John B. Snapp-Page County, VA 1807-1879
I have researched the Snapp family of the 18th and 19th century in the Shenandoah Valley for many years, but was never able fit the John B. Snapp, who married Harriet Rickard in Page County, VA in 1835 and shows up there in the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census records, into any of the other Valley families.Now by fortunate confluence of circumstances I have partially solved the problem.
For years I have sought new information on the parentage of my great-great-grandfather, William Bly (1810-1863). It was known that he was born out of wedlock but the older generations were very closed mouthed about the circumstances but it was finally discovered that his mother was Regina Boehm, daughter of Jacob and Mary Burner Boehm of the Mulberry Run area of Shenandoah County. In June 1823 he was bound out to Isaac Lockmiller, "he being 13 years old on July first of this year." It was also discovered at same time that Regina had a son, John Boehm, who was bound out to an uncle, David Pifer, in March 1814, "he being 6 years old December 25 last" [ie. b. 25 Dec. 1807).
Just this Spring the full files of the Chancery causes in Shenandoah county,which had not been accessible to the public, were made available through the Library of Virginia. These papers were microfilmed several years ago but were still not available until recently. The Shenandoah cases have actually been digitalized and can be read online.
In 1836, William Bly and John Snapp, children of Regina Boehm initiated a suit against the administrators of the estate of John Bly and against Samuel Boehm, to recover their interest in the property of their mother, Regina Boehm, who died in 1818.John Bly had qualified to administer the estate of Regina Boehm and Samuel Boehm was security on the bond, but John Bly died before he ever settled her affairs.Samuel Boehm in answer to the suit provided he birthdates for William Bly and John Snapp,to argue that the statute of limitations had run out for them and he also introduced the information that they also had an older sister, named Mary Aumiller, who was deceased.
On these papers, John Snapp signed his name "John B. Snapp"
Since DNA evidence now proves that William Bly rightfully took the name Bly as an adult, it can also be assumed that John Boehm, took the name of his real father when he became an adult. The identity of his father is not known and there are a number of possibilities, but at least part of the mystery hasbeen solved.