Thomas Newton (abt. 1620 - 1683)

Born about 31 Mar 1620 in England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Joan (Smith) Newton — married 31 Mar 1648 in Middleburgh, New Netherland

Descendants

Died 28 May 1683 at about age 63 in Long Island, NY, or, Bahamas [uncertain]

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Thomas Newton migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 240) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Thomas Newton is part of a Bahamian family.

Thomas was born in 1612. He passed away in 1683. ^[1]

From Genealogical and Family History of Central New York:

Thomas Newton, immigrant ancestor, was one of the first five settlers of Fairfield. Connecticut, in the autumn of 1639. The date and place of his birth are not known. In 1644-45 he was chosen deputy to the general court. During the year 1650 he became involved with the authorities of Connecticut, and was imprisoned, but escaped and fled to Long Island. June 20th of the same year, being then or lately of Fairfield, he conveyed certain property there. He was received by the IXitch on Long Island, but his surrender was demanded by the authorities of Connecticut, and he became the subject of negotiations between the commissioners of the United English colonies and Governor Stuyvesant, which extended over several years. In 1655 he was a landholder in Middleburg, and in 1656 paid fifteen shillings, "the Indian Rate" of a shilling an acre there. He was a carpenter by trade. He died before May 28, 1683. He married (first) Dorothea, and (second), March 31, 1648, Joan, daughter of Richard Smith, an early settler of the town of Newport, Rhode Island, 1638, and an inhabitant of Wickford, in Narragansett, about 1639. He was a prominent man in his day and a friend and neighbor of Roger Williams. Children of Thomas Newton: Abigail, married Lodowick Updike: Israel: James: Thomas.

From The Colchester, Conn., Newton family : descendants of Thomas Newton of Fairfield, Conn., 1639: ^[2]

Thos. Newton of Fairfield, first American ancestor of which we have positive knowledge, in the summer or early autumn of 1«69, was one of the four men that came with Roger Ludlow, deputy governor, whom had obtained a commission from the General Court of Connecticut to begin a plantation at Pequonnock. The other three were Thomas Staples, Edmund Strickland and Edward Jessop.

"The tract of land purchased by Roger Ludlow for the town of Fairfield, embraced within its boundaries the Uncoway and Sasqua rivers, the fine harbors of Pequonnock and Black Rock, and a good harbor at Sasqua" ( p. 4, History of Fairfield, Conn., Schcnck). Page 23S, Vol. II, Hazard State papers say Thomas was a carpenter. The Court records of Connecticut show according to colonial Records of Conn, that June 3, 1G47, "Tho Newton for his misdemeanor in the vessell called the Virgin in giueing Phillippe White wyne wn he had to much before is fyned 5 £."

Thomas was frequently in court with his troubles. Page 144 Colonial Records of Conn., says: "In the action of Mr. Whiting pi Agt Tho Newton deft uppon an attacht returned by constable of Fairfield. Green appeared for Newton & the Jury find for the plant the byll 5 £. 16s. and 2d. vid damages & cost of court. " Again "In the ac of Ed. Hopkins pit agt Tho Newton deft the Jury find for the pi. The deft is to pay 4 £. 13s. 4d. in mony according to the bill 10s damages and cost of Court. "

Savage in Geneological Dic. of New England Vol. 3 says: "Thomas Newton of Fairfield was one of the five first settlers, a man of consequence, chosen representative to April session 1645, had frequent suits at law with his neighbors and in 1652 was charged with a capital crime, probably witchcraft or other imaginary offence; he escaped from prison, took refuge with the Dutch, who believed him innocent. He lived at Newtown on Long Island 1656 a purchaser that year of Middlebury and was a captain under Stuyvesant. By compact with the United Colonies of New England the Dutch were bound to extradit of fugitives as were the members of the United among themselves by Art. VIII of the Confed., and in the record record of the commissioners, Hag IL 229, may be read instructions by Congress to Newman Leverett & Davis to proceed to New York and demand his body and lb 236 their claim of the body of Thomas Newton, some time a capital offender in one of the Cols. of N. E. War was then raging between England and Holland but amicable relations wisely were preserved on our side of the water and Stuyvesant issued a warrant lb 23S on the same day, but we may be glad either cunning or common sense prevented its execution."

At the Court of Elections April 10, 1645, Thomas Newton was chosen a deputy or representative for Fairfield to Gen. Assembly. Page 172 of Col. Records of Conn, show on 23 Dec, 1648 he had suit at law before 'Pellicular Courte of Hartford'. The record is:

"Jonas Wood of Long Island pit contra Thomas Newton Fairfield in an action of the case damages 150£., " and same date and court Thomas Newton pit contra Jonas Wood defendt in an action of the case for breach of covenant to the damages of 2001." Same Court 7 June 1649, Thos Newton pit contra John Copell in an action of debt 8£. & damages 4£." At same Court, same date, page 192, Col. Records, Conn. : "Jonas Wood complaining to this courte that by reason of Thos. Newton failing to performe the virdict of the Jury according to agreement at the Courte In Hartford uppon the 28 day of December, 1648, hee was forced to his great loss and dammage to eatisfie his bond at the Mors ha toes himselfe. This Courte admdgeth to bee due to the said Jonas Wood from the said Thos. Newton according to the aforesaid Verdict and dammages :

For the Bond at the Dutch being 400 Gilders....................................38£.00.0

For so much Jure admdged Newton to pay him more than bond ..30 .00.0

For charge & dammage about it ......................................................... 10 .00.0

...................................................................................................................78 .00.0

Out of wch the Courte discount the 18 £, wch Wood was to pay Newton by the Verdict of the Jury uppon an action of Newton agt. Wood the same day; so there remains to Wood 60 pounds. Execution graunted."

In the action Thomas Newton pi. contra Jonas Wood deft, the Jury finds for the pit. The defdt to deliver to the pit. the two Cowes and the Steare and their increase if any and 20 shillings in Wampun according to the bargaine and if the said cattle cannott bee gott then the deft is to pay 18 1. and costs of Courte.

Col. Records, Conn., show 1648, Thos. Newton. Daniel Frost, Henry Gray, John Green and Fras Andrua were first five farmers and settlers of Plantation of Bankside and had right of possession to all lands enclosed by them and equal shares in future allotments of town lands.

On Tuesday, March 31, 1648, Thomas married Joan Smith. (Page 141-145 Albany Record, Vol. VII.)

In this connection we find he was a widower, his first wife was named Dorothea.

In regard to the marriage with Joan Smith, in history of New Netherland by O Callaghan, Vol. II, page 222, a foot note says:

"We find it recorded of him, that he married in April, 1648, at Flushing to Joan Smith, by Wm Hark, (or Hart), then Sheriff of that place, against. the consent of the woman's parents, and without being legally authorized; by the Supreme Authority. "As this is an indecent and never heard-of manner of marrying, " the sheriff was fined 600 carolus guilders, and "the indecent marriage" was declared null and void. To prevent the daughters of honest and respectable inhabitants being married against their will and without the consent of the parents, by unlawful and unauthorized persona, the bride and bride-groom were fined 300 g£ and ordered to have their marriage again solemnized after three previous proclamations of banns, which was accordingly done" (Alb. Rec. VII, 141-145).

"Thomas Newton, widower of Dorothea Newton, residing at Oakeway (Oncoway), being reconciled, both parties being satisfied with Mr. Richard Smith, with regard to the marriage with his daughter, Joan Smith, now wife of said Thomas Newton, after the usual proclamations have been made, without any opposition, so are Thoma3 Newton and Joan Smith confirmed in the bond of marriage by the Director General and Council, in the presence of the aforesaid Mr. Smith and John Dollingh, on the 10th April, 1643, in New Amsterdam" (Albany Records, Vol. VII).

April 27, 1648, John Underhill appointed Schout-fiscal (sheriff) of Flushing, "vice Harck, dismissed for having married a couple" (p. 44, New Netherland Register, O'Callaghan).

Richard Smith, father of Joan, was held in high esteem by Roger Williams.

In 1652 He was charged with being the father of Widow Elizabeth Johnson's child, Benoni Newton. Since he was married at the time this was considered a capital offense in the Connecticut Colony. He escaped from jail and fled to Long Island under the protection of the Dutch government.^[3]

Family

Thomas married (1), Dorothy;^[3] he married (2) at Flushing, Long Island, 31 March 1658, to Joan Smith, daughter of Richard Smith, Sr..

Children of Thomas Newton and his wife, Joan Smith:^[3]

1. Thomas Newton
2. Abigail Newton b. abt 1654 d. 1745 m. Lodowick Updike
3. James Newton; married Mary Hubbell, daughter of Sergt. Richard Hubbell.
4. Israel Newton, died at Kingston, Rhode Island in 1720; will proved 9 June 1720.

In 1652 and then a married man, Thomas was charged as the father of a child born to Elizabeth (____) Johnson, widow,^[3]

1. Benoni Newton,^{[citation needed]} born 1652, in Hartford.^{[citation needed]}

Needs

Extractions. Narrative seems mostly a series of lengthy extractions, like a series of mini-biographies. These need to be integrated into a single biography, with inline citations provided for the various claims.

Benoni Newton. How has the identity of this child been proven? Donald LInes Jacobus does not provide a name in History and Genealogy of the families of Old Fairfield ... Jacobus reports only that the child was born tothe widow Elizabeth Johnson? How is the location of this child's birth known?

Sources

1. ↑ Profile created by K Bris through the import of Briscoe Family Tree.ged, 8 Aug 2011, and by Pamela Smith-Irowa through the import of Smith Family Tree.ged 1 Sep 2012. Added information from Florence Broderick, 23 Sep 2012, and from Beardsley family researcher Nick Dann, 21 Nov 2016.
2. ↑ One should read the beginning paragraphs of this work for a discussion of the English origins of this Thomas Newton.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Jacobus, Donald Lines, MA (compiler, editor.) History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield. (Fairfield, Conn.: The Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, 1930.) p 432, 433

See also:

• Genealogical and Family History of Central New York, by William Richard Cutter, Vol. 1, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, 1912, Pg. 211Genealogical and Family History of Central New York: James Newton

• The Colchester, Conn., Newton Family: Descendants of Thomas Newton of Fairfield, Conn., 1639, compiled by Clair Alonzo Newton, Naperville IL, 1911The Colchester, Conn., Newton Family

• Clair Alonzo Newton, History of the Newton Families of Colonial America, 2 vols. (Naperville, Ill., 1927), 1:1; digital images, Page 1

• Ermina Leonard, Newton Genealogy, Genealogical, Biographical, Historical (Wisconsin: Bernard Ammidown Leonard, 1915). 737-38; digital images, InternetArchive.

• Newton Lull, Genealogical Notes Concerning Descendants of Thomas Newton of Fairfield, Connecticut (Chicago: G.E. Marshall, 1896).

• NY Marriage Licenses http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~rbillard/ny_marriage_licenses.htm