Son of John Sneed Sr. and Nancy Murrell Sneed. Brother of William Murrell Sneed who also came to Wilson Co., TN, and of Thomas Sneed, whose sons Abraham, John, and Jefferson M. Sneed also came to Wilson Co., TN.

He married 14 Sep 1807 in Patrick Co, VA to Nancy Pedigo, daughter of Edward Pedigo and Hannah Elkins.

Name John Sneed
Spouse's Name Nancy Pedigo
Event Date 14 Sep 1807
Event Place Patrick, Virginia

In Jul 1809, their son Dr. John J. Sneed was born in Danville, VA (his birth date and place is inscribed on his tombstone). Danville is an independent town within the bounds of Pittsylvania county, which is two counties to the east of Patrick Co., VA and is the county where both John Sneed Sr. and Nancy were from originally and where they probably married.

It was that same year, 1809, that many of the Sneeds friends and relations became to move east to settle in Wilson Co., Tennessee.

1810 - This John Sneed taxed in Patrick Co., VA may have been either John Jr. or his father John Sr. The William and Thomas taxed were John Jr.'s brothers:

1810 Patrick Co., VA personal property list:
John Snead
1 white tithable
0 slaves over 12
2 horses

William Snead
1 white tithable
0 slaves over 12
4 horses

Thomas Snead
1 white tithable
1 slave over 12
3 horses

This mentions of John Sneed in Patrick Co., VA may have been either John Sr. or his son John Jr., although John Jr. seems most likely, as John Sr. by this time was elderly and ill:

1814 Patrick Co., VA estate of Robert Wright. William Sneed mentioned. Inventory by William Sneed 1809. Settlement of account with James Turner and his father Francis's account. Signed William Hancock, John Hall, John Sneed.

1815 July 22 - Patrick Co, VA Will Bk 1:276
Estate of BENNETT HOUCHINS deceased - Inventory taken by Jeremiah Burnett, Isaac Adams & John Sneed. "1 note on William Burnett."

26 Dec 1818, Wilson Co., TN - John's wife Nancy Pedigo Sneed's nephew Joshua Pedigo, the son of her brother Levi, was married.

1820, John and Nancy may have still been in Patrick Co., VA, as on a badly faded and almost illegible page of the census this entry is found (although the exact number of persons in the household and even the name itself are unsure and no John Sneed is indexed on any transcript):

1820 Patrick Co., VA census, p. 128
John Sneed 0-0-0-0-1-0 0-0-1-0-1
One male 26-44; b. 1776-1794 - John
One female over 44; b. by 1776 - mother Nancy?
One female 16-25; b. 1795-1804 - 2nd wife? (Elizabth Akers?)

John's brother William and his son James are found in Wilson Co., TN in 1820, living near Nancy's nephew Joshua Pedigo:

1820 census, Wilson Co., TN, p. 414
Joshua Pedigo 0-0-0-1-0-0 1-0-0-1-0
One male 18-25; b. 1795-1802 - Joshua
One female 16-25; b. 1795-1804 -
One female under 10; b. 1810-1820 -

Also nearby were:
p. 413
Thomas Night
Zachariah Keeton - he would marry Joshua's daughter in 1825

1824, Wilson Co., TN -
Jane Gates sold to John Brasher 33 acres near Meetinghouse on Smith’s Fork. Begin . . . elm & beech not far from meeting house running west 116 poles to a branch between Aaron Ruyles tract & said Brasher thence down & with the meanders of said branch to a lynn tree on the bank of said branch thence east 95 poles to a red oak & white oak tree in the dividing line between Sneed & said Ruyles tracts thence north with said line to beginning. (O437)

1824 - The first definite mention of John Sneed in Wilson Co., TN. Thomas Knight was from North Carolina, so he must have befriended John Sneed after they were both in TN:

Will of Thomas Knight of Wilson County, Tennessee, August 1824 (written Aug. 5, 1820; recorded Aug. 7, 1824):
I do hereby constitute & appoint my friends, Jehu McMum, Esqr., & John Sneed, Executors of this my LAST WILL & TESTAMENT

15 Dec 1824, Wilson Co., TN - Nancy Sneed married Jonathan Turner. Nancy must have been the daughter of John, as she was not a daughter of William or Thomas and there were no other Sneeds in the county. Jonathan Turner was also from Patrick Co., VA and related to the Sneeds.

8 Jan 1828, Wilson Co., TN - A few years later another girl who must have been John's daughter married William S. Scott.

1828, Wilson Co., TN - Zachariah Keaton, who was son-in-law of Joshua Pedigo, sold land to John:
1828 - Zachariah Keaton sold to John Sneed 45 acres at the meeting house. “Begin . . . at James Ewing East boundary line & a corner rock . . . .” This portion of a description of land appears to put a meeting house (Church) on the East side of the property of James Ewing. (N68, not drawn)

29 Jul 1828, Wilson Co., TN - John's son John J. Sneed married Ann Leech. John was known as John J. Sneed Jr. for awhile to distinguish him from his older first cousin John J. Sneed, son of William, until the older John J. changed his name to Thomas Jefferson Sneed (indicating probably that their mutual middle initial "J" was for "Jefferson"). The name change may have been necessitated by the fact that both of them became doctors and they would both soon move to the town of Alexandria in DeKalb Co., TN to practice medicine.

It's difficult to sort out who is living where on the 1830 census. William and his wife Elizabeth were missed completely. John's (widowed?) son Hamilton is living with perhaps a mother-in-law and a brother, maybe Grief:

1830 census, Wilson Co., TN, p. 130
Hamilton Sneed 0-0-0-0-2 2-1-2-0-1-0-1
One female 40-50; b. 1780-1790 - mother-in-law?
Two males 20-30; b. 1800-1810 - Hamilton & Grief?
Two females 10-15; b. 1815-1820 -
One female 5-10; b. 1820-1825 -
Two females 0-5; b. 1825-1830 -

On page 152 was listed John (son of Thomas) with his wife Ann Rich and possibly his brother Jefferson:

Son of Thomas. Next door to his father-in-law Charles Rich:
1830 census, Wilson Co., TN, p. 152
John Sneed 0-0-0-0-2 1-0-0-1
Two males 20-30; b. 1800-1810 - John b. 1800 and Jefferson
One female 15-20; b. 1810-1815 - Ann Rich Sneed
One female under 5; b. 1825-1830 -

Page 156 has Abraham (son of Thomas) [not always indexed due to bad penmanship]
1830 census, Wilson Co., TN, p. 156
Abraham Sneed 1-0-0-0-2-1 0-0-0-1-1-1
One male 30-40; b. 1790-1800 - Abraham
One female 30-40; b. 1790-1800 - Martha Brown Sneed
Two males 20-30; b. 1800-1810 - Jefferson? & ?
One male under 5; b. 1825-1830 -

And three doors away from Abraham is John. It looks like John J. and his new bride Ann Leech is also in the household, along with possibly another brother, maybe Grief:

1830 census, Wilson Co., TN, p. 156
John Sneed 1-0-0-0-1-1-1 1-0-0-0-1-0-1
One male 40-50; b. 1780-1790 - John b. 1781 son of John Sr.
One female 40-50; b. 1780-1790 - wife
One male 30-40; b. 1790-1800 - John J. b. 1800
One male 20-30; b. 1800-1810 - Grief?
One female 20-30; b. 1800-1810 - Ann Leach Sneed
One male under 5; b. 1825-1830 - son of John J.
One female under 5; b. 1825-1830 - daughter of John J.

Feb 1831, Wilson Co., TN - John proved the will of Wilson Adams. This Adams family was also from Patrick Co., VA and related to the Sneeds. They were among those who came in 1809. John' brother William was married to Elizabeth Adams from this family:

Feb 1831, Wilson Co., TN -
Will of Wilson (William) Adams
Wilson County Tennessee
"In the name of God, Amen. I Wilson Adams, of the County of Wilson and State of Tennessee being of sound and perfect mind concerning------------God, do this 15th day of Feb. in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one make and publish this my last will and testament. . .
James Ewing, Proved
John Sneed, Proved"

"The last will and testament of William Adams dec'd was duly proved in open court by the oaths of James Ewing and John Sneed subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered by the court to be recorded and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court that Biddy Adams, James Adams who was nominated executors of said last will and testament by the Testators refused to qualify as such and renounced the execution of said will, the court therefore nominated and appointed George Smith who is the largest creditor on said estate administrator with the will to administer upon the estate of the said William Adams, dec'd who entered in bond with security and qualifications as the law exacts.
Recorded 25 Nov. 1831, Wilson Co. Tn."

14 Sep 1831, Wilson Co., TN - John and Nancy's son Grief A. Sneed married to Mary Trout.

1833, Wilson Co., TN -
1833 - Celea Cain sold to John Brasher 15 acres on Smith’s Fork adjoining lands of John Brasher, James Ewing, & John Sneed. Begin on a lynn in Brasher’s line running thence East with said line 95 poles to a red oak thence South 35 poles with John Sneeds line to a buckeye on the main creek thence West with Ewings line 44 poles to the branch thence with the meanders of said branch to the beginning. (O446)

1833 - Leroy & Biddy Adams sold to James Ewing 75 acres on the waters of Smith Fork. Begin on a sugar tree in James Ewing south boundary line of a 640 acre tract Willie Adams northeast corner thence to the mouth of the lane between said Willie Adams & Leroy & Biddy Adams to a stake thence South to a black walnut said Willie Adams southeast corner thence East to a stake in Larkin Steward line then North with said Steward line to a stake in Said Ewing line thence West with said Ewing line to beginning. (P74)

1835 - John was a Justice of the Peace:

1835 - William Mallory, Sr's daughter, Louisa Mallory married 29 December 1835 in Wilson County Tennessee, Jesse Phillips. The ceremony was performed by John Sneed, Justice of the Peace.

1840 - John was listed living alone:

1840 census, Wilson Co., TN, p. 278
John Snead 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1 0-0-0-0-0-0
One male 50-60; b. 1780-1790 - John b. 1781
One male 20-30; b. 1810-1820 -

William's widow Elizabeth and Thomas's sons Jefferson and John are living very near each other:

1840 census, Wilson, Tennessee, Page 282
Elizabeth Sneede
One female 60-70; b. 1770-1780 - Elizabeth
[3 doors away is Jefferson son of Thomas]
Jefferson Sneede 0-0-0-0-1 2-2-0-0-0-1
One male 20-30; b. 1810-1820 - Jefferson
One female 30-40; b. 1800-1810 -
Two females 5-10; b. 1830-1835 -
Two females 0-5; b. 1835-1840 -
[4 doors away is John son of Thomas]
John Sneede 2-2-2-0-0-1 0-0-2-0-0-1
One male 30-40; b. 1800-1810 -
One female 30-40; b. 1800-1810 -
Two males 10-15; b. 1825-1830 -
Two females 10-15; b. 1825-1830 -
Two males 5-10; b. 1830-1835 -
Two males 0-5; b. 1835-1840 -

Nancy has died by 1840, when John is living alone:

1840 census, Wilson, Tennessee, Page 283
John Sneede 0-0-0-0-0-0-1
One male 40-50; b. 1790-1800 - John

Meanwhile, by 1840, Dr. Thomas J., son of William and Elizabeth, had moved to DeKalb Co., TN, as has John and Nancy's son Dr. John J. Sneed.

2 Aug 1841, Wilson Co., TN - John and Nancy's son Hamilton remarried to Nancy P. Martin.

1850 census - haven't found.

1851, Wilson Co., TN -
"1851 - William B. Ewing sold to Isaiah B. David 190 acres on the waters of Smith’s Fork. Begin . . . at a buckeye being John Brasher, Joseph H. Kennedy, & John Sneed’s corner running up & crossing the creek to a beech on the south bank of creek thence up the south side of the creek with its meanders thence south 63 3/4 poles thence east 84o south 138 ½ poles thence north 267 ½ poles in John Sneeds line thence west with said Sneed line 141 poles to the beginning."

Feb 1852 - The county line was altered to include John Sneed in Cannon Co., TN. Not sure is this is the same John Sneed:

"ACTS OF 1841-42; CHAPTER 90
That the following alteration is hereby made in the lines between the counties of Wilson, Cannon and DeKalb counties: That is to say, beginning at or near the Widow Black's, on the Rutherford county line, running with the top of a ridge so as to include Samuel Greer in Cannon county, thence with the dividing ridge that divides the waters of Smith's Fork from Sander's Fork, so as to include John Sneed in the county of Cannon, thence down Smith's Fork to the DeKalb
county line, thence with said line to the line of Cannon county, and the line so run is hereby established as the same between said counties: Provided, said alteration of the foregoing lines shall not reduce the county of Wilson below the constitutional limits in regard to territory.
Passed: February 3, 1842."

In 1860, John is still living alone:

1860 census, Place 13th Civil District, Wilson, Tennessee, p. 205
John Sneed 76, VA

John died sometime between 1860 and 1870 and may have been buried at the Edwards-Fuston-Sneed Cemetery near Prosperity, Wilson Co., TN with others of his family.

*****

John Sneed and his first wife's child (perhaps others):

1. Hamilton Sneed, b. 1802, VA; m. 1st c. 1818, Patrick Co., VA to ?; m. 2nd 2 Aug 1841, Wilson Co., TN to Nancy P. Martin [b. 1818, TN; d. 1860-1865, Raleigh, Saline Co., IL]; m. 3rd 12 Jun 1865, Saline Co., IL to Mrs. Ann Nowlin; he d. 1870-1875, Raleigh, Saline Co., IL; buried probably Raleigh Masonic Cemetery, Raleigh, Saline Co., IL.

*****

John Sneed Jr. and Nancy Pedigo Sneed's children:

2. Nancy Sneed, b. 1808, Patrick Co., VA; m. 15 Dec 1824, Wilson Co., TN to Jonathan Turner [b. 1801, Patrick Co., VA; d. 1870-1880; Wilson Co., TN; son of John Turner (son of Francis Turner Sr) and Judith Robertson]; she d. 1880-1900, Wilson Co., TN; buried probably Turner Cemetery, Cottage Home, Wilson Co., TN.

In 1880, she reported both parents born in Virginia:

1880 census, District 13, Wilson, Tennessee
Nancy Turner F widow 73 VA VA VA

*****

3. Grief A. Sneed, b. 1808, Henry or Patrick Co., VA; m. 14 Sep 1831, Wilson Co., TN to Mary Trout [b. 1815, TN; d. 1907, Washington Co., TN; daughter of Joseph Marion Trout and Sarah Jones]; he d. 1880-1900, Shelby Co., TN or Nashville, Washington Co., IL; buried probably Masonic Cemetery, Nashville, Washington Co., IL.

In 1880, he reported both parents born in Virginia:

1880 census, District 16, Shelby, Tennessee
Alexander R Hall Self M 32 Tennessee; TN TN
Lena Hall Wife F 25 Tennessee; NC TN
Jane Hall Mother F 61 Tennessee; unk TN; stays at home
Emmet Hall Brother M 24 Tennessee
Ione Hall Sister-in-law F 23 Tennessee
John Hall Nephew M 6 mos b. Dec Tennessee
Alma Samuels Stepdaughter F 8 Tennessee
Grief Sneed Uncle M 72 Virginia; stays at home; parents b. VA

*****

4. Dr. John J. Sneed (probably John Jefferson Sneed), b. 4 Jul 1809, Danville (an independent city within bounds of Pittsylvania Co., VA); m. 29 Jul 1828, Wilson Co., TN to Ann Leach [b. 11 May 1809, TN; d. 29 Nov 1879, Austin, Travis Co., TX; buried Masonic Cemetery]; he d. 18 Jan 1874, Austin, Travis Co., TX; buried Masonic Cemetery, Austin, Travis Co., TX.

*****

5. Sally Sneed, b. 14 Mar 1812, Henry or Patrick Co., VA or Wilson Co., TN; m. 8 Jan 1828, Wilson Co., TN to William Shanks Scott [b. 13 Feb 1807, Wilson Co., TN; d. 2 Jan 1873, Weakley Co., TN; buried Scott Family Cemetery, Weakley Co., TN]; she d. 5 Mar 1884, Weakley Co., TN; buried Scott Family Cemetery, Weakley Co., TN.

1850 census, Weakley county, Tennessee
W S Scott M 43 Tennessee
Sarah Scott F 38 Tennessee
George Scott M 17 Tennessee
Paralee Scott F 12 Tennessee
William Scott M 7 Tennessee
Stephen Scott M 4 Tennessee
Benjamin Scott M 2 Tennessee
Louisa Jones M 19 Virginia

1860 census, 3rd Civil District, Weakley, Tennessee
W S Scott M 53 Tennessee
Sarah Scott F 48 Tennessee
William Scott M 18 Tennessee
Stephen Scott M 14 Tennessee
Benjamin Scott M 12 Tennessee
Rebecca Scott F 9 Tennessee
Robert Scott M 7 Tennessee
Parilee R Bayd F 21 Tennessee
George Bayd M 2 Tennessee
Thos J Franklin M 30 Tennessee

1870 census, Weakly Co., TN
Wm S Scott M 63 Tennessee
Sally Scott F 59 Tennessee
Sarah B Scott F 17 Tennessee
George Boyd M 12 Tennessee

1880 census, Martins Store, Weakley, Tennessee
Wiley B Blakemore Self M 31 Tennessee
Rebecca Blakemore Wife F 27 Tennessee
Pearl Blakemore Daughter F 1 Tennessee
Sarah Scott Mother-in-law F 65 Tennessee; father b. TN; mother b. NC

*****