Thomas Snowden
M, #18, b. 1798, d. 26 January 1875
| Birth* | 1798 | Thomas Snowden was born in 1798 at Pennsylvania. |
| Christening | 24 January 1799 | He was christened on 24 January 1799.1 |
| Marriage* | circa 1821 | He married Sarah N McKay, daughter of Thomas McKay and Elizabeth Jolly, circa 1821 at Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania. |
| Event-Misc* | 1821 | Thomas Snowden was "Snowden and Brother's origins can be traced to 1821, when John Wiegand (1800-1878) and Thomas Snowden (1798-?) formed a partnership to make surgical instruments. Both were native Pennsylvanians: Snowden's ancestors left England and settled in Bucks County in the late seventeenth cetury..."
Thomas Snowden appeared in Philadelphia directories as a carpenter in 1816 but began listing himself as a "surgeons' instrument maker" in 1823. The next year (1824) the partnership of Wiegand and Snowden appeared in city directories for the first time. The firm prospered steadily and by mid century was referred to as "a very old house doing the best business in their line of any in the city." Over the years, Snowden and Wiegand brought sons and nephews into the trade as apprentices, instrument makers, clerks, and bookkeepers.
There is lots more history of the Snowdens in the introduction for this catalogue in 1821.2 |
| Census1850* | 1850 | He appeared on the 1850 census as the head of household, South Mulberry Ward, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania, (Evd 54) pg 271 age 52 surgical instrument maker w/wife & 8 kids. |
| Marriage* | after 1858 | He married Anna (__________) after 1858 at Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania. |
| Census1860 | 1860 | Thomas Snowden appeared on the 1860 census as the head of household, 14th Ward 2nd division, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania, (Evd 55) age 60 cobbler w/4 of his kids, wife missing. |
| Census1870 | 1870 | He appeared on the 1870 census as the head of household, 14th Ward 42nd district, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania, (Evd 364) pg 204 age 70 w/2nd wife & 4 of his kids. |
| Death* | 26 January 1875 | He died on 26 January 1875 at Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania, date per Craig Hubbard - need to find record. Not in 1880 census lending credibility to 1875 death. |
Citations
- [S473] Rex Ennis 25550 Gilfford St Rd Watertown NY 13601.
- [S390] Surgical and Dental Instrument Catalogues from the Civil War Era. Snowden & Brother (1860) and John Weiss & Son (1863), Introduction by James Edmonson Evd #390.