A Snelson DataBase and Index
Includes the Snelson Coat of Arms & Armory
Person Page 240
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John Crooks
M, #5980, Deceased, b. 4 March 1754
| Consanguinity | 5th great-uncle of Adrian John Snelson |
Parents
| Father | Thomas Crooks |
| Mother | Ann Davies (b. about 1719) |
| Person References | Anne Davies c 1919 - Thomas Crooks c1717 - aft 1757 |
Main Events
| User Reference Number | John Crooks; 22853 |
| Birth | He was born on 4 March 1754 in St Lawrance, Stoak, Chester. |
John Snelson1,2
M, #5986, Deceased, b. before 18 January 1832, d. 11 November 1924
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Person Exhibits
johnsnel1832
Parents
| Father | Peter Snelson (b. before 2 June 1793, d. 28 May 1836) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Cooper (b. before 14 October 1800, d. 26 March 1888) |
Family: Martha Elizabeth Cox (b. about 1838, d. 29 May 1919)
| Daughter | Catherine Snelson (b. 12 April 1861, d. 16 January 1895) |
| Son | Peter Snelson+ (b. 20 December 1862, d. 22 February 1944) |
| Daughter | Elizabeth Snelson (b. 3 August 1864, d. 16 October 1906) |
| Daughter | Mary Louisa (Polly) Snelson (b. 7 July 1866, d. 19 January 1949) |
| Daughter | Martha Snelson (b. 25 July 1868, d. 20 December 1868) |
| Son | John Snelson (b. 27 March 1870, d. 11 March 1940) |
| Son | Frederick James Snelson (b. 5 January 1872, d. 10 June 1873) |
| Daughter | Annie Snelson (b. 2 May 1874, d. 27 January 1947) |
| Daughter | Martha Snelson (b. 6 June 1876, d. 25 May 1960) |
| Son | Henry Edward Snelson+ (b. 21 March 1878, d. 11 April 1973) |
| Son | Perciville Richard Snelson (b. 26 March 1880, d. 13 September 1954) |
| Person References | Fame & Infamy |
| Last Edited | 25 May 2025 |
Main Events
| Reference Number | John Snelson had reference number 987. |
| Biography | See notes. |
| Note | Obituary A Gulgong Pioneer DEATH OF JOHN SNELSON. (From Our Gulgong Representaive). The death took place at his residence, Gulgong, on Tuesday evening of Mr. John Snelson, the oldest resident of the Gulgong district. Mr. Snelson, who had reached the great age of 93 years and 10 months, was born at Rulford, Chester England, and had been in New South Wales for 70 years. He practically spent his life time in the Gulgong district, where he was highly respected. Despite his wonderful age, the late Mr. Snelson was a very active man up to three years ago, when his health commenced to give way. He possessed a wonderful memory for happenings and experiences in his lifetime. In his earlier days deceased was an enthusiastic sport-man, one of his chief hobbies being pigeon shootinh. Many years ago pigeon matches were frequently held on his property at Gulgong, and the late John Snelson was a gunman who could hold his own with the best. Fishing was another pastime that he paid much attention to. During deceased's residence in the district, he followed farming pursuits with marked success. He was a man of sterling character, and the fine example set by his children, all of whom are well known and noted for their generous assistance to charitable objects, must have been inspired in them by their late father, who, to quote the words of those who know him intimately was a fine old man. Deceased married a Miss Margaret Cox at Sydney 64 years ago, and she pre-deceased him by some years. He leaves the following family: Peter, Mrs. J. Bax (Sydney), John, Annie, Martha (matron Gulgong Hospital), Henry and Percival (Gulgong). The funeral took place yesterday, the remains being laid to rest in the Church of England portion of the Gulgong cemetery, the Rev. C. J. Allen officiating. The funeral was a fine tribute to the man who had lived a lifetime in Gulgong, and who had made an army of friends. Mr. Turner had charge of the funeral arrangements. To the bereaved family we extend deepest sympathy. Funding for digitisation contributed by State Library of NSW Digital Excellence Program. |
| User Reference Number | He; 987 |
| Note | Event Memos from GEDCOM Import... Biography John emigrated in 1858 leaving Liverpool on the ship "Switzerland" on 13 January 1858 and, after a voyage of 90 days, arrived in Sydney on 13 April 1858. The "Switzerland" was built in the USA and was under master Daniel Doherty. Both inbound and outbound passenger lists are on microfilm at the Family History Centre in the State Library of New South Wales. John describes himself as a farm labourer of Gresford, Denbigh. The reference to Gresford plus the reference to his place of birth as Burton together made me convinced of our kinship. and that he must in all probability be related to my Gresford ancestors. Alas, after a great deal of research, this has proved not to be the case. Damn ! I am having some trouble with dates. On arrival on 13 April 1858 in Australia he was aged 23 ..... therefore putting his birth date between 14 April 1834 and 13 April 1835. His marriage certificate records that he was 27 on July 4 1860, putting his date of birth between 5 July 1832 and 4 July 1833. Wallace Peter Snelson writes that John was baptised in Pulford, in May 1832, that he came to Australia in 1853 on the "Switzerland" and that he married Martha Cox in 1858. [:TAB:] Some of these dates do not appear to be entirely in agreement with some official documentation. Joan Betty Snelson also writes that John was born in Pulford, Chester or Denbigh in 1832 and that he came to Australia on the "Switzerland", arriving 13 April 1858 aged 23, and that he died aged 93. We know from probate and his will that John died 11 November 1924; this means that if he was 93 when he died, then he must have been born between 12 November 1830 and 11 November 1831 ! To make matters worse, his gravestone ( I've seen it ) reads that he died on 11 November 1926 aged 94 ! Oh dearie me. I now have definite information from the parish records which are shown above against John's prime data. Georgina, my wife, found three graves side by side at Gulgong Cemetery. John's gravestone reads that he died in 1926 putting his date of birth between 12 November 1831 and 11 November 1832. So, if we ignore the arrival records it would appear that a birth date of late 1832 is most likely; this would mean that Wallace's date for baptism is a little early and that the monument inscription is accepted preferably to Joan's record. However, I think that the probate document, being a legal document signed by solicitors maybe is correct - the question that remains is his age when he passed away. The monument inscription giving the year of death as 1926 must be wrong. The Peter Snelson who is buried at Pulford with his wife Elizabeth was aged 42 when he died in May 1836, and his wife was aged 88 when she died in March 1888. This would mean that he was 38 and she 32 when John was born. John recorded in the passenger lists that he was born in Denbigh in the Church of England faith. He could read and write. As I was perusing the passenger lists, one name caught my eye . Martha Cox ! So, it looks like John met Martha on the "Switzerland". I came to this conclusion as the passenger lists record that she was born in Somerset. John's parents are listed as Peter and an illegible name .... at first I thought it said Mary, but this cannot be right. I would have to go and examine the original records to confirm this. He states that he has one relative in New South Wales, his brother Richard. It looks like he landed with £4-0-0 sterling in his pocket. John lived near Singleton until 1872 when he went to the Gulgong gold diggings, and selected a farm which he named "Broad Oak" after his home in Burton, Wales. He may have been living closer to Eurunderee, perhaps at a place called New Pipeclay at the time when his children ( Peter, John and Mary ) were enroled at the school there with Henry Lawson. Evidently, John at one time was a miner on the kaolin deposits - these may be the deposits situated close to Home Rule or those at New Pipeclay. Joan Betty Snelson has a wonderful family photograph album which she showed to me when I visited her and her Aunt Connie ( Skey Snelson ) at her home in Wellington on 2nd October 1989. The album includes a photograph of "Broad Oak" at Gulgong. Tom Saunders found gold on Red Hill where Gulgong now stands at Easter 1870. Following a heavy shower of rain, he came across pieces of gold lying against the roots of grasses bordering a sheep paddock. Half his luck ! Inside a couple of hours he had unearthed 14 ounces of gold. By June 1870, six weeks later, 500 people were on the goldfields. With the discovery of the Canadian Lead in August 1871 and Home Rule in May 1872, by December of that year there were 20,000 miners, families - including John Snelson - and all the service industies and businesses. Described during the "roaring days" as the hub of the world, today Gulgong is an important centre situated 190 miles from Sydney, 18 miles north of Mudgee and 50 miles east of Wellington. With its narrow streets, Gulgong has retained much of its gold rush appearance and atmosphere, but has settled down to become a thriving agricultural and commercial centre. The town and district has a population of 2,200. This is in vast contrast to the position some 120 years ago following the discovery of gold literally lying on the ground by Tom Saunders while he was herding sheep on 14th April 1870. The field has produced to date 600,000 ounces of gold. Assay was about 980 parts per 1000 pure. If a method could be found to control drainage, large amounts of gold could be recovered from deep leads into the basalt. [:TAB:] T.A. Browne ( author Rolf Boldrewood - "Robbery Under Arms" and "For the Term of His Natural Life" .... ) was mining warden in 1871-72. O'Connell Town in his "Miner's Right" is in fact the nearby village of Home Rule. _Browne, the local magistrate, once arranged for another writing celebrity, Anthony Trollope, to visit the town. For the poet Henry Lawson, Gulgong provided the colour and background for many of his famous stories and poems. His parents, Peter Larsen ( sic ) and Louisa Albury moved to New Pipeclay, an old diggings near Mudgee, in 1868. They moved up to the vicinity of the Happy Valley mine near Gulgong in 1871 during the goldrush. So it was that Henry Lawson ( as he became ), met in real life the characters that were so vividly to appear later in his prose and poetry. Who knows, perhaps these characters included the Snelson family who he knew well from his days at Eurunderee School and New Pipeclay. According to the book "Founding Cobar fathers", John was a Welshman and came to Gulgong in 1872 and contracted to build roads and bridges in the Dunedoo, Tambar Springs and Malalle ( Denistone town ) area. His son, Peter was already showing his determination and was in charge of a gang of 40 men by the time he was only 16 years of age. I visited Gulgong as part of a family holiday on Friday 29 September 1989 and made enquiries at two Real Estate Agents - Jack Gillam Real Estate and The Property Shop. Jack Gillam himself remembered Harry Snelson and Martha the Matron at Gulgong Hospital. We found Harry's block on some transfer documents relating to the Ridout landholdings. On the map, H.E. Snelson held block 414. This must be Henry Edward Snelson, son of this John Snelson. I found John's blocks numbered 165, 164 and 154 on the Environs of Gulgong Map DP755433 of the Cudgegong Shire P6502125R, map dated 1965, at the Mudgee Shire Office later that day. These are 3 X 10 acre blocks almost due East of the Cemetery beneath Flirtation Hill. The land is now apparently held by Charles William Williardt c/- "Wonga Lee", Gulgong. The assessment number of the blocks is 3093/1. It may have at one time belonged to a Mr. Ridout. We spoke to Mr. Ridout's nephew on his property next to John Snelson's old place and he suggested we write to his mother Jan Ridout or his Uncle - Fred Ridout - for further information. [:TAB:] According to the letter that I received from John's great granddaughter Joan Betty Snelson, John and Martha had at least eleven children. Joan has also sent to me a copy of a photograph of John taken at his Golden Wedding. He looks like a remarkable fellow, with his long white beard, hat and rifle. Wallace Peter Snelson was at the celebrations at Broad Oak and remembers that it was within a day or two of the World Champion Boxing match between Jack Johnson and Tommy Burns. Wallace recalls that John's brother Richard was in attendance too, and that there was an account of the Golden Wedding celebrations in a local newspaper. There is also a family photograph somewhere taken on the day - I wonder whether Joan has that ? His death is recorded in the Probate microfych in the Family History Centre in the NSW State Library. In his will, John left all his estate to his sons Henry Edward Snelson, Percival Richard Snelson and his daughter Annie Snelson equally, but after payment to his daughter Martha Snelson of 200 pounds sterling. He left Ll897-17s-7d. He made the first three joint executors and signed the will on 3 July 1919, just 6 weeks after his wife Martha died. Probate was granted on 22 January 1925 and the document gives the date of death as 11 November 1924. In January 1995, while driving down the road to Home Rule ... past the Canadian Lead turnover on the right, over the railway line ... I noticed that the dirt road which leads to the kaolin plant ( at the Three Mile Creek junction with Henry Lawson Drive) has been named Snelson's Lane[:ITAL][:BOLD]. This road carries on past the plant and winds out to several properties. A letter from L. Wallis at the Mudgee Historical Society reveals that the lane had been known by that name for at least 30 years. Mudgee Council erected the sign about two years ago - say in 1993. The letter says that "it is certain that as Snelsons had property in that area, the lane would lead to it[:ITAL]". Daisy Tuck-Lee from the Mudgee Shire Library rang me on Friday 3rd March 1995 and told my wife that the lane had been named Snelson's Lane for ages. She reported that the Snelsons had property some 3-4 kilometers down the Canadian Lead Road. This had belonged to Harry and Percival Snelson who had passed control over to Fred Ridout ( 063-741414 ). Evidently, no buildings are left. |
| Residence | He resided in Broad Oak, Burton, Denbighshire, Wales, in 1832.3 |
| Birth | He was born before 18 January 1832 in Cheshire, at Pulford. |
| Christening | John was christened on 18 January 1832 in the local parish church, Pulford, Cheshire.4 |
| His father Peter Snelson died on 28 May 1836 in Broad Oak Farm, Burton, Denbighshire, Wales. | |
| Immigration | John Snelson immigrated to "Switzerland", Liverpool, on 13 April 1858 [[Principal Role]] [[Witness Role: Immigrant]].5 |
| Marriage | John Snelson and Martha Elizabeth Cox were married on 4 July 1860 in St. James' Church.6,7 |
| His daughter Catherine Snelson was born on 12 April 1861 in Belford, Near_Singleton, NSW, Australia. | |
| His son Peter Snelson was born on 20 December 1862 in Belford, Near_Singleton, NSW, Australia. | |
| His daughter Elizabeth Snelson was born on 3 August 1864 in New South Wales, Australia. | |
| His daughter Mary Louisa (Polly) Snelson was born on 7 July 1866 in New South Wales, Australia. | |
| His daughter Martha Snelson was born on 25 July 1868 in New South Wales, Australia. | |
| His daughter Martha Snelson died on 20 December 1868 in New South Wales, Australia. | |
| His son John Snelson was born on 27 March 1870 in New South Wales, Australia. | |
| Occupation | John Snelson was a farmer/Miner in on the goldfields, Home Rule, near Gulgong, about 1872. |
| His son Frederick James Snelson was born on 5 January 1872 in New South Wales, Australia. | |
| His son Frederick James Snelson died on 10 June 1873 in New South Wales, Australia. | |
| His daughter Annie Snelson was born on 2 May 1874 in New South Wales, Australia. | |
| His daughter Martha Snelson was born on 6 June 1876 in New South Wales, Australia. | |
| Occupation | John Snelson was an as a miner at the time of the in opening of the Bark School in October 1876. |
| His son Henry Edward Snelson was born on 21 March 1878 in New South Wales, Australia. | |
| His son Perciville Richard Snelson was born on 26 March 1880 in New South Wales, Australia. | |
| His mother Elizabeth Cooper died on 26 March 1888. | |
| His daughter Catherine Snelson died on 16 January 1895 in Orange, New South Wales, Australia. | |
| His daughter Elizabeth Snelson died on 16 October 1906. | |
| His wife Martha Elizabeth Cox died on 29 May 1919. | |
| Death | John Snelson died on 11 November 1924 in Broad Oak, Gulgong.8 |
| Probate | The estate of John Snelson was probated on 22 January 1925 [[Principal Role]] [[Witness Role: Deceased]].9 |
| Burial | John's remains were buried in November 1926 in the cemetery, Gulgong, [[Principal Role]] [[Witness Role: Buried]].10 |
Citations
- [S62] Letter from Joan Betty Snelson of Wellington(NSW)
- [S1452] Image Copies: England - Issue 4.0
- [S249] Pulford Baptisms 1813-60
- [S95] Letter from Wallace Peter Snelson - Dec 1988
- [S206] Immigration Index to Assisted Migrants 1844-59
- [S166] NSW Marriages 1856-1905 NSW Marriages 1860 Richard Snelson married Bridget Donovan 418 1860 John Snelson married Martha Elizabeth Cox 476 1864 John Snelson married Louisa Jane Bryan 1054 1866 James Snelson married Anne Dixon 2696 1881 William Snelson Married Mary Dooley 125 1885 Mary M. B. Snelson married William H. Crowe 451 1886 Clara L. M. ( ? ) Snelson married Jethro W. Clarke 3827 1886 Elizabeth Snelson married Henry Samuel Bucholtz 6184 1887 Mary L. Snelson married John F. Bax 5902 1893 Percy T. Snelson married Alice M. Paget 6037 1893 Peter Snelson married Anna S. Webb 4945 1895 Caroline H. E. Snelson married James F. Crow 2597 1899 James C. Snelson married Mary A. Lloyd 2088 1901 Joseph Snelson married Harriette A. Harris 1643 1904 Frank Snelson married Sophia E. Wood 4549 1905 Ethel M. Snelson married Shadrach Taylor 9911
- [S63] Society Of Australian Genealogists Microfyche
- [S184] NSW Probate Indexes 1905-46
- [S207] Will of John Snelson ( d. 1924 )
- [S218] Eileen MAXWELL, The Story of Gulgong - Written in Gold
Grace Roselle Benyon
F, #5994, Deceased, b. 17 December 1915, d. 2 September 1996
| Consanguinity | 2nd cousin 1 time removed of Adrian John Snelson |
Parents
| Father | Arthur Benyon (b. 4 November 1879, d. 29 January 1964) |
| Mother | Louisa Amelia M. Rawlings (b. 5 December 1882) |
Family: Stanley Harold Jones (b. 29 August 1914, d. 8 April 1996)
| Person References | Anne Jones George Benyon 1783-1850 |
Main Events
| Also Known As | Grace Roselle Benyon was also known as Grace Jones. |
| User Reference Number | She; 20060 |
| Birth | She was born on 17 December 1915 in Copthorne Hospital, Shrewsbury. |
| Marriage | Grace Roselle Benyon and Stanley Harold Jones were married on 22 February 1942. |
| Her father Arthur Benyon died on 29 January 1964 in Chester, Cheshire, England. | |
| Her husband Stanley Harold Jones died on 8 April 1996 in Shrewsbury. | |
| Death | She died on 2 September 1996, at age 80, in Copthorne Hospital, Shrewsbury. |
Census
| Label and Year | Manual |
|---|---|
| Census 1939 | Grace Roselle Benyon Id #5,994 (Principal) was at home on Census night 1939 at Bebington; Address: Hermitage Lodge, Allport Road Witness Role: daughter Original Documents, Source and Citations here |
Johanna Crowe
F, #5995, Deceased
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Parents
| Father | John Croagh Crowe (b. 3 September 1858, d. 1924) |
| Mother | Honorah O'Leary (b. 16 June 1871, d. 31 March 1953) |
Main Events
| User Reference Number | Johanna Crowe; 25199 |
| Her father John Croagh Crowe died in 1924. | |
| Her mother Honorah O'Leary died on 31 March 1953 in Dungarvan, Waterford, Ireland. |