Lavenham, Suffolk

[B Steve]

Sorry Woolamai

I can't see a connection between your James and the Snells in Lavenham.

Best wishes, Steve

[smudwhisk]

I have John Martin Snell  was born in Sudbury, Suffolk in England in 1836. He worked as a labourer. He married Annie Lucas on 5th June 1862 at the Presbyterian Church in Warrnambool, Australia His parents were James Snell (who was a farmer/labourer) and Harriet Elizabeth Eley.

James Snell was born in 1822/3 in England (probably Sudbury). He was a labourer.  He died in Warrnambool in 1884. He married Harriet Elizabeth Eley. His father was also called James Snell

I think you need to re-evaluate your information.  If James Snell was born in about 1822/3 he will not be the father of your John Martin Snell born 1836 because he would only be 13-14 years old and, apart from royalty, this really didn't happen.  Either James' or John martin's birth years are wrong or James is going to be another relative.

If the information is from an Australian death certificates, its quite likely the informant was mistaken I'm afraid.

[Melfordgal]

Hello linscyclist,
I am descended from Joseph Snell, b 1753, through Joseph Snell, b 1788 and Sarah Snell, b 1816, all Lavenham born. If any of these are of interest to you.
Melfordgal.

[B Steve]

Hello Melfordgal

I am descended from the Snells and the Gridleys. It looks as though Joseph Snell b.1753 was the son of Joseph b.1725 Preston St.Mary and Ruth Gridley bap.1724 at Lavenham who were married at Lavenham in 1750.
I have a few earlier details of both families if they are of interest to you.

SteveB

[Melfordgal]

Hi SteveB,
Yes, thank you, would be very interested. I haven't got any further back than Joseph b 1725 & Ruth Gridley.
Also, I am descended through Sarah, b 1816, Mary Anne, b 1846 and Ruth, b 1869. Can't find fathers for Mary Anne or Ruth, or even a birth record for Ruth who, according to the census was born in Norwich. She was married to my g grandfather Harry Edward Mills in 1893, Long Melford. Any ideas?
According to the census Mary Anne married Albert Clover, but can't find any record of that either.
Any help gratefully received.
Melfordgal

[B Steve]

Hello Melfordgal

Sorry, I can't find any of your missing births or marriages either.

Here are the earlier Snells:-

William Snell m. Elizabeth. She was buried 1712. He was buried 1713. They had seven children.
1. William Snell b.1671.
2. Elizabeth Snell b.1673. She was buried 1679.
3. Mary Snell b.1675.
4. Susannah Snell b.1677.
5. Thomas Snell b.1683.
6. John Snell b.1686. He m. Sarah Lambert. They had eleven children.
 6a. Thomas Snell b.c.1712. He was buried 1733 Preston St.Mary.
 6b. Sarah Snell b.1713 Preston St.Mary.
 6c. Susanna Snell b.1715 Preston St.Mary. She m. William Gridley. He was buried 1752. She was buried 1774. They had seven children.
 6d. Deborah Snell b.1716 Preston St.Mary.
 6e. John Snell b.1718 Preston St.Mary. He m. Martha Clarke. He was buried 1758 Preston St.Mary. She was buried 1800. They had a daughter.
6f. William Snell b.1721 Preston St.Mary.
 6g. Joseph Snell b.and d.1724 Preston St.Mary.
 6h. Joseph Snell b.1725 Preston St.Mary.
 6i. Mary Snell b.1727 Preston St.Mary.
 6j. Robert Snell b.1730 Preston St.Mary. He was buried 1733 Preston St.Mary.
 6k. Elizabeth Snell b.1733 Preston St.Mary. She m. Thomas Levett. He was b.1740 Preston St.Mary. She was buried 1781 Preston St.Mary
7. Charles Snell b.1691. He m. Abigail. He was buried 1758. They had children.

Regards, SteveB

[B Steve]

Here are the earlier Gridleys.

Thomas Gridley b.c.1655. He m. Mary Gardner, 26th Oct 1680 at Gt.Waldingfield. They had nine children.
1. Thomas Gridley bap.1681 at Gt.Waldingfield.
2. Alice Gridley bap.1683 at Gt.Waldingfield.
3. Thomas Gridley bap.1684 at Gt.Waldingfield. He m. Anne Thurston, 1710 at Gt.Waldingfield.
4. William Gridley bap.29th Nov 1691 at Gt.Waldingfield. He m. Ruth Snell, 1714 at Lavenham. They had six children.
 4a. John Gridley b.c.1716.
 4b. William Gridley bap.1717 and buried 1717 at Lavenham.
 4c. William Gridley bap.25th March 1718 at Lavenham. He m. Susannah Snell, 13th Aug 1738 at Preston St.Mary. He was buried 1752 at Preston St.Mary. They had seven children.
4d. Abraham Gridley bap.21st Oct 1722 at Lavenham. He d.1755.
  4e. Ruth Gridley bap.10th Jan 1724 at Lavenham.
  4f. Daniel Gridley bap.19th March 1727 at Lavenham. He m. Dorcas Jarmin. He d.1793. She was bap.19th May 1725 at Glemsford. She d.1802 at Glemsford. They had six children.
5. John Gridley b.c.1695 Lavenham. He m. Mary Hammond. They had three sons.
6. Mary Gridley b.1695 Long Melford.
7. Alice Gridley b.1699 Long Melford.
8. Elizabeth Gridley b.1700 Long Melford.
9. Abraham Gridley b.1702 Long Melford.

Regards, SteveB

ps Do you know who Harry Edward Mills parents were, as I have Mills relatives in the Melford area too!

[Melfordgal]

Hi SteveB,
Thanks for all the info. Brilliant. Thanks also for trying to track down the lost ones. I've been trying for years, but still hoping someone, somewhere will shed some light.
Harry Edward Mills mother was Susan (Susannah) Mills b 1845, actually in Pentlow. His father (on birth certificate but not parish records), was Thomas Bird b 1847 LM although Susan & Thomas never married. Susan's father was Henry Mills, b 1814 Acton. His father James b 1782, was actually born in Hull, although all his siblings and parents were from Lavenham.
Let me know if you require any further info.
Thanks for your help,
Melfordgal.

[B Steve]

This family is getting difficult to piece together. I have just found your Ruth Snell b.Norwich, aged 2 at Smaley Lane, Melford in 1871 Census with her mother, Mary,  aged 25. The head of the usehold is Frank Snell, aged 27 (Mary's brother!!).

In 1851 Mary Ann, aged 5 is with her mother, Sarah (but her age is given as only 30) and Sarah is with William Howe, aged 32 (b.Glemsford), listed as his housekeeper with Mary Ann, 5 and a son, Thomas, aged 3 months.

In 1861 Sarah is listed as wife (but age 40) with William Howe and three children, Mary A, aged 15, Thomas, 10 and William, 5 (all listed as Howe).

If it is the same Sarah she is listed as Snell, aged 54 (a more accurate age) with her widowed mother, Ann in High Street, Lavenham. Sarah Snell aged 65 was living with William and Elizabeth Turner in High Street, Lavenham. Sarah was buried 1887 at Lavenham.

Can we be sure that the Sarah who is clearly your ancestor, is the same one who is back at Lavenham in 1871 and 1881?
Why can't I find Frank Snell before 1871 Census?
Regards, Steve