Christian Schneider (1695 - ?)

Madeline ????

The large and prolific Snyder family in America is well documented by the Snyder Family Association as tracing back to Christian Schneider, who arrived from Germany in October 1727.

Christian Schneider (Snyder) was one of many refugees from the Palatine (Bavaria), Germany. In the Pennsylvania archives' passengers lists we find that Christian came to America aboard the ship William and Sarah, Captain William Hill, which left Rotterdam, Holland, 18 Sep 1727 and arrived Philadelphia 16 October 1727. The passenger list includes the following Snyders: Christian, Jacob, Martin, Mathias, Madeline and Susannah. Madeline was his wife, and Jacob, Martin and Mattias were probably his brothers. Christian was about 32 years old.

Following their arrival and processing, Christian and his wife Madeline joined thousands of German refugees who settled in northwest New Jersey, about ninety miles north of Philadelphia. They settled near Paulins Creek, Knowlton Township, Warren County (then a part of Sussex County).

Their children, all born in New Jersey were:

    Elizabeth Snyder   1731-?
    George Snyder      1733-?
    Christian Snyder   1735-?
    Peter Snyder       1737-?
    Adam Snyder        1740-1826 m. Ann Freas
    William Snyder     1742-?
    Henry Snyder
    Eva Snyder
    Catherine Snyder
    Ann Snyder
    Christiana Snyder

Adam Snyder (1739 - 1826)

Ann Freas (1740 - 1807)

In the latter part of August, 1793, Adam and his wife Ann Freas with their family of eight left for Canada. They were six weeks on the road, covering about five hundred miles through the wilderness. The “roads” were only Indian trails between settlements. The women and children rode the horses and on wagons. The men walked, and drove the cattle and sheep.

Upon their arrival in Canada, the family settled in the northern part of Gainesborough Township, Lincoln County, (lot 23 in the sixth concession) on The Twenty, or Jordan Creek.

In 1794, he built a saw mill and a grist mill on the Twenty mile creek, and the community became known as Snyder's Mills.

Shortly thereafter, the name of the settlement was changed to St. Ann's. Family legend states that Ann befriended the Indians who came to her door, and was so good to them that they looked upon her as a saint and named the Snyder place “St. Ann's.”

Their children established homes to the east of the homestead, lot after lot.

Ann died 1807, followed by Adam in 1826. Both are buried in St. Ann's churchyard.

Their eight children were:

   Mary Snyder       1767-1830 m. William Mingle
   William Snyder    1768-1850 m. Elizabeth Lindaberry
   Elizabeth Snyder  1771-1845
   John Snyder       1776-1846 m. Christina Dills
   Henry Snyder      1778-1850 m. Mary Dean
   Joseph Snyder     1780-1866 m. Elizabeth Dean
   Peter Snyder      1783-1868 m. Ann Book
   Abigail Snyder

Henry Snyder (1778 - 1850)

Mary Dean (1782 - 1864)

Henry Snyder homesteaded Lot 18 Concession VI in Gainsborough Township, close to his parents.

Henry and Mary had eleven children, all born in St. Ann's:

   John Snyder                m. Lydia Truphant
   Margaret Snyder  1815-1896 m. Ephraim Singer
   Andrew Snyder              m. Emily Truphant
   Jacob Snyder               m. Mary Zimmerman
   Eli Snyder                 m. Matilda Hemstreet
   Henry Snyder               m. Martha McPherson
   Rachel Snyder              m. John Wardell
   Leah Snyder                m. Jacob Rott
   Barbara Snyder             m. Isaac Book
   Mary Snyder                m. Samuel Comfort
   Elizabeth Snyder           m. William Martin

Margaret Snyder (1815 - 1896)

Ephraim Singer (1814 - 1867)

Information on this family is found in the SINGER section of this book.

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Updated 4-15-03