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Thomas Snow’s birth is estimated to have been about 1613 in England.1 Nothing is known about his parents or his home in England. He had migrated to Boston, Massachusetts by 1635 based on a grant of land at Boston on 14 December, 1635.2
Milcha was the daughter of Walter Kelway, and she was christened in Chelmsford, Essex England on 11 October 1617.2
Milcah came to Massachusetts with her two sisters. She married Thomas Snow about 1637, probably soon after her arrival.3
He married Milcha Kelway about 1637. There is no marriage record and the date is estimated from the birth of their oldest daughter. However, the Boston First Church Records show that on 5 September 1641, "Thomas Snow a barber" was admitted to Boston Church. On the "18th Day of the 4th Month 1643 Milcah Snow, the wife of our brother Thomas Snow" was also admitted.4 This, along with her father’s will, establish their marriage. Walter Kelway of Chelmsford, Essex," included in his will a bequest to "my three daughters in New England, namely my daughter Margaret Mountague, my daughter Melcas Snow and my daughter Mary Lane"; William S. Appleton identified these three women as the wives of Griffin Mountague, Thomas Snow and William Lane.5, 6
On 11 January 1637/38, "Thomas Snow" received a 10-acre land grant at Muddy River (now Brookline) between the lots of Isaac Grosse and Capt. John Underhill.7 Capt. Underhill was the military leader hired by the Massachusetts Bay Colony to train the militias and head the defense of the Colony.
Thomas Snow also possessed a houselot in "Roxbury Neck". The "Genealogical" column of the Boston Evening Transcript, 4 Nov 1907: places Thomas and Milcah (Kelway) Snow's lot "about on the northwest corner of Tremont and Boylston Streets" in Boston.8 This is now part of the Boston Common, next to the Old Cemetery. The Great Migration says, "This lot was the north east corner of present Boylston and Tremont streeets.4
Children of Thomas and Milcha Kelway Snow, all born of record in Boston, include:
On 25 April 1664, "Thomas Snow" was one of four Boston residents granted "liberty to draw beer for the year ensuing." On 24 April 1665, "Thomas Snow" was one of three Boston residents "licensed to draw beer for the year ensuing."
On 29 April 1667, "Thomas Snow [was] licensed [to draw beer] but for half year unless he remove his dwelling into the street leading into town from Roxsberry."
On 27 April 1668, "Tho[ma]s Snowe is approved of to keep a house of public entertainment for the year ensuing." 4
On 16 December 1667, "Thomas Snow of Boston …, innholder, and Milcah his wife … in consideration of the sum of one hundred pounds long since to them paid, the most part by the late Henery Shrimpton of the said Boston, brazier, and the rest due unto Samuell his son, which being still due and owing to the estate," mortgaged to Hezekiah Usher, Thomas Lake and Peter Olliver of the said Boston, overseers to the last will and testament of the abovementioned late Henery Shrimpton, … all that his the said Thomas Snowe’s old dwelling house to which the Sign of the Dove is fastened, with the breadth of the land before it to the midway going to the new house in the yard fronting to the highway leading to the street that leads to Roxbury and so to the fence which parts the house lots from the pasture; and also the pasture, which has this fence south, Colbron and Talmage east, the lane issuing out of the Common west, and land now fenced in by Gov. Bellingham north.… with the well and also all the pasture and orchard which is fenced now out from the old and new house, being one acre of land."4
Thomas Snow died something between 10 November 1668 when he wrote his will, and 26 April 1669 when "widow Snowe" was one of six Boston residents "approved of to sell beer and keep houses of public entertainment". 28 April 1669 his will was proved. His will said,
"The last Will and Testament of Thomas Snow, of Boston, although weake in Body, yet of perfect memory, my Will is, that I leaue all my Estate, after my debts are paid, to my beloved wife, Milcha Snow, to bee disposed of according to her discretion, soe long as shee liues to haue the vse of, and after her decease that which is left to bee disposed of according to her discretion amongst my children, and my will is, that my wife shall be my sole Executrix. My desire is, that my beloued Brethren, Mr. Edward Belcher, Edward Rainsford, Theophilus Frary, and Jacob Elliott be Ouerseers of this my last will and Testament. Witnes my hand the 10th day of November 1668; The marke of Thomas T Snow."4
The inventory of the estate of "the late Thomas Snow of Boston deceased," taken 13 March 1668[/9], totaled £239 4s. (against which were debts of £121 6d, including the £100 owed "to Mr. Samuel Shrimpton in money" for the mortgage.), of which £200 was real estate: "the new & old dwelling houses & all the land belonging thereto."
After Thomas died, his widow, Milcha, married William Wright Sr. Milcha’s daughter, Abigail married William Wright Jr. William and Milcha sold the pasture described in the mortgage, to Thomas Platts on 24 May 1672. 7
"William Wright of Boston Senior ,,, & Milcha his wife that was the relict of Thomas Snow & executrix of his estate" sold to "Thomas Platts of Boston, afforesaid free victualler … all & singular that piece or parcel of land, which was belonging unto Thomas Snow aforesaid, situate, lying & being at the south end of the town of Boston aforementioned, butted and bounded upon the south partly upon a house lot still retained & belonging to the said William Wright & Milcha his wife as before to be understood, & partly upon a house lot of William Talmage, the land of Mrs. Coleborn on the east and land that was the present Governor’s on the north, & highwas of lane on the west"[SLR 6:302-3].
The mortgage to the Shrimptons was cleared on 19 June 1672.4
Milcha Kelway Snow Wright died intestate sometime before 27 December 1677 when "administration on the estate of "Milcha Wright formerly Milcah Snow relict and sole executrix of the last will of Thomas formerly of Boston was granted unto Samuel Fisher and Benjamin Thurston ... The inventory of the estate of "Milchah Wrightrelict and sole executrix of Thomas Snow deceased," taken 5 Jan 1677/8, totaled £222 2s. 6d., of which £211 was real estate: "housing & land," £211. [SPR 12: 193] 4
On 29 January 1677/8, Suffik Court "orders and empowers Mr. Anthony Stoddard, Capt. John Richards and Deacon Henry Allen to be a committee for the enquiring into the present state and condition of the estate left by Thomas Snow sometime of Boston deceased & to hear what claim Capt. Wright can justly make out to any part thereof, giving opportunity to the administrators ofthat estate and Capt. Wright of a debate about the same, making their return at the adjournment of this court [SCC 888]. On 10 July 1679, Samuel Snow personally appearing in Court confessed judgement against his estate and person unto Capt. Wright for five pounds ten shillings to be paid in money" [SCC 1057].4
On 2 August 1678, Samuel Snow of Boston …, cordwainer, and Sarah his wife on the first part, Samuel Fisher of Brantery… yeoman, and Melatiah his wife on the second part, William Wright Junior of Boston aforesaid, merchant, and Abigail his wife on the third part, and Mehitabel Snow of Boston aforesaid, spinster, on the fourth part, witnesseth that whereas Thomas Snow late of Boston in New England deceased by his last will and testament bearing date the tenth day of Novenber Anno Domini 1668 did give and bequeath all his estate to his wife Milcah Snow during her life and what was left at her decease to be disposed by her amongst his children (shich are namely the said Samuel Snow, Melatiah Fisher, Abigail Wright and Mehitabel Snow) the principal part of which said estate did consist on an house nad land situate and being in Boston aforesaid and being in Boston aforesaid … and whereas the said Milcah wife of the said Thomas Snow Died Intestate and made no division of the said estate in her lifetime, the said parties to these presents being interested in the said house and land with the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging have divided the same amongst them"; this deed included a diagram showing how the plot of land in question was apportioned to the four heirs [SLR 11:82-84]. 4
In 1678 the heirs made a division. They were:
- Samuel Snow (in 1683 Samuel sold his lot to Platt.)
- Mehitable Snow
- Meletiah, wife of Samuel Fisher of Braintree
- Abigail, wife of William Wright, Jr., her step-brother7
His first known child was Melatiah Snow, born 30 September 1638 (Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 - Births and Deaths 1630-1634). Based on that, his date of marriage is estimated to have been 1637. If he were 24 at the time of his marriage, he would have been born about 1613.
England, Essex Parish Registers 1593-1997, Image 841.
Willard & Related Families ID: I9613 · Name: Milcah KELWAY
Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635 Volume VI, R-S by Charles Anderson
Find A Grave Memorial# 37181153
Boston Evening Transcript, 4 Nov 1907
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=merrygo&id=I9612 - Thomas SNOW
Boston Evening Transcript, 4 Nov 1907
Suffolk County Wills Chapter: Abstracts of the Earliest Wills Upon Record or on File Page: 345 - Thomas Snow.