Thomas Newport (1759 - 1841)

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Biography

Thomas was born in 1759. He passed away in 1841.

Our descent from Jesse and Elizabeth Long Newport continues through their son Thomas Newport. As recorded in the family Bible, he was born December 6, 1759, probably in Sussex County Delaware, in the area that was then part of Worcester County Maryland. At that time the parts of what is now Sussex County below the Indian River were part of Worcester County Maryland. He was married on May 28, 1783 in Kent County Delaware to Rebecca Train. They were members of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, and the records of the Westland Monthly Meeting from Fayette County Pennsylvania show they moved there and were received on certificates on the first month (March), 15th day, 1785, from Duck Creek Monthly Meeting. In June 1788 Thomas purchased at town lot in Brownsville. In January of 1792 Thomas and Rebecca sold the town lot and purchased a 103 acre farm a short distance south of the town lot. Rebecca died sometime after December of 1792, and Thomas then remarried prior to September 27, 1793 in Fayette County Pennsylvania to Mary Evans. She was a daughter of John Evans and his wife Hannah Worthington, and was born November 12, 1760. The Redstone Monthly Meeting records indicate that Thomas Newport and Mary (formerly Evans) were “dismissed” from the Society of Friends for marrying contrary to discipline in September, for having married too soon after the death of Rebecca. By the year 1798 Thomas and Mary had moved to the Miami Valley in Ohio, where they settled in Turtle Creek Township of Warren County. There they purchased land that is now the southernmost part of Wright - Patterson Air Base. In 1817 he purchased land northeast of Lebanon. In Warren County, Thomas was a farmer, school teacher, and a Swedenborgian minister. He became the corresponding secretary of the Ohio Peace Society. Some of the information on his life is known from a letter he wrote to Thomas Jefferson on April 2, 1824, which is found in the papers of Thomas Jefferson in the National Historical Publications and Records Commission records. The letter is a rambling message on religious matters, but states in pertinent part:

Near Lebanon Warren Co. O 2 of ap 1824

Dear Sir & Brother:

You will please to let me address you,, in all the simplicity of Republican Christianity, my communication will probably be miscellaneous - I was born the 6th of Dec - 1759 - in the State of Maryland, or provence, at that time, but long since determined to be in the state of Delaware. My religious convictions commenced as far as I am conscious of them, when about 6 - years of age & the crime was fighting & whipping my Brother, this seems to have been the foundation of the specific principles I have held, nearly all thro' life - My religious theory to the best of my knowledge, commenced at about my 7th year in hearing the preaching in the Ch- of England, then so call'd, I found a repugnance to three persons in the Godhead, some time after at the Doctrine of Faith - alone, Religion alone appears a simple thing, to believe in the True god, shun evil & do good, because this is like god - This seem'd the foundation of my present theory in my own mind - Then about 14 I became sensible, I must be radically changed as to disposition, my connection were pungent - at about 17 I experienc'd peace of mind ( My Education had been, between the Epis Church and Quaker, Mother prevail'd & I was baptized.) . . . After the first combat was over with Great Britain (about immediately) I took a handsome quaker girl to wife long since dead, left me with 4 - Children _ I married again - five living Children by her, 7, of my Children married, have 23 - living grandchildren. My wife healthy, one year, almost, younger than myself - a zealous member of the New generation Church, and well read in the Doctrines - I am Pastor of small society of that order - 19 - members & of a branch of 20 - near Jeffersonville Indiana - All my services of every description, is free to the different societies I serve all the Poor, (I am a Farmer) possessing 97 5/8 acres of land, Fifty 5 - under cultivation. A comfortable little frame house a good orchard, some excellent fruit. . . . Seven of our children have procured good land in this fertile county - all who are married: we have much pleasure in our Children - altho' the eldest is deaf - he give us the most concern - he being deprived of the main way obtaining knowledge. . . .

I am most affectionately yours- THOS NEWPORT Cor. sey. O,P,S, and association N. Church

Thomas died November 12, 1841 at his farm three miles northeast of Lebanon in Warren County, and his will dated January 17, 1825 was admitted to probate on March 29, 1842, and appears as follows:

In the name of God, amen. I Thomas Newport of the Co. of Warren and the State of Ohio, being of sound mind & memory, but knowing it is appointed unto all men once to die making this my last will & testament. "Lord Jesus receive my spirit" the eighteenth day of December 1824.

My body I recommend to be buried with plain & decent Christian burial at the discretion of my wife & children. And as ... my worldly estate herewith God hath blessed me - ordain Mary my beloved wife Executrix and David Williams Executor as ….. to Mary in the execution of my will. If any difficulty should ensue in continuing or settling the terms of my will it should be referred to those arbitrators of honest report & their decision be final. (This clause I derived from President Washington's will with advice to prevent all litigation at law & the more especially as I am not a man of legal knowledge but of peace)

Note. As I am desirous all our children shall receive equal dividends ultimately of our estate & the principal ...this marriage have rec'vd some property, I think proper to insert sums in the will - Betsy Stevenson 45 Dols - Hannah Banta 54-12(?) - David 38.77(?) - James T. 41 - Tacy Banta 44 - Tho's - 42 - Mary Pence 44-50 - Jesse 50 - John ….. a balance of 16-14(?). If he should marry I am desirous he should be made somewhere about equal in property to forty dollars, with the above sums. All my moveable estate, stock, farming implements & furniture & books I will to Mary my wife which she may retain or dispose of at her discretion, for personal accommodation or charitable purpose. I also will that Mary my wife have (together with my executor David Williams the renting of the farm). All the profit (Rent) are hers during her lifetime - After her death to be sold for ready cash, to the best advantage either public or private sale another three years after the decease of my wife, the sooner the better for the heirs if a suitable price can be obtained. I also ordain, if I do not make a deed to William L? or representative for a lot of land of about 2 acres 3/8 it be done by my executors.

I further will as to the land after my wife's death ... and sale made, Physicians bill, funeral expenses & debt paid that three dollars be paid to the Female Bible Society of Lebanon for the American Bible Society New York as a donation or bequest. Three dollars to the Warren Co. Library of E. Swedenborg's Books, and three dollars to the Ohio Peace Society - and three dollars to the Lebanon Society for the Osage Indians. All the balance remaining to be equally divided (after paying up the sums to each of the children to make such equal to Hannah) among the living sons - daughters or sons in law or daughters in law - or descendants if both are deceased (the dividend goes to our blood heirs) I further will that after the decease of my wife all the moveable remains shall be appraised according to law and tendered to the heirs - always keeping in mind equal sums to each of them. If certain things of the moveables not taken by the heirs after due notification may be sold for ready cash at the appraisement within three months after proving the will after which term if any articles still remain undisposed of they are to be sold at ….. sale after being duly advertised for ready cash only & the money of said to the heirs always having a view to all theirs being equal. And I hereby disallow records of all and every other testament. In witness where of I have here unto set my hand and seal the 17th day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & twenty five -

Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the ... I ... Thomas Newport as his last will & testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other here unto ...the date above written.

Thomas Newport {seal}

Witness

John M. Houston

? ?

Mary Newport died in the spring of 1847, sometime before April 27th.

Sources

• Warren County Ohio probate records; Will of Thomas Newport

April 2, 1824 Letter to Thomas Jefferson

Newport Family Bible

Quaker monthly meeting records

"History of Warren County Ohio" Beers