Mark Snow (1628 to 1694) and his wives Anne Cooke and Jane Prence of Plymouth and Eastham, Massachusetts

Mark Snow was born 9 May 1628 at Plymouth, Massachusetts, the son of Nicholas and Constance (Hopkins) Snow. [Eastham/Orleans Vital Records p 65] Constance was a Mayflower passenger, as was her father Stephen Hopkins. I wrote about Mark's parents here.As a teenager he moved with his parents to the new settlement of Eastham on Cape Cod, then part of Plymouth Colony. They lived in the part of Eastham that would later become Orleans.

Mark Snow married, first, Anne Cooke at Eastham on 18 January 1654. [Eastham/Orleans VR p 65] She died Eastham 24 or 25 July 1656. [Eastham/Orleans VR p 65] She was the daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (Ring) (Deane) Cooke.
Anne and Mark had one child:

1. Anna b 7 July 1656  [Eastham/Orelans VR p 65]; m Eldad Atwood 14 Feb 1683/4 at Eastham and had a large family; died before 7 July 1714 when administration of the estate of Anna and Eldad was granted to their son John Atwood; the 22 September 1673 will of Josiah Cooke Sr. mentions grandchild Anna Snow.

Mark Snow married, second, Jane Prence at Plymouth on 9 January 1660/61. [Eastham/Orleans VR p 65a] Jane was born 1 November 1637 at Duxbury, Massachusetts, the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Collier) Prence. [Mayflower Descendant 6:230] Thomas Prence served many important roles in Plymouth Colony including Governor. I wrote about Thomas Prence here.Mark and Mary are my 9th great-grandparents on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’s side of the family.

Jane and Mark had eight children born Eastham [births recorded Eastham/Orleans VR p 65 as children of Mark Snow; marriages from Austin]:

2. Mary b 30 November 1661; married William Nickerson 22 January 1690/91 and had a large family; died between 1718-1721 [Austin]

3. Nicholas b 6 December 1663; m Lydia Shaw 4 April 1689 and had a large family; lived at Harwich and then Rochester; died between 1751-1754

4. Elizabeth b 9 May 1666; d Eastham 18 January 1675/6 [Eastham Orleans VR p 65]

5. Thomas b. 6 August 1668; m 1) Hannah Sears 8 February 1692/3; m 2) 2nd 30 Sept 1706 Lydia (Sears) Hamlin; had children by both wives; d. after 1 May 1737 when son was still called “Jr” in records 

6. Sarah b. 10 May 1671; mentioned in mother’s 1703 will; no further record

7. Prence/Prince b. 22 May 1674; married Hannah Storrs about 1698 and had a large family; died 7 July 1742

8 Elizabeth b 22 June 1676; d Eastham 22 March 1677/8 [Eastham/Orleans VR p 65a]

9. Hannah b 16 Sept 1679; not mentioned in mother’s 1703 will so likely died before then

I find it interesting that Jane and Mark had eight children, as did most of their children who married. I descend from Nicholas.

Mark Snow was on the 1643 list of men able to bear arms at Plymouth [NEHGR 4:256] and admitted a freeman at Eastham on 3 June 1657. As a member of one of Eastham’s founding families, it is not surprising Mark Snow was active in town government: [Austin, Pratt, Hawes]

• Selectman for 18 years
• Deputy to Plymouth Court for 6 years
• Constable
• Highway Surveyor
• Member of Town Council
• Town Clerk beginning in 1663 for 14 years, succeeding his father
• Captain of Eastham's Military Company in 1658
• Served on the Council of War
• Served on several juries and grand juries

In 1677 Mary Ingham of Scituate was tried for witchcraft, accused of causing Mehitable Woodworth to fall into violent fits and suffer great pains. Mark Snow was on the jury that found her not guilty. On the same day he was on the jury that tried three Indians, Timothy Jacked (alias Canjuncke), Nassamaquat and Pompacanshe, who were indicted for murdering John Knowles, John Tisdall Sr and Samuel Atkins. The first two were found “very suspicious of the murder charged on them” and the third “wee find nothing against him.”  The Indians were sent out of the country, including Atkins because he was a prisoner taken in war. [Records of New Plymouth 5:223-24]

He has been called “a man of large usefulness and influence.” [Alden] Mark often witnessed wills and took inventories. [See Plym Col Records 4: 176; 5:57, 92, 113, 144, 164, 195, 230, 257; 6:10, 35, 59, 84, 108, 129, 168, 186, 207, 242] 

Governor Thomas Prence, in his 13 March 1672/3 will, bequeathed to his daughter Jane, wife of Mark Snow, his silver tankard, and in a 28 March 1673 codicil left her a bed. She also was to receive 1/8 residue of his estate. [PCPR 3:1:58-9]

Mark received Harwich land, called Giles’ Great Lott, at his father's death in 1676, called Giles' "Great lott." [Paine]

On 25 February 1678 he and four others relinquished land on west side of Stoney Brook, Harwich, because of border disputes with Yarmouth. One of the agents that determined the East boundary line in 1682. [Austin]

He is named in his father Nicholas Snow's 14 November 1676 will, receiving land at Namskekitt where his house now stands and marsh and meadow and two-thirds of Giles’ Great Lot. To split the cattle and moveables upon his mother's death amongst all siblings. [Anderson]

Mark Snow, along with his mother Constant and brother John, were named administrators of his father Nicholas Snow’s estate on 6 March 1676/7. His father left him 20 acres of land at Namskaket (Orleans) where Nicholas’ house stood, two acres of meadow and all his broken marsh there, two-thirds of Giles’ Great Lott at Satucket (Brewster) lying next to the Indians’ ground. After Constant’s death, all of the children were to equally divide the farm animals and household items. [Plym Col Recs 5:220] [Hawes]

He died between 23 November 1694 (date of his will) and 9 January 1694/5 (date of inventory) at Eastham, so possibly in December 1694. He was 66 years old. He is probably buried at Cove Burying Ground in Orleans without a surviving stone.

Mark Snow of Eastham wrote his will on 23 November 1694; proved 16 January 1694/5. [Barnstable County Probate Records, 1:111] He remembered his sons Nicholas, Thomas and Prence, wife Jane (named sole executor), and grandchild Jonathan Snow. 

Bequests were as follows:

• To "my Son Nicolas a parcel of Land where his house Stands computed at twenty and Six Acres according to bounds Sett down in ye purchasers Book of Records with two acres of meadow Lying at ye head of Nameskekit according to Record as aforesd" also "one half of my Lott of Land Lying at Satuckitt between Jonathan Banges and ye Indian Bounds" also "one half of a parcel of meadow Lying in ye Township of yarmouth in a place Calleds blue meadow on ye South Side of ye Bass River"
• To "my Son Thomas Snow ye other half of my Lott where his house Stands on that Side next ye Indian Rainge and ye one half of my meadow in yarmouth in ye before Specified meadow "
• To "my Son Prince Snow after my wifes decease or widowhood my now dweling house and all ye Lands Adjoyning and fifteen acres of Land above ye Comon Roade according to bounds Specified in ye Record afore Sd" also "three Acres of meadow that Lyies below my now dwelling house according to Bounds Set down in ye before Specified Book of Records
• To "my Son Thomas Snow an Acre of Land at ye northernmost end of my Lott in ye old fields Comonly So Called and another Small division of Land Estimated at three quarters of an acre Lying in ye before Specified old fields at Satuckett between Ensign Bangs and Thomas Freeman 
• To "my Son Prince Snow ye Remainder of my Lott of Land in ye before Specified Indian fields after my wifes decease"
• To "my Sons Nicholas and Thomas my Lott of Land Containing three acres of Land according to Record Lying between John Freemans pasture and ye Common Road
• To "my Son Prince after my wifes decease an acre and an half of meadow Lying between James Cole and Stephen Hopkins in Nameskeket meadow according to bounds Specified in ye before Specified Records:"
• "All my Lands that Lye undevided after my wifes decease I give and bequeath to my three Sons Nicholas Thomas and Prince to be equally divided between them"
• To "my Loving wife Jane Snow all my whole personal Estate After my debts and Funeral Charges are paid
• To "my Son Prince Snow my muskit and Catusbox and Cutlas and one pistol"
• To "my Son Thomas Snow my Back Sword and one pistol :"
• To "my grand child Jonathan Snow my Carbine”

The witnesses were Samuel Knowles, Thomas Crosby, Jr., and Jonathan Sparrow. They made oath to the will on 16 January 1694/5, before Barnabas Lothrop, Judge of Probate. The will was recorded 9 April 1695.

On 9 January, 1694/5, Jonathan Bangs and Israel Cole took the inventory of Mark Snow’s estate. [Barnstable County Probate Record 1:111-112] It is lengthy but is not totaled. The copy on FamilySearch.org is faint in spots so all of these numbers may not be accurate. Real estate: "house and Land" £30; "four acres of Land" £4, 10s; "fifteen acres of Land" £6; "nine acres of Land" £8; ”twenty Six acres of Land" £11, 14s; "two acres meadow" £3; "thirty Acres of Land" £15; "four acres meadow" £4; "four acres and three quarters Land" £4, 10s. Livestock: two steers, three cows, two calves, one mare, one colt, and nine sheep. Various household items such as earthenware, pewter, looking glasses, and glass bottles. There are also carpenter’s tools, one Bible and other books, as well as Indian corn and rye. 

On 16 January, 1694/5, Jane Snow made oath to this inventory "of her husband Mark Snow deceased" before Barnabas Lothrop, Judge of Probate. The inventory was recorded on 10 April 1695. [BCPR 1:112]

His widow Jane Snow left Eastham as she was admitted to the church at Brewster in April 1701. [Austin]

Jane Snow of Harwich, widow, in her will of 21 Dec 1703, mentioned sons Nicholas, Thomas, and Prince, Anne Attwood, grandchild Jane Nickerson, grandchild Jane Snow, and my two” daughters Mary and Sarah. She named “Brother” Jonathan Sparrow as executor, he being married to her half-sister Hannah (Prence) Mayo. The executor’s account called her Jane Snow of Eastham and mentioned providing lodging for her from 26 October to end of May following. The will proved 2 July 1712. Inventory taken 28 June 1712.

Jane Snow “widow of Herwich” made her will on 21 December 1703 and left the following bequests: [BCPR 3:271] 

• To "my son Nicholas Snow my bason and your [sic: ewer] & a small brass kittle and one spit"
• To "my son Thomas Snow one Copper kittle"
• To "my son Prince Snow my Great Iron Kittle"
• All the children were to equally divided her cattle
• "I Give to to Anne Attwood a puter Wine Cup & a Dram Cup & a sucking bottle” [Anna is her step-daughter]
• "I Give my Cabinet unto my Grandchild Jane Nickerson” [daughter of Mary]
• "I Give my Little Trunk unto my Grandchild Jane Snow"
• "my will is that ye Rest of my movable Estate be eaquielly Divided betwixt my Two Daughters Mary and Sarah"
• "my will is that Debts and Funerall Charges be paid out of my stock of Cattle”

She named her son Nicholas Snow and brother [in-law] Jonat[han] Sparrow executors. The will was signed by the initials "J S" as her mark. The witnesses were Marcy Sparrow and Martha Cobb. 

I have not found a record of Jane’s death, but she died in Harwich at the end of May 1712, as an estate account by her son Nicholas states he was caring for her in his home there from October [1711] to the end of May [1712]. She still owned her home in Eastham—that is where the inventory took place. She was 74 years old.

On 2 July 1712, "Mercy Sparrow and Martha Late Martha Cob and Now Martha Knowles" made oath to Jane Snow’s will, and administration was granted to "Nicholas Snow Sone of ye Deceased one of ye Executors In ye Same Will Named (the other being Deceased).”

The inventory "of Jane Snow Widow Relict of Mark Snow of Harwich Deceased aprised at Eastham" on 28 June, 1712, by Nathaniel Freeman and Richard Godfree, "being appointed thereto by ye Executor.” No real estate is mentioned as her Mark Snow distributed that in his will, but there are various household items including one bedstead made with turned and carved work, a churn, spinning wheel, a looking glass, and one Bible and other books. Livestock included five sheep, one lamb, one swine, and one cow.  [BCPR 1:261-275]

On 2 July 1712, Nicholas Snow, executor of the will "of Jane Snow his Mother Late of Harwich Deceased" made oath to the inventory. On 23 September, 1712, an addition was made in an undated "accompt of Nicholas Snow Execuir of all and singuler ye Goods and Chattels of Mrs Jane Snow of Eastham his mother Deceased”: "House Room and providing firewood and Tendance for sd Deceased from ye 26th of october to ye Latter End of May following" £2; "Removing her houshold stuff and Goods from her own house to ye Sd Executors" £1; "Procuring a nurse in time of sickness & other Trouble" £3; "Plums shuger bisket Rum & other Distiled Lickurs used In her sickness" 7s., 6d. "Prince Snow In part of pay for a Cow" £1, 8s., 7d. This is interesting as it shows Jane died at the end of May, that she was living with her son Nicholas, that she had been ill and required a nurse, and that she was treated with plums and distilled liquor. 

I’m continually struck by how intertwined these early Plymouth and Cape families were. I also descend from Josiah Cooke, Thomas Prence and his first wife Patience Brewster who was the daughter of Mayflower passenger and church elder William Brewster, as well as Mary Collier’s sisters Sarah, Elizabeth, and Ruth. 

Sources:

John D. Austin, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations Volume 6: Stephen Hopkins, GSMD, 1995

Enoch Pratt, A Comprehensive History, Ecclesiastical and Civil, of Eastham, Wellfleet, and Orleans, County of Barnstable, Mass., from 1644-1844, 1844

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

James W. Hawes, Library of Cape Cod History & Genealogy, No. 34 “Nicholas 1 Snow of Eastham and Some of His Descendants," 1916

Eastham/Orleans Vital Records, “Births, Marriages, Deaths, Land Grants 1649-1722,” available on FamilySearch.org 

Simeon Deyo, History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1890

Mrs. M.L.T. Alden, NEHGS Register, “The Snow Genealogy,” 47:83-86 (Jan. 1893)

Josiah Paine, History of Harwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1800, 1937