NEWMAN, William (by 1517-83/89), of Poole, Dorset.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Mar. 1553
1571

Family and Education

b. by 1517, 1st s. of John Newman of Salisbury, Wilts. by Dorothy. m. Alice, da. of Richard Haviland of Poole. suc. fa. Sept./Oct. 1519.2

Offices Held

Bailiff, Poole 1547-8, mayor 1554-5, 1568-9, 1575-6; commr. piracy 1583.3

Biography

William Newman came from a merchant family of moderate estate settled in Salisbury. It is not known whether his business interests or his marriage first took him to Poole: in May 1540 he witnessed a lease made by the mayor and corporation, and from the following year he was trading extensively through the port, importing a variety of goods and exporting cloth and lead. By 1547 his assessment of £15 on goods for the subsidy put him among the middle range of local taxpayers.4

Newman’s election to the second Parliament of Edward VI’s reign anticipated his first mayoralty but he took precedence over the ex-mayor Thomas White III, possibly because he benefited from the influence of his brother-in-law the customer John Harward, who had sat for Poole in the two previous Parliaments. After the Parliament was over Newman and White were paid £4 3s.4d. as the sum outstanding ‘for their burgess-ship’. In his capacity as mayor Newman presided over the parliamentary elections in the autumn of 1554, and a year later his name was singled out for mention as a voter on the indenture sent into Chancery. He played an increasingly important role in the town and enjoyed a second experience of Parliament under Elizabeth. His will made on 25 June 1583 was proved six years later.5

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: M. K. Dale

Notes

  • 1. Poole rec. bk. 1, p. 85.
  • 2. Date of birth estimated from father’s death and from his having two younger brothers. PCC 10 Stokton, 21 Ayloffe, 38 Leicester; H. P. Smith, Poole, ii. 16.
  • 3. Poole rec. bk. 1, p. 75; Hutchins, Dorset, i. 34; C219/23/51.
  • 4. PCC 21 Ayloffe; Poole recs. envelope 19; E122/122/4, 7, 21, 123/2, 207/6; 179/104/174; LP Hen. VIII, add.
  • 5. Poole recs. envelope 4, rec. bk. 1, p. 85; Strype, Eccles. Memorials, ii(2), 64-66; Lansd. 3(19), f. 36; Smith, 16; J. Sydenham, Poole, 253; PCC 38 Leicester.