Marke Newby (1638 - 1683)

Born 25 Feb 1638 in Earsdon, Northumberland, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Bridge) Newby — married 26 Jul 1663 in Gowring, County Kilkenny, Ireland

Husband of Hannah (Holmes) Atkinson — married 21 May 1674 in Brides Street, Dublin, Ireland

Descendants

Died 1683 at about age 44 in Haddonfield, Province of West Jersey

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Mark Newby is a part of New Jersey history. Join: New Jersey Project Discuss: New Jersey

Biography

Mark Newby is Notable.

Mark was a Friend (Quaker)

Mark Newby is notable because he is responsible for New Jersey's first coinage.

Origins

Mark Newby was born 25 Apr 1638 in Earsdon, Northumberland, England.^[1]

Early Life

Like his parents, Mark was born in England, but with them removed to Ireland in 1662 to escape persecution as Quakers.^{[2] [3]} Mark would have been 24 in 1662.

Mark became a shopkeeper in Dublin, where he continued to face persecution. In 1671, "because for conscience sake he could not be an observer of Holidays (so-called) he opened his Shop on the 25th of the 10th month, called Christmas Day" and "had his house assaulted by a rude multitude" who threw dirt and stones into his shop, "endangering his Life and his Families ; spoyled Shop-goods, broke Glass-windows and Pewter vessels, abused their neighbours for reproving them ; the said Mark was damnified."^[4]

Immigration

Eighteen months after his father died, Mark Newby sailed on 19 September 1681 from Dublin aboard "a pink" called Ye owners adventure bound for Newton Township, New Jersey.^[5] (then part of Salem County, now part of Camden).

His certificate of removal from the Friends Meeting at County Wicklow, Ireland is dated 21st of the 6th month 1681.^[6]

"Let it be remembered yt upon ye nineteenth day of September, in ye year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-one, Mark Newby, William Bates, Thomas Thackara, George Goldsmith and Thomas Sharp, set saile from ye Harbor belonging to ye city of Dublin, in ye Kingdom of Ireland, in a pink called "Ye owners adventure." ^[7]

"In September, 1681, a small, narrow stemmed vessel or “pink” called Ye Owner’s Adventure set sail from Dublin carrying several Quaker families. Most of these were probably English-born Quakers who had spent time in Ireland seeking refuge from religious persecution at home. Some of the names from this group that have come down to us are Mark Newbie, tallow chandler; William Bates, carpenter; Thomas Thackera, weaver; George Goldsmith and Thomas Sharp. Ye Owner’s Adventure dropped anchor in the Delaware Bay at Salem on November 18, 1681. The passengers stayed with Quakers at Salem over the winter, and in early 1682 they purchased a boat and began searching the eastern shore of the Delaware River for a permanent settlement site."^[8]

New Jersey's First Banker

Mark was the "founder of the first bank in the State of New Jersey, having a charter granted to him by the Legislature." (page 40)^[5]

Mark was responsible for providing the region its legal tender, the "St Patrick's haypenny."

"Originally minted for use in Ireland, St. Patrick coppers had a long and varied history. An English Quaker merchant in Dublin named Mark Newby (or Newbie) acquired a large supply of these coins which he took with him in 1681 when he emigrated to West New Jersey (New Jersey was divided into separate Eastern and Western colonies from 1676-1702). On May 18, 1682 the General Free Assembly of West New Jersey granted Newby's coppers legal tender status and allowed them to circulate as small change at the rate of a halfpenny, replacing wampum. The only restrictions were that Newby had to put up surety (300 acres of land) that he would exchange the coppers for "pay equivalent" on demand and that one was not required to accept more than five shillings in coppers at one time. When Newby died about a year later, in the fall of 1682, his estate included £30 in coppers, estimated at roughly 10,800 coins. Newby's St. Patrick coppers filled an important need in local commerce and remained in circulation throughout the colonial period. In fact, in 1881 the eminent New Jersey copper specialist Edward Marris stated that St. Patrick coppers continued to be found in change in western New Jersey into the early 19th century."^[9]

"In 1681 it is supposed that Mark Newby, a Quaker who emigrated from Ireland, had brought a substantial quantity of these copper coins to North America when he relocated to West New Jersey, settling in Camden. On 18 May 1682 he was instrumental in having these coppers made legal tender in the region."^[10]

View the American Numismatic Society's Mark Newby's St. Patrick coinage collection for many images of the coin and analysis of its curious, rather mysterious history.

Politics

"In the political affairs of the colony he took a prominent part, and filled several positions of trust and responsibility. (page 44)^[5]

Newby was twice elected to the Provincial Assembly. "He was rechosen a member of the General Assembly and signed as a member, 15th of 3 mo. (May) 1683. Thomas Thackara was chosen as a member of the Governor's Council 8th, 7 mo. (September) 1683 in his place. He undoubtedly died probably in August between these two dates and his inventory of September 4, 1684, must have been optionally delayed for a full year because of the redemption of his coins sometimes called tokens nowadays."^[11]

Family

Mark's first wife was Elizabeth Welsh^[12], whom he married, probably in Dublin, on 26 July 1663. They had four children, three of whom died in infancy:

1. Mary (1664-1667)
2. Joseph (1665-1667)
3. Mary (1668-?), m. John Stythe in 1994
4. Elizabeth (1669-1670)

Mark's wife Elizabeth died in 1672. His second wife, whom he married in Dublin on 21 May 1674, was Hannah Holmes^[13]; they also had four children:

1. Rachel (1675-?), m. Isaac Decou in 1695
2. Stephen (1678-c.1707), m. Elizabeth Wood in 1703
3. Edward, m. Hannah Chew in 1706

Hannah outlived Mark, as she was appointed administratrix of his estate.

Death and Legacy

Mark was only forty-five when he died, about two years after he immigrated to the colonies, sometime between 1682-May 1683.^[5] His estate was inventoried in September 1684.

Abstract of inventory:

1684 Sept. 4. Newby, Mark, of Newton, Gloucester Co. Inventory of the personal estate of, £189.1.0, incl. William Chester, a serving man, £8, Margett Linch, a woman servant, £8, Thomas Lassen (?), a boy, £10, Anthony Sharp, a boy, £10, Margery Newby, a girl, £8, and debts due by John Hogg and John Gay; made by Geo. Gouldsmith and Jonathan Woods. Sworn to by Hannah Newbie, widow of Mark.

1684 Sept. 16. Hannah, the widow of, granted letters of administration on his estate. Burlington Records, p. 7

1684 Sept. 16. Bond of Hannah Newby as administratrix. Thomas Sharp of Newton and Henry Grubb of Burlington, yeoman, fellow bondsmen."^[14]

Mark Newbie Elementary School in Collingswood, New Jersey is named for him.

Research Notes

Mark's wife Hannah survived him. More research is needed to determine her date of death. Check Quaker Monthly Meeting Records.

Father's Find A Grave: Memorial #92913575 has no mention of a son Mark.

Sources

1. ↑ “Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Births,” database with images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.ie/transcript?id=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FBIRTH%2F1380 : accessed 18 August 2019), birth of Mark Newby in Earsdon Northumberland on 25d 2mo (Apr) 1638, father: Ralph, mother: Dorothy; citing Wicklow MM Family lists 1677-1800 and sufferings, Religious Society Of Friends In Ireland Archives.
2. ↑ Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Family Lists, image, FindMyPast (https://search.findmypast.ie/record?id=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FMM11M-1%2F0039&parentid=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FBIRTH%2F1380 : accessed 18 August 2019), immigration of Mark Newby to Ireland in 1662; citing Wicklow MM Family lists 1677-1800 and sufferings, Religious Society Of Friends In Ireland Archives.
3. ↑ father Ralph Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 05 September 2020), memorial page for Ralph Newby (1611–1682), Find A Grave: Memorial #92913575, citing Friends Burial Ground, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland ; Maintained by Jan (contributor 47388195) . There is no mention on the grave page of a son Mark.
4. ↑ Stockdale, William. The Great Cry of Oppression: or a brief relation of some part of the sufferings of the people of God in scorn called Quakers, in Ireland, for these eleven years, viz from the beginning of 1671 until the end of 1681. Dublin[?], 1683. p205.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Clement, John. Sketches of the First Emigrant Settlers in Newton Township, Old Gloucester County, West New Jersey. (Camden, N.J, Sinnickson Chew, 1877), 24. link
6. ↑ Haddonfield Monthly Meeting Minutes, page 3. U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 via Ancestry.com
7. ↑ Clement Page 24, citing Gloucester County Deeds, Liber A
8. ↑ Haddonfield Monthly Meeting – A Brief History
9. ↑ Jordan, Louis "St. Patrick Coppers 1674-1675 (1681): Introduction." Coins of Colonial and Early America. Department of Special Collections, Hesburgh Library, University of Notre Dame. http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinIntros/StPat.intro.html
10. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. "St Patrick halfpenny." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 25 Nov. 2014. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St_Patrick_halfpenny&oldid=635352986
11. ↑ Stewart, Frank H. Mark Newby: The First Banker in New Jersey and His Patrick Halfpence. (Woodbury, New Jersey: Gloucester County Historical Society, 1947), page 11
12. ↑ “Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Marriages,” database with images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.ie/transcript?id=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FMARR%2F11459B : accessed 17 August 2019), marriage of Elizabeth Welsh of Kilkenny and Marke Newby son of Ralph and Dorothy Newby of Earsden Northumberland on 26d 5mo (Jul) 1663; citing Register of marriages, DUBLIN, 1859, Religious Society Of Friends In Ireland Archives.
13. ↑ “Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Marriages,” database with images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.ie/transcript?id=IRE%2FQUAKER%2FMARR%2F546B : accessed 17 August 2019), marriage of Hannah Holmes and Mark Newby in Brides Street Dublin on 21d 3mo (May) 1674; citing Register of marriages, DUBLIN, 1859, Religious Society Of Friends In Ireland Archives.
14. ↑ Mark Newby. Calendar of Wills, 1670-1730. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, XXIII, 338.

See also:

• http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~billie0w/books/quakers/appendix2.htm
• Mark Newby on Wikipedia
• Stewart, Frank H. Mark Newby, the First Banker in New Jersey and His Patrick Halfpence. Woodbury, N.J: Gloucester County Historical Society, 1947. Print.
• Adamson, T. L. (2011). Pioneering Spirit: Tracing the Footsteps of Colonist, John Adamson.
• Irishcoinage.com

Acknowledgements

Thank you Lamar Ross.