Snipes

In all records of the Snipes' family, it was reasoned that the name was derived from the old English family name "Snape". Recently, records have been located that show the name was known in England as early as 1456 and had, of course, existed before that. Another record found in Bridgetown, Barbados, shows the name spelled "Snipe" -- the ancient "y" having been changed into the present form. By 1669 the final "e" had been added and the name was "Snipes". There are a number of Snipes' Wills in Barbados. In 1677 a William Snipes died at Charleston -- then Ashley River, South Carolina. In his will he mentioned the fact that he was from Barbados. He left property there to his wife Margaret and a son Thomas.

The records of all the Snipes in the United States in these early days have been lost due to the fact that they all lived in South Carolina, through which Sherman passed on his (in)famous march to the sea, ruthlessly burning courthouses and churches, including their records.

William and Sarah Snipes settled in the northern part of Chatham County, North Carolina, on a farm which stayed in the family for centuries. During the Revolutionary War, members of the family scattered along the Pedee River Valley from Charleston, South Carolina, well into Tennessee. Records show that Joseph William Snipes, son of Charles Wesley Snipes, was the only member of the thirteen children who migrated to Marion County, Arkansas. Some of the brothers moved to Indiana and others remained in Tennessee to live out their lives.

Joseph William moved from Warren County, Tennessee, and settled in the Blue John community in Marion County about 1880. The exact date is not known, but in 1878 a son was born in Tennessee and in 1881 twin boys were born in Arkansas.

Joseph William's first wife was Mary Hollis. They were the parents of nine children: Martha Alice; William Edgar; Charles Leonadas; James Martin and Robert (twins); John Britton; Margaret Louella; Austin Calhoun; and Joseph Junior.

After the death of Mary Hollis Snipes in 1892, Joseph William married Vesta Thompson. Their children were: Homer Eugene; Ernest Milton; Josie Estella; Metta Salina; and Samuel George.

Martha Alice married William Ott and they were the parents of five children: Mary Nela; Lela Martinnie; Virgil Doyle; Addie Louella; and Alvah Alice.

William Edgar married Mary Cannon and they had two children: Walter Russell and William Albert.

John Britton Snipes married Fannie Patterson and they had two sons, Charles Floyd and William (Bill) Oswald.

Louella married John C. Ware. Austin Calhoun married Mary Jones and they had one daughter, Katherine. Austin Calhoun later married Nola Patterson. Joseph, Jr. died in infancy. Robert Luther and James Martin both died at an early age. Charles Leonadas died at the age of 17.

After the death of Mary Hollis Snipes in 1892, Joseph William married Vesta Thompson. They were the parents of five children: Homer Eugene; Ernest Milton; Josie Estella; Metta Salina; and Samuel George.

Homer Eugene married Genelda Cox and they were the parents of two children, Joe Lee and Geneva.

Ernest Milton married Etta Morrow and they had one daughter, Lois. Later Ernest Milton married Freida Casey and they had two sons, Jimmy William and Danny.

Josie Estella married Ernest Ott and they had one son, Eugene. Metta Salina married Wesley Dorman and they had two children -- Conan William and Joy Bernice. After Wesley's death, Metta Salina married Richard (Dick) Woodcock.

Samuel George married Vena Covey and they had two children, Don Ray and Alta Jean.

The Snipes' children settled in many different parts of the United States, but many of them have remained in the area of their birth and have lived their entire lives in Marion County. Some of the men in the Snipes' family were skilled carpenters. Joseph William was a craftsman. He made beautiful handmade furniture at a time when it was impossible to obtain any other way.