Career
Together they founded one of Maryland"s first industries, and settled the land now known as Laurel and Sandy Spring, Maryland. On the January 11, 1669, 500 acres (20 km2) of land called "Iron Mine" were patented from George Yate to Richard Snowden Senior and Thomas Linthicum, "farmers", for 11,000 lb (5,000 kg) of tobacco. Linthicum sold this land to Snowden in 1675.
In 1685 King Charles (via Lord Baltimore) granted Richard Snowden Senior
1,976 acres (800 km2) of land on the Patuxent River (Robinhood"s Forest). On this land, the Quaker Richard Snowden Senior built the plantation "Birmingham Manor".
On August 14, 1688, Snowden acquired 800 acres (32 km2) called Godwell. On April 19, 1715, Snowden purchased 300 acres (12 km2) called "Burgess Choice".
On December 10, 1715, 1,000 acres (40 km2) of land known as "Snowden"s Manor" were surveyed for Richard Snowden near Ashton.
Altogether, Richard Snowden Senior amassed an estate worth over 2000 pounds by 1715. In 1719 Snowden Junior. was granted 10,000 acres (40 km2) in Maryland. In 1720 inherited Birmingham Manor and all the accumulated lands of his father.
In October 1723, Snowden Hill was surveyed and granted to Richard Snowden, including 646 acres (261 km2) of land by the Columbia road with the West Point Branch running through lieutenant
In 1724 Richard Snowden sent workers to build a log core that became "Greenwood", north of Brookeville, Maryland establishing Sandy Spring"s and Montgomery County"s oldest surviving residence. The ironworks were built on the site of an even older forge that predated it by some time.
A 1753 letter by Charles Carroll of Annapolis noted that Snowden"s forge was the only one in Maryland to have ore near navigable waters (ie the Patuxent River). On March 5, 1743, "Snowden"s Manor Enlarged" including the original "Snowden"s Manor" was resurveyed.
This totalled 9,265 acres (3,749 ha).
A "Laurel road" (now Sandy Spring Road) was described. In 1752, he sold 507 acres on the South River named "Snowden"s Reputation Supported" along with 265 acres along Elkridge, and 236 acres of "Gander"s Delight" in Montgomery County. At Richard Snowden"s death, his estate included Snowden Hall, Fairland, Montpelier, Oaklands, Snow Hill, Avondale, Woodland Hill, Alnick, Elmwood, Brightwood, Maple Grove, and most of the land that comprises modern Laurel, Maryland.
Richard Snowden is buried in the family cemetery on the grounds of the former Birmingham Manor.
The Snowden family cemetery sits just to the east of modern Suburban Airport, within the traffic pattern. The ironworks employed a workforce of about 45 slaves.
The ironworks peaked with an annual output of 1200 tons. The owners dismantled the furnace in 1856 due to a lack of wood and ore.