Morrison's Pensions
Death Notice for Jacob Snell
Another Patriot
of the Revolution gone - Died at Stonearabia, Montgomery County, on the 28""i
August last, Jacob Snell, aged seventy-seven years.
The deceased, in the revolutionary struggle, "before he attained the
age of 16 years, espoused and took up arms in the cause of liberty; and by
his activity and zeal soon distinguished himself as one of the most efficient
actors, at that place, in the contest which resulted in the achievement of
American Independence. Few families sacrificed more to freedom than the family
of the deceased.- His father and his only brother both fell in the Oriskany
Battle with Gen. Herkimer in 1777; and in the Battle at Stonearabia, where
Col. Brown was killed in 1780, the deceased was severely wounded, for which
in afterlife he received the bounty of the Government as an invalid pensioner.
The activity and services of the deceased in the war, as well as his competency
for civil employment, gained for him early in life the attention and confidence
of his fellow-citizens, which he preserved until his death. He repeatedly
represented Montgomery, his native County in both branches of our state
Legislature; he held the office of Sheriff, and long occupied a seat upon
the bench as a county Judge, besides being honored in various other public
stations both civil and military, all which he filled with credit to himself
and usefulness to the public. His education and manners were after the Old
School. He was dignified as a public functionary, kind and condescending
as a neighbor, ardent as a friend, and indulgent as a parent. To a mildness
of manner and equanimity of temper which nothing could ruffle, he united
on energy and inflexibility of purpose, which enabled him to surmount obstacles
of the greatest difficulty in the accomplishment of his purposes. Nor was
his usefulness confined to the discharge of those duties which as a public
officer devolved upon him,. He was equally useful in the more private walks
of life. No man took a more active interest, and no one exerted a more serviceable
influence in the improvement of their condition, both moral and intellectual,
of the community in which he more immediately moved. The establishment of
schools and churches in the society and neighborhood in which he lived, were
among the objects of his earliest and first attention; and through a long
and somewhat eventful life he was un remitted in his exertions, and contributed
freely and cheerfully of his time and his substance to the cause of education
and religion. His last days and several of his last years were employed in
procuring for his surviving compatriots of the Revolution and the widows
of deceased patriots the Reward of the Government for Revolutionary services
and sufferings.- What is remarkable in the history of the deceased is that
he died and through his whole life lived on the same farm on which he was
born. He early in life attached himself to the Dutch Church at Stonearabia,
of which he continued a permanent and exemplary member until his death. He
died the death of the Christian, with the full assurance of being admitted
into the Joy and presence of his Lord and Heavenly Father, to celebrate his
praises and glory through endless eternity. – Communicated. (Indorsed) "Estimated
date of birth about 1760.”
Dr. Jacob
G. Snell's scrapbook, MSS 3-47, Montgomery County Historical Society, newspaper
clipping, rear flyleaf, no date (1838).
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