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Have you seen any of the Landowner records (including the Manor of Ovingham), especially Landowners Tenantry lists? For example Landowners Surveys, yearly Rentals or Accounts (if they have survived) of the Landowners and when Snowball first appears. Occasionally, if they took over the Rental of a property or plot, the previous Occupier is mentioned (around the take-over years). These might be relatives or even their Father.

I see Bigge, Richardson and Snowball crop up here.
Durham Cathedral Library Surtees Manuscripts
SUR 3
f.7 Bigge of Ovingham
f.32 Snowball of Hedley Woodhead
f.35 Richardson of Bywell, Old Ridley
f.37 Richardson of Bywell

Hi and thanks for some interesting and helpful tips. I haven't considered or looked at the Landowner records, so this is something that I will need to pursue. The Snowballs on my side became Wesleyan, certainly from the next generation onwards after George, so also tracking the Non-Conformist landowners may provide another window of opportunity.
I have looked at the Surtees connection before, however this drew a blank. Thanks again.
Steve

How frustrating!

Tell me about it!
Even more frustrating are the number of people who are on Family Search and manage to get a link from George back to the 1500s, with no sources or verification- just a blind copying of others misguided information!

Not seen originals - Nine Snowball burials (one is George) at Ovingham Parish, from Ovingham, Hedley, Wylam and Hedley Grange.
https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/NBL/Ovingham/ChurchRecords/BOVI

The surname Snowball is a local one to the Ovingham area. Have you viewed those Wills and Admins?

Mark

Thanks Mark
I have no trouble in securing links with the Snowball family post 1786, after George's wedding at Ovingham Parish church. I have tracked his entire family forwards in time and have accumulated a lot of information on each of his 3 children and their respective families and trees. The issue remains that of George's birth, birthplace and parentage, which will enable me to get back further still.

All of the above information accumulated does not give sufficient clues to an answer, which is the frustrating part. A search of the wills and administrations held at the District Probate Registry for Durham, for people with the surname of Snowball, also found no reference to the correct George Snowball, contained within the actual wills.

Steve

barryd

Thanks for the input. I have looked at all of these but the Chester-le-Street connection is interesting.
Could it be that my George Snowball, buried in 1824 in Ovingham is the son of George Snowball (recorded as being baptised at Long Newton, Co. Durham in about 1729 or 1730 ) and his wife, Mary Robson (recorded as being born at Long Newton in about 1731 but who was certainly baptised in Chester le Street, County Durham on 3rd March 1734)?

Of course, as yet this is unproven but George Snowball and Mary Robson were married at Long Newton on 30th November 1758 and recorded as "both of this parish". George, the couple's second child, was born in Birtley, Co. Durham in 1758 and quite possibly out of wedlock. He was eventually baptised at St. Mary & St. Cuthbert Parish Church in Chester le Street, on 22nd March 1761. His father, George is given as a 'husbandman of Birtley".

It would appear that George Snowball Jnr. had an older sister, Ann Snowball, who was also born out of wedlock and baptised on 14th November 1756 at St. Mary the Virgin Parish Church in Ovingham. Her parents are recorded in the Ovingham baptism registers as "George & Mary Snowball of Hollands” So there certainly appears to be an Ovingham connection here.

There is also a recorded baptism of a second son, Anthony Snowball on 9th September 1759 in Chester Le Street.

George Snowball and Mary (nee. Robson) could well be the parents of George but I'm unsure how I could prove this.

Steve





 

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I have searched the Wills and Administrations at the District Probate Registry at Durham and searched the transcript of baptisms of St. Mary the Virgin, Ovingham from 1750-1765. There is no reference to George Snowball at either, or in the baptism records of St. Cuthbert's Allendale. Dissenters (or Non-Conformist) baptism records for Ovingham parish also reveal nothing.

What is the relevance of St Cuthbert Allendale to your search?

George Snowball's bride, Mary Laidlar, was baptised at St. Cuthbert on 20th July 1760. I had wondered if the records here would give some clue.