SNELL

Born 1752, Plymstock, Devon
Died 26 Aug 1831, Landulph, Cornwall
Buried 31 Aug 1831, Landulph Parish Church
A profiteer in the Napoleonic Wars, said to have lifted a sunken flour ship and found the cargo saleable
A tablet in Landulph Parish Church is inscribed as follows:
"In memory of Benjamin Snell Esq. of Wayton, Captain 1st Reg: Royal Cornwall Local Militia, who died on 26th day of Aug 1831 aged 79 years. Also of Mary his wife, who died on the 4th day of Jan 1864 aged 89 years, this tablet is erected by their affectionate children"


Benjamin Snell bought Wayton House (Picture) in 1806, and lived there until his death in 1831, whereupon it was left to his second son, Benjamin Snell, together with other business interests in and around the parish of Landulph.
I have located a possible grave in Landulph churchyard, although the inscription is badly eroded making it difficult to be certain (see picture). The inscription appears to start "Here lies the body of Benjamin Snell..." Subsequent wording exists but cannot be interpreted.
Lime Kilns and Lime Burning in Cornwall by Kenneth Isham has a paragraph relating to Benjamin Snell's business interests in lime burning. It states that a lime kiln at Cargreen was worked by Ben Snell, a merchant or dealer from Plymouth Dock. He was in occupation before 1801. The book states that he was stil there in 1843, although it is clear that the Ben Snell of 1843 is actually the son. In 1803 Benjamin Snell had taken control of the kiln and quay, together with a corn cellar, on a three lives lease after renting it previously on an annual basis. (In 1803, Benjamin Snell purchased Wayton House.)


An advertisment in Trewman's Exeter Flying Post for Thursday March 12 1807 is evidence of Benjamin Snell's prominence in the corn trade, and reads as follows:
"At a meeting of the MILLERS, FACTORS and others, concerned in the FLOUR TRADE, in Plymouth, Plymouth-Dock,and its vicinity, held this 2nd day of March, 1807, at the King's Head, in Plymouth, in order to consider measures to be adopted, to remedy the great evil incurred by the continual and increasing LOSS of SACKS.
Mr BENJAMIN SNELL in the chair.
Resolved,-That the enormous loss to which the ownersof sacks have been long subject, demands the exertions and co-operation of all the trade, to put a stop to this increasing evil.
Resolved,-That the present meeting considers that the most effectual means for this purpose, will be to make some examples of those who may hereafter be found fradulently disposing of sacks; or in possession of any fradulently obtained.
Resolved, - That a subscription shall be immediately entered into, for the purpose of being applied to the detection and prosecution of such offenders.
Resolved, - That the money subscribed, shall be lodged in a Plymouth bank, in the name of the chairman, on behalf of the subscribers; and shall be subject to the use of the committee appointed by this meeting, to carry its views into effect.
Resolve,- That Mr THOMAS MARSH
THOMAS THOMAS
JOSEPH TREFFRY
WILLIAM CREES
GUSTAVUS CHANIN
shall form a committee, any three of whom are empowered to make use of the fund subscribed, in the way they may judge most proper, for the detection and prosecution of offenders.
Resolved,- That these resolutions be inserted twice in the Sherborne and Exeter Papers.
Signed, on behalf of the meeting, by
B. SNELL, chariman
Various documentary clues indicate that Benjamin Snell was an inn keeper in his early life. A search of the Victuallers' Recognizances for the Exeter Quarter Sessions at the Devon Record Office (QS/67/7/1 series) show the name of Benjamin Snell as a licensed victualler starting in 1780 (QS/62/7/27A) and 1781 (QS62/7/28). From there, there is a gap in the records until 1788, where his name does not appear. Other names which may be significant in the records are George Adams (1779-1780), William Adams (1781-1791), Mary Adams (1779), George Drew (1775-1795), William Braund (1797) William Braund Jnr (1799)

Alias Mary SNELL (13 Jul 1809)
Born 1774, Stoke Damerel, Devon
Christened 19 Nov 1774, Stoke Damerell
Died 4 Jan 1864, Landulph, Cornwall
Buried 6 Jan 1864, Landulph Parish Church
An entry in the parish records of Landulph Parish Church, in relation to the baptism of one of her children, records that she was the daughter of George Adams of Plymouth Dock.