According to Mary A. Sniffin's birth certificate, Elisha was born in CT.
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1850 New York Co, NY:
Ward 17, (near Tompkins Sq., 1-3 Ave, 1-14 St) roll M432, 6 Sep 1850,
Dwelling 746, Family 2023

Elisha Sniffen, 29, M, Carpenter, b NY
Delia, 25, F, b NY
Mortimer, 8, M, b NY
George, 5, M, b NY
Josephine, 3, F, b NY
Albert, 9/12, M (b Dec '49), b NY
Catherine Melham, 24, F, b Ireland
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1860 New York Co, NY:
Ward 13, Division 4, NY Co, NY City, NY P.O., 12 Jun 1860,
Dwelling 79, Family 274,

Elisha Sniffen, 38, M, House Builder, 1000, b NY
Delia, 35, F, b NY
Mortimer, 18, M, Marriner, b NY
George, 15, M, Clerk, b NY
Josephine, 12, F, b NY
Albert, 10, M, b NY
Emma, 8, F, b NY
Franklin, 3, M, b NY
Susan Delany, 20, F, Servant, b NY
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1870 New York Co, NY:
Ward 17, ED 13, NY State, NY P.O.
Dwelling 75, East 4th Street

Elisha Sniffen, 48, M, Builder, b NY
Marie, 40, F, Keeps House
M, 28, F [?]
George, 25, M
Josephine, 23, M [?]
Albert, 21, M
Emma, 19, F
Frank, 13, M
Willy, 7, M
E, Jr., 5, F [?]
Marie, 3, F
Moses, 2, M
Conner, Hannah, 22, F, Serv. girl, b Ireland
Hilly, May, 24, F, Serv. girl, b Ireland
Hemm, Bud, 28, M, Clerk, b Germ
Emilie, 24, F, Keeps House, b MA
Ida, 1, F, b NY
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1880 Kings Co, NY: Ward 19, page 21, Hooper St, Dwelling 142

Lascha Sniffen, W, M, 56, Builder/Archi, b NY, Father b NY, Mother b NY
Mary A., F, 50, wife, House Keep
William S., M, 17, son, engraver
Lascha, Jr., M, 14, son, school
Mary A., F, 13, dau, school
Moses J., M, 12, son, school
Walter, Josephine, F, 32, dau, [Marital status:] sep, House Keep
Medoral S., M, 8, son, school
Jela J., F, 6, dau, school
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According to "New York - A Guide to the Metropolis," by Gerard R. Wolfe, page 185:

477-479 Broome Street was erected in 1872-73 by the Excelsior Iron Works from plans by Elisha Sniffen. The building is in the SoHo Cast Iron District.
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According to "Cast-Iron Architecture in New York, A Photographic Survey," by Margot Gayle & Edmund V. Gillon, Jr.; pages 53-55:

477-481 Broome St, (1885 Elisha Sniffin)
485 Broome St, (1872 Elisha Sniffen)
southwest corner of Wooster & Broome Sts.
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According to "The Street Book," by Henry Moscow:

John Sniffen, builder, listed in the 1859/60 NYC Directory as having offices at 206 Eldridge Street and living at 152 Henry Street, built carriage houses on East 36th Street. "Sniffen Court," on the south side of East 36th Street, near 3rd Avenue is named for him.
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Abstract of Elisha Sniffin's Death Certificate:

Brooklyn Certificate #52
Elisha Sniffin
aged 69-4-5, white male, married, b NYC, occupation: merchant and builder
19 year resident of NYC
father b Port Chester, NY
mother b Port Chester, NY
place of death: 144 Hooper Street, 19th Ward
one family house on the 2nd Floor
d. 1 Jan 1892 at 8:20pm
certificate delivered to Peter Relyea on 2 Jan
signed by George Eouson at 125 Willoughby Street
buried in Rye, Westchester Co, NY on 5 Jan 1892
undertaker P. Relyea, business: 16_ B'way.
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New York City Directory Listings:

1842/43:
John Sniffin, Carpenter, 295 E Bway, h 14 Lewis
Hanna P. Sniffin, w/o Nathan, 262 Broome
several Sniffens

1843/44:
John Sniffin, builder, 295 E Bway, h 295 Division

1844/45:
John Sniffin, builder, 295 E Bway, h 295 Division

1845/46:
Elisha Sniffin, carpenter, 57 Cannon

1847/48:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, 295 E Bway, h 293 Division
John Sniffin, builder, 295 E Bway, h 86 Attorney

1848/49:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, r 35 Suffolk, h 145 Clinton
John Sniffin, builder, h 86 Attorney

1849/50:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, Suffolk, h 158 Rivington
John Sniffin, late builder, h 86 Attorney

1850/51:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, r 35 Suffolk, h 35 Suffolk
John Sniffin, late builder, h 86 Attorney

1851/52:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, r 35 Suffolk, h 35 Suffolk
John Sniffin, late builder, h 86 Attorney

1852/53:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, r. 35 Suffolk, h. 35 Suffolk

1853/54:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, r. 43 Suffolk, h. 45 Suffolk
John Sniffin, builder, 138 Henry

1854/55:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, r. 45 Suffolk, h. 45 Suffolk
John Sniffin, builder, Suffolk n. Grand, h. 138 Henry

1855/56:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, 45 Suffolk
John Sniffin, builder, 35 Suffolk, h. 138 Henry

1856/57:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, r. 45 Suffolk, h. 45 Suffolk
John Sniffin, builder, h. 152 Henry

1857/58:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, r. 45 Suffolk
John Sniffin, builder, h. 152 Henry
G. L. and R. W. Hume not found

1858/59:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, h. 45 Suffolk
John Sniffin, builder, 45 Suffolk, h. 152 Henry

1859/60:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, r. 45 Suffolk, h. 45 Suffolk
John Sniffin, builder, 206 Eldridge, h. 152 Henry

1860/61:
Elisha Sniffin, builder, 45 Suffolk
John Sniffin, builder, 206 Eldridge, h. 152 Henry

1861/62:
Elisha Sniffin, carpenter, 45 Suffolk
John Sniffin, builder, 152 Henry

1862/63:
Elisha Sniffin, carpenter, h. 45 Suffolk
John Sniffin, builder, 45 Suffolk, h. 152 Henry

1863/64:
Elisha Sniffin, contractor & builder, 45 Suffolk
John Sniffin, builder, 45 Suffolk, h. 152 Henry

1864/65:
Elisha Sniffin, contractor & builder, 172 Christie, h. 73 E. 4th
John Sniffin, builder, 206 Eldridge
John Sniffin, builder, 172 Chrystie, h. 152 Henry
John A Sniffin, Jr., h. 152 Henry

1865/66:
Elisha Sniffin, contractor & builder, 172 Chrystie & 206 Eldridge, h 73 E 4th
John Sniffin, builder, 172 Chrystie & 206 Eldridge, & pres. 106 Bway

1869/70:
Elisha Sniffin, contractor and builder, 172 Chrystie, h 73 E 4th
(from 44 Division, N to E Houston, near Delancy & Rivington)

1870/71:
Elisha Sniffin, contractor & builder, 183 Eldridge, h 73 E 4th

1875/76:
Elisha Sniffen, contractor, 183 Eldridge
John A. Sniffin, builder, 55 E 41st St, h 5 E 42nd

1878/79:
Elisha Sniffin, architect, 345 Bway, h 143 Hooper, Brooklyn

1879/80:
Elisha Sniffin, architect, 345 Bway, h Brooklyn

1884/85:
Elisha Sniffin, architect, 317 Bway, h 142 Hooper, Brooklyn
John Sniffin, builder, 55 E 41st St, h 5 E 42nd St
Isaac B. Sniffin, h 5 E 42nd St
George Sniffin, hatter, h 225 Division
George Sniffin, mason, h 421 E 117

1890/91:
Elisha Sniffin, architect, 317 Bway, h 144 Hooper, Brooklyn
John A. Sniffin, h 72 W 90th St
Isaac B. Sniffin, h 72 W 90th St
Charles A. Sniffin, h 72 W 90th St
Catherine Sniffin, w/o John, h 72 W 90th St
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From "The Brooklyn Daily Eagle," Saturday, January 2, 1892:

Sniffin - On January 1, 1892, Elisha Sniffin, in the 70th year of his age. Services Monday evening, January 4, at 8 o'clock, at his late residence, 144 Hooper st, Brooklyn.
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From "The Brooklyn Daily Eagle," Sunday Morning, January 3, 1892:

Death of Elisha Sniffin.

Elisha Sniffin died at his home, 144 Hooper street, yesterday. Mr. Sniffin was 60 years of age, and for the past nineteen years resided in the eastern district. He was an architect and did business both in this city and in New York. He was well known in church and social circles. Beside being a member of St. John's M. E. church, Bedford avenue and Wilson street, he belonged to the New England society and the Mechanics' and traders' union. The funeral service will be held on Monday evening at his late residence, the Rev. William D. Kelley officiating. The interment will take place at Rye, N. Y.
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