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Note: Jacob came to Athens PA from Stroudsburg. "'The journey was made in a canoe, containing the family and their belongings, which included a sheep or two and some poultry.' A site was finally selected on the west side of the Chemung river, where Mr. Snell continued to reside, being the first permanent settler of the township. A son, Abraham, who saw the light July 5, 1784, was the first white child born in Athens township." (Heverly, "Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County, v. 1, p. 120) In his history of Bradford County, H.C. Bradsby describes the Snell land as being west of the Tioga and Susquehanna Rivers; the five tracts after No. 15 "were those of John, Abram, Jacob and Henry Snell. On Lot No. 18, Jacob Snell's son was born, Abram Snell, July 5, 1785, the first white child born here" (Bradsby, "History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Selections," p. 397).
According to a sketch published by Mrs. Jennie F. Snell, they were across the river from the cabin of Andreas Budd. "The Snells found a few Indian families on the Point and scattered along the river bank above them, probably Sapoonies or Tuteloes. They were friendly, however, especially the squaws, who were frankly curious as to the belongings of the family, even the clothing. They were very covetous of the cooking utensils, whose use they understood. One squaw in particular frequently borrowed an iron pot, which, with other cumbersome utensils, was kept on a bench outside the cabin. One day she was told it could not be spared, but when a little later Mrs. Snell wished to use it, the kettle was missing. The squaw was rapidly paddling her canoe across the river, but when she saw Mrs. Snell she stood up, with the kettle in her hand, and called gleefully, 'Me pottie, me pottie.' This clever trick so amused the owner, that, for harmony's sake, the coveted pot was left in the squaw's possession." (Murray, Louise Wells. "A History of Old Tioga Point and Early Athens, Pennsylvania," p. 241)
Swore the Oath of Allegiance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on Aug. 7, 1777 in Northampton County (An Alphabetized Listing of those Subscribers to the Oaths of Allegiance, Northampton County, PA 1777-1784).
Luzerne County Register of Wills, Will Books 1787-1906, in the Old Registers Index, v. 1-2, Jacob Snell, Administrator Anna Margaret Snell. Sureties Jesse Fell and Putnam Catlin. Date of bond May 2, 1792, penalty and inventory 800 - July 18, 1792. Under accounts was listed Oct. 10, 1794. No will found. It is assumed from this that Jacob died in Luzerne County, not in Philadelphia as stated elsewhere, and that he was dead at least by May of 1792.
A Jacob Schnell arrived on Rotterdam, last from Cowes, on Sept. 28, 1749, in Philadelphia, on the ship Ann. The Ann carried cargo and passengers from Basil, Wurttemburg, Zweybrecht and Darmstadt. (Hinke, "Pennsylvania German Pioneers", v. 1, p. 417)
A statue, entitled "Protection of the Flag" and located on Main Street in Athens Pa. opposite the Spalding Memorial Library, was donated to the town by Joseph Whipple and Charlotte Snell Stickler, descendents of Jacob Snell. It was designed by sculptor George Thomas Brewster, and was dedicated in 1902.
"Pennsylvania Pensioners of 1835" states that Jacob Snell, musician, received an annual allowance of $60, and had received a total of $540.17. The law under which his pension was inscribed, increased or reduced was June 7, 1785. His death date was listed as August 12, 1805.
A search for Snell records at the Family History Library by Carol Smith uncovered an interesting pension record for an Abraham Snell. This Abraham applied for a pension from Chemung, Tioga County, NY (very near Tioga Point/Athens, Bradford County, PA) in 1832, at the age of 72. In his application he stated that he was born on Feb. 2, 1760 "at a place called Paulin Kill in the County of Sussex and State of New Jersey". When he entered the service in the Revolutionary War, he was living in Lower Smithfield in the County of Northampton. After the war, he lived at the same place about 10 (13?) years, then at Tioga Point, Bradford County for about 32 years, and then had been living in the town of Chemung about 4 years, "his present residence being but a short distance from that of 32 years at Tioga Point."
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