Newman John Knowlys (abt. 1758 - 1836)

Biography

He was the son of William Knowlys and Mary Porter.

Newman, child of Mr Knowles, was baptised on 8 May 1759 in City, London.^{[1] [2]}

Newman was an English barrister and judge and the Common Serjeant of London and Recorder of London. He was unpopular due to the harshness of his decisions and was forced to retire after Knowlys had sentenced a postman to death and later sent the warrant for his execution even though in the meantime he had received a Royal Pardon commuting his sentence to transportation for life.

Newman married Jane Slope on 15 August 1807 in Walcot St Swithin, Somerset, England. She was a widow of the parish of Walcot St Swithin, Somerset, and he was a bachelor from Inner Temple, London ^[3] The newspaper announcement stated MARRIED.—On Saturday, at Queen's-square Chapel, Bath, Newman Knowlys. Esq. Common Serjeant of the city of London, to Mrs. Slope, widow, of Kings-street, Queens-square, Bath. ^[4]

Newman was elected as Recorder of London in 1822. the The newspaper announcement stated stated ELECTION OF TIIE RECORDER. \ PROCEEDINGS IN THE COURT OF ALDERMEN. Sir WiLLIAM Curtis rose to propose Newman Knowlys, Esq. the Common Serjeant. The Learned Gentleman, he observed, was so well known to every Member of the Court, that it was unnecessary for him to occupy much time in recommending him to their support. His long and eminent services, and the attention and ability he had shown, not only to the duties of the important office he held, but also in his great exertions in the assistance afforded by him to the late Recorder during the last year, furnish such a 'claim as he doubted not must be allowed by every Member of that Court. The worthy Baronet concluded by moving that Newman Knowles Esq. be elected to the vacant office of Recorder ^[5] . The Recorder of London is the senior Circuit Judge at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey), hearing trials of criminal offences.

In 1827 he was the subject of a cartoon "Brothers in law! or the finishing flourish of a City officer!!"; showing the Recorder Newman Knowlys tied to a post and being whipped by Sheriff Farebrother using a 'cat o' nine tails'. An old fish wife on the left says 'Vell this here ought to be recorded'. The Recorder had refused to remit a sentence of flogging at Farebrother's request and to apologise for it. ^[6].

In 1828 compensation was paid to property owners who owned property which was demolished when the East India, West India and London Docks were built. The commission began in 1799 and made it's decision sin 1824, as some landowners appealed against the original decisions. Newman was involved in such a case Knowles, Newman John and another, devisees of William Newman deceased, freeholders, claimed £12, 044 and was awarded £4000 ^[7]

Cartoon

In 1829 he was thought to be the judge portrayed in a satirical cartoon opposing claim to audit the accounts of the Corporation of London.

He was forced to retire in 1833 following the issuing of a warrant of execution for a postman who had received a royal pardon. See the wikipedia article for details. ^[8]

He passed away in 1836.

His obituary was published in the newspapers Newman Knowlys ' Esq., the late Recorder of London, died. on Wednesday, at his house in James-street, Buckinghamgate. Mr. Knowlys was one of the Benchers of the Middle Temple. He was elected Recorder in the place of Sir John Sylvester, and held the office until the affair of Job Cox, who was under sentence of death for a Post-office robbery, caused his resignation. ^[9]

See also

Newman Knowlys Wikipedia article

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977"
   citing p. 54, City, London, record group RG4, Public Record Office, London
   FamilySearch Record: FQ2V-N4Y (accessed 25 February 2024)
   Newman Knowles baptism on 8 May 1759, child of Mr Knowles, in City, London.
2. ↑ Baptism: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975"
   citing FHL microfilm: 597094
   FamilySearch Record: CJWJ-662M (accessed 25 February 2024)
   Newman Knowles baptism on 8 May 1759, son of Knowles, in London, England.
3. ↑ Marriage: "Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914"
   Somerset Heritage Service; Taunton, Somerset, England; Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914; Reference Number: D\P\wal.sw/2/1/67
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 60858 #2905333 (accessed 25 February 2024)
   Newman Knowlys marriage to Jane Flore on 15 Aug 1807 in Walcot St Swithin, Somerset, England.
4. ↑ Hampshire Chronicle - Monday 24 August 1807 Accessed from the British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000230/18070824/020/0004 Accessed by Trevor Pickup on 2nd August 2021
5. ↑ Morning Post - Saturday 13 April 1822 Accessed from the British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000174/18220413/021/0004 Accessed by Trevor Pickup on 2nd August 2021
6. ↑ https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/view-item?key=SXsiUCI6eyJ2YWx1ZSI6Imtub3dseXMiLCJvcGVyYXRvciI6MSwiZnV6enlQcmVmaXhMZW5ndGgiOjMsImZ1enp5TWluU2ltaWxhcml0eSI6MC43NSwibWF4U3VnZ2VzdGlvbnMiOjMsImFsd2F5c1N1Z2dlc3QiOm51bGx9LCJGIjoiZXlKMElqcGJNVjE5In0&WINID=1627893655708&pg=1#Ux_INpzd2swAAAF7BgXm3A/16117 Accessed by Trevor Pickup on 2nd August 2021
7. ↑ Sun (London) - Tuesday 21 October 1828 Accessed from the British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002194/18281021/006/0001 Accessed by Trevor Pickup on 2nd August 2021
8. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newman_Knowlys
9. ↑ English Chronicle and Whitehall Evening Post - Saturday 09 January 1836 Accessed from the British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002631/18360109/036/0004 Accessed by Trevor Pickup on 2nd August 2021