Yeovil People
John Newman the Younger
Gentleman and builder of Barwick House
John Newman the younger, seen at left, was likely the son of Quaker John Newman the elder (b1689, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, - d 27 December 1753, Worcester, Worcestershire) and Elizabeth née Hill (b1695, Worcester, d 28 April 1772, Worcester).
The core of the present mansion, known as Barwick House, appears to have been built around 1770 by Quaker lawyer and landowner John Newman the younger (1717-1799) and his wife Grace née Hoskins (1742-1815), whose relations owned the neighbouring Newton Surmaville estate. Grace was the daughter of William Hoskins (1708-c1760) of North Perrot Manor, and his wife Joan née Warry (1714-1776).
John and Grace were married at Haselbury Plucknett on 9 March 1767. They were to have a son, and five daughters;
- Mary
(born 1768,
Barwick -
1822,
Sidmouth,
mentioned in
John's
will). On 4
June 1801,
at Barwick,
she married
William
Michell
(1767-1827)
of Cotleigh,
Devon, where
five of
their six
children
were born.
-
Elizabeth
(born 1770,
Barwick.
Died at
Barwick,
buried 21
April 1844,
aged 74).
Unmarried?
-
Charlotte
(born 1772,
Barwick.
Died at
Barwick,
buried 8
October
1846, aged
76).
Unmarried?
- Harriet
(born 1772,
Barwick.
Died at
Barwick,
buried 17
February
1826, aged
54).
Unmarried?
- John
Newman the
youngest
(born 1773,
Barwick.
Died March
1855,
Barwick).
Married Mary
Rodbard
(born 1785,
Leeds. Died
at Barwick,
buried 30
April 1855,
aged 70). No
known
children.
- Lucy (1776-1826, who married on 19 June 1800 George Messiter the elder, 1776-1834). Their son, George Messiter the younger (1801-1870) inherited the Barwick estate.
John Newman's late eighteenth-century mansion at Barwick was set in pleasure grounds containing a lake and grotto, while the surrounding parkland was ornamented with a gothic lodge and a group of four follies. These follies are shown in the backgrounds of a series of Newman family portraits (see Gallery), painted of 1768 by Thomas Beach (1738, Milton Abbas – 1806 Dorchester) and disproving the local legend that the follies were built by George Messiter the younger, in the 1830s.
John Newman the younger died on 14 May 1799, aged 82. Grace died on 17 February 1815, aged 75. There is a memorial to them and their three (unmarried) daughters in St Mary Magdalene church, Barwick (see Gallery).
Following the death of both John Newman the youngest and his widow Mary (see her Will below) in 1855, the Barwick estate passed to George Messiter the younger (1801-1870), a barrister and glove manufacturer, who was John Newman the youngest's nephew - Messiter's father was George Messiter the elder of Wincanton and his mother was John Newman the youngest's sister, Lucy Messiter née Newman (1776-1826). Around 1830, George Messiter the younger remodelled the house in a Jacobean Revival style. An orangery was constructed adjoining the north side at the same period.
Gallery
The 9 March 1767 marriage of John Newman of Barwick and Grace Hoskins of Haselbury Plucknett, recorded in the Haselbury Plucknett Parish Register.
A portrait - oil on canvas, 50" x 40¾" (127 x 103.2cm) - of John Newman the younger (1717-1799) painted by Thomas Beach (1738-1806) in 1768. Note the folly Jack the Treacle Eater in the landscape background - disproving the local legend that the follies were built by George Messiter the younger in the 1830s.
A portrait of Grace Newman née Hoskins (1717-1799), again painted by Thomas Beach in 1768. Note the folly The Rose Tower in the landscaped background.
The 30 June 1768 baptism of Mary Newman, recorded in Barwick Parish Register.
The 14 July 1772 baptism of Charlotte and Harriet Newman, recorded in Barwick Parish Register.
The 30 August 1773 baptism of John Newman the youngest, recorded in Barwick Parish Register.
The 1777 baptism of Lucy Newman, recorded in Barwick Parish Register.
A portrait of John and Grace's son, John Newman the youngest, by Samuel Woodforde.
Barwick House set within its parkland. Photographed in 2009.
Barwick House. Photographed in 2009.
ThThe notice of the 19 June 1800 marriage of Lucy Newman to George Messiter the younger, from the 23 June 1800 edition of the Sherborne Mercuryem>.
The The memorial, in St Mary Magdalene church, Barwick, in memory of John Newman the younger, his wife, Grace and three of their daughters; Harriet, Elizabeth and Charlotte.
The 1799 will of John Newman the younger
By this my last Will
and Testament I John Newman of Barwick in the County of Somerset Gentleman
do dispose of my
Estates and
Effects as
follows I give
unto my Wife
whatever Monies
(not exceeding
two hundred
pounds) that I
have of my own
in my Dwelling
House at Barwick
at the time of
my decease I
give unto my
Wife the
Interest of the
Five hundred
pounds given to
her by her Uncle
Sir Thomas Warry
and now in the
hands of her
Brother Mr
Thomas Hoskins
at Interest for
and during her
natural life And
after her
decease then to
her Daughters
equally to be
divided between
them share and
share alike I
give unto my
Wife the use and
occupation of my
Dwelling house
and Furniture
thereto
belonging at
Yeovill in the
said County
during her life
[two words
illegible]
therein so long
continue and
afterwards to my
Son his
Executors and
Administrators I
give unto my
Wife my Chaise
Harness and all
my Horses with
the Saddles
Bridles and
Furniture used
with the same I
give unto my
Wife all my Wine
Beer and other
Liquors
whatsoever that
shall be in my
Dwelling House
at Barwick
Cellars [in ?]
possession at
the time of my
decease And I
hope and Trust
that my Son Wife
and Daughters
will live
together till
they Marry or
for any other
purposes think
proper [the
next whole
paragraph
smudged and
illegible]
Also I give to
my Daughter Mary
the further Sum
of one hundred
pounds to be
paid her at my
decease being a
Legacy to her by
her Grand Mother
Newman I give
unto my Servant
Nathaniel
Ricketts the Sum of twenty Guineas to be paid to him in six month after my decease
as a Reward for
his faithful
Service And
lastly I give
unto my dear Son
all other my
Real and
Personal Estates
Goods and
Chattels
(Subject to the
payment of my
just Debts
Legacies and
Funeral
Expences) and do
appoint him sole
Executor of this
my Will hereby
revoking all
former Wills by
me made In
Witness whereof
I have hereunto
set my Hand and
Seal the fourth
day of September
in the Year of
our Lord one
thousand seven
hundred and
ninety five
John Newman
Signed Sealed Published and declared by the above named John Newman as and
for his lasrt
Will and
Testament in the
presence of us
who have
Subscribed our
Names as
Witnesses
thereto in his
presence and at
his request and
in the presence
of each other
C Parsons
Thomas Hobbs
Tho[ma]s
Shorland
This Will was proved at London the Tenth day of July in the Year of our Lord one
thousand seven
hundred and
ninety nine
before the Right
Honourable Sir
William Wynne
Knight Doctor of
Laws master
Keeper or
Commissary of
the Prerogative
Court of
Canterbury
lawfully
constituted by
the Oath of John
Newman the
natural and
lawful and only
Son of the said
Deceased the
sole Executor
named in the
said Will to
whom
Administration
was granted of
all and singular
the Goods
Chattels and
Credits of the
said deceased
having been
first sworn (by
Commission) duly
to administer
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
The 1855 will of Mary Newman
(M
ary Newman was the widow of John Newman the youngest).
This is the last Will and Testament of me Mary Newman of Barwick House Yeovil in the County of Somerset the widow of John Newman Esq deceased Whereas by an Indenture of Release of the twenty ninth say of September in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty nine one undivided moiety or equal half part of an Estate comprising a Farm house outbuildings and lands situate in the several Parishes of Rimpton and Marston Magna in the said County of Somerset now respectively in the occupation of John Stroud with the appurtenances now stand limited to such uses as I shall by deed or Will appoint Now in exercise of the said power and of every other power hereunto enabling me I do hereby direct limit and appoint the said undivided moiety or equal half part of the said Estate (subject to the charges on the entirety of the said estate of two legacies of five hundred pounds each in favor of my late husband and of the Right Honourable James late Lord Talbot de Malahide under my late fathers Will to the use of my nephews The Right Honourable James present Lord Talbot de Malahide and Thomas Messiter Barrister at Law their heirs and assigns Upon trust forthwith after my decease to sell the said undivided moiety or equal half part and premises in such way and manner in all respects as they shall think fit with liberty to concur with the parties interested in the other moiety or equal half part of the said Estate in the Sale of the entirety of the said Estate, with power to [them ?] and give and to concur in giving effectual receipts for the purchase money for the said premises and to stand possessed of the purchase money In trust to invest the same in their or his names or name in or upon some or one of the Public Stocks or Funds or at interest on Government or real Security in England (but not in Ireland) with power to vary the investment for the time being at their of his discretion for any other or others of the kind prescribed and by and out of the annual income thereof to pay an annuity or clear yearly sum (free of legacy duty) of Ten pounds [word illegible] the wife of Joseph Dimmock (before her marriage Ann Robins Spinster) for her life for her separate use and for which her receipt shall be a sufficient discharge and to pay the residue of the said annual income and the entirety thereof after the death of the said Ann Dimmock to my Sister The Right Honourable Anne Sarah Dowager Lady Talbot de Malahide for her life and after her decease to pay transfer and divide the said purchase money and the Stocks funds and Securities for the same for the time being (subject to the said annuity of ten pounds to the said Ann Dimmock during her life) unto and equally between my Nephews and Nieces the Hon[oura]ble Richard Gilbert Talbot George Talbot Harriett Mary Everard Airey Edward Plantagenet Airey Talbot Mary Anne Flora Napier Charlotte [Etruria ?] Hobhouse and William Leopold [Porseuna ?] Talbot in equal shares and proportions as Tenants in common and so that the shares of my said nieces shall be for their separate use and for which their respective receipts shall be a sufficient discharge and whereas I am entitled to the Stock purchases in the names of my said late husband and the said Thomas Messiter with the sum of Six hundred pounds paid to me or for my use by George Thomas Williams Esquire Now I do hereby direct that after my death such Stock shall be sold and the clear produce thereof applied in paying off the legacy of five hundred pounds left to my said late husband by the will of my late father in exoneration of the property and persons liable to the payment thereof and I direct that the residue (if any) of the clear produce of the said Stok shall form part of my residuary Estate hereinafter disposed of and I bequeath to my said dear Sister the following articles (that is to say) My Silver [word illegible] Silver dishes and all other articles of plate to which I became entitled under the Will of my late father To hold the same Articles for her life and after her decease I bequeath the same Articles of plate to my said Nephew James Lord Talbot de Malahide absolutely and I bequeath to my said Sister all my jewel and trinkets watches rings and ornaments of the person to which I shall be entitled at my death and not hereby otherwise disposed of and I request my said Sister at her death to give each of my dear nieces Margaret Jones Harriett Airey Mary Anne Flora Napier and Charlotte [Etruria ?] Hobhouse one of my four diamond rings as a remembrance of me and to my said niece Margaret Jones I give the Diamond and Emerald ring given to me by my dear departed friend Mrs Day and to my said Sister I give the disposition of my wearing apparel from which I beg her to select for her own use whatsoever she pleases and the residue I give to the said Ann Dimmock and to my Lady's Maid (if any) to divide between them. And I bequeath to my said nephew James Lord Talbot de Malahide all the books Portraits and Prints which belonged to my late father and which are distinguished by a Crest on the back or some other part thereof respectively I give a Suit of mourning to each of the Domestic Servants who shall be in my Service at my death and also to the said Ann Dimmock and I appoint the said James Lord Talbot and Thomas Messiter Executors of this my Will and I request their acceptance of Nineteen Guineas each in consideration of the trouble they will have in executing this my Will And I bequeath all the residue of my personal Estate to the said James Lord Talbot and Thomas Messiter upon trust to sell and convert the same into money and to hold invest and apply the same and the income thereof in like manner for the benefit of my said Sister and such of her Children as under this my Will shall become entitled to the purchase money of my moiety of the said Estate at Rimpton and Marston Magna aforesaid as is hereinbefore declared of such purchase money and the Securities for the same and the income thereof and I devise the two Closes of ground commonly called Durcham and Meoley to which I am entitled under a Codicil to my late husbands Will and which Closes are situate in the Parish of Evercreech in the said County of Somerset to my said nephew James Lord Talbot his heirs and assigns for ever and I direct that in case my said nephew Richard Gilbert Talbot shall at any time hereafter come into possession in his own right of the settled Estates of his late Uncle William Talbot and also become entitled to any benefit under any deed Will or Testamentary appointment of his Aunt now the Widow of Ellis Cunliffe Lister Kaye Esquire deceased in which event he will be amply provided for then I direct that if he shall not have been paid he shall give up (but if he shall have been paid it is my intention he shall not refund the monies and benefits to which he would otherwise have been entitled under this my Will and I empower my Trustees o postpone the Sale and conversion of any part of my Estate for such period as they may think expedient and I declare that my unsold and unconverted Estate shall be considered as converted into money from my death and the income thereof shall be applied accordingly And I desire to be buried by the side of my late husband And in lead And I hereby revoke all former Wills and Testamentary Dispositions and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty second day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty five
The mark X of Mary Newman
Signed by the said Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the
presence of us
both present at
the same time
who at her
request in her
presence and in
the presence of
each other have
hereunto
subscribed our
names as
witnesses
attesting the
same the words
"and to my
Lady's maid (if
any) to divide
between them"
having been
first introduced
between the
fourth and fifth
lines of page 1
of this Will
John Stroud Barwick Somerset
Charles
Marsh Barwick
Somerset
Proved
at London 9th July 1855 before the Judge by the Oaths of the Right
Honourable James
Baron Talbot de
Malahide the
nephew and
Thomas Messiter
Esquire the Ex[ecut]ors
to whom Adm[inistrati]on
was granted
having been
first sworn to
wit the said
Right Honourable
James Baron
Talbot de
Malahide before
the Worshipful
William Robinson
and the said
Thomas Messiter
before the
Worshipful
George Edward
Hughes
respectively
Doctors of Laws
and Surrogates
duly to Adm[iniste]r
Transcribed by Bob Osborn