SNELL

Born 1806, Tamerton Foliot, Devon
Died 20 Jul 1879
Buried 1879, Callington, Plymouth Brethren Burial Ground
Shares with Edmund the Manor of Ashton in St Dominic
Believed to be buried in the Plymouth Brethren Burial Ground at Callington. This burial ground is now disused but preserved at the rear of the Youth Centre in Liskeard Road. The key to the burial ground can be obtained from the Town Hall, New Street, open Monday to Friday 0900 -1400 tel: 01579 384039. The Youth Centre is housed in a former chapel, perhaps used by the Plymouth Brethren congregation at one time.
The household is recorded in the 1851 Census as Follows:
Transcript of Piece HO107/1901 (St Dominick)
Enumeration District 1a
Folio 24 Page 5
18,Ashton
Joseph Snell, Head, M, 44, Land Proprietor, Tamerton Devon
Amelia Snell, Wife, M, 41, St Budeaux Cornwall
Mary Snell, Dau, U, 17, St Dominick Cornwall
Elizabeth Snell, Dau, 13, Scholar, Calstock Cornwall
Emma Snell, Dau, 11, Calstock Cornwall
Benjamin Snell, Son, 6, Scholar, Calstock Cornwall
William Snell, Son, 4, Calstock Cornwall
George Snell, Son, 1, St Dominick Cornwall

Investigation of a possible birth at Tamerton Foliot (1851 census gives Tamerton, Devon as birthplace of Joseph) gave rise to the following entry in the parish baptism records for 4th May 1806 "James, base child of ....Adams"
Entry seems to omit or have had erased the name of the mother, unlike other similar entries of illegitimate births. Also the name, James, seems quite distinct and of course does not match with Joseph.
Joseph Snell appears on the Voters List for 1852/53, showing his above as Ashton, in St Dominick

Alias Amelia SNELL
Born 1809, St Budeaux, Devon
Died 24 Aug 1898, Tavistock, Devon
Buried 1898, Callington, Plymouth Brethren

Born 10 Jan 1811, Wayton, Landulph
Christened 15 Feb 1811, Landulph
Died 26 Nov 1894, Wayton House, Landulph
Buried 30 Nov 1894, Landulph Parish Church
Inherits Wayton House and the elder Benjamin's business interests in Landulph
The following is a transcript of a newspaper obituary which was published on the occasion of Benjamin Snell's death in 1894. I have a photocopy of the original cutting.

"THE LATE MR. B. SNELL OF WAYTON

"By the death of Mr. Benjamin Snell, justice of the peace for Cornwall, the county has lost a man of unsullied reputation, whose eminently useful life will long be held in reverent remembrance, and serve as a bright example of real worth and unostentatiousness. Blessed with troops of friends, he probably was without a single enemy during a long life of remarkable activity. Born at Wayton in January, 1811, he died there yesterday, having reached his 84th year. Upon the real business of life he entered at an early age, for he was only 20 when he succeeded his father in the ownership and occupation of the estate. For twenty years he devoted himself principally to agriculture, taking great pleasure and pride in getting up a flock of Cotswold sheep and also a choice herd of shorthorn cattle, a breed then becoming fashionable in the West of England. Half a century ago he had become a successful exhibitor in agricultural showyards, whilst the annual sales of breeding stock at Wayton was a noted event in the district, and his great business aptitude enables him to hold very numerous public positions. He was elected Guardian of his parish on the establishment of the new poor-law, and in that capacity he acted for upwards of twenty years in succession.
A plaque exists at Knapp Quay, Cargreen inscribed B SNELL 1837. This presumably commemorates the building of the Quay by Benjamin Snell, probably furthering his business interests following his inheritance of his father's business in 1831. (see picture, taken in 1967, courtesy Norman Snell)
1841 Census
The following household is recorded at Wayton in HO107/135 (Landulph) Folio 7 Page 9
Benjamin Snell, 30, Farmer
George Snell, 24
Eliza Rawlings, 29, Female Servant
Martha Mathews, 24, Female Servant
Elizabeth Westlake, 94, Independent
John Skinnard, 24, Male Servant
William Moon, 21, Ma;e Servant


A most unfortunate incident ocurred at Benjamin's funeral, which resulted in a court case involving a dispute between two clergymen. The Rev. Samuel Smith, rector of Landulph brought a case against the Rev. Frederick Grenville May, rector of St Mellion to recover the sum of two pounds and two shillings which were "damages by reason of his unlawfully officiating at a burial service on November 30, 1894 without the plaintiff's authority and in defiance of plaintiff's express wishes".

This incident, which must indicate a level of ill-feeling between rector and congegation, occurred when Benjamin's executor and heir, W. B. Snell, asked the Rev May to hold the burial service. No more was heard of this until the day of the funeral when the church doors were found to be locked. The sexton was sent to Rev. Smith for the keys, who answered that he was perfectly willing to give up the keys if his fees were paid, but the fees were not paid and Rev. Smith sent the sexton back to Rev. May to tell him not to officiate. In the event, Rev. May did officiate and Rev Smith claimed that he was held up to contempt.

The Rev Smith sent two postcards on the day of the funeral with insulting messages both to Rev May and to the Bishop, claiming that Rev May was conspiring with "lying Landulphers to defraud me of my lawful charge".

The judge ruled that the defendant had no right to officiate after permission was refused, but in view of the tone of the letters gave a verdict of one farthing without costs!




A record of the sale of Benjamin Snell's property, following his death in 1894 was published in the Bristol Mercury, Monday June 3, 1895, as follows:
"PROPERTY SALE AT LANDULPH
An important sale of freehold properties belonging to the late Mr Benjamon Snell, J.P., of Wayton, Landulph, has been held at the Drill hall, Cargreen, the auctioneers being Messrs. W. J. May and Son, of Liskeard; Lot 1, "Rose Hill," a dwelling house with 4 1/2 acres of pasture and garden, occupied by Mr. J. Spear at £27 a year, was bought by Mr. W. Barrett for £805, who also purchased Quillett Gardeb adjoining for £51. Lot 3, Barn Park, 5a. 1r. 25p. od pasture land, sold to Mr C. W. Congdon for £420. Lot 4, Bound's Tenement, dwelling house and 4 acres of pasture and garden land, occupied by Mr P. Barrett at £20 a year, was purchased by the tenant for £590. Lot 5, garden plot called "Quances," 1a. 1r. 4p., by Mr A. Richards for £240. LOt 6, 2-acre garden called "Barn," by Mr S. Hawken for £240. Lot 7, Church PArk, garden and orchard, 4a. 3r. 35p., by Mr J. Roberts for £600. Lot 8, Long Orchard, 2r. 32p., by Mr W. Rowe for £120. Lot 9 comprised the Cargreen Drill Hall, with dwelling house and about an acre of land, in the occupation of Mr John Heddon at £20 a year. The tenant became the purchaser for £400. Lots 10 to 19 inclusive consisted of cottages and gardens, mostly held at an average yearly rental of £5, and were bought by Messrs Braund, Best, Evans Cook and others at prices ranging from £40 to £105. Lots 20 and 21 comprised quays borderin gthe River Tamar, with stores , yards, manure manufactory &c.,, and the reserve price not being reached in either case, the lots were withdrawn. Thirty shares, 10 at £10, 10 at £9 15s.and 10 at £9 10s., - in the Saltash and Three Towns Steamboat Company made £10 each, Mr T. Bond bein gthe purchaser; and Mr A.. Maitland bought a couple of Plymouth Club shares at £4 apiece. There was a large attendance, and cosiderable local interest was taken in the sale. Biddings were consequently brisk, some of the garden land realising over £200 per acre/ Mr A. C. L. Glubb, of Liskeard, was solicitor for the vendors (the executors of the late Mr B Snell)."

A transcript of the original sale notice is available - see associated object
Benjamin Snell appears on the Voter's Lists for 1851/52, 1852/53 and 1864/65, qualifying with freehold house and land at Wayton.

Alias Jane SNELL
Born 1818, Buckland Monachorum, Devon, England
Died 4 Aug 1893, Wayton House, Landulph
Buried 8 Aug 1893, Landulph Parish Churchyard

Alias Mary BODY (25 Mar 1839)
Christened 24 Jun 1813, Landulph, Cornwall
Died ABT Dec 1908, Barnstaple RD, Devon
Receives a legacy of £1500 in Benjamin Snell's Will of 1831
1881 Census
Mary Body recorded at
Dwelling Winswood
Census Place Crediton, Devon, England
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 2229 / 57 Page Number 29
Occupation: Annuitant
A visitor at this address.
Also recorded at the same address, her daughter, Elizabeth M Body, annuitant



1901 census records Mary Body (age 87, born Landulph) and Elizabeth M Body (age 55, born Crediton) inthe civil parish of Kensington

Born 1809, South Hill, Cornwall
Died ABT Jun 1875, Crediton, Devon

Christened 19 Jan 1815, Landulph
Died 28 Nov 1887, St Stephens, Saltash
The following household is recorded at Wayton in HO107/135 (Landulph) Folio 7 Page 8:
William Snell, 26, Merchant
Elizabeth Snell, 22
John Snell, 6 months
Elizabeth Edgecombe, 20, Female Servant
Elizabeth Pengelly, 12, Female Servant
1851 Census
HO107/1901 (St Dominick)
Enumeration District 1a
Folio 23 Page 4

17,Ashton,William Snell,Head,M,36,,Farmer Of 270 Acres Empl 8 Lab,Landulph Cornwall,,
,,Elizabeth Snell,Wife,M,,32,,Landrake Cornwall,,
,,John Soby Snell,Son,,10,,,Landulph Cornwall,,
,,William Percy Snell,Son,,8,,,Landulph Cornwall,,Second forename uncertainl; might be Bray
,,George Snell,Son,,6,,,Landulph Cornwall,,
,,Betsy Lanfield,Servnt,U,,19,House Servant,St Dominick Cornwall,,Surname uncertain
,,John Congdon,Servnt,,16,,Farm Servant,St Dominick Cornwall,,
,,James Harper,Servnt,U,12,,Farm Servant,St Dominick Cornwall,,
Lime Kilns and Lime Burning in Cornwall by Kenneth Isham states (p 38) that in 1843 a William Snell operated a lime kiln at East Kingsmill. Nothing further is known about this lime kiln which does not exist today.
SNELL - Suddenly, whilst hunting at Pillaton, near Saltash, November 28, Mr. William Snell, of Grove, St. Stephens, Saltash, aged 73; a well-known agriculturist, and formerly a great Protectionist, and a staunch supporter of the Conservative party.

On Monday, the 20th instant, by the Rev. R. Martin, of Menheniot church, Mr. William Snell, of Landulph, merchant, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of F. Sobey, Esq., Trewelland, near Liskeard.


William Snell appears Voters Lists for 1851/52, at the abode of Ashton in St Dominick, with the qualification of freehold houses and land at Brendon

Alias Elizabeth SOBEY
Alias Elizabeth SNELL (20 May 1839)
Born 1819, Landrake
Died Qtr Sep 1907, Liskeard RD

Born 18 Nov 1816, Wayton House, Landulph
Christened 31 Jan 1817, Landulph
Died 5 May 1905, Park, Landulph
Buried 10 May 1905, Landulph Parish Church
Recorded in the 1871 Census as a Farmer of 500 acres. Farms were rented in the Parish of Landulph, Cornwall, and the holdings comprised the farms of Park, Clifton, Salter Mill and Tinnel
1851 Census
Folio 491 Page 3
In the 1851 census, George Snell is recorded as a landed proprietor, the head of a household living at Wayton. The household includes his widowed mother, Mary aged 76, and his nephew Joseph, aged 8 born at St Dominick. The houshold also includes a house servant Hannah Short.



George Snell of Landulph applied for a game license and obtained certificate 16 September 1836
A lease is held in the CRO, Ref AD430/21 concerning the Park, and Waddevers tenements from the Duchy of Cornwall to George Snell of Park, dated 11 Mar 1868. The extent of the holdings are set at twenty-five acres, one rodd and six perches. The document is witnessed by B Snell, Wayton, Landulph. It makes several conditions and descrbes the way in which the land is to be managed, as follows:
-Timbers, minerals, stone, slate, chalk, excepted
-£5 extra rent for every £100 spent by the duchy on draining, fencing or inclosing.
-Additional rent of £50 for every acre broken up for tillage without license.
-£10 additional rent for every acre of arable, meadow or pasture not cultivated according to course of husbandry prescribed.
-Ditches to be scoured yearly, hedges dressed and cleaned, drains made and maintained. Buildings to be insured against fire.
-Cropping: one-quarter to be sown grass only to be cut for hay once or for green or cattle food.
-Not more than one-quarter turnips or other green crop not pulse.
-Not more than one-quarter arable to be in wheat.
-Two crops of corn or anything else not to be taken in succession.
-Pasture to be mowed once a year only, then well manured.
-Orchards especially young trees to be protected.
-In spring of last year on every acre to be sown with summer corn (e.g. barley or oats) one bushel or perennial rye seed, ten pounds af good red clover seed, five pounds of good white clover and trefoil seed (incoming tenant to pay for seed).
-After corn crop of last year no stock except sheep in the previous spring.
-Dung to be given to incoming tenant and hay left to be paid for at valuation.
-George Snell is to keep field book(s) showing yearly cropping.




People entitled to vote

All the Voters Lists included so far are for elections after The Representation of the People Act 1832, The Act redrew constituency boundaries, giving seats to the growing industrial towns and cities, and removing them from some of the previous so-called Rotten Boroughs and Pocket Boroughs. It also increased the numbers entitled to vote by reducing the value of the qualifying land and adding categories such as copyright holders, long-term lease holders and some tenants. It's been estimated that the reforms increased the electorate to roughly 1 in 6 of the total male population of England and Wales, (Different qualifications existed for both Scotland and Ireland.)

George Snell appears on lists for 1852/53 and 1864/65, qualifying with freehold land known as Wadevers

Alias Mary Ann SNELL (16 Aug 1851)
Christened 4 Dec 1831, Landulph, Cornwall
Died 11 Jan 1922, Landulph, Cornwall
Mary Ann Deacon was the daughter of the publican at the Royal Oak, in the village of Cargreen, situated on the Cornish bank of the River Tamar. Reputedly, she was wooed by George Snell of Park, who decided to take a wife in his mid 30's. He became attached to the publican's 18 year old daughter after making her a acquaintance on his daily rides of inspection around his estate. However, he decided that she should be 'educated' before the marriage, and sent her away for one year's tuition on how the wife of a country farmer should behave. By all accounts the subsequent marriage was very succesful.

This story appears to be corroborated by an entry in the 1851 Census. Mary Ann Deacon is listed as resident at 104 Union Street, East Stonehouse. She was listed as age 19, scholar, and niece of the head of household, who was Ann Deacon. Ann Deacon was aged 59, domestically employed and living with one daughter and 3 sons, as well as her niece.
Photograph of a sampler worked by Mary Ann. It records the following:
Mary Ann Deacon is My Name I with
My Needle I work the Same
By my Performance you my see
What care my Parents take of me
Finished September the 28th 1843
In the 12th Year of her Age

Christened 15 Apr 1819, Landulph, Cornwall, England
*************
1881 Census records the family as follows:
Dwelling: 25 Portman St Census Place Moss Side, Lancashire, England
Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 3938 / 9 Page Number 11
Household consisting of Edmund Snell, Margaret Snell, Margaret Snell (Dau), Frances J. Snell, Clara Snell and Polly Harrison (Servant)
****************

Alias Margaret SNELL (14 Apr 1840)
Born ABT 1820, Ireland