Fame & Infamy

FAME & INFAMY

Favourite Snelson characters who have achieved some level of notoriety for colourful reasons - meritorious, sad, brave and glorious, romantic, embarrassing, professional, outrageous, artistic, sporting, pretentious, disgraceful, downright stupid, illegal, disgusting, murderous or absolutely pathetic. Ah yes, we are a colourful bunch of minstrels. This list is in surname alphabetical order.

• Matthew Critchley - A Neigh Sayer? –
  • This first entry refers to one of my own relatives, Matthew Critchley. He was sadly killed in action in WWI in France and is buried there at Loos.

    However, I think he was a bit of a lad and erred on the Infamy side of notoriety. Coming from a family that was not unfamiliar with scandal, (e.g. try James Critchley [#24383] and Peter Webster Critchley [#24287] - our Matthew reached notoriety with an interesting and some might say courageous performance.

  • It's impressive … but I will not reveal all the details here. If you really wish to know more, you can go here :- https://genarchives.com/snelson/up/e1660.htm ... .

• Greer ("Eileen Evelyn Greer") Garson –

  

  • Greer Garson born in London
  • was first married to Edward Alec Abbot Snelson my 2nd cousin 2 times removed (see below)
  • then Richard Ney
  • lastly E E Fogelson
  • Famous film actress for her roles in Mrs Miniver, Goodbye Mr. Chips, Pride & Prejudice, Madame Curie, Blossoms in the Dust and Sunrise at Campobello.

• Briscoe Snelson - Photographer –

  

  • Brilliant black & white lantern slide photographer
  • keen oarsman
  • wounded WW1 veteran
  • Secretary of the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association
  • Author "Sixty-three Years on the Cam"
  • Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society

• Charles Elson Jeoffrey Snelson –

  

  • Author, Genealogist, Researcher, Historian, Friend
  • A Snelson Genealogy - an extremely well researched history of the name and early history of the Snelson surname, places and family lines
  • Original theory of the Snelson name from the village of Senelstune, mentioned in the Domeday Book in 1086 AD ... Yes, we are probably not "Sons of Snel" after all
  • Deep research and documentation on the Snelson line in Greatwood, Staffordshire - and on to Canada
  • inspiration behind this website
  • A "must" for every Snelson Researcher

• David Snelson - Rear Admiral HMS "Ark Royal" –

  

  • Rear Admiral, Royal Navy
  • Captain of HMS Liverpool
  • Commanding Officer of HMS Ark Royal, aircraft carrier, Flagship of the Royal Navy
  • Director Naval Staff and Director Naval Operations
  • Chief Harbour Master, Port of London

• Edward Alec Abbot Snelson OBE KBE –

  

  • Here’s my own second cousin twice removed, a Knight of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. This is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to inter alia, public service outside the civil service.

    Recommendations for appointments to the Order of the British Empire were originally made on the nomination of the United Kingdom, the self-governing Dominions of the Empire (later Commonwealth) and the Viceroy of India, in this case more likely the latter.

  • Secretary Ministries of Law and of Parliamentary Affairs, Karachi
  • Central Provinces District and Sessions Judge 1936
  • Registrar High Court 1941
  • Joint Secretary Government of India 1947
  • Official Draughtsman Government of Pakistan 1948
  • Secretary Ministry of Law 1951;
  • Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs 1952-58
  • Member Executive Committee Arts Council of Pakistan 1953
  • Legal Adviser to Karachi Port Trust Museum
  • Judge on tribunals for the Partition of Germany post 1945
  • Justice of Supreme Restitution Court, Herford, German Federal Republic
  • Judge Arbitral Tribunal for Agreement on German External Debts and Mixed Commission, Koblenz
  • Author “Father Damien", which is "Dedicated to G", his first wife, Greer Garson

• George Mathew Snelson - Founding Father –

  

  • Born Ashby de la Zouch
  • emigrated to New Zealand
  • built a successful business
  • became Mayor of Palmerston, New Zealand

• Grace Snelson - Million Dollar Legs –

  

  • The Tiller Girls were among the most popular dance troupes of the 1900s, first formed by John Tiller in Manchester in 1890.
  • Whilst on visits to the theatre, Tiller had noticed the overall effect of a chorus of dancers was often spoiled by lack of discipline.
  • Tiller found that by linking arms the dancers could dance as one; he is credited with inventing precision dance.
  • Possibly most famous for their high-kicking routines, the Tiller Girls were highly trained and precise.

  The number of troupes grew to dozens and their fame spread around the world. The troupes were all slightly different, but within each troupe the girls were matched very precisely for height and weight. Individuality within the troupes was discouraged in favour of a strong group ethic. The Tillers performed as resident dancers at the Follies Bergère in Paris, the London Palladium, the Palace Theatres in Manchester and in London (as the Palace Girls), the Blackpool Winter Gardens, on New York's Broadway, where John Tiller had a dance school, and at hundreds of other theatres over the British Isles, the Continent and the United States.

  Grace Snelson was born in Manchester so it is possible that she joined the Tiller Girls in Manchester, and moved to London with her troupe.

  Grace Snelson (2nd from right, bottom row) was a Tiller Girl in the early 1930s.

• Jack Thurston Snelson AM –
  • Australia Medal (1986)
  • Australian Commonwealh Pesticides Coordinator, Department of Primary Industry 1967 to 1986
  • FAO Committee on Pesticides in Agricuture 1975
  • Leader, Australian Mission to the Peoples Republic of China on Agrochemical Regulation 1983
  • Foundation Member Weeds Society of NSW 1960
  • Member of ANZAAS.

• James Snelson - Witch Descendant –
  • James Snelson (Id# 431) married Elizabeth (Id# 436 nee Stubbs), relative of three women, mother and two daughters
  • these 3 women were hanged at Chester for bewitching to death Mrs. Elizabeth Furnival
  • who was the daughter to Mr. Jo Fallowes of Fallowes Hall
  • and he was father-in-law of Thomas Acton.

  Stephen King (Id# 1591) is descended from the kinsmen of the Acton family AND the victim (Elizabeth Furnival) as well as the witches ( the Stubbs ), a remarkable set of circumstances !

• Jeoffrey Snelson (Reverand) 2nd of the great Argotphiles –
  • Vicar of Hanbury in Staffordshir
  • Vicar of Reigate
  • Rector of Hendon

• John Snelson of Broad Oak, Wales and New South Wales –

  

  • John emigrated on 13 January 1858 from Liverpool on the ship "Switzerland"
  • After a voyage of 90 days, he arrived in Sydney on 13 April 1858.
  • On the same ship was Martha Cox of Somerse
  • He was contracted to build roads and bridges in the Dunedoo, Tambar Springs and Malalle ( Denistone town )
  • John lived near Singleton until 1872 when he went to the Gulgong gold diggings
  • He was a miner on the kaolin deposits at Home Rule or New Pipeclay.
  • He selected a farm which he named "Broad Oak" after his home in Burton, Wales
  • The property situated some 3-4 kilometers down the Canadian Lead Road.
  • In 1926, “Broad Oak” evidently passed to sons Harry and Percival Snelson

• John Thomas Snelson - Pioneer –
  • Fought in the Revolution
  • Baptist Minister
  • Farmer
  • Patriot

• Martha Snelson - Matron of Gulgong Hospital –

  

  • Nurse, Benefactor, Philanthropist, Matron at Gulgong Hospital

• Nathan Snelson - Long Bow to Pocohontas –
  • Nathan married Lucy Ann Boling
  • ... whose great-great grandfather was Colonel Robert Boling (Id#16365)
  • ... ... whose first wife was Jane Matoaka Rolfe
  • ... ... ... who was a Grand Daughter of Pocohontas (1596-1617) (Id#16379) daughter of Powatan; she is buried at St George's, Gravesend in Kent

• "Pete" Snelson - Purple Heart –
  • Awarded "Military Order of the Purple Heart"
  • Wounded in WWII
  • Texas State Representative
  • Texas State Senator.

• Peter Snelson - Mayor of Cobar –

  

  • Peter went to the Bark School with the poet Henry Lawson.
  • He went to Cobar originally to fix or set up the books for a business house
  • He stayed – started a large bakery and then butchery business
  • Followed by a building business, and a funeral parlour
  • Then farms at Leeton and grazing country at Cobar (Linera Station).
  • He acquired the building partnership of Gudgeon & Co
  • Director on the board of many enterprises, mainly in the mining sector
  • Including the Occidental Mine and CSA Mining Company in Cobar
  • Councillor of the Municipality of Cobar and was the Mayor of Cobar ( 1898-99 ).
  • Major campaigner for better water supplies to the town.
    
  • 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.

• Roger Snelson - The Great Pretender –

  

  • Member of the Guild of Dyers.
  • Applicant, Visitation of London 1633-1634, Snelson Coat of Arm
  • Benefactor of Macclesfield poor people

• Samuel Snelson (Nelson) - Shot by Bushranger –

  

  • Born 1827 in Bicester
  • Parents James & Elizabeth Snelson
  • Emigrated to Queensland on the "Parsee" in 1853
  • Changed his name to Nelson
  • Joined the New South Wales Police Force on 5th August 1857
  • He was stationed at Collector, New South Wales
  • He was shot dead on the 26th January 1865 by bushranger John Dunn
  • He was 37 years of age, married with 8 children.
  • John Dunn, aged 19, bushranger, was hanged on the 19th March 1866 at Darlinghurst Jail in Sydney for the murder of Constable Nelson.

• Tessa Snelson - Opera Singer –

  

  • Theresa Mary Hewett Snelson engaged by Richard D'Oyly Carte as a chorister for the Savoy in 1892.
  • Princess Nekaya in Utopia Limited (October 1894, December 1894-March 1895)
  • A dancing girl in Mirette (January-February 1895)
  • Nina in The Chieftain (February-August 1895).At the Savoy as a chorister for the start of the Second London Repertory Season
  • On tour from October 1908 to June 1909 with the D'Oyly Carte Principal Repertory Opera Company
  • Sacharissa in Princess Ida
  • Peep-Bo in The Mikado
  • Fiametta in The Gondoliers
    
  • She served in the chorus of the D'Oyly Carte Repertory Opera Company from July 1915 to January 1923
  • Except for the months from April to June 1922 when she was in the chorus with the D'Oyly Carte "New" Opera Company.

  Tessa Snelson was married to D'Oyly Carte baritone Hugh Enes Blackmore, and with him served as producer for several amateur Gilbert & Sullivan companies and principal of the G & S School of Opera. They were charter members of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society in London, serving continuously on the Society's Entertainment Committee until her death in 1939. Her brother, Jeoffrey Snelson, also appeared with the D'Oyly Carte, and her uncle, John Hollingsworth, created the role of Counsel to the Plaintiff in the original production of Trial by Jury.

• Thomas Snelson - Bobby on the Bottle –
  • Thomas Snelson was a member of the Cheshire Constabulary with a recidivist dedication to duty.
  • 31 December 1887 Date of Appointment
  • Age 21 years and one month
  • Previous OccupationFarmer at Sweatenham (sic) Cheshire.
  • Height : 5' 10" Eyes : Hazel - Hair : Brown - Complexion : Fresh - Build : Proportionate
  • 22 February 1888 posted to Nantwich
  • 8 November 1890 posted to Dukinfield

  Unfortunately, discipline was not a strong point

  • 4th April 1889 Absent from his beat from 2am to 4am and found drunk in Crewe at 4.10am. Fined 15/-
  • 4th November 1890 Absent from Conference Point at Crewe Police Station at 1.00am. and found drunk in his station at 1.15am Fined 25/-
  • 30th November 1890 Drunk on duty at Dukinfield at 12.45am.
  • 4th December 1890 Dismissed from Service

• Thomas Snelson - Handkerchief Lifter –

  He was accused of

  • "stealing a child's frock, a pincushion, two hammers, a shirt, handkerchief, muslin curtain, two birdcages, 24 keys and divers other goods"
  • Convicted criminal, sentenced to life imprisonment
  • Transported to the Colony of New South Wales for life.
  • Later transported north to Port Macquarie
  • Won his ticket of leave in 1830 some 18 years after conviction.
  • Granted a Conditional Pardon No. 39/426, Dated Nov 1 1838
  • .... on Payment of the Stated five shillings and sixpence. " ...
  • ... now we know the price of freedom
  • ... and relative of my good friend Jon Snelson

• Thomas Snelson - Great Malvern –
  
  • 
    Thomas lived in Great Malvern. A monument is on display today in Malvern priory church which was installed by his son, Thomas Snelson the younger, with a coat of arms. Thomas Snelson the Elder married Elizabeth Neal, b c. 1658 d 1743 aged 86
  • The monument erected in Malvern priory church by Thomas Snelson sports two coats of arms in pale in honour of his parents, Thomas Snelson and Elizabeth Neale.
  • The arms of a husband are always placed on the dexter side of the escutcheon, the position of greatest honour, being the arms of the husband (called the baron), with the paternal arms of the wife (the femme) on the sinister.
  .
• Thomas Snellsonne - Roundhead Soldier –

  I have always wanted to find a soldier who fought in the English Civil War.

  So, whereas Thomas is not a recognised war hero he is at least on the Parliamentary side of the fight against the Divine Right of Kings.

  We are still dealing with the more than 20, modern, right-wing nut jobs (RWNJs) like Bashar al-Assad, Boris Johnson, Kim Jong-un, Ayatollah Ali Khamemei, Narendra Modi, Scott Morrison, Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, all those other South American buffoons, Arabian knights, African tyrants and Thatcherite RWNJs ...

  So, this Thomas Snellsone gets on the list of Fame and Infamy as I know we would be left on the real right side (|;-}).

• William Snelson - Blotto Trainspotter –
  • Killed when he was hit by a train at Biddulph Junction when returning home late at night
  • probably in an inebriated state
  • according to the coroner and newspapers

  Ouch !