Author: Richard Edward Snelson
John Thomas Snelson (1759-1843) was born in what is now Buckingham Co., VA in an area of rolling hills known as the Virginia Piedmont. Part of his childhood was spent in his native state before moving to South Carolina. Thomas was 18 years old when he enlisted in the service as a colonial soldier on July 15, 1777 in York Co, SC. He served as a private in the Georgia Militia. After his first tour of duty, which was an expedition into Georgia and Florida, he became a resident of Edgefield Co., SC. In 1779, he took another tour which led him back into Georgia and to the first Siege of Savannah. His dedication to the cause motivated him to volunteer for service in 1780 and again in 1781, fighting in the first, and then the last Siege of Augusta, GA. Thomas was a farmer and a minister. He lived for a time in Tennessee and North Carolina and in 1821 settled in Ohio. In 1832 he was living in Crawford Co., MO and was very active in his ministry. Thomas must definately have been a physically strong man with much restless energy and wide ranging curiousity. Thomas Snelson, the father, the Patroit and the Man of God left pieces of his long journey to all of us who are among his Prodigies. Thomas, his wife Deborah, are buried in the Pine Hill Cemetery in Phelps Co., MO.