Richard Newman

Almost certainly the son of Robert Newman of Corsham, Wiltshire, became a planter in Jamaica, owner of Chippenham, Melksham and Corsham estates, died c. 1823 on the passage from Jamaica to England. Brother of William and Charles Newman (both q.v.). Father-in-law of William Beard Newman (q.v.).

1. "Died at Corsham, aged 85, Mr Robert Newman, father of the late Mr Richard Newman, who died on his passage from Jamaica, and also of Messrs. Charles and Wm. Newman, now planters in that island." Marriage of Robert Newman and Ann Hulbert, 21/10/1760 in Corsham, England. Christenings of children of Robert Newman and Ann in Corsham: Richard (1765), Robert (1770), Ann (1773), James (1776), William (1779), Charles (1781), Mary (1783) and Maria (1786).

2. Richard Newman is listed as owner of Chippenham estate in 1822 and 1824. Listed as deceased by 1823 in the Accounts Produce.

3. Richard Newman's daughter Ann Deborah Newman married William Beard Newman in Castle Combe, Wiltshire, 04/07/1816.

4. Richard Newman had 7 children with Deborah Alexander, a free quadroon who was aged about 25 in 1800. The children were Anne (born 1791), Catherine (born 1797), Richard Sharp or Sharpe (born 1798), Elizabeth (born 1800), Charles (born 1807), William (born 1809) and Robert (born 1812). The 4 oldest children were christened 27/11/1800 in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, and the 3 youngest were christened 29/11/1814 in St Elizabeth, Jamaica. Anne (born 1791) may be the Ann Deborah who married William Beard Newman, see 3., above. The eldest son, Richard Sharp or Sharpe Newman of Corsham, married Frances Newman in Castle Combe, Wiltshire, 27/11/1823. He wrote a will in 1825 leaving his estates of Chippenham, Corsham and Melksham to his wife Frances. He was buried in Boulogne, France, 10/09/1825. It's not clear whether Richard Newman had already died by this point; Frances Newman was named as the sole executor of the will of Richard Sharp Newman but she isn't listed against the estates in the slave registers.

T71/860 Manchester claim no. 178 (Chippenham); T71/870 St Elizabeth claim no. 19 (Melksham and Corsham).

1. Salisbury & Winchester Journal, 12/03/1827, quoted at http://www.newman-family-tree.net/Newman-Name-Society-Chronicle-Oct-2006.pdf [accessed 15/06/2012]. www.familysearch.org batch nos. M15343-2, I03619-8.

2. Jamaica Almanac (1822, 1824 and 1826).

3. www.familysearch.org batch no. M16075-1 and http://www.dina8.f2s.com/wilbeard.htm [accessed 15/06/2012]

4. www.familysearch.org Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 (photographs of baptism records available online). PROB 11/1728/438.