Simon Snider and Mary Ann Lane

Simon Snider
4th Great Grandfather
b. Aug 15, 1733, Dutchess Co, New York Colony
d. Jul 28, 1805, Ernestown, Lennox & Addington County, Ontario

Mary Ann Lane
4th Great Grandmother
b. 1735, Dutchess Co, New York Colony
d. Mar 23, 1819, Ernestown, Lennox & Addington County, Ontario

Simon Snyder was the first in the direct male line of Snyders to come to settle in Canada.

Simon was born on August 15, 1733 in New York, N.Y. Simon was a United Empire Loyalist and fought for King and country in the American War Of Independence. On a muster roll that contains the names, size, age, country and time of service of the N.C.(Noncommissioned) Officers, Drummers, and Privates of the Second Battalion of the Royal Regiment of New York, it states, "Simon Snider, aged 46, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 1 year and 4 months service."

The Canadian National Archives in Ottawa, a book by Gregory Palmer titled Biographical Sketches of Loyalists Of The American Revolution, states:

Snider, Simon - of New York, a native of America, Snider lived at Saratoga, where he had a farm with thirty acres cleared. He also had 100 acres, thirty cleared, at Fort Edward. Snider joined the British in 1777, and served in the Loyal Rangers. He estimated his loss at 311 pounds sterling, and was awarded 162 pounds sterling. He lost 6 cleared acres, 1 mare, 2 cows, 8 hogs tools, farming utensils, and furniture.

In 1777, John Peters of Vermont had been selected by General John Bourgoyne to establish a regiment of "rangers" to serve in his army for the coming invasion. This regiment became known as the "Queen's Loyal Rangers" and over 300 refugees enlisted. The regiment took part in the operations around Ft. Ticonderoga, and at the Battles of Hubbardton and Bennington, always in the thick of the fight. Over 600 men served in the regiment from May 1777 throughthe Battle of Saratoga, after which some 90 survivors made their way to Canada.

Bourgoyne's army was "two corps of Loyalists consisting of about five hundred men." The hundreds of men were ordered to proceed into New York State by way of Lake Champlain and they were determined to win back their land from the American "patriots." The expidition led the British and Loyalist men to Fort Edward and Fort George. But their arrival at those Forts did not result in celebration, but rather disappointment. The supplies that Bourgoyne had been depending on had been quickly disappearing. Their location was too far from the North, and it was decided that in order to continue, they would have to fight for supplies from the Americans. The Loyalists then planned a "special expidition to Bennington, Vermont." The reason why Bennington had been chosen was because it was home to a storehouse which had many of the supplies that Bourgoyne's army needed. An attack was planned and their first destination was just a few miles west of Bennington in Hoosick Falls, New York.

But little did he know that the Americans had learned of the upcoming invasion, and prepared their own attack. The Americans who lived in the Bennington area "appealed for help from neighbouring New Hampshire and Massachusetts." John Stark had been called upon by the Americans to lead them in the defense, and this was followed by the gathering of almost 1,500 men. Stark eventually marched his newly formed army to Manchester, Vermont to join forces with American Colonel Seth Warner. On August 14, 1777, the American forces came face to face with the Loyalists at Hoosick Falls, and the Americans essentially "cornered" John Peter’s Rangers on the hill while more American troops quickly arrived.

While the hundreds of Loyalists sat helpless on the hill, thousands of American soldiers gathered below waiting to attack. On August 16, 1777, the first shot was fired by the Americans and they began their attack from all sides. Approximely 700 British soldiers were taken as prisoners. The failure may be attributed to the credulity of Colonel Skene, who had been duped into accepting a number of Americans as Loyalists. These imposters treacherously attacked the British force in conjuction with a force of Americans under Brigadier-General Stark and inflicted heavy losses on it. Peter’s Corps never recovered.

Simon married Mary Anne Lane on April 13th, 1789 in Ernesttown by Rev. Langhorn and they settled on Lot 21, Concession 1 in Ernesttown Township.