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Comming from Rotterdam, Henrichs Sneewins became citizen of Leiden in 1643. He was brother of Johannes Sneewins (working in Utrecht) and Antony Sneewins (working in Delft).
Henricus married Johanna van Neck in 1645 and lived on 'den Rhijn'. He was very well known for making proportional compasses, ring dials, astrolabia en pantographes. In 1658 he started working maintenance on the quadrant of Snellius from the Leiden observatory (Rooseboom).
In ‘Bronnen tot de geschiedenis der Leidsche Universiteit, third part, pag. 150’ from Molhuysen published in 1918 on behalf of the Minister of the Interior it is mentioned in the meeting of 8 Nov. 1658 that the heirs of late Henrick Snewints, in his live Mathematical Instrument Maker, ask for payment of f 250 for the work he had done on the quadrant. In a later meeting the heirs accept f 110. The work is finished by Jan Davidt (also a well known Mathematical Instrument Maker). We learn here that Hendrick Sneewins has died in 1658. His working period in Leiden was only 15 years, from 1643 to 1658.
The ring dial has a diameter of 62 mm and has the following engraved text:
Gradus Latitudinis Regionum H. Sneewins Leydae 52.1, Stockholm 58.50, Cracov. Polon. 50., Londinum Angli. 51.32, Lutetia, Roma 42., Parisioium 48.52, Rigae 58.30, Dantiscum 54.20, Livorna 42.55, Hamburgum 53.44, Venetiae 45.20, Colonia 50.56, Franfurt a Meyn 50.2, Hispalis Sevilla 37.25.
Moedernegotie (mother trade):
6 places are Hanze-towns on the Ostzee. Around 1650 there was much trade with these cities, mainly grain and wood. Amsterdam warehouses were for more then half filled with goods from the Ostzee-trade (de moedernegotie). A special ship, the Fluit, was developed for this trade and the moedernegotie is seen as the basis of our Golden age.
In regional archives the family name of the brothers is written in many ways:
Sneewins, Sneevins, Snevens, Snevins, Snewints, Sneewints, Snewinds, Sneewinds, Snewius, Snevits, Snewintsen.
Hendrick first name can also be: Henricus, Heijndrick, Heindrich |
