A First Settler of New Amstel on the Delaware, and Flushing, NY

1) This is from Pat Wardell (Thank you Pat)

1a) "Although there is no proof as yet of the family's precise

European ancestry, it seems likely that the Sneden family

once thought to have been of Dutch descent, probably

originated in England, perhaps Wales, and found it's way to

the American colonies via Amsterdam. It has been

suggested that the name might be derived fro Mt. Snowden,

in Wales, or from the vicinity of Schelten, or Skelton,

in Cumberland, England.

1b) Claes Sneden along with his brother, Jan Sneden,

and Jan's wife; Crietje and their two children.

(their only son, Carsten, apparently left no children),

was the first American Sneden settler, sailing from

Amsterdam in December of 1657 to New Amstel on

the Delaware. Claes (Nicholas), and later his children,

are found in New Amsterdam, Flushing, and Hempstead,

Queens County, New York, from about 1662 (and perhaps

as early as Jan 1658), until 1698 or later. Snedens began to

settle around 1690-1710, in Westchester County, on Western

Long Island (Oyster Bay and vicinity), and in Southern

New Jersey in Salem (and later Cymberland) county.

1c) Snedens (or Snethens), as this branch seems to have

spelled the name, from southern New Jersey, began to

remove to Pennsylvania and further west and south

before the Revolution. These Snethens pioneered the

settlement of Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana,

Iowa, and points further North, South, and West.

1d) During and after the Revolution, several of the

New York Snedens, being Loyalists, settled in Nova

Scotia and New Brunswick. Some of these families or

their descendants later moved back to the United States,

settling in, among other places, New York, northern New

Jersey, North Carolina, and Massachusetts. By 1850

those of the name were widely dispersed, and few with

the surname remained in Westchester County, NY,

and Cumberland and Salem Counties, NJ.

2) On December 23, 1657, Claes Sudeich (Snedich), his

brother Jan, and Jan's wife and children, set sail from

Amsterdam on teh "De St. Jan Baptiste", under Captain

Symon Classen, (Claeson), bound for the Dutch

settlement of New Amstel (later called New Castle) on the

Delaware River. Jan and his probably younger brother,

Claes, are the founders of the Sneden family in America.

They were thought to be descended from a family who were

said to have lived for many years in Amsterdam. The only

clue to this assumption seems to have been that Jan,

Claes, sailed from Amsterdam. It now seems likely

however that the family may have originated in England

and specifically perhaps in Wales.

3) Note: Claes Sneden ("Claes Sudeich" according to one

interpretation ofthe hanwritten ship passenger list

transcripts) came to New Amsterdam in December 1657 on

the St. Jean Baptiste underCaptain Symon Claesen bound

for the Dutch settlement of NewAmstel (later called

New Castle) on the Delaware River. On thesame ship

was his brother, Jan Sneden (and Jan's wife Grietje,and

their two children). Claes Sneden and his brother, Jan,

founders of the Sneden familyin America, were thought

to be descended from a family who weresaid to have

lived for many years in Amsterdam. The only clue to

this assumption seems to have been that Jan, his family,

and hisbrother Claes, sailed from Amsterdam. It

now seems likely,however, that the family may have

orriginated in England, comingto the Netherlands,

specifically Leiden and/or Amsterdam, in theearly

1600's. Claes settled in New Amsterdam. His surname

is often foundspelled "Sneding". Claes Sneden may

have lived in Flushing nearthe Genungs (his niece Grietje,

dau. of Jan Sneden, married JeanGeunon/Genung). He was

known to have been there after 1667.

4) In 1675 a Nicholus Snathan was taxed at Flushing for

"2 landes,10 madoes,

1 horses mares,

2 oxen and boles,

3 cowes,

2 two-yereoldes,

2 yerlings.

Brought in Oct. 9, 1675."

5)Nicholas Snethin dies at Flushing

in or prior to December 1677

leaving a will in which his wife Mary

was appointed soleexecutrix.

6) The will is not recorded, but is reffered to in

"Letters of Administration"

granted to "Mary, the widow ofNicholas Snethin"

September 16, 1678 by Sir Edmond Andross

the proof having been made before the Court of Sessions

held at Jamaica for the North Riding

"in the month of December last"(1677)