Abram Newman
Encyclopedia
Abram Newman (aka Abraham Newman) was a partner in one of the leading grocers in 18th century London that imported a wide range of produce including tea, coffee, sugar and spices.
Abram was born at Mount Bures
in Essex
in 1736, the son of Thomas Newman of Mount Hall in the same parish and his wife, Anne, the daughter of Hugh Constable of Bures St Mary. Through his mother, Abram was the first cousin of Golding Constable of East Bergholt
in Suffolk
, the father of the artist, John Constable
. His father, Thomas, was a descendant of Colonel Richard Newman who assisted King Charles II
in his flight from the Battle of Worcester
.
Abram went to London and entered the business world as a grocer
. On 12 June 1759, he married Mary (1720–1783), the sister of Monkhouse Davison
, a partner in the firm of Rawlinson and Davison "dealers in coffee
, tea
, chocolate
, snuff
, etc" of Creechurch Lane in the City. Two years later, he was made a freeman of the Grocer's Company
and, in 1764, he joined his brother-in-law's company as a third partner.
Five years later, the senior partner, Thomas Rawlinson (not to be confused with his great uncle Sir Thomas Rawlinson who was Lord Mayor in 1706) died and the company became known as Davison, Newman and Co., the name under which it still operates today. In 1774, chests of tea from Newman's company were amongst those thrown into Boston Harbour
during the Boston Tea Party
which started the American Revolution
. The company sought compensation from George III for £480 for the loss of the tea.
In 1790, Newman purchased the manor of Mount Bures. Davison died three years later. Newman retired shortly afterwards and followed him to the grave on 8 March 1799 at his house in Fenchurch Street
."He was one of the richest citizens of London, and a happy instance of the wonderful powers of accumulation by the steady pursuit of honourable industry. Without speculation or adventure he acquired £600,000 as a grocer. He retired from trade about four years ago [1795], but so forcible was his habit that he came every day to the shop, and ate his mutton chop at 2 o'clock (the good old city hour) with his successors...."
Newman had no sons, and his heirs were his two daughters, Anne, wife of George Caswell, and Jane, wife of William Thoyts
of Sulhamstead
Abbots in Berkshire
. Davison, Newman and his wife were buried together in All Hallows Staining
. After the collapse of the crypt there, their monument was to be seen in the church of St Olave Hart Street
, London until it suffered bomb damage in May 1941 during the Second World War.
Abram was born at Mount Bures
Mount Bures
Mount Bures is a small village on the Essex and Suffolk borders. It takes its name from the mount or motte believed to have been built shortly after the invasion by William the Conqueror in 1066....
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in 1736, the son of Thomas Newman of Mount Hall in the same parish and his wife, Anne, the daughter of Hugh Constable of Bures St Mary. Through his mother, Abram was the first cousin of Golding Constable of East Bergholt
East Bergholt
East Bergholt is a village in the south of Suffolk, England, just north of the Essex border. It is "twinned" with the village of Barbizon, France....
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, the father of the artist, John Constable
John Constable
John Constable was an English Romantic painter. Born in Suffolk, he is known principally for his landscape paintings of Dedham Vale, the area surrounding his home—now known as "Constable Country"—which he invested with an intensity of affection...
. His father, Thomas, was a descendant of Colonel Richard Newman who assisted King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
in his flight from the Battle of Worcester
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
.
Abram went to London and entered the business world as a grocer
Grocer
A grocer is a bulk seller of food. Beginning as early as the 14th century, a grocer was a dealer in comestible dry goods such as spices, pepper, sugar, and cocoa, tea and coffee...
. On 12 June 1759, he married Mary (1720–1783), the sister of Monkhouse Davison
Monkhouse Davison
Monkhouse Davison was the senior partner in one of the leading grocers in 18th century London, Davison Newman and Co., that imported a wide range of produce including tea, coffee, sugar and spices. The company is probably best known today for the disposal of chests of its tea in the Boston Tea Party...
, a partner in the firm of Rawlinson and Davison "dealers in coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
, tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
, chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
, snuff
Snuff
Snuff is a product made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is an example of smokeless tobacco. It originated in the Americas and was in common use in Europe by the 17th century...
, etc" of Creechurch Lane in the City. Two years later, he was made a freeman of the Grocer's Company
Worshipful Company of Grocers
The Worshipful Company of Grocers is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London. It is ranked second in the order of precedence of the Companies and, having been established in 1345, is one of the original Great Twelve City Livery Companies....
and, in 1764, he joined his brother-in-law's company as a third partner.
Five years later, the senior partner, Thomas Rawlinson (not to be confused with his great uncle Sir Thomas Rawlinson who was Lord Mayor in 1706) died and the company became known as Davison, Newman and Co., the name under which it still operates today. In 1774, chests of tea from Newman's company were amongst those thrown into Boston Harbour
Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor is a natural harbor and estuary of Massachusetts Bay, and is located adjacent to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is home to the Port of Boston, a major shipping facility in the northeast.-History:...
during the Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a direct action by colonists in Boston, a town in the British colony of Massachusetts, against the British government and the monopolistic East India Company that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies...
which started the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. The company sought compensation from George III for £480 for the loss of the tea.
In 1790, Newman purchased the manor of Mount Bures. Davison died three years later. Newman retired shortly afterwards and followed him to the grave on 8 March 1799 at his house in Fenchurch Street
Fenchurch Street
Fenchurch Street is a street in the City of London home to a number of shops, pubs and offices. It links Aldgate at its eastern end with Lombard Street and Gracechurch Street to the west. To the south of Fenchurch Street and towards its eastern end is Fenchurch Street railway station...
."He was one of the richest citizens of London, and a happy instance of the wonderful powers of accumulation by the steady pursuit of honourable industry. Without speculation or adventure he acquired £600,000 as a grocer. He retired from trade about four years ago [1795], but so forcible was his habit that he came every day to the shop, and ate his mutton chop at 2 o'clock (the good old city hour) with his successors...."
Newman had no sons, and his heirs were his two daughters, Anne, wife of George Caswell, and Jane, wife of William Thoyts
William Thoyts
William Thoyts was High Sheriff of Berkshire.William was born in 1767 in Bishopsgate, the son of John Thoyts of Sulhamstead House in Berkshire and his wife, Mary, the daughter of Thomas Burfoot, the Treasurer of Christ's Hospital...
of Sulhamstead
Sulhamstead
Sulhamstead is a village, electoral district and civil parish in Berkshire, England. It lies off the A4 national route between Reading and Thatcham, some west of central London.-Location:thumb|left|250px|1888 Ordnance Survey Parish Boundary Map...
Abbots in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. Davison, Newman and his wife were buried together in All Hallows Staining
All Hallows Staining
All Hallows Staining was a Church of England church located at the junction of Fenchurch Avenue and Billiter Street in the north-eastern corner of Langbourn ward in the City of London, close to Fenchurch Street railway station. All that remains of the church is the tower, built around 1320 AD as...
. After the collapse of the crypt there, their monument was to be seen in the church of St Olave Hart Street
St Olave Hart Street
St Olave Hart Street is a Church of England church in the City of London, located on the corner of Hart Street and Seething Lane near Fenchurch Street railway station....
, London until it suffered bomb damage in May 1941 during the Second World War.