Dr. Nickerson Snead1

b. circa 1797, d. 1 April 1869
Birthcirca 1797 Nickerson Snead was born circa 1797.2 
Marriage24 May 1822 He married Elizabeth Scott, daughter of William Scott and Jane Whitely, on 24 May 1822 in Washington County, Virginia. Armstrong Beatie, her first husband had died two years earlier.1 
Land-Buy  Among Nickerson and Elizabeth's land holdings were adjacent tracts on the Old Stage Rd. (present day Rt. 11) near what was once the community of Old Glade Spring (south of present day Glade Spring). The northern parcel (135 acres) was purchased on 27 April 1833 from William and Rhoda Beattie for $10 an acre. Nickerson purchased the southern parcel from Moses and Ebenezer Robinson on 23 Sept. 1837 for $900. It included slightly over 35 acres. Nickerson built a large brick house along the north side of the Stage Rd., possibly just inside the former Robinson acreage, but very near the old boundary between the 2 parcels.3,4 
Cens-185022 Aug 1850 Judging by the neighboring households, this home is where Elizabeth and Nickerson resided at the time of the 1850 census enumeration. Nickerson's entry noted that he was a physician, age 52, and owned real estate worth $1,200. Elizabeth was 49. The household also included Sarah Edmondson [Elizabeth Snead's half-sister] (36) and Fleming Rose [Nickerson Snead's nephew] (male, 18, farmer).5 
Cens-186010 Jul 1860  By 1860 Nickerson owned real estate valued at $15,000 and personal property of an almost equal amount.6 
Cens-1860- Slave1 Aug 1860  The household included 11 slaves.7 
Cens-1860- Agric  Nickerson's land included 250 acres of improved land which produced 400 bushels of wheat, 1,500 bushels of Indian corn, 500 bushels of oats and 200 bushels of Irish potatoes. He was one of the few farmers to produce buckwheat. Nickerson also owned another 50 unimproved acres. His livestock included 9 horses, 9 cows, 2 oxen, 26 cattle, 9 sheep and 42 swine.8 
Death1 Apr 1869 Nickerson died on 1 Apr 1869.2 
Will-Recd6 Apr 1869 Nickerson's will, recorded on 6 Apr 1869 in Washington County left the bulk of his estate to his wife Elizabeth for her use during her lifetime. At her death it was to be sold and proceeds distributed among Nickerson's surviving siblings or their heirs. However, he also left his sister-in-law, Sarah Edmondson a house and 10 acres of land, and his niece Florence Minerva (Edmondson) Smith received $300.9 
Burial He was buried next to Elizabeth at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.2 
27 Dec 1878  Elizabeth died in June 1876 and on 27 Dec. 1878, M. Morris, who had been appointed administrator de bonis non [second administrator] of Nickerson's will, sold Nickerson's land along the Great Rd. to Wm B. Mason for $7,229.87. At that time the tract contained a little over 155 acres, not including the 10 acres Nickerson left to Sarah Edmondson in his will. 

Related Links and Images:

See Francis Kincannon Grants on the Old Stage Rd. for plats and a discussion of how Nickerson and Elizabeth acquired their land along the Stage Rd.
Nickerson's will
Nickerson's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed Nickerson as the head of household number 615. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.
Last Edited5 Sep 2013

Citations

  1. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 57.
  2. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 187. Transcription reads: Dr. Nickerson Snead, d. 1 Apr 1869, age 72y.
  3. [S1044] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 11: 260.
  4. [S2526] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 17, 1844-1846, abstracting Washington Co., VA Deed Bk 17: 179. This deed was executed 23 Sept. 1837 but not delivered to the county clerk for recording until 28 Mar 1845.
  5. [S367] Nick Snead household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 107b (stamped), dwelling 615, family 615, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 80 of 289. Recorded data includes: Nick Snead, 52, physician, owns real estate valued at $1,200; Elizabeth 49; Sarah Edmondson 36; Fleming Rose (m) 18, farmer; all b. VA.
  6. [S234] Nickerson Snead household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 462 (added script), dwelling 709, family 686, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 100 of 361. Reported data includes: Nickerson Snead, 62, M.D., owns real estate of $15,000 % pers. prop of $14,350; Elizabeth 60, housekeeper; Sallie Edmondson 45, seamstress; Florence Edmondson 16; Fleming Rose 27, farm laborer; all b. VA.
  7. [S1308] Nickerson Snead, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 10 (original script), line 28, viewed online at Ancestry.com. 11 slaves including 4 adult males, 2 adult females, and 5 children.
  8. [S1311] Nickerson Snead landowner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, agricultural sched., Glade Spring Post Office, p. 25, line 9.
  9. [S829] Nickerson Snead (recorded 1869), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 28 (C): 95. The will was dated 12 March 1867 and recorded in court 6 Apr 1869; David Stuart and James S. Buchanan named executors.