My SNELLING page is another short one.  The progenator, Richard c1760-1827, seems to have appeared out of nowhere: there are no possible parents married in Hertfordshire.  He married Eleanor c1790, but I have not been able to find a definite marriage, certainly not in Hertfordshire.  There is a possible at St Marylebone, London in 1789 of a Richard Snelling to Eleanor ANDREWS:  both were described as otp, and there were no family witnesses; in fact, the witnesses were regulars, perhaps churchwardens, suggesting a quiet if not secret wedding.   If you can confirm this or have any other information about it, please E-mail me

The first positive records of Richard are the christenings of his children in Hemel Hempstead and Great Gaddesden, Herts, his licence of the Red Lion, Water End (still there) and his burial at Gt Gaddesden in 1827.  I also have his will on file, for its time, the shortest I have seen.

There two small rays of light:  in 1786, a Richard Snelling was recorded in the Militia at Little Hadham: he does not seem to have been there in earlier or later years, but a closer look at the Parish will have to be carried out.  The second is Richard SNELL, who appears in the Militia Lists at Flamstead in 1784/5/6:  as Flamstead is also the parish where an Eleanor ANDREWS or ANDERSON was baptised, this alo has promise.

The Red Lion passed to his widow Eleanor on Richard's death, then to their grandson William Snelling NORRIS, and finally to Thomas ROWLEY, husband of his gt grandaughter Jesslyn nee NORRIS.  Alas, it and the other Chiltern pubs owned by the NORRIS family, have long been in other hands!

Although I can not claim him as an ancestor, Richard's son John must have been a character: he had 14 children by two wives, and spent a short time in Fleet Debtors' Prison.  If your name is Snelling and you live in or near Hemel Hempstead,  you are probably  descended from him.  E-mail me for further details.

This is the information I have so far:

Richard SNELLING (c1760-1827) = Eleanor Nee?
    Eleanor bapt 1790 = David NORRIS
          full family details on NORRIS page
    John bapt 1792 m (1) Sarah HILL  (2) Sarah KEEN
         some details of next two generations held.
    Elizabeth bapt 1793 = David BLACKNELL
         some details of next generation held
    Sarah bapt 1796 = Caleb HELEY
         some details held of next generation
    Ann bapt 1800 = W. BLACKNELL
         some details of next generation held
    Caroline bapt 1802 d 1803

If you can add or correct anything, think you may be connected with anybody above, or would just like a chat, E-mail me.

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Last Updated 12. May 2001