Mollie Sneden

[6] Mollie's husband, Robert Sneden Jr., though a carpenter and farmer by trade, assisted William in running the ferry.

[7] It is not known if Mollie experienced ferry operations first-hand, but given her future vocation and both her family's and husband's connection to the trade, it is conceivable she did.

The couple continued living on the east side of the Hudson for several years, during which time they gave birth to four more children.

The dispute was not legally settled for nearly 30 years, when a commission appointed by the King of England set the border officially in 1769.

The surveyor's description measures the state line as 79 chains and 27 links south of the Sneden house, placing their property in New York.

After their move in 1740 Robert worked at his farming profession, and Mollie relieved his burden of labor by operating the ferry landing.

[8] A surveyor's map from that year illustrating the larger area known as the Lockhart Patent shows "Sneedings house the fferry [sic].

[1] A larger type of ferry used on the Hudson during this period was powered by a paddle wheel, which in turn was rotated by horses or mules on a treadmill.

[7] Robert died in 1756 at the age of 46, and the eldest son, Abraham, inherited all of his property, in accordance with English law.

Through the 1800s Sneden's Landing remained the center for riparian activities for the local region, which is called Palisades today.

[16] Except for Mollie and Robert's son John, nicknamed "The Patriot," the Snedens were branded as Tories, or British sympathizers.

A story credits Mollie Sneden with saving a British soldier during this period: The story goes that a British soldier was pursued down the gully by some patriots; she hid him in her house in a large chest on which she set pans of cream to rise, and when the patriots arrived she misinformed them; they were tired and asked for refreshment, and she offered them all the milk she had, but told them not to disturb the pans of cream which she had just set out.

[8]Through proximity and possible communication with Dobbs Ferry, Mollie Sneden would have been aware of the tremendous activity of 6,000 men across the river, when General Cornwallis prepared to embark on a night crossing of the Hudson in late November 1776.

With her bachelor son, Dennis, she moved to New York City, leaving operation of the ferry to John, "The Patriot."