A Snelson DataBase and Index

John Snelson^1,2

M, #987, Deceased, b. before 18 January 1832, d. 11 November 1924

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John Snelson
born 1832 at Broad Oak, Burton, Wales - Phot at his Golden Wedding in Gulgong ca July 1910
died 1926 at Broad Oak, New South Wales

Family:

Son	Peter Snelson (b. 20 December 1862, d. 22 February 1944)
Daughter	Martha Snelson (b. 25 July 1868, d. 20 December 1868)
Daughter	Martha Snelson (b. 6 June 1876, d. 25 May 1960)

Person References	Fame & Infamy
Last Edited	6 August 2024 17:40:51

Main Events

Biography	John emigrated in 1858 leaving Liverpool on the ship "Switzerland" on 13 January 1858 and, after a voyage of 90 days, arrived in Sydney on 13 April 1858. The "Switzerland" was built in the USA and was under master Daniel Doherty. Both inbound and outbound passenger lists are on microfilm at the Family History Centre in the State Library of New South Wales. John describes himself as a farm labourer of Gresford, Denbigh. The reference to Gresford plus the reference to his place of birth as Burton together made me convinced of our kinship. and that he must in all probability be related to my Gresford ancestors. Alas, after a great deal of research, this has proved not to be the case. Damn ! I am having some trouble with dates. On arrival on 13 April 1858 in Australia he was aged 23 ..... therefore putting his birth date between 14 April 1834 and 13 April 1835. His marriage certificate records that he was 27 on July 4 1860, putting his date of birth between 5 July 1832 and 4 July 1833. Wallace Peter Snelson writes that John was baptised in Pulford, in May 1832, that he came to Australia in 1853 on the "Switzerland" and that he married Martha Cox in 1858. [:TAB:] Some of these dates do not appear to be entirely in agreement with some official documentation. Joan Betty Snelson also writes that John was born in Pulford, Chester or Denbigh in 1832 and that he came to Australia on the "Switzerland", arriving 13 April 1858 aged 23, and that he died aged 93. We know from probate and his will that John died 11 November 1924; this means that if he was 93 when he died, then he must have been born between 12 November 1830 and 11 November 1831 ! To make matters worse, his gravestone ( I've seen it ) reads that he died on 11 November 1926 aged 94 ! Oh dearie me. I now have definite information from the parish records which are shown above against John's prime data. Georgina, my wife, found three graves side by side at Gulgong Cemetery. John's gravestone reads that he died in 1926 putting his date of birth between 12 November 1831 and 11 November 1832. So, if we ignore the arrival records it would appear that a birth date of late 1832 is most likely; this would mean that Wallace's date for baptism is a little early and that the monument inscription is accepted preferably to Joan's record. However, I think that the probate document, being a legal document signed by solicitors maybe is correct - the question that remains is his age when he passed away. The monument inscription giving the year of death as 1926 must be wrong. The Peter Snelson who is buried at Pulford with his wife Elizabeth was aged 42 when he died in May 1836, and his wife was aged 88 when she died in March 1888. This would mean that he was 38 and she 32 when John was born. John recorded in the passenger lists that he was born in Denbigh in the Church of England faith. He could read and write. As I was perusing the passenger lists, one name caught my eye . Martha Cox ! So, it looks like John met Martha on the "Switzerland". I came to this conclusion as the passenger lists record that she was born in Somerset. John's parents are listed as Peter and an illegible name .... at first I thought it said Mary, but this cannot be right. I would have to go and examine the original records to confirm this. He states that he has one relative in New South Wales, his brother Richard. It looks like he landed with £4-0-0 sterling in his pocket. John lived near Singleton until 1872 when he went to the Gulgong gold diggings, and selected a farm which he named "Broad Oak" after his home in Burton, Wales. He may have been living closer to Eurunderee, perhaps at a place called New Pipeclay at the time when his children ( Peter, John and Mary ) were enroled at the school there with Henry Lawson. Evidently, John at one time was a miner on the kaolin deposits - these may be the deposits situated close to Home Rule or those at New Pipeclay. Joan Betty Snelson has a wonderful family photograph album which she showed to me when I visited her and her Aunt Connie ( Skey Snelson ) at her home in Wellington on 2nd October 1989. The album includes a photograph of "Broad Oak" at Gulgong. Tom Saunders found gold on Red Hill where Gulgong now stands at Easter 1870. Following a heavy shower of rain, he came across pieces of gold lying against the roots of grasses bordering a sheep paddock. Half his luck ! Inside a couple of hours he had unearthed 14 ounces of gold. By June 1870, six weeks later, 500 people were on the goldfields. With the discovery of the Canadian Lead in August 1871 and Home Rule in May 1872, by December of that year there were 20,000 miners, families - including John Snelson - and all the service industies and businesses. Described during the "roaring days" as the hub of the world, today Gulgong is an important centre situated 190 miles from Sydney, 18 miles north of Mudgee and 50 miles east of Wellington. With its narrow streets, Gulgong has retained much of its gold rush appearance and atmosphere, but has settled down to become a thriving agricultural and commercial centre. The town and district has a population of 2,200. This is in vast contrast to the position some 120 years ago following the discovery of gold literally lying on the ground by Tom Saunders while he was herding sheep on 14th April 1870. The field has produced to date 600,000 ounces of gold. Assay was about 980 parts per 1000 pure. If a method could be found to control drainage, large amounts of gold could be recovered from deep leads into the basalt. [:TAB:] T.A. Browne ( author Rolf Boldrewood - "Robbery Under Arms" and "For the Term of His Natural Life" {nah ... that was Marcus Clark} .... ) was mining warden in 1871-72. O'Connell Town in his "Miner's Right" is in fact the nearby village of Home Rule. _Browne, the local magistrate, once arranged for another writing celebrity, Anthony Trollope, to visit the town. For the poet Henry Lawson, Gulgong provided the colour and background for many of his famous stories and poems. His parents, Peter Larsen ( sic ) and Louisa Albury moved to New Pipeclay, an old diggings near Mudgee, in 1868. They moved up to the vicinity of the Happy Valley mine near Gulgong in 1871 during the goldrush. So it was that Henry Lawson ( as he became ), met in real life the characters that were so vividly to appear later in his prose and poetry. Who knows, perhaps these characters included the Snelson family who he knew well from his days at Eurunderee School and New Pipeclay. According to the book "Founding Cobar fathers", John was a Welshman and came to Gulgong in 1872 and contracted to build roads and bridges in the Dunedoo, Tambar Springs and Malalle ( Denistone town ) area. His son, Peter was already showing his determination and was in charge of a gang of 40 men by the time he was only 16 years of age. I visited Gulgong as part of a family holiday on Friday 29 September 1989 and made enquiries at two Real Estate Agents - Jack Gillam Real Estate and The Property Shop. Jack Gillam himself remembered Harry Snelson and Martha the Matron at Gulgong Hospital. We found Harry's block on some transfer documents relating to the Ridout landholdings. On the map, H.E. Snelson held block 414. This must be Henry Edward Snelson, son of this John Snelson. I found John's blocks numbered 165, 164 and 154 on the Environs of Gulgong Map DP755433 of the Cudgegong Shire P6502125R, map dated 1965, at the Mudgee Shire Office later that day. These are 3 X 10 acre blocks almost due East of the Cemetery beneath Flirtation Hill. The land is now apparently held by Charles William Williardt c/- "Wonga Lee", Gulgong. The assessment number of the blocks is 3093/1. It may have at one time belonged to a Mr. Ridout. We spoke to Mr. Ridout's nephew on his property next to John Snelson's old place and he suggested we write to his mother Jan Ridout or his Uncle - Fred Ridout - for further information. [:TAB:] According to the letter that I received from John's great granddaughter Joan Betty Snelson, John and Martha had at least eleven children. Joan has also sent to me a copy of a photograph of John taken at his Golden Wedding. He looks like a remarkable fellow, with his long white beard, hat and rifle. Wallace Peter Snelson was at the celebrations at Broad Oak and remembers that it was within a day or two of the World Champion Boxing match between Jack Johnson and Tommy Burns. Wallace recalls that John's brother Richard was in attendance too, and that there was an account of the Golden Wedding celebrations in a local newspaper. There is also a family photograph somewhere taken on the day - I wonder whether Joan has that ? His death is recorded in the Probate microfych in the Family History Centre in the NSW State Library. In his will, John left all his estate to his sons Henry Edward Snelson, Percival Richard Snelson and his daughter Annie Snelson equally, but after payment to his daughter Martha Snelson of 200 pounds sterling. He left Ll897-17s-7d. He made the first three joint executors and signed the will on 3 July 1919, just 6 weeks after his wife Martha died. Probate was granted on 22 January 1925 and the document gives the date of death as 11 November 1924. In January 1995, while driving down the road to Home Rule ... past the Canadian Lead turnover on the right, over the railway line ... I noticed that the dirt road which leads to the kaolin plant ( at the Three Mile Creek junction with Henry Lawson Drive) has been named[BOLD:][ITAL:] Snelson's Lane[:ITAL][:BOLD]. This road carries on past the plant and winds out to several properties. A letter from L. Wallis at the Mudgee Historical Society reveals that the lane had been known by that name for at least 30 years. Mudgee Council erected the sign about two years ago - say in 1993. The letter says that[ITAL:] "it is certain that as Snelsons had property in that area, the lane would lead to it[:ITAL]". Daisy Tuck-Lee from the Mudgee Shire Library rang me on Friday 3rd March 1995 and told my wife that the lane had been named Snelson's Lane for ages. She reported that the Snelsons had property some 3-4 kilometers down the Canadian Lead Road. This had belonged to Harry and Percival Snelson who had passed control over to Fred Ridout ( 063-741414 ). Evidently, no buildings are left.
Note	. Obituary A Gulgong Pioneer DEATH OF JOHN SNELSON. (From Our Gulgong Representaive). The death took place at his residence, Gulgong, on Tuesday evening of Mr. John Snelson, the oldest resident of the Gulgong district. Mr. Snelson, who had reached the great age of 93 years and 10 months, was born at Rulford, Chester England, and had been in New South Wales for 70 years. He practically spent his life time in the Gulgong district, where he was highly respected. Despite his wonderful age, the late Mr. Snelson was a very active man up to three years ago, when his health commenced to give way. He possessed a wonderful memory for happenings and experiences in his lifetime. In his earlier days deceased was an enthusiastic sport-man, one of his chief hobbies being pigeon shootinh. Many years ago pigeon matches were frequently held on his property at Gulgong, and the late John Snelson was a gunman who could hold his own with the best. Fishing was another pastime that he paid much attention to. During deceased's residence in the district, he followed farming pursuits with marked success. He was a man of sterling character, and the fine example set by his children, all of whom are well known and noted for their generous assistance to charitable objects, must have been inspired in them by their late father, who, to quote the words of those who know him intimately was a fine old man. Deceased married a Miss Margaret Cox at Sydney 64 years ago, and she pre-deceased him by some years. He leaves the following family: Peter, Mrs. J. Bax (Sydney), John, Annie, Martha (matron Gulgong Hospital), Henry and Percival (Gulgong). The funeral took place yesterday, the remains being laid to rest in the Church of England portion of the Gulgong cemetery, the Rev. C. J. Allen officiating. The funeral was a fine tribute to the man who had lived a lifetime in Gulgong, and who had made an army of friends. Mr. Turner had charge of the funeral arrangements. To the bereaved family we extend deepest sympathy. Funding for digitisation contributed by State Library of NSW Digital Excellence Program.
Reference Number	John Snelson had reference number 987.
Residence	In 1832 John Snelson lived in Broad Oak, Burton, Denbighshire, Wales.³
Birth	He was born before 18 January 1832 in Cheshire, at Pulford.
Christening	He was christened on 18 January 1832 in the local parish church, Pulford, Cheshire.⁴
Immigration	He migrated to "Switzerland", Liverpool, on 13 April 1858.⁵
Marriage	He married on 4 July 1860 in St. James' Church.^6,7
	His son Peter Snelson was born on 20 December 1862 in Belford, Near_Singleton, NSW, Australia.
	His daughter Martha Snelson was born on 25 July 1868 in New South Wales, Australia.
	His daughter Martha Snelson died on 20 December 1868 in New South Wales, Australia.
Occupation	About 1872 John Snelson was a farmer/Miner in on the goldfields, Home Rule, near Gulgong.
	His daughter Martha Snelson was born on 6 June 1876 in New South Wales, Australia.
Occupation	In October 1876 John Snelson was an as a miner at the time of the in opening of the Bark School.
Death	He died on 11 November 1924 in Broad Oak, Gulgong.⁸
Probate	Probate was granted to the estate of John Snelson on 22 January 1925.⁹
Burial	He was buried in November 1926 in the cemetery, Gulgong.¹⁰

Citations

[S86] Letter from Joan Betty Snelson of Wellington(NSW)
[S6091] Snelson & Hampson Family. England. Issue 4.0.; CD. WIN 95+ - Family Tree Maker Version 5 + GEDCOM. (England: Frank & Peter Snelson. 1999). Includes Pictorial History 1852-1999.
[S432] Pulford Baptisms 1813-60
[S125] Letter from Wallace Peter Snelson - Dec 1988, Source Element: R3-1380
[S372] Immigration Index to Assisted Migrants 1844-59
[S237] NSW Marriages 1856-1905 NSW Marriages

1860 Richard Snelson married Bridget Donovan 418

1860 John Snelson married Martha Elizabeth Cox 476

1864 John Snelson married Louisa Jane Bryan 1054

1866 James Snelson married Anne Dixon 2696

1881 William Snelson Married Mary Dooley 125

1885 Mary M. B. Snelson married William H. Crowe 451

1886 Clara L. M. ( ? ) Snelson married Jethro W. Clarke 3827

1886 Elizabeth Snelson married Henry Samuel Bucholtz 6184

1887 Mary L. Snelson married John F. Bax 5902

1893 Percy T. Snelson married Alice M. Paget 6037

1893 Peter Snelson married Anna S. Webb 4945

1895 Caroline H. E. Snelson married James F. Crow 2597

1899 James C. Snelson married Mary A. Lloyd 2088

1901 Joseph Snelson married Harriette A. Harris 1643

1904 Frank Snelson married Sophia E. Wood 4549

1905 Ethel M. Snelson married Shadrach Taylor 9911
[S87] Society Of Australian Genealogists Microfyche
[S295] NSW Probate Indexes 1905-46
[S384] Will of John Snelson ( d. 1924 ), Source Element: R3-2244
[S399] Eileen MAXWELL, The Story of Gulgong - Written in Gold, Source Element: ISBN 0 9597274 1, 8
Source Element: R3-2467

Martha Snelson¹

F, #994, Deceased, b. 6 June 1876, d. 25 May 1960

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Martha-Snelson---Matron,-Gulgong-Hospital-3

Parents

Father

John Snelson (b. before 18 January 1832, d. 11 November 1924)

Person References	Fame & Infamy
Last Edited	5 May 2024 15:38:57

Main Events

Residence	Martha Snelson lived in Gulgong.²
Biography	She was the Matron at the hospital for 20 years. There is a photograph of her at the Gulgong Pioneers Museum. I don't know where she is buried. I must write to the hospital for some background information. [:CR:].
Note
Reference Number	She had reference number 994.
Birth	She was born on 6 June 1876 in New South Wales, Australia.³
Occupation	On 31 January 1919 Martha Snelson was a Hospital Matron in Gulgong Hospital, Gulgong.
	Her father John Snelson died on 11 November 1924 in Broad Oak, Gulgong.
Residence	In 1946 Martha Snelson lived in Cronulla, Sydney, New South Wales.
Death	She died on 25 May 1960 at at the home of Bertha Watt in Herbert Street, Gulgong.

Citations

[S86] Letter from Joan Betty Snelson of Wellington(NSW)
[S125] Letter from Wallace Peter Snelson - Dec 1988, Source Element: R3-1380
[S238] NSW Births To 1905 Pre 1861 Nil, R3-1878

Peter Snelson¹

M, #995, Deceased, b. 20 December 1862, d. 22 February 1944

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Peter Snelson 1862-1944 Founding Father and Mayor of Cobar

Parents

Father

John Snelson (b. before 18 January 1832, d. 11 November 1924)

Person References	Fame & Infamy
Last Edited	6 August 2024 17:40:51

Main Events

Residence	Peter Snelson lived in Cobar, New South Wales, Australia.²
Occupation	Peter Snelson was a Businessman.
Occupation	Peter Snelson was a Mayor in Cobar.
Biography	Peter went to the Bark School with the poet Henry Lawson. He was 14 years old when he started school on 2nd October 1876. Now, an amazing coincidence. Georgina and I and the kids, James and Bonnie, had scheduled a short holiday in September/October 1989. We planned to fly to Broken Hill, hire a car, and drive back - staying at some exciting places like the Dug-Out Accommodation at White Cliffs, Dubbo Zoo and the Naragool Park Protea Farm just south of Wellington. However, the pilots strike in September 1989 stuffed that for an idea and we ended up in Mudgee. Just by chance, we heard and read that a grand re-opening of the restored Eurunderee School was planned for Sunday October 1st. There was to be a picnic, official opening, a bush band called the "Home Rule Band", trees planted for all the original students on October 1 1876, food stalls, maypole dancing, coin tossing, plays, readings from Lawson and a treasure hunt ! Who could miss such an event when on holiday so close ? So, this is where I met Joan Betty Snelson and John Bucholtz. The Eurunderee Provisional School has quite a history. Henry Lawson the great Australian poet and storyteller was born on the 17th June 1867, so he was 5 years younger than Peter Snelson. Lawson's childhood was spent on his father's selection at Eurunderee. At the age of 9 he was enrolled at the Old Bark School. Peter recorded his first day at the school and how it was built and Joan Betty Snelson wrote to Mr. Norm McVicar the co-ordinator of the restoration project, relaying the entry in her grandfather's diary ( quote ) :- "All the material, which consisted of stringy bark poles and bark had previously been prepared and placed on the site. On Saturday morning all the male residents interested in the school met together and building operations commenced. At nightfall, it was completed. When the framework was up the walls and roof were covered with bark. The roof was secured by poles laid across the bark sheets. The poles in turn were firmly held in position by pairs of straddles fastened together on the ridge and secured again at the eaves on each side. Besides a door at one end, ventilation was supplied by sheets of bark hinges at the top and propped open with a stick. On the following Monday morning, the school was opened by the teacher Mr. John Tierney, who stood outside the door. As his name was called each pupil walked inside and took his seat ". It was 2nd October 1876. The first day at Eurunderee Provisional School had begun. There were 27 boys and 18 girls on day one - children of local miners ( gold and kaolin ), vintners, farmers, labourers and storekeepers; names include Bucholtz, Wurth, Roth, Roe, Lawson, Harvey, Bones, Muller - and Snelson - three of them - Peter, his brother John and sister Mary. We had a great time - a beautiful warm Spring day, good company and heaps of nostalgia all set off by the beautiful backdrop of the area, which hasn't changed in more than 100 years. Peter went to Cobar originally to fix or set up the books for a business house, but stayed on - according to Connie Skey Wynn; the story is confirmed by Wallace Peter Snelson in his letter to me dated 22 September 1989. Evidently, Peter was a bit of an entrepreneur and was not necessarily skilled in the beginning at any of the businesses he acquired or invested in - which started with a large bakery and then butchery business; this was followed by a building business, and a funeral parlour. He was a director on the board of many enterprises, mainly in the mining sector including the Occidental Mine. He also invested in the CSA Mining company and was a Director for I think 35 years. He was a Councillor of the Municipality of Cobar and was the Mayor of Cobar ( 1898-99 ) - I have a photograph of him with his fellow councillors. Peter became the owner of a great deal of freehold and business sites and operations in the town as well as owning farms at Leeton and grazing country at Cobar. According to further information provided by Wallace, he was a Justice of the Peace. He bought out the building partnership of Gudgeon & Co. He was a most prominent citizen and was a major campaigner for better water supplies to the town. He was a member of the Cobar Hospital Committee. In the 1906 Electoral Rolls, John Snelson ( Peter's brother ) of Cobar is listed as a baker in Linsley Street. I understand that Peter set his brother up with this opportunity. Hannah ( sic ) Sarah Snelson is shown as "domestic duties". Peter Snelson is the third entry, also shown as a baker. The partnership of Farr and Snelson master bakers opened for business in Barton Street on the sight of the present Barton Motors, and quickly grew to be the biggest bakery in town. Peter's first appearance in the press featured his prowess with a rifle. - he was later President of the Cobar Rifle Club. His birth is listed as in 1863 not 1862 in the indexes at the NSW State Library. I also have a record of his death being on the 22nd February ( Footnote 2130 ) 1944 ...... in stead of 22 Nov 1944. The February date is confirmed by the Venerable L.P. Turner, the current incumbent at St. Paul's. he writes that Peter Snelson of Liners Station died 23rd February 1944 aged 81 years and was buried in the Cobar Cemetery on 25th February 1944. I have a photograph of him provided by Joan Betty Snelson taken at the Leeton Show in 1942, or about that time. He is pictured with his two sons, Leo Webb Snelson and Leslie Edward Snelson, who evidently were judges of horses and cattle at the show. The picture of Peter Snelson bears a striking resemblance to my grandfather, Harold Alfred Benyon Snelson. In the library of the Society of Australian Genealogists in Sydney I found in their Primary Records a selection of 41 old photographs relating to the Mathews family of Cobar. Amongst them was a photograph of the Municipal Council of Cobar in 1896. The councillors were - Mayor S.R. Wood - Councillor W. H. Bannister - Councillor W. J. Hogan - Councillor P. Mathews - Councillor Neil Morrison - Councillor H. J. Cornish - Councillor J. O. Hunt - Councillor P. Snelson - Secretary John Leach The best account of Peter's early days are contained in the book " Cobar Founding Fathers " which contains many wonderful pictures of the early Snelson family and their homes. [:CR:].
Reference	In Cobar Mayor.
Reference Number	He had reference number 995.
Birth	He was born on 20 December 1862 in Belford, Near_Singleton, NSW, Australia.³
Education	He was educated on 2 October 1876 in the Bark School, Eurunderee, Nr Mudgee, New South Wales.
	His father John Snelson died on 11 November 1924 in Broad Oak, Gulgong.
Death	Peter Snelson died on 22 February 1944 in Orange or Cobar, New South Wales, Australia.⁴
Burial	He was buried on 25 February 1944 in the parish church graveyard, Cobar, St. Paul's.⁵

Citations

[S86] Letter from Joan Betty Snelson of Wellington(NSW)
[S400] Cobar Founding Fathers by William Clelland 1984 Vol 7 Western Heritage Series Macquarie Publishing ISBN 0 949734 08 X

Cobar Founding Fathers by William Clelland
[S238] NSW Births To 1905 Pre 1861 Nil, R3-1878
[S87] Society Of Australian Genealogists Microfyche
[S406] Letter from Ven L.P.Turner Parish of St. Paul, Cobar