Family and Education

bap. 16 June 1682, 1st s. of Thomas Snell of Gloucester by Bridget.  educ. I. Temple 1700, called 1704.  m. settlement 6 Apr. 1713, Anna Maria, da. and h. of Robert Huntingdon, bp. of Raphoe, niece and h. of Sir John Powell† of Gloucester, c.j. Qb, at least 1s., 1da.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Gloucester 1699.2

Biography

Snell’s father, a prosperous citizen of Gloucester, had become mayor in 1699, but had greater ambitions for his eldest son whom he put to the law. In 1713 the younger Snell’s fortunes took a handsome turn when he married the niece and heiress of the highly esteemed judge Sir John Powell, who laid out a portion of £10,000, and when two months later the judge conveniently died, Snell inherited a large estate consisting of property in and around Gloucester and in Herefordshire. Reports that Snell was now worth £50,000 secured him a sympathetic response from Robert Harley* and the new Tory ministers when he indicated his desire to enter Parliament at the next opportunity. Alderman Thomas Webb, one of the sitting Members for Gloucester, and one of the city’s chief Tories, was persuaded with promises of preferment to stand down, thus enabling Snell to be elected in the autumn general election with very little opposition. Accordingly, he was classed as a Tory in the Worsley list and in two other lists of the 1713 Parliament, but was an inactive MP. He retained his seat after 1715, continuing to vote with the Tories. In around 1720 he purchased the manor of Lower Guiting. He died on 13 Sept. 1726, the day on which he completed his will, and was buried in the church of St. Mary de Crypt, Gloucester, his estates passing to his son.3

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Authors: Paula Watson / Andrew A. Hanham

Notes

• 1. IGI, Glos.; Williams, Glos. MPs, 207; PCC 210 Plymouth; Rudder, Glos. 464.
• 2. Gloucester Freemen (Glos. Rec. Ser. iv), 52.
• 3. PCC 210 Plymouth; Bodl. Ballard 31, f. 119; Bigland’s Colls. (Glos. Rec. Ser. iii), 635; Williams, 207; Hist. Reg. Chron. 1726, p. 36.