• Richardson, Douglas, "Medieval Genealogy Newsgroup: Fraudulent Ancestry of [Mr.] Thomas Newberry (died 1636[/37]), of Dorchester, Massachusetts" (http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/GEN-MEDIEVAL/2011-10/1320030176).

• Category: Research

• Author: Richardson, Douglas

• 

The following posts are in reference to an ancestral tree I posted on the GEN_MEDIEVAL-L mailing list claiming that Thomas Newberry was descended from Isabel de Vermandois.

From: Robert Forrest
Date: Sun, Oct 30, 2011 at 10:03 PM

Douglas Richardson charges that Bartlett's Newberry Genealogy was fraudulent, that Bartlett altered the list of the children of Richard Newberry of Yarcombe, and that Bartlett "carefully omitted" a transcript of the 1696 will of William Newberry of Yarcombe.

Joseph (not John) Gardner Bartlett was a reputable professional genealogist of the early 1900s. Like all genealogist and other mortals he undoubtedly made mistakes in his work. I am unaware he ever evinced any intention to defraud, and I would like to ask Mr. Richardson the basis for such a serious accusation.

To summarize the point at issue in a very few words: in his 1914 Newberry Genealogy, Bartlett wrote that Thomas the emigrant was a grandson of Richard Newberry of Othe Francis, Netherbury, Dorset and Yarcombe, Devon. The College of Arms claimed he was a grandson of William Newberry of Yarcombe. Richard of Netherbury was a younger son of a long line of Newburghs extending back for many generations.

The R. Stanton Avery Special Collections at the NEHGS contain a 1925 exchange of letters between Bartlett and A. T. Butler of the College of Arms. Butler wrote to call Bartlett's attention to some recent findings of the College of Arms while investigating the pedigree of the emigrant Thomas Newberry, with a view to registration in the College. In an objective and--I think the word is 'collegial'--tone, Butler pointed out evidence found which supported the contention that Thomas' grandfather was William of Yarcombe. Butler closed with, "...though we have disproved your pedigree I feel sure from the searches which have been made that all these Newberrys in Dorset at this period were descended from the original stock."

In his reply to this letter from the College of Arms, Bartlett wrote, "I have done no professional work on Newberry for over a dozen years, but have occasionally come across by accident some additional evidences not included in my book, which I have been interested to note and which confirm my previous conclusions." He went on to say, "After careful study of the chart and data you sent, and comparison with my own data, I do not agree with all your conclusions. Although Richard Newberry as 'son' was one of the administrators of the estate of Ellen Newberry of Yarcomb in 1609, as you state, he was not of Yarcombe then and never was of that parish as far as I can find; he was really a step-son and not own son of Ellen and was a resident of Membury then and for over a score of years preceeding [sic]. Among several evidences I have of his long residence in Membury is a suit in 1591 of Richard Newberry of Membury, Co. Devon, against William Shegge, regarding "the estate in Yarcombe, Co. Devon held by William Haydon (footnote: '...later mentioned in the will of Richard Newberry in 1618, then of Shute') and occupied by William Newberry father of complainant." Bartlett went on to defend his previous research with additional information. In doing so mentions a deposition and a deed which term Richard as of Leavinhey, Devon; that Richard's son Robert Newberry (b. 1592) succeeded to Leavinhey in Yarcomb and that Robert settled it on his son Samuel Newberry (b. 1631) who about the time of his marriage rebuilt the house on the estate, and that the chimney in 1910 still bore his initials "S. N." and the date 1653.

Bartlett then wrote, "I agree with your conclusion that all the Newboroughs, Newberrys, etc., of the 17th century of Yarcombe, Membury, Colyton, Dallwood, Stockland, etc., doubtless derived from the ancient Newburghs of Winfrith, Co. Dorset, seated there from the time of Henry I. I therefore assume they had a hereditary right to the old Newburg arms, although its use by them probably long lay dormant. I infer the college is satisfied that the emigrant Thomas...was the man born at Yarcomb in 1594...If the college is satisfied to register the old Newburgh arms to any descendant of this Thomas Newberry (regardless of his line or name) I do not see that the right [underlined] is strengthened any by showing that Thomas' father Richard was son of William (even if this claim were true) as William was merely of yeoman rank as was his father before him. I should say that these Memburys, Dallwood, Stockland, etc. Newberrys must have branched off the main line at Winfrith prior to 1400." He concluded by expressing his desire to publish his additional data to clarify this matter. However, Bartlett died the next year.

A. T. Butler of the College of Arms answered Bartlett with:"...Your pedigree is a wonderful and creditable piece of work, and I should be only too pleased (as would my client) if it could be established to the satisfaction of the official examiners, and thus enable the College to allow the right of the emigrants' descendants to bear the arms, which cannot be done as matters stand at present." Butler then made a few more points supporting his position, including the exceptionally well kept Yarcombe parish register, in which the only Newberry burials between 1606 and 1639 are:

12 May 1606 William Newberry, s. of Richard.
6 Aug 1606 Dorothy Newberry, d. of Richard.
26 Jun 1609 Ellen Newberry, widow
18 Dec 1632 Grace Newberry, wife of Richard.
20 Aug 1639 Richard Newberry.

Anyone researching this family in east Devon and Dorset in the 1500s and 1600s will soon find themselves drowning in a sea of Newberrys--Up Ottery, Yarcombe, Membury, Dalwood, Stockland, Shute, Axminster, Widworthy, Honiton, Totnes, Symondsbury, etc. Many of these places are only a few miles apart, and all have some connection with the Newberrys, including a good supply of Richards, Williams, and Johns. Bartlett's book shows he did a careful investigation of these Newberrys in his search for Thomas' ancestry. Several Newberry wills bear on the issue. One will is central: that of William Newbery of Yarcombe, who died 1596. A typed transcript of this will is included in the Newberry folder in the Avery Special Collections of NEHGS, and may have been the same one available to Bartlett. Here it is, in full:

"William Newbery, of Yornscombe, co. Devon.
Dated:- 26 May, 1596.
Wife:- Ellen.
Tristram Smith & his wife, & their children (under age).
William Smith, & his children (under age).
John Smith, & his boy (under age).
Richard Newbery's children, (under age).
Res. leg. & exor:- son Richard.
Wits:- Thomas Mayor, vicar, William Hamlyn & Hugh Billings.
Proved:- 6 Dec., 1596, by Fr'cs. Clerk, pub-not., proctor to Richard Newberye,
exor.
(P.C.C. 90 Drake.)"

It would be helpful to have the full text of the original will, if someone has access to the wills in the Drake folio as proved before the Prerog. Court of Canterbury. However, if the order of the legatees is as in the original text, it suggests that the Smith family was more important to William Newbery than were Richard Newbery's children. Also, it seems curious that William refers to "Richard Newbery's children," but not "my grandchildren", somehow distancing his own son (step-son?) Richard from those children.

Finally, a note on the manor of Leavinhey, Devon. This is a critical point for Bartlett's argument, because it moves Richard of Netherbury 24 km west to Yarcombe, where he can be the father of Thomas. Mr. Richardson has found a place called Livingshayes near Silverton, some 8 miles west of Yarcombe. Both places survive today on the Ordnance Survey maps, with Livenhayes Farm 1 km SW of Yarcombe and Livingshayes 1 km NE of Silverton. Mr. Richardson says that Silverton is "more likely the place intended", but he provides no evidence for his assertion. Recall that Bartlett was kind enough to provide more information on the subsequent Newberrys of Leavinhey, even down to those 1653 chimney initials for Samuel Newberry. I could find nothing in A2A (Access to Archives) for Leavinhey or some variants, but for Yarcombe Parish, the Devon Record Office reference 1150A is a list of the feoffees and disposition of Longcraft Meadow, and has this:

"Including:
PF 9 "A list of the names of those persons that contributed to the Charity for the poor of Yarcombe... The abovesaid summes are parte of the purchase money paid to William Dollin for Long-craft meadow in Yarcombe." 1692
PF11, 12 Lease and Release 1692
1 Wm Dolling 2 Jn Matthews, Henry Newberry, Sam Newberry jun., Robt Vincent, Sam Cosens, Ric Steevens, Nich's Knight, Jas Vincent sen., Wm Vincent jun., Jn Domett sen., as Feoffees.
PF13 Feoffees deed of trust. 1692...",

which, while hardly definitive, does give us a Samuel Newberry of Yarcombe who was contemporary with Bartlett's Samuel of Leavinhey.

In summary, this matter is not settled. Bartlett did not hide or conceal the information that a William of Yarcombe had a son Richard, but equated him with Richard of Shute. As things stand now, both assertions depend on such subtleties as the wording in wills, the abbreviations used in parish records, and the recurrence of the same given names. Serious researchers can obtain the letters and other Newberry materials from the Avery Special Collections at NEHGS.

Robert Forrest

From: Sue Simonich
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:15:22 -0400 (EDT)

Gentlemen:

After being alerted by a fellow researcher to this discussion, I have read the comments regarding Bartlett with interest. I believe the documentation presented herein, is still insufficient to make proper conclusions, let alone accusations against Bartlett. From experience, I know certain editors will not allow such accusations to stand. Therefore, documentation must be authentic, credible, and above all erudite. I am in possession of all the said letters (Bartlett vs. Butler) and will share them with anyone who is interested via individual email. I will not, however, post to the list. My transcriptions are from typed originals received from the archivist of the R. Stanton Avery Collections located at NEHGS. I also have the will of William Newberry 1596, an original PDF file from the TNA, and will gladly share with anyone who asks. However, those persons will certainly want to make their own translation. As you are probably aware, Medieval Latin has its pitfalls, therefore, a professional translation is essential. Could this be the whole crux of the problems discussed herein?

Two years ago, a professional English historian and genealogist went (on my behalf) to the College of Arms in London to investigate this whole Bartlett v. Butler mess. Unfortunately, the College was not much help in discovering further information. Citations were apparently not present on the pedigree she was allowed to view. Neither are the heralds generally cooperative in sharing with outside genealogists, any but a small part of a pedigree in question. The single mission and existence of the College, is to prove the legitimacy of families to bear arms. Applicants are required to submit their pedigree to the College for examination and assessment. As a sidebar, in viewing various online Newberry pedigrees with arms illustrations; the illustrations I have seen are seldom accurate. Each family’s arms were based on the original ancient blazoning, altered slightly with their own unique differences. Legitimate illustrations for the Newburgh family arms are not available to the Internet public at large. (Those that can be purchased online are not accurate, so don't waste your money.) However, blazonings can be found in Burke’s Peerage and Gentry. Interpretation can be accomplished with assistance of books on heraldry, i.e. Heraldry for Local Historians and Genealogists by Stephen Friar : Grange Books (Sutton Publishing) 1997. (ISBN 1-84013-002-4). There are up to nine different arms for the various lines of the Medieval Newburgh family, and not all are in Burke's.

I have been interested in the NEWBERRY family since publishing The Quiet Patriarch in 2006, detailing my ancestor James A. Newberry. (http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hannahslife/quiet_patriarch.htm) . Since that time, I have attempted to ascertain if his English progenitor RICHARD NEWBURY was related to THOMAS NEWBERRY, whom Joseph Gardner Bartlett details in his work The Newberry Genealogy.

Even with two experienced English genealogists working beside me, I have unfortunately hit countless brick walls with regard to finding Richard’s root family in England, Consequently, to further the research, in 2009, I began the World Wide Newberry/Newburgh DNA surname project, for which I am the administrator. Partnering with DNA Consultants, of Phoenix, Arizona, the primary goal of the project was to discover if Thomas Newberry and my ancestor Richard Newberry were related. Both were immigrant “planters” in New England between 1630-34 and 1643. Another person involved in the New England experiment (listed as one of the “Dorchester Adventurers”) was Rector Walter Newburgh, of Symondsbury, who died in 1631. His involvement with the Rector of Dorchester, John White, may have been the reason, historians and genealogists assumed a relationship between the armigerous Newburgh families and the Newberry families located on the Dorset/Devon border, who immigrated to New England in the 1630’s. For years, historians (Savage, Flagg and others) have assumed the families to be related in some way.

In 2003, the first DNA test for RICHARD NEWBERRY was accomplished. Using this as a base test, the next test came in 2009, when another subject from Richard’s line reasonably confirmed the two modern subjects and their progenitors were related. Finally, after waiting two more years, a subject stepped up to test for the THOMAS NEWBERRY line. The comparison was done quite recently. By comparing the results, it has been confirmed,

Richard Newbury and Thomas Newberry of NEW ENGLAND - WERE NOT related.

As a caveat, participant eligibility for this project is based solely on research submitted by each participant. As administrator, I have checked (to the best of my ability) familial connections for veracity in order to maintain the credibility of the study. You can read about the study at (http://dnaconsultants.com/Newberry/index.htm) . There are also newsletters detailing some of the other tests that were done. [ If you would like to be included on the DNA mailing list, submit your name and email.] Now that the first goal has been addressed, the second goal of the project will be to determine if either of the New England Colonial NEWBERRY’s, truly have a connection to the ARMIGEROUS NEWBURGH surname. For that, it is imperative to find test subjects who can trace themselves back to the armigerous DORSET FAMILY. Preferably, the subject would be from Great Britain, and have no interest in Bartlett's work. Curiously, I have not found a definitive modern text, (outside of Hutchins' and Collinson) written by a 20th century English descendant of the Newburgh family.

SURNAME DEFINITION

Permutations of the ancient Neuburgh v. Neubury surnames may have led historians astray. For instance, in studying the Feet of Fines of 1358, the Neubury name shows up without any apparent relationship to the Newburgh family of Dorset. Generally, the Dorset Newburgh family name, (in late medieval/ early modern texts) is generally spelled Neuburgh or Neuborough, though other variations do exist. It is currently impossible to determine if the NEWBERRY surname (prevalent in 17th century Devon) is actually a
derivation of the armigerous Newburgh surname.

In recent studies, I have found what appears to be a similar and possibly unrelated surname spelled "Neubury" appearing as early as the later 13th century. (I have recently started taking serious note of it.) The notation shows a John de Newbery mentioned as “keeper of the great wardrobe.” The date of this entry would exclude known Dorset members of the Newburgh family from this honorable position. In the same Feet of Fines volume there are also individuals from the Dorset family mentioned, recorded with what I consider to be the traditional armigerous spelling (i.e. Neuburgh, Neuborough, Newborowe). In conclusion, I can only imagine the potential impact on American
Newberry descendants who are concerned with the authenticity and correctness of their lines. Later Newburgh and related surnames seem to be rather understudied by English genealogists and historians.

S. Simonich

From: Douglas Richardson
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:46:05 -0700 (PDT)

Dear Tim ~

In my earlier post regarding the fraudulent pedigree of the immigrant, Mr. Thomas Newberry, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, I noted that Mr. Bartlett had identified Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon [the known father of the immigrant] as a younger son of Richard Newborough, Gent. (your Generation 15), of Othe Francis (in Netherbury), Dorset (died c.1570), by his wife, Elizabeth Horsey.

Mr. Bartlett claimed that Richard Newberry [father of the immigrant] was the same person as “Richard Newborough, of Leavenhey, co. Devon, Gent.,” who gave testimony in 1594 in a chancery lawsuit involving his alleged brother, Walter Newburgh, and his widowed mother, Elizabeth Woodshaw.

Yesterday, however, I located another record regarding Richard Newborough, Gentleman, which shows he was a resident at Bradpole, Dorset in 1592-3. I assume this is the same person as Richard Newborough, Gentleman, who was living in 1594 at "Leavenhey," Devon.

Hays, Records of Early English Drama: Dorset, Cornwall (1999): 142 show that in 1592–3 Richarde Newborough, Gentleman, [of Bradpole] gave iii d. towards the building of the market house and school house of Bridport, Dorset). On pg. 143 it shows that a Mr. Newboroughe promised di. bushell of wheat at Netherbury & Mangerton, Dorset for the same purpose.

These items may be viewed at the following weblink:

http://books.google.com/books?id=7D_MPVfVyC8C&pg=PA142

Bradpole is 1 mile south of Mangerton, Dorset. Bradpole is approximately 2 miles south of Netherbury, Dorset. Netherbury, of course, is the home parish of Richard Newborough's parents, Richard Newborough, Gent. (your Generation 15) (died c.1570), and his wife, Elizabeth Horsey. Mr. Newborough at Netherbury and Mangerton is presumably a different man than Richard Newborough, Gentleman.

For the exact location of these localites, see the following weblink:

http://mc.multimap.com/maps/?qs=Bradpole&countryCode=GB#map=50.77186,-2.76375|13|4&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:50.79074:-2.75355:14|Netherbury|Netherbury,%20Bridport,%20Dorset,%20England,%20DT6%205

Since it can be shown that the immigrant's father, Richard Newberry, was living at Yarcombe, Devon in this time period and that he was never styled gentleman, it is clear that Richard Newborough, Gentleman is a completely different individual. Furthermore, we know from the will of Richard Newborough's brother, William Newborough, Gent., dated 1632 that Richard Newborough, Gent., of Dorset had seven children living in that year, and that Richard was likely then deceased. The immigrant's father, Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon, on the the hand, was still living in 1632, and had only five children living (maybe even less). It was Mr. Bartlett's fraud that created the false impression that Richard Newberry of Yarcombe, Devon was a gentleman and that he had seven children living in 1632.

Those parties interested in the Newberry family may wish to consult an online genealogical database which includes sourced material on the Newberry family. The database almost exactly mirrors my own research and conclusions. I discovered the database after I completed my own research. It correctly identifies the immigrant's father, Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon as the son of William Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon and his wife, Ellen.

http://www.ourgenerationsancestors.org/getperson.php?personID=I5975&tree=OGA

Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah

From: Douglas Richardson
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:13:56 -0700 (PDT)

Dear Newsgroup ~

There is a helpful listing of early land owners for Yarcombe, Devon on Genuki at the following weblink:

http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Yarcombe/YarcombeHistory.html

The listing is an index by Joan Zorn of the book, "From Monks to the Millennium: A History of Yarcombe," by Ruth Everitt (1999).

The following entries are listed for the Newberry surname. The numbers on the right side are page references.

Newbery, Ann --- 1685 11
Newbery, John Middle Moorhayne 1685,1727 11, 108
Newbery, Robert Blackhayes, Broadley, 1700, 1798 13, 95, 96
--- Rosehayne, South Waterhayne 1727 112,114
--- Underdown, Livenhayes 1727 119, 106
Newbury, Samuel Grovewell, Livenhayes, Moorpit 1662, 1727 02, 106,109
Newbery, Susanna Livenhayes 1727 106
Newbery, Thomas Shutlands 18th C 13, 63

As best I can determine, Samuel Newbury [sic] was associated with Livenhayes in the parish of Yarcombe, Devon in 1662 or 1727 (both dates are given).

But in 1600 other people are associated with this place:

Browinge, Maude Livenhayes 1600 106
Helliar, Alice Livenhayes 1600 106
Pullen, John Livenhayes 1600 106

I believe Livenhayes (or Livehayne) in Yarcombe, Devon was a farm not a manor.

Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah

From: Douglas Richardson
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2011 11:09

Dear Tim and others ~

In my earlier post regarding the fraudulent pedigree of the immigrant, Mr. Thomas Newberry, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, I noted that Mr. Bartlett, author of the Newberry Genealogy, had identified Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon [the known father of the immigrant] as a younger son of Richard Newborough, Gentleman, of Othe Francis (in Netherbury), Dorset (died c.1570), by his wife, Elizabeth Horsey.

However, Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon [father of the immigrant] is clearly named as a son in the 1596 will of William Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon. William Newberry's will is dated 20 May 1596, and proved 6 Dec. 1596 (P.C.C. 90 Drake). In the will, William Newberry names (among other legatees) his wife, Ellyne [Ellen]; the minor children of Richard Newberry; and he leaves the residue of his estate to his son, Richard Newberry, whom he names his executor.

In the Newberry Genealogy, pg. 31, however, Mr. Bartlett claims that this William Newberry's son, Richard Newberry, "born in 1564, is of record at Membury in 1591, 1596, and 1600, and later removed to Shute, co. Devon, where he died in August 1616, leaving no issue. His will dated 3 Aug. 1618, proved 8 Oct. 1619, directs that he be buried beside his mother in Membury. (Dean and Chapter of Exeter)." END OF QUOTE.

Who are we to believe? Mr. Bartlett claims that Richard Newberry, son of William Newberry, of Yarcombe, went to Membury and Shute, Devon, and died without issue, and thus can not possibly be Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon, the immigrant's father, who resided at Yarcombe all his adult life. Mr. Bartlett maintained this fiction in spite of the fact that William Newberry's will clearly indicates that his son, Richard Newberry, had living issue in 1596, where as Richard Newberry, of Membury and Shute, is alleged to have died without issue.

Mr. Bartlett further claimed that William Newberry's son, Richard, allegedly of Membury and Shute, was not a child of his surviving wife, Ellen, but rather by a previous marriage. We know that because he says William Newberry married his wife, Ellen, "late in life." He offers no evidence to support this conclusion other than noting that the mother of Richard Newberry of Membury and Shute was buried in Membury, Devon, whereas Ellen, widow of William Newberry, was buried at Yarcombe, Devon in 1609.

That Ellen Newberry, was in fact the full mother (not step-mother) of William Newberry's son and heir, Richard Newberry, is proven by the PCC administration record of her estate. This record shows that administration on her estate was granted 4 September 1609 to her four sons ("filij"), Tristam Smith, William Smith, John Smith, and Richard Newberry [see P.C.C. Adm. Act Book, 1605-1614, pg. 172 (FHL Microfilm #093248].

Interestingly, Mr. Bartlett was confronted by these very facts by Arthur Trego Butler in 1925, but was never acknowledged by Mr. Bartlett. Instead Mr. Bartlett clung to his view that Richard Newberry of Membury and Shute was the son of William Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon, by a different wife than Ellen. He also defended his belief that Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe [the immigrant's father] was originally from a gentry family in Dorset named Newburgh (or Newborough).

In a related vein, I had the opportunity this week to speak with Clifford L. Stott, F.A.S.G., who is a Newberry descendant and who is a professional genealogist here in Salt Lake City. He is the author of many fine articles in all the major genealogical journals. I've known Cliff for many years and know him to be a man of character and integrity. He is also an excellent researcher.

Mr. Stott told me that he had done original research on the English origins of the Newberry family and that he possesses a copy of the correspondence between Butler and Bartlett now on file at the NEHGS Library in Boston.

Mr. Stott said that the alleged royal ancestry of the immigrant, Thomas Newberry, appears in some secondary works as "questionable." However, he said "it is just plain wrong." Once he determined that Mr. Bartlett's findings were incorrect, he proceeded to research the Newberry family like he would any other. He checked parish registers and pulled up wills, etc. He came to the same conclusion that I did that the immigrant's father, Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon was the son of William Newberry (died 1596), of Yarcombe, Devon, by his wife, Ellen.

Mr. Stott further informed me that another piece of Mr. Bartlett's work is currently under investigation for fraud. C'est la vie.

In summary, there now appears to have been three men living in the same time period:

(1) Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon, died 1639 [the immigrant's father] who can be shown to have been the son of William Newberry (died 1596), of Yarcombe, Devon, and his wife, Ellen (died 1609). This Richard Newberry had five children (or less) living in 1632.This Richard Newberry was never styled gentleman.

(2) Richard Newberry, of Membury and Shute, Devon, died 1618, who presumably came from Membury, Devon. He left no issue.

(3) Richard Newborough, Gentleman, living 1592-3, at Bradpole, Dorset and 1594 at Devon. He was a younger son of Richard Newborough, Gent., of Othe Francis (in Netherbury), Dorset (died c.1570), by his wife, Elizabeth Horsey. This man had seven children living in 1632.

Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah

P.S. I might add that Mr. Stott told me that he has also researched the family of Grace Matthew, mother of the immigrant, Thomas Newberry. He found no evidence to support Mr. Bartlett's wild allegations that she was also a descendant of the gentry Newburgh family of Dorset.

• 
• Text: From: Douglas Richardson
  Date: Sun, Oct 30, 2011 at 11:03 AM
  
  Dear Tim ~
  
  You have set forth the extended ancestry of the immigrant, [Mr.] Thomas Newberry (died 1636[/37]), of Dorchester, Massachusetts, giving what appears to be a valid descent from Isabel de Vermandois. The extended ancestry is doubtless based on material found in the book, Newberry Genealogy, by John Bartlett, published in 1914. Mr. Bartlett
  provided sufficient evidence to prove that the immigrant was the son of Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon (your Generation 14), by his wife, Grace Mathew.
  
  However, in tracing the immigrant's ancestry, Mr. Bartlett relied on two pieces of evidence to identify Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon [father of the immigrant] as a younger son of Richard Newborough, Gent. (your Generation 15), of Othe Francis (in Netherbury), Dorset (died c.1570), by his wife, Elizabeth Horsey
  
  1. Mr. Bartlett claimed that Richard Newberry [father of the immigrant] is the same person as “Richard Newborough, of Leavenhey, co. Devon, Gent.,” who gave testimony in 1594 in a chancery lawsuit involving his brother, Walter Newburgh, and his widowed mother, Elizabeth Woodshaw.
  
  Bartlett indicated that "Leavenhey" was a locality in the parish of Yarcombe, Devon. There is indeed a locality named "Livehayne" in the parish of Yarcombe, Devon [see Gover, Place-Names of Devon 2 (1932): 652]. However, there is another locality called Livingshayes (aka Levenshayes) in the parish of nearby Silverton, Devon [see Gover,
  Place-Names of Devon 2 (1932): 571], which is more likely the place intended.
  
  If so, then it would appear that Richard Newburgh, Gent., brother of Walter Newburgh, Gent., resided in 1594 in the parish of Silverton, not in Yarcombe, Devon. I might add that there is no evidence that the immigrant's father, Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon, was ever a gentleman.
  
  2. Bartlett further indicated that the "seven children" of Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon, were legatees in the 1632 will of Richard’s other alleged brother, William Newburgh, Gent., of Frampton, Dorset. He quotes the actual will. Mr. Bartlett shows that Richard Newberry [father of the immigrant] and his wife, Grace Matthew, had
  nine children in all, of whom two died in infancy. As such, in 1632 Richard Newberry should have had seven children living just as his brother's will indicates. This all looks good.
  
  However, Mr. Bartlett altered the actual list of the children of Richard Newberry of Yarcombe. The Yarcombe parish registers [FHL Microfilm 917559] indicate that Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon, had eight children baptized in that parish (not nine as claimed by Mr. Bartlett). Of these eight children, only five were living in 1627,
  thus proving that Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon was NOT the brother of William Newburgh, Gent., of Frampton, Dorset as claimed by Bartlett.
  
  Here is the corrected list of Richard Newberry's children:
  
  1. John 1582
  2. William 1584; buried 12 May 1606 as "William son of Richard."
  3. Ellen 1586 (Bartlett gave her name as Alice!!).
  4. Fides, 1589 [Fides is presumably Latin for the given name, Faith]
  5. Robert, 1592, likely died young. Bartlett states he was buried 28 April 1596. However, the Robert Newberry who died at Yarcombe in this time period was buried 28 April 1590, before the baptism of this child.
  6. Thomas, 1594 (the immigrant).
  7. Dorothy, 1597, buried 6 Aug. 1606, as "Dorothy dau. of Richard"
  8. Robert, 1600.
  
  So who was the father of Richard Newberry? Actually that is quite easy to find. Richard Newberry was the son and heir of William Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon, who left a will was dated 20 May 1596, proved 6 Dec. 1596 (P.C.C. 90 Drake). In the will, William Newberry names his wife, Ellyne [Ellen]; the minor children of Richard Newberry; and he leaves the residue of his estate to his son, Richard Newberry, whom he names his executor.
  
  Mr. Bartlett discussed the 1596 PCC will of William Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon in his book - see page 31. There he gives the pertinent information and says that William Newberry's will named a son, Richard. But Bartlett dismissed the importance of this evidence by stating that William Newberry's son, Richard, "born in 1564, is of record at Membury in 1591, 1596, and 1600, and later moved to Shute, Devon, where he died in August 1618, leaving no issue."
  
  However, Mr. Bartlett carefully omitted giving a transcript of of William Newberry's will which indicates that William's son, Richard, DID have issue in 1596:
  
  "Item [I] geve and bequeath unto every of Richarde Newberyes Children Thirteen poundes sixe shillinge eight pence a peece, to be paide to every of them when they shalbe of age to geve discharge as before...." END OF QUOTE.
  
  Bartlett's statements about William Newberry's son, Richard, being born in 1564, and later being at Membury and Shute are not supported by any documentation.
  
  As such, it appears that there were two different men in this time period: Richard Newborough [or Newburgh], Gent., of Livingshayes (in Silverton), Devon living in 1594, and the immigrant's father, Richard Newberry, who occurs at Yarcombe, Devon from 1581 up through at least 1632.
  
  In summary, contemporary records indicate that the immigrant, [Mr.] Thomas Newberry, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, was the son of Richard Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon, and his wife, Grace Matthew. Richard Newberry in turn was the son and heir of William Newberry, of Yarcombe, Devon (died 1596), by his wife, Ellen (buried at Yarcombe, Devon 26 June 1609). Thus, the immigrant loses all of his royal ancestry.
  
  Lastly, some good news. I've found that in 1627 Richard Newberry, Thomas Newberry, Richard Fry, and John Tutton purchased the wardship of John Fry alias Urch for £15 [see Hawkins Sales of Wards in Somerset (Somerset Rec. Soc. 67) (1965): 20–21]. This record likely involves Richard Newberry of Yarcombe, Devon and his son, Thomas Newberry, the immigrant. I say that because I found the marriage at Yarcombe, Devon for John Frie alias Urch in 1635, which individual I assume is the ward of 1627.
  
  Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah