Abraham Newton (1761 - aft. 1842)

Born 26 Oct 1761 in New Hanover, North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Singleton) Newton — married 5 Aug 1780 in Duplin, North Carolina, USA

Descendants

Died after 1842 after age 80 in Henry, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bill Franklin [send private message]

yDNA Test Results

The FTDNA yDNA test results for descendants of three of the four brothers from Newton Crossroads, NC is very revealing. They are now all grouped under Subgroup 02 Orange Newton Crossroads. The first thing to note is that all of the results are genetically close, which is what is to be expected of descendants of brothers. The second thing is that the results of the nine tests are nowhere close to the yDNA Newton tests results from Westboro, MA or anywhere else for that matter. This will be a big disappointment to those that believe the four brothers were the son of Abraham Newton, of Westboro MA. It is quite simply impossible.

There is no evidence that the brothers migrated from anywhere other than from the Old World. At present there are not enough deep yDNA test results to connect this group to any other Newton families. It now appears that Abraham Newton found in NC is indeed the eldest son of Jacob Newton rather than his father as some have thought.

David Robertson, FTDNA Newton DNA Project Co-administrator

Biography

Abram Newton was born about 1761 in New Hanover, North Carolina ^[1] (family history records indicate that his father and uncles moved from Massachusetts to New Hanover, North Carolina in the mid-1750s [yDNA has proved this to be in error. He has no known relations to anyone in Mass.], a few years prior to Abram's birth). He passed away about 1842 in Henry, Tennessee. He was the son of Jacob Newton and Louis Jones. He was named after his grandfather Abraham Newton. [Again, this has been rendered highly doubtful by yDNA testing of several descendants of three of the four Newton brothers. There is absolutely no evidence their father was another Abraham Newton.]

Abram served in the Revolutionary War and received a pension for his service ^[1] (his father Jacob also served).

Abram married first Sarah Singleton on 5 Aug 1780 in Duplin, North Carolina. ^[2] She was the daughter of Hezekiah Sterling Singleton (1754-1825) and Elizabeth Ormsby (1754-?). Abram and Sarah probably had the following children:

1. Miriam Newton, born about 1770
2. Abraham Newton, born about 1781
3. Elizabeth Mary Newton, born about 1783
4. Sarah Newton, born about 1785
5. George Newton, born about 1793
6. William Newton, born about 1795
7. Daniel Singleton Newton, born about 1800

Abram married second Dicey Vann, probably in 1806 in Duplin County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of John Jefferson Vann (1755–1841) and Ann (Unknown). Abram and Dicey had the following children:

1. John Jefferson Newton, born about 1811
2. Hillary Newton, born about 1815

Sometime before 1820, Abram moved to Muhlenberg, Kentucky. Before 1830, he moved to Henry, Tennessee.

Abram appeared on the following censuses:

1. 1790 in Duplin, North Carolina ^[3]
2. 1800 in Duplin, North Carolina ^[4]
3. 1810 in Duplin, North Carolina ^[5]
4. 1820 in Lewisburg, Muhlenberg, Kentucky ^[6]
5. 1830 in Henry, Tennessee ^[7]
6. 1840 in Henry, Tennessee^[7]

Ancestry

Note: Although some portions in this narrative may be true. The connection to Mass. has been conclusively disproved by yDNA test of descendants of three of the four brothers. Four brothers (Isaac, Jacob, George, and Samuel) moved to North Carolina in the 1750's and settled Newton Cross Roads in New Hanover Co., North Carolina. In 1769, Abraham served on the jury for a murder trial in Duplin Co., North Carolina. Abraham was living with or near his four sons in 1779 in Duplin Co., NC, where all five signed a petition for the formation of Sampson Co. from Duplin Co. It is thought that Sarah was in NC also. Note: The Abraham in the 1779 petition was the son of Jacob Newton, not his father. He did not have to be 21 to sign the Petition.

There is an obituary for a Mrs. Sarah Newton in the Cape Fear Mercury, 29 Dec. 1773. It is assumed that this was Sarah Graves Newton and that she died sometime in Dec. 1773. All four of the sons in North Carolina were in the Revolutionary War. It appears likely that Sarah Graves was a daughter of or closely related to Thomas Graves, descended from Samuel Graves of Lynn, MA.

The children of Abraham Newton and Sarah Graves were as follows:

1. John Newton, b. 8 Nov. 1736 (Westboro, MA).
2. Isaac Newton, b.c. 1737, m. Jemima Chambers, d. 1792.
3. Jacob Newton, b.c. 1739, m. Lois Jones, d. before Jan. 1787. He served in the militia in the Revolutionary War.
4. George Newton, b.c. 1740 or 1742, m. Nancy Ann Moore, c. 1763, d. 1810.
5. Samuel Newton, m. Sarah Lee. He was a Baptist preacher, serving as pastor of Wells Chapel Baptist Church which was organized in 1756 (among the first missionary Baptist churches in Duplin Co., NC). He served in this capacity until his death about 1783 during the Rev. War. Until 1835, the church was called Bull Tail Meeting House, probably because of nearby Bull Tail Creek.

In North Carolina, members of the Newton family frequently married members of the Alderman family. In the 1800s, many of their descendants moved from the area around New Hanover and Duplin counties in North Carolina to the area around Screven County, Georgia. ^{[8] [9]}

Research Notes

Life Sketch Abraham Newton.

Abraham Newton was b. 26 Oct 1761 in New Hanover Co., NC (See Rev. War Pension Application). He m. Sarah Singleton and raised a large family in Duplin Co. NC. Some time after 4 Nov 1817 he left Duplin Co. (NC Duplin Deed Book U.364-2) and moved to Muhlenberg, Co. KY by 6 Jun 1818 (KY Muhlenberg Deed Book 05.090).

In 29 Aug 1823 he bought land in Henry Co., TN (See TN Henry Deed Book A.150). He moved there sometime after paying his taxes in Muhlenberg Co. in 1824, but before the 1825 taxes were collected. He must have planned on returning to Muhlenberg Co. as he never sold his land in Muhlenberg Co. after moving to Tennessee.

By 24 May 1837 he was back in Muhlenberg Co. (TN Henry Deed Book F.034). He paid taxes in Henry Co, through 1835 (after which there is a gap in the tax records for several years). He died in Muhlenberg Co. sometime shortly before 28 Oct 1844 when his will was offered for probate. The will was set aside on account he lacked mental capacity to make a will (See KY Muhlenberg Order Book 05.121 and 05.126.

He had at least two sons (Hillery and John) and a daughter (Martha Christianna) by a second wife Dicey Vann. Dicey Newton died in 1850 and left $1.00 to John and the rest of her estate to Hillery. Martha had died before 1850.

When Abraham Newton left NC for KY it looks like that his only son that moved with him was Abraham Newton, Jr. who settled in a nearby county. Later, Abraham, Jr. joined him for a few years in Henry Co., TN (See 1827 to 1835 taxes). It is unknown if he died there or moved on.

Also, Abraham’s son William from his first marriage arrived in Henry Co. at about the time Abraham, Sr. moved back to KY. William planned to file a lawsuit about the ownership of 5 slaves after the death of his half sister Martha C. Thomas, which he apparently never did. He last appeared in 1843 tax digest of Henry Co.

Now for a little mystery. William Carroll Newton b. 1828 m. Mary Ann Carroll 14 Aug 1851 in Henry Co. He is missing from the 1850 census. However, yDNA links him back to the Duplin Co., NC branch of the Newton Family. The 1830 Census is consistent with William C. Newton being a son of Abraham, Jr. Also, Sarah Jane Newton m. James H. Shaw 7 Oct 1848 in Henry Co., TN. They named their second child Daniel Singleton Shaw which is a dead giveaway that she is a granddau. of Abraham Newton, Sr. William Newton had a batch of daughters which is consistent with her being a daughter of William. However, there is no estate record for either Abraham of William in Henry Co.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Revolutionary War Pension, transcription at Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Pension Statements website: http://revwarapps.org/s4605.pdf
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Index to Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868 [database on-line]. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=4802&h=137804&ssrc=pt&tid=82703078&pid=260183847656&usePUB=true
3. ↑ Year: 1790; Census Place: Duplin, North Carolina; Series: M637; Roll: 7; Page: 47; Image: 376; Family History Library Film: 0568147, Ancestry.com. 1790 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=5058&h=166744&ssrc=pt&tid=86331566&pid=340103930424&usePUB=true
4. ↑ Year: 1800; Census Place: Duplin, North Carolina; Series: M32; Roll: 31; Page: 407; Image: 365; Family History Library Film: 337907, Ancestry.com. 1800 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7590&h=326977&ssrc=pt&tid=86331566&pid=340103930424&usePUB=true
5. ↑ Year: 1800; Census Place: Duplin, North Carolina; Series: M32; Roll: 31; Page: 407; Image: 365; Family History Library Film: 337907, Ancestry.com. 1800 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7590&h=326977&ssrc=pt&tid=82703078&pid=260183847656&usePUB=true
6. ↑ 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Lewisburg, Muhlenberg, Kentucky; Page: 137A; NARA Roll: M33_20; Image: 152, Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7734&h=1257258&ssrc=pt&tid=86331566&pid=340103930424&usePUB=true
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} 1830; Census Place: Henry, Tennessee; Series: M19; Roll: 177; Page: 41; Family History Library Film: 0024535, Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8058&h=712005&ssrc=pt&tid=86331566&pid=340103930424&usePUB=true
8. ↑ "Descendants of Sarah Graves and Abraham Newton of MA & NC." Revised 31 Oct. 2001, Genealogy 538.
9. ↑ Goff Allen, Melba. "Newton Brothers of North Carolina. Melba's Southern Families.

• Newton, Emily P. (1928). "Newton Ancestry." From the collection of David Robertson.

• See https://www.genealogyfacts.org/Surname/Newton_Surname.htm