John Newton (1639 - 1697)

Born 1639 in Carlton Manor, Anlaby, Yorkshire [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Joan (Unknown) Newton — married about 1655 in England

Husband of Rose (Unknown) Newton — married after 1673 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 28 Jul 1697 at about age 58 in Lower Machodack, Stafford, Virginia

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Biography

John Newton was a Virginia colonist.

John was a mariner. He was in the colonies in 1672. Before 1676 he went back to England and brought his sons back to the colonies with him. He was a Justice of the Peace for Westmoreland Co and owned a great deal of property in Va and 2 grist mills^[1]

Birth

Date: ABT 1639

Place: poss Carlton Manor, Anlaby, Yorkshire^{[citation needed]}

Christening

Christening:

Date: poss 18 Mar 1637

Place: Great Burstead, Essex^{[citation needed]}

Note: not known to be this man

Last Will & Testament

Will of John Newton of Lower Machodack in Westmoreland County, dated 19 Aug. 1695.^[2] (Formatted for readability.)

I desire to be decently buried upon some of the land which a purchased. Unto my eldest son John what land I have at Carlton and Camelaforth in Yerksher and that house in Hull which was my fathers, the land I bought of Joseph Laycock, and also give and his four children 1000 pounds of tobacco apiece.

• Unto my son Joseph Newton and his three sons 1000 pounds of tobacco apiece.
• Unto my son Benjamin Newton and to his daughter 1000 pounds tobacco apiece.
• The thousand apiece to each of grandchildren I will that two sons Gerrat Newton and Thomas Newton pay it equally twixt them the first year after the death of my wife unto each grandchild's owne father and they to pay it to each child as they she'll attain to 18 years.
• To my son John Newton, Joseph Newton and Benjamin Newton ind to their widows, if they continue their widows, to be free for their whole families seven years after my death at either my mill at Totasker or at my mill in the freshes of Rappahannock river which they please to make use of.
• To my son Gerrat that 1000 acres I bought of Thomas Short [?] with all the overmeasure contained within the bounds, which lyeth in the freshes of Rappahannock River and the mill which I have built there.
• For want of heirs male to my eldest son John Newton and for want of such heirs to Joseph Newton my son and from him to his son John, and for want of such heirs to my right heirs at law. Trio gift of this land and mill is with the resurvation that my said son Gerrat shall pay 4000 pounds of tobacco to John Newton's four children and my sons John, Joseph and Benjamin and their widows shall be tole free, and also pay to my loving wife his mother 5000 pounds of tobacco every year during her life in lieu of her thirds or dower.
• Likewise to my son Gerrat Newton foure Negroes Tim, Nan, Will and Sarah.
• Unto my daughter Elizabeth Newton my moiety and halfe part of 2150 acres formerly Henry Walker's and now granted to myself and Colonel Fitzhugh by deed from the Proprietor's Office. He have promised to take no advantage of survivorship.
• For want of heirs male to John Newton my grandson, the son of Joseph Newton, and for want of such heirs to my right heirs. Also a Negro boy Wappen and a Negro girl Betty end at the death of my wife the girl Roase, but my wife to have the use of the said girls for her life and the use of all my plate for her life and then to my said daughter.
• I give my said daughter and her estate into the tuterage and guardianship of her mother if she lives so long; if not, then to brothers Gerrat and Thomas untill she shall be married or attain to 18 years.
• Unto my son Thomas Newton 250 acres at Totaskey which I bought of Mr. Swillivant and my mill at Totaskey with the two acres.
• For want of heirs male unto Benjamin Newton my son and for want of such heirs to my right heirs. This gift is with the reservation that Thomas shall pay 4000 pounds of tobacco to the other four of my grandchildren, 3 of Joseph's children and 1 daughter of Benjamin, and my three sons John, Joseph and Benjamin and their widows shall be tole free and also pay unto my loving wife his mother 5000 pounds of tobacco every year during her life in lieu of her thirds or dower. Likewise four Negroes Cuffey, Pegg, Jack and Moll.
• To my loving wife Roase the use and labor of a Negroe girl and the use of my plate for her life and then the girl and plate to my daughter Elizabeth. Also 5000 pounds of tobacco yearly to be paid by her son Gerrat and 5000 pounds of tobacco a year to be by her son Thomas paid in lieu of her thirds and dower. Also the use of Negro Frank and Sue, and at her death equally divided betwixt my three sons John, Joseph and Benjamin, they first being valued and then cast lots which brother shall have them, he paying his other brother their proportions.
• The rest of all my worldly goods to be equally divided amongst my 4 executors. My loving wife, my son Gerrat Newton, my son Thos. Newton, and my daughter Elizabeth Newton executors.
• My loving friend Colonel William Fitzhugh to advise and assist.

John Newton Wit: Dessemiah Dalton, Charles Tillery, Ellender Tillery.

Codicil, 21 Dec. 1696.

• My son Gerrat shall not pay his mother 5000 pounds of tobacco a yeare because the profits of the mill will not bear it, and therefore he shall only pay her 2000 pounds of tobacco yearly for her life.
• Gerrat shall not have the Negro Will.
• Gerrat shall not be one of my executors; only the other three Roes, Thomas and Elizabeth shall be my executors.
• I give Gerrat all cattle, hoggs, etc., which belong to me on his plantation at the little falls. I also confirm to him and his wife Rebecca a small deed of gift I made when I was up to see them first at their plantation about the begining of October last, and it was then dated and is for 500 acres of land where they live, taking the whole length of the pattent from the river to the back line, and this whether they have or not have heirs miles.
• To my eldest son John that Negro Jack I bought of Mr. Bolton.
• The labour and use of Negro Will I give to my wife Roas during her life, but the Negroe I give to my three English sons to be delivered if living at her death, and to be divided between my three sons as Negro Frank and Sue is to be divided.
• Unto my grandson John the son of Joseph 200 acres of that land I bought of Capt. Swann next adjoining to William Smith, 50 poles in the breadth on the river and for want of heirs male to my right heirs at law.

[signed] John Newton Wit: Charles Tillery, Ellinor Tillery, Dessemiah Dalton.

Upon second thought I have thought fit to alter the last clause of the codicille.

• The 100 acres I bought of Capt. Swan next adjoining to William Smith on the one side and Garret Newton my son on the other side, to my daughter Elizabeth and the heirs male of her body and for default of such heirs to my right heirs at law,
• Whereas I have bequeathed 200 acres thereof to my grandson John, the son of Joseph, I revoke the clause.
• Whereas I have in the body of my will given the moiety of 2150 acres formerly Henry Walker's and now granted to Colonel Fitzhugh and myself to my daughter Elizabeth, I revoke that clause, giving all my moiety to my son John, Joseph and Benjamin.

[signed] John Newton Wit: Richard Lee, John Hines, Elizabeth Needham.

28 July 1697.

Proved by Dessemiah Dalton and Charles Tillery and the latter codicille by the Honorable Richd. Lee, Esqr., and John Hines. Probate granted the executors therein named.

Research Notes

This John is likely a son of Thomas Newton of Hull. I am dubious about the statements that he was a son of Thomas and Johan (Eyon) Newton of Great Burstead, Essex, or of Thomas and Mary (Laycocke) Newton, of St Lawrence Jewry, London. But since the Newtons had a marriage with the Wyatts of Allington, I'd say it's clearly possible. Evidence would be nice, to be sure.

With respect to the above note, there was a John Newton, son of a Thomas Newton, who was baptized on 29 Apr 1638 at Ripon Cathedral in Yorkshire. That's if you take seriously 1639 and Thomas as the father. But there was also a John Newton son of John Newton baptized at Whitby on 8 Dec 1641. And there was a third John Newton baptism on 13 Sep 1637 at Thornton on Spalding Moor with parents of Richard and Katherine Newton. Unfortunately, the name Thomas Newton is fairly common in Yorkshire, with about 2 to 4 dozen BMD entries for each 20 year period I searched on Ancestry. I honestly do not know which Thomas is which, let alone which John is which. But of the three records I located, the one at Thornton seems to be closest to Hull.

I presume that the land reference is to Camblesforth, which is about 2 km north of Carlton, and both of them are about 30 km due west of the Anlaby district of Hull (which appears on some websites). Thornton would form about the top of a triangle between Anlaby (Hull), Carlton, and Thornton, with about 25-35 km per side. This is why the baptism in Thornton seems to be the most likely match. But I can't be certain enough to change this page. However, I do agree with the first paragraph that this John is NOT the son of Thomas and Johan (Eyon) Newton of Great Burstead. I quote from the will: "Unto my eldest son John what land I have at Carlton and Camelaforth in Yerksher and that house in Hull which was my fathers..." That is inconsistent with a seat at Great Burstead.

The Newton family probably moved to Hull from Northumberland. Their arms and crest are those of the Newtons of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

From Ancestry.com: John Newton, Master Mariner of Analby near Hull, founder of the Newton family of Westmoreland, Virginia Colony, was born in about 1639, most likely in Yorkshire. His daughter Elizabeth (Newton) Berryman in a deposition of 1755 stated her father was a Yorkshireman, and had previously had three wives there and a son by each. His first wife Joan (--?--) is the mother to his eldest son, John Newton Jr. His second wife, the mother of his son Joseph Newton, is unknown. Thirdly in 1669 he married a widow from nearby Selby, Elizabeth (--?--) Laycock, who became the mother of his son Benjamine. His fourth marriage in Virginia Colony was to Rose (--?--) (Tucker) Gerrard, widow and by whom there were three more children: Elizabeth, Thomas and Gerrard.

John Newton of Anlaby, Yorkshire, first settled briefly in Maryland before removing to the Virginia Colony in about 1670. In his will dated August 19, 1695 he showed a great deal of consideration for his entire family, disposal of nearly four thousand acres, several mills, about fifteen slaves and a considerable amount of tobacco, which at the time was used in exchange for currency, or called tobacco notes. At the time of his death there were eight grandchildren, at least five of them being male.

Only one grandson was old enough to be named in the will, John, son of Joseph Newton. The others were apparently too young, thus not named for an inheritance.

John Newton's plantation at Lower Morodoc in Virginia Colony was called "Little Falls," and a world unto itself that provided for most of the necessities of life. The neighbors on the rivers were easily accessible by boat as very few roads existed. Among those neighbors and friends was Augustine Washington of Pope Creek, and father of future President George Washington. John's dear friend Col. William Fitzhugh assisted in the carrying out of his will. Mary, the daughter of his friend Col. Isaac Allerton became the wife of his eldest son, John [sic]. Part of John's lands were at Quantico in Stafford County, where the Washington's also held land, and near Mt. Vernon. Eldest son John and his wife Mary (NOT Allerton) eventually moved to his inheritance of the lands at Quantico.

Shipping records of the time show that Mariner John Newton held part interest in a large frigate named 'Goatly,' and called that after his shipping partners. Tobacco was shipped from the Virginia Colony, mostly to the seaport of Bristol, England, and a large number of the more affluent planters had their own ships, or at least a part interest.

By 1670 the Lower Morodoc of Virginia Colony was fairly permanent, with the greatest risks already having been taken by earlier settlers, and similar to the settlement at Jamestown. Virginia Colony now seemed as though a good portion of the area around Bristol, England, had been transplanted into the New World. John Newton himself was descended from, or was at least related to the same families as three of the Virginia Governors; Berkley, Harvey and Yardly. The arms of Yardly were identical to Cradock. The family of Lewis carried the same arms as Lord Rhys. Chew was identical to the arms of Newton of Salop. Hampton carried the same arms as Lucy Hampton. Spottswood was nearly identical to that of Caldicott. Upon his father Thomas's death, John inherited the family silver plate, which were charded with the Newton shinbones in Satire. Upon his death in 1695 he left his silver plate to his daughter Elizabeth (Newton) Berryman as an inheritance. There is no doubt that John Newton family was part of the Westmoreland Virginia aristocracy.

Sources

1. ↑ Records of Willa Sue Clark
2. ↑ 1691-1699 Westmoreland County, Virginia Deeds-Wills No. 2; [John Frederick Dorman-1801 transcript]; Pages104a-1068.