Robert Sneden was the son of Robert Sneden and Sarah _____. He was born after 1713 in Westchester County, New York. He died intestate, sometime before March 5, 1765, when his son Abraham deeded a portion of his inheritance to his mother and siblings. Administration "on the estate of Robert Sneden of Orange, Co., farmer, deceased" was granted to his son, Dennis Sneden, December 26, 1766. Bonds were posted by Dennis and John Sneden, both of Orange County, "farmers," and Abraham Sneden of New York City, "boatman." (Scott, Kenneth, "Genealogical Data from New York Administration Bonds 1753-1799," Vol 10., New York, 1969)
He made his occupation, like his father, as a carpenter and farmer. He was deeded property at Eastchester, Westchester County, New York by his father, January 18, 1734, "Robert Snedden Senr. yeoman to son, Robert Snedden Junr., carpenter, for consideration of 100 pounds." (Book G, p. 171)

Robert Sneden married Mary Dobbs sometime before 1731 in Westchester County, New York. They had the following children:

Abraham (1733 - bet 1810 and 1820) m1. Rachel Swartwout, m2. Susanna Knapp
Charity (1734 - abt 1766)
Dennis (13 Nov 1735 - 13 Jan 1824) never married
John (abt 1738 - 1 Apr 1822) m1. Margaret Riker, m2. Ellison Lawrence
Mary (28 May 1739 - ) m. 7 Jun 1765, Samuel Lawrence
Robert (abt 1743 - ) m. 28 May 1782, Miriam Fowler
Jesse 'James' ( - ) m. Sarah Berrian
William (bet 1739 and 1750 - 18 Nov 1829) m. Hester LaForge
Samuel (abt 1750 - bef 1795) m. Mary _____

Around 1740, the family left the Eastchester area, and moved across the Hudson River to what was then part of Orange County (now Rockland County), New York, called the "Palisades." This was the west end of the Dobbs Ferry, operated by his father-in-law, John Dobbs. Upon their arrival, it is presumed they first rented a tract of land bordering the Hudson River which included the former Corbett homestead. In 1745 a survey showed there, "Sneeding's house the ferry". Later, on July 28, 1752, Robert eventually purchased the land from Henry and Mary (Corbett) Ludlow. The deed included 120 acres of land on the west bank of the Hudson River, the Corbett homestead, and the ferry site. On October 9, 1769, the Commissioners appointed to settle the state boundary line placed the state line 79 chains and 27 links south of "Sneydon's house, formerly Corbet's."
The ferry operations were taken over as early as 1745 by Molly Dobbs. The place was called "Sneden's Landing" by 1759.

Upon the death of Robert Sneden, his eldest son, Abraham Sneden, became heir to his property. He conveyed nine-tenths of his interest to his mother and siblings, as is evidenced by the following abstract of a deed in which his sister Mary, conveys her portion back to her mother, via her new husband:

"Samuel Lawrence of New York City, and
Mary h[is]w[ife], late Mary Sneden daughter of Robert Sneden, dec'd.
To
George Calhoun of Rockland, Orange Co., yeoman,
Aug 30 1765 A. Sep., 1765.
con. ?.50.
Recites: That Henry Ludlow and Mary his wife,
in consideration of ?.250. conveyed to Robert Sneden
by deed dated Jul. 28. 1752 a certain lot in
Rockland, Orange County, containing 120 acres,
That Robert Sneden died intestate and
That Abraham Sneden, son of Robert Sneden, became
heir to all the land that Robert Sneden acquired
from the said Ludlow,
That Abraham Sneden for the love and affection
he bore his mother, his brothers and his sisters, did
by deed dated Mar. 5. 1765, convey to his said mother,
Mary, widow of Robert Sneden,
and to his brothers and sisters,
Charity Sneden,
Dennis Sneden,
John Sneden,
Mary Sneden,
Robert Sneden,
Jesse Sneden,
William Sneden and
Samuel Sneden,
nine-tenths of the above premises which descended to
him the said Abraham - one-tenth to each,
Samuel Lawrence and his wife formerly Mary
Sneden now convey their one-tenth of the said 120
acre lot."

Molly Dobbs and four of her children, loyal to the British Crown, were Tories during the Revolutionary War. An order of the Revolutionary Committee of Orange County reads:

"Whereas Dennis Snyden, Jesse Snyden, William Snyden, and Samuel Snyden, all living at or near a place comonly called Snyden's or Dobbs Ferry on the west side of Hudson's River in the County of Orange and State of New York, have refused to sign any or either of the Associations that have been put forth or recommended by our honorable convention; and as the above said persons are greatly suspected of carrying on a treasonable correspondence with our natural enemies, or ships of war belonging to the King of Great Britain, lying in aforesaid river, by the great opportunity afforded them in the privilege they have by keeping the ferry; knowing the aforesaid persons to be inveterate enemies to the common States of America, Therefore Resolved, that the above Dennis Snyden, Jesse Snyden, William Snyden and Samuel Snyden are hereby forewarned not to keep ferry, or employ any other person to ferry in their room, or employ a craft on the aforesaid river."

There are several stories told about Molly. She is supposed to have piloted Martha Washington across the Hudson River in 1775 to join her husband in Cambridge, Massachusets. On another ocassion, she is said to have helped a British soldier escape by hiding him in a chest on which she placed pans of cream to rise. When his pursuers arrived, and asked for something to drink, she offered them all the milk they wanted, but asked them not to disturb the cream she had set out. Later, when they had gone, she released the British soldier and, late at night, ferried him across the river.