Richard Snowden Ironmaster |
|
---|---|
Born |
Maryland |
December 28, 1688
Died | January 26, 1763 Maryland |
(aged 75)
Resting place | Laurel, Maryland |
Occupation | Iron Producer |
Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Jane Coale (1692–1713) Elizabeth Thomas (1697–1775) |
Children | Deborah, Eliza, Mary, Richard, Thomas, Ann, Margrett, Samuel, Elizabeth, John |
Parent(s) | Richard Snowden Jr. (1666–1720), Mary Linthicum (born 1667) |
Richard Snowden (1688–1763) was the grandson of Richard Snowden Sr (1640–1711), one of Maryland's early colonists, who arrived in 1658. By Articles of Agreement dated July 5, 1705, Snowden and four other partners – Joseph Cowman, Edmund Jenings, John Galloway, and John Prichard – founded the Patuxent Iron Works on the site of Maryland's oldest iron forge. Together they founded one of Maryland's first industries, and settled the land now known as Laurel and Sandy Spring, Maryland.
On the January 11, 1669, 500 acres (2.0 km2) of land called "Iron Mine" were patented from George Yate to Richard Snowden Sr. and Thomas Linthicum, "farmers", for 11,000 lb (5,000 kg) of tobacco. Linthicum sold this land to Snowden Sr. in 1675. In 1685 King Charles (via Lord Baltimore) granted Richard Snowden Sr. 1,976 acres (8.00 km2) of land on the Patuxent River (Robinhood's Forest). On this land, the Quaker Richard Snowden Sr. built the plantation "Birmingham Manor". On August 14, 1688, Snowden Sr. acquired 800 acres (3.2 km2) called Godwell. On April 19, 1715, Snowden Sr. purchased 300 acres (1.2 km2) called "Burgess Choice". On December 10, 1715, 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of land known as "Snowden's Manor" were surveyed for Snowden Sr. near Ashton. Altogether, Richard Snowden Sr. amassed an estate worth over 2,000 pounds by 1715.
In 1719, Richard Snowden Jr. was granted 10,000 acres (40 km2) in Maryland.
In 1720, Richard Snowden inherited Birmingham Manor and all the accumulated lands of his father, Richard Snowden Jr. In October 1723, Snowden Hill was surveyed and granted to Richard Snowden, including 646 acres (2.61 km2) of land by the Columbia road with the West Point Branch running through it. In 1724, Richard Snowden sent workers to build a log core that became "Greenwood", north of Brookeville, Maryland establishing Sandy Spring's and Montgomery County's oldest surviving residence.