried Dec. 28, 1639, at Plympton St. Mary. (Inq. p. m. 16 Chas. I., pt. I, No. 31.) His youngest son, John, probably came with Dr. William Snelling to America.

The first record of this John Snelling is at Saco, Maine, where his name appears in the list of freemen in 1653. He is also mentioned in Folsoin's History of Saco, page 183. He removed to Boston in 1657, and there married Sarah Sedgwick, by whom he had five children; ...

• Seo also Westcote's Devonshire, in account of the family of Hele of Holbeton.

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From Genealogical Gleanings in England, Volume 2 By Henry Fitz-Gilbert Waters page 1079

Named in the will of Rev Thomas Snelling, vicar of Bridgerule, dated 30 May 1639: "I give unto my brother William Snelling one of my best books such as he shall make choice of. "
John1 Snelling of Plympton, St. Mary, Devon, Eng., d. 8 May, 1529; his son and heir was William1. His grandson Robert' of Chadlewood d. 12 March, 1570, and by wife Nicholas Slanning had Emanuel,4 William* and Robert.4 William4 of Chadlewood m. Jane, dun. of Edmoud Specott of Thornborowe. Their son Thomas,4 bur. 11 Nov., 1644, at Plympton, St. Mary, mar. Joanc Elford, and had John,* Thomas,6 Emanuel6, William,6 Jane,' Wethian,6 Mary,* Joane,6 Dorothy,' Florence.' John6 m. Frances, clau. of Walter Hele of Gnatou, and had, among other daughters, Frances,7 bapt. 10 March, 1610; bur. 7 Oct., 1G55, at Plympton, St. Mary. Her will is given above. Her uncle William6 came to Newbury and was a physician; on 13 Oct., 1654, he purchased a house, garden and orchard in Boston. His wife was Margery, eldest dau. of Giles Stagg of Southwark, whom he mar. 5 July, 1648. Their children were William,7 b. 24 June, 1649; Ann,7 b. 2 March, 1652, d. young; Ann,7 b. 7 May, 1654. The wife d. 18 June, 1667, age 46, and is buried in Copps" Hill.
There has also been credited to Dr. William* a brother Joseph, who nowhere appears in the English pedigree. Other wills of this family would show beyond question whether the identity of the father of Dr. William' is as given above.

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• Updated from Ancestry Genealogy via son William Snelling by SmartCopy: Dec 14 2015, 0:08:12 UTC
• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via wife Margery Snelling (born Stagg) by SmartCopy: Dec 14 2015, 0:18:40 UTC
• Roberts, Gary Boyd. The Royal Descents of 600 Immigrants to the American Colonies or the United States: Who Were Themselves Notable or Left Descendants Notable in American History : with a 2008 Addendum, Coda, and Final Addition. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co, 2008.
• The visitation of the county of Devon in the year 1620 by Colby, Frederic Thomas, 1827-1899 page 266