Copyright 2005, Esther Doyle Read
New 27 April 2005
READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS
LYDIA JANE READ SNOVER4
250. LYDIA JANE READ4 (David Read3, John Read2, Joseph Read1) was born 7 April 1838 in New Jersey, baptised 24 December 1838, Stillwater Presbyterian Church, Stillwater, Sussex County, New Jersey and died 23 March 1911 (Kern 1938; Stillwater Cemetery). She married circa 1867, Thamer Snover. He was born 17 February 1837 and died 25 March 1904. He served as a first Lieutant in the New Jersey 27th Infantry Volunteer Regiment, Co. A. during the Civil War (Kern 1938; Stillwater). They are buried in Stillwater Cemetery, Stillwater, Sussex County, New Jersey. Their grave was field checked 14 April 2005
Lydia Jane Read and Thamer Snover had at least 2 children born betweeen 1855 and 1858 and four grandchildren born between 1900 and 1906. Total identified descendants equals 6.
CHILDREN OF LYDIA JANE READ and THAMER SNOVER:
3367. (i.) DAVID READ SNOVER5, was born 14 March 1869 in New Jersey and died 1967 (by his grave stone; Social Security Death Index gives date of death as November 1966). He first appears on the United States Census in 1870. David was a year old and he lived with his parents in Frelighuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey. His father was the local school teacher and the family appears to have lived in a rented house (1870 United States Federal Census, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 67, 20 June 1870, post office Vienna). By 1880, the Snovers had moved to the village of Stillwater in Sussex County, New Jersey. David, who was 11 in 1880 was in school that year. His father was still the local school master. The Snovers lived next door to David's aunt Sarah Read Dennis. He and his first cousin, 12 year old Flora Dennis, probabably attended school together (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 175, Village of Stillwater, Stillwater Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, page 186B, 24 June 1880). David married circa 1891, Jeannette F. Horschell. She was born in 1868 and died in 1941. In 1910, David and "Janette" (as her name is given in the census) lived in Vernon Township, Sussex County. David was employed as a time keeper in the slate quarry. The couple did not own their home. They had two children—Raymond and Dorothy— who were both living at home (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 186, Mount Vernon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, sheet 1A, 15 April 1910). David resided in Butler, Morris County, New Jersey at the time of his death in 1966/1967. His son Raymond was living in Butler when he died in 1981 (Social Security Death Index). David and Jeannette are buried in Stillwater Cemetery, Stillwater Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. Their graves were field checked 14 April 2005. Children of David Snover and Jeannette Horschell:
3376. (i.) RAYMOND SNOVER6, was born 26 May 1900 in New Jersey and died March 1981 (Social Security Death Index). In 1910, he lived with his parents in Vernon Township, Sussex County New Jersey and attended school. He was employed as a newsboy and sold newspapers on the streets, probably in Vernon, New Jersey (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 186, Mount Vernon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, sheet 1A, 15 April 1910). Raymond married circa 1929, Bessie (Last Name Unknown). She was born circa 1910 in New Jersey and died unknown. In 1930, Raymond and Bessie lived at 120 Legion Street in Pompton Lakes, Passaic County, New Jersey. They owned their home which was valued at $12,000 and they also owned a radio. Raymond was a mason and was employed as a contractor. Bessie was 20 years old and was still in school. The couple did not have children in 1930 (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 16-170, First Election District, Ward 1, Pompton Lakes Borough, Passaic County, New Jersey, sheet 11A, 24 April 1930). Raymond lived in Butler, Morris County, New Jersey at the time of his death in 1981. His father also lived in Butler in the mid-1960s (Social Security Death Index).
3377. (ii.) DOROTHY SNOVER6, was born circa 1906 in New Jersey and died unknown. In 1910, she lived with her parents and older brother in Vernon Township, Sussex County New Jersey. She was 3 years old and was not yet in school (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 186, Mount Vernon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, sheet 1A, 15 April 1910).
3368. (ii.) FREDERICK WARREN "Fred" SNOVER5, was born 23 July 1874 in New Jersey and died 23 February 1942 (Stillwater Cemetery). In 1880, Fred lived in the village of Stillwater with his parents and older brother David. His father was the local school master. Fred was 5 years old at the time of the census, but had not yet begun to attend school (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 175, Village of Stillwater, Stillwater Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, page 186B, 24 June 1880). By 1900, Fred was still single. He had moved out of his parents house and was employed as an insurance agent in Newark, New Jersey. Fred boarded in his aunt Rachel Read Smalley's boarding house at 219 South Orange Avenue in Newark during the 1900 census year (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 56, 6th Ward, City of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, sheet 251A, 2 June 1900). Fred married circa 1901, Marie L. Ostrander, the daughter of Charles Ostrander and Sarah Gravatt (Schroeder 2001). Marie was born 16 December 1873 in New Jersey and died 16 March 1956 (Stillwater Cemetery). In 1910, the couple lived with their two children—Charles and Marie—at 190 South 9th Street in Newark, New Jersey. They owned their home, but it was mortgaged. Fred was employed as a real state broker. He may have been a small business owner as the census states that he was an employer. Fred and Marie had a domestic servant, 53 year old Rosa Chase, who was a widow. Rosa was a native of Virginia. According to the census she was the mother of 10 children, 6 of whom were living (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 49, 6th Ward, 9th Election District, City of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, sheet 20A, 26 April 1910). By 1920, the Snovers had moved from Newark to East Orange, New Jersey. Fred was employed as a Treasurer for a loan association. The family owned a mortgaged home at 71 Eppirt (or Effirt) Street. Charles and Marie were both in school. Marie did not have a domestic servant in 1920 (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 39, 5th Election District, City of East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, sheet 9B, 9 January 1920). By 1930, both Charles and Marie had left home. Charles had married the year before. Marie was 25 years. Fred and Marie Snover lived at 87 Beech Street in East Orange in 1930. They owned the home, which was valued at $18,000. They also owned a radio. Fred was employed as an insurance broker. Marie had a domestic servant, her name was Lavina Powell. Lavina was African American. She was a 69 years old, a native of Tennessee, and a widow (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 8-381, 2nd Ward, East Orange City, Essex County, New Jersey, sheet 6B, 8 April 1930). Fred died in 1942 and Marie died in 1956. They are buried with Fred's parents and his brother David and David's wife in Stillwater Cemetery, Stillwater Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. Their graves were field checked 14 April 2005. Children of Fred and Marie Snover:
3378. (i.) CHARLES FREDERICK SNOVER6, was born 20 October 1902 in New Jersey and died 21 October 1996 (Social Security Death Index). On the 1910 census, Charles was 7 years old and lived with his parents at 190 South 9th Street in Newark, New Jersey. He and his sister Marie attended school (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 49, 6th Ward, 9th Election District, City of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, sheet 20A, 26 April 1910). By 1920, the Snovers had moved from Newark to East Orange, New Jersey. They lived at 71 Eppirt (or Effirt) Street. Charles and his sister Marie were both still in school (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 39, 5th Election District, City of East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, sheet 9B, 9 January 1920). Charles married in 1929 or 1930, Katherine Sackow, the daughter of Waldo and Jean Sackow. She was born 14 May 1903 in New Jersey and died 30 January 1991 (Social Security Death Index). When the 1930 census was enumerated, Charles and Katherine lived with her parents at 669 East 27th Street in Paterson, New Jersey. According to the census, Charles was not employed. Waldo Sackow was an account. The Sackows owned their home, which was valued at $11,000. They also owned a radio (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 16-45, Block 605, Ward 5, Paterson City, Passaic County, New Jersey, sheet 17B, 9 April 1930). Katherine's social security number was issued in New Jersey in 1962. In 1996 when Charles died, he was a resident of Glen Ridge, Essex County, New Jersey (Social Security Death Index).
3379. (ii.) MARIE SNOVER6, was born circa in New Jersey 1904 and unknown (Social Security Death Index). On the 1910 census, Marie was 5 years old and lived with her parents at 190 South 9th Street in Newark, New Jersey. She and her brother Charles attended school (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 49, 6th Ward, 9th Election District, City of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, sheet 20A, 26 April 1910). By 1920, the Snovers had moved from Newark to East Orange, New Jersey. They lived at 71 Eppirt (or Effirt) Street. Marie and her brother Charles were both still in school (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 39, 5th Election District, City of East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, sheet 9B, 9 January 1920). Marie was 25 years old in 1930, she was not a resident of her parents home (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 8-381, 2nd Ward, East Orange City, Essex County, New Jersey, sheet 6B, 8 April 1930).
Go to Top of Page
Return to Main
Lydia Jane Read was the fourth daughter and fourth child of the eight children of David Read and Mary Hawk. She was born 7 April 1838 in Hardwick Township, Sussex (now Warren) County, New Jersey. Lydia was baptised on Christmas Eve 1838 in the Stillwater Presbyterian Church, in the village of Stillwater, Sussex County, New Jersey. There is evidence that Lydia's paternal grandfather John Read may have been raised as a Baptist and that her father may have been raised as both a Baptist and then later as a member of the Christian Church. Margaret's paternal grandmother Elizabeth Ogden Read Wintersteen was a charter member of the Christian Church in Johnsonburg, Sussex (now Warren) County, New Jersey. The church was founded in 1824 (Snell 1881:666). Neither the Baptist nor the Christian Churches practice infant baptism; they only baptist adults. David and Mary Read may not have joined the Presbyterian Church until 1838. On the same day that Lydia was baptised, her older sisters Sarah Elizabeth and Margaret Ann were also baptised. A third sister, Mary Catherine, had died the previous September at the age of two (Marksboro Presbyterian). She had not been baptised.
Lydia appears on the 1840 census as a member of her father's houshold in Hardwick Township. She was listed as a female under the age of 5 (1840 United States Federal Census, Hardwick Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 378). Lydia also appears on the 1850 census as a resident of her parent's household in Hardwick Township. She was 13 years old and attended school with her sisters Margaret and Rachel. Their older sister Sarah was at home helping their mother with the innumerable chores associated with such a large household. In addition, there was a toddler, 2 year old William, and an infant, ten month old Emma, who needed to be watched and kept away from the dangers of open fires and hot iron stoves (1850 United States Federal Census, Hardwick Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 498, 19 August 1850).
Lydia married Thamar Snover in about 1867 (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 175 Stillwater Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, sheet 6B, 14 June 1900). Thamer was born 17 February 1837 near Hainesburg, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey. He was the son of Frederick Snover and his second wife, Mary Lance. His mother died on 7 December 1842, two months before Thamer's sixth birthday. By 1848, many of his older half brothers and sisters were living in Macomb County, Michigan (Anon 2001-2005). In 1850, when Thamar was 13 years old, he lived with Jacob and Sarah (Raub) Rice on their farm in Frelinghuysen Township. The Rice's 26 year old son Andrew J. Rice also lived in the household and worked as a laborer. There were two other women in the household—Elizabeth Davis (age 38) and Elen Nultz (age 31). What Thamar's status in the household was is unclear. He is not listed as a laborer, so he was probably not a hired worker on the farm. It is possible that he was a ward of the Rice family (1850 United States Federal Census, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey, pages 482b-483a, 26 July 1850). By 1860, Thamar was a school teacher. He lived in Stillwater Township and boarded with Catherine Wintermute while he taught at the local public school (1860 United States Federal Census, Stillwater Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, page 281, 30 July 1860, post office Stillwater). Thamar may have met his future wife while he was living in the Stillwater area, or he could have met her when he lived in Frelinghuysen Township in the 1850s. The Rice's farm was very close to the farm of Richard Read3. Richard was a first cousin of Lydia's father, David Read. Richard's son Jonah Read (who was Lydia's second cousin) was the same age as Thamar Snover.
In 1860, Lydia was 22 years old. She lived with her parents in Stillwater Township. Lydia was 22 years old when the census was enumerated, certainly old enough to marry (1860 United States Census, Stillwater Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, page 303). If she and Thamar had plans to marry, the advent of the Civil War changed all that. Thamar enlisted as a Lieutenant 1st Class on 2 September 1862. He recieved his commission on 19 September in the New Jersey 27th Infantry Volunteer Regiment, Co. A . This regiment was raised in Morris and Sussex counties and rendezvoused at Camp Frelinghuysen, near Newark. It was was mustered into service for nine months on 3 September. On 3 October the regiment recieved orders to prepare for the field. It left Newark on the 9th, the regiment and arrived in Washington D.C. on the 11th. The regiment was placed in a temporary camp on East Capitol hill. The regiment stayed there until 28 October and then moved into camp on the grounds of Robert E. Lee's conficated Arlington plantation (now Arlington National Cemetery). Between December 1st and 10th, the regiment marched to Fredericksburg, Virginia. In Fredericksburg it was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 1st division, 9th army corps. The regiment did not enter into actual during the Battle of Fredericksburg. They were held in reserve on the north bank of the Rappahannock River on December 10th. They crossed the river on the 12th and were again held in reserve. The Confederate army shelled the 27th during the afternoon of the 12th, but with hardly any effect. On the 13th the 27th was marched to the south and held in reserve. They made a short advance, but were ordred to halt. The 14th and 15th were spent on the field covering the withdrawal of the army. They crossed back to the north bank of the Rappahannock on the night of the 15th in the pouring rain. The settled into camp near Falmouth, Virginia (Bilby and Goble 1998:344-348; NPS; New Jersey Adjunct General's Office 1863:508; Snell 1881).
According to Bilby and Goble (1998:349), "Falmouth was the Valley Forge of the Army of the Potomac and the Twenty-seventh shared in the bad food, misery and boredom." Thamer resigned his commission on 20 December 1862, five days after the regiment arrived at Falmouth. After Fredericksburg, the regiment was part of the famous "Mud March" (January 20-24, 1863). In February 1863, the regiment made a series of moves: first to Newport News, Virginia on 11 February; then to Suffolk, Virginia on 18 March; and then into Kentucky where they joinned Burnside's forces. They were in Lexington and Nicholasville, Kentucky from 19 to 28 March. The 27th participated in operations against Pegram's forces till May of 1863. This included an expedition to Monticello between 25 April and 8 May. The regiment camped near Somerset, Virginia until 3 June then moved to Hickman's Bridge and on to to Cincinnati, Ohio. It arrived at the latter on 15 June. By now the regiment's original term of enlistment had expired, but it volunteered services in Pennsylvania during Lee's invasion of that state. The regiment was on duty at Wheeling, West Virginia and in the vicinity of and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania until 26 June. Finally on the 26th the regiment began the long trip home. It moved first to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (26 June) and then on to New Jersey. It were mustered out on 2 July 1863, about a month after its term had expired. Thamer's service records indicate that he served with distinguished service (Bilby and Goble 1998:349-351; NPS).
After his return from the war, Thamer resumed teaching. He and Lydia were married in about 1867. Their first child, a son named David Read Snover, was born on 14 March 1869. By 1870, Thamer, Lydia and David lived in Frelinghuysen Tonwship. Thamer's occupation is given as "teaching." He and Lydia do not appear to have owned their home, no real estate value is listed in the census. They did own a personal estate valued at $700 (1870 United States Federal Census; 1870 United States Federal Census, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 67, post office Vienna, no date recorded on sheet). Table one presents the composition of Thamer and Lydia's household in 1870.
Table 1: Household of Thamar and Lydia Jane (Read) Read in 1870
1870 United States Federal Census
Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 67.
Name |
Age |
Birthplace |
Thamar Snover |
32 |
New Jersey |
Lydia J. Snover |
30 |
New Jersey |
David R. Snover |
1 |
New Jersey |
Lydia's father, David Read, died on 13 September 1879, in the village of Stillwater. Six days later, Lydia joinned her sisters, Sarah Read Dennis and Rachel Read Smalley, and her neice Flora Smalley in a petition to the Surogate court of Sussex County. The petition asked that her brother William Reed be appointed as administrator of the estate of her late father, "David Reed." The petition was filed 19 September 1879. At that time, Thamer and Lydia resided in Stillwater, Sussex County, New Jersey (Sussex County Surrogate Court Records Petitions Book A, Page 134). The Snovers were still in Stillwater when the 1880 census was enumerated. Thamer was the local school master. He and Lydia lived next door to Lydia's widowed sister, Sarah Read Dennis and her 12 year old daughter, Flora Dennis. Thamer and Lydia had two children in 1880, David, who was 11, and Frederick who was 5 years old. Both boys were in school (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 175, Village of Stillwater, Stillwater Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, page 186B, 24 June 1880).
On 7 September 1887, Thamer applied for a Civil War pension as an invalid (Application no. 622316, Certificate no. 428138). By 1900, he had given up teaching and had taken up farming. He and Lydia owned a (mortgaged) farm in Stillwater Township. According to the census, they had been married 33 years and were the parents of two children, both of whom were living. However, neither David nor Frederick were residents of their parent's household in 1900. David was married to Jeanette Horshell. They had become parents on 26 May 1900 when their son Raymond was born (Social Security Death Index). Frederick was still single and lived in his aunt Rachel Read Smalley's boarding household in Newark (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 56, 6th Ward, City of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, sheet 251A, 2 June 1900). Thamer died on died 25 March 1904, he was 67 year old. He was buried in Stillwater Cemeterey in the village of Stillwater. Lydia applied for a Civil War widow's pension about a month later on 30 April 1904 (Application no. 805334, Certificate no. 611281).
Lydia lived alone in 1910. She owned the farm in Stillwater Township free and clear of all mortgages. She was 72 years old. The census gives her occupation as "Retired." (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 184, Stillwater Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, sheet 1B, 16 April 1910). She died almost a year after the census was enumerated on 23 March 1911. Lydia is buried with Thamer, both her sons, and both of her daughter-in-laws in Stillwater Cemetery. The Snover family plot was visited on 14 April 2005. Use link to photograph album above to view photos of the Snover family plot.
Go to Top of Page
Return to Main
PRIMARY
Cemeteries
Census
Military Records
Probate Records
SECONDARY
Bilby, Joseph G. and William C. Goble
Kern, William MacKellar
New Jersey Adjunct General's Office
Snell, James P. (Compiler)
WEB SITES
Anon
National Park Service
Schroeder, Nicholas
Go to Top of Page
Return to Home Page
This web site was produced
by Timothy Doyle 5/5/98,
Questions regarding content should be directed to Esther Doyle Read readgen@adelphia.net