Both Charles Newman and his wife Hannah died young, leaving young Henry to be brought up by his grandparent Francis Holles and Eleanor Newman (information from Jerry Gandolfo, email dated 14th Jan 2003).

A note sent to me by Di Clements in Aug 2002 indicates that Charles (the son of Charles Newman) lived in Sherborne when his elder brother Francis wrote a codicil to his will in 1767.

Hannah Sandys was the daughter of John Sandys of North Pertherton, Somerset (as I had it. John Newman tells me she came from South Pelberton, and so does Cliff Ranson who also gave me the year of her death). It is from her that the name Sandys came into the Newman family.

[Added 10 Mar 2003:] It would be interesting to know if Hannah Sandys was in any way related to Sir Edwin Sandys (d.1629), who controlled the Virginia Company and in 1619 was involved in promoting self-government for the colony (to the subsequent displeasure of King James I.)  Jerry Gandolfo speculates that perhaps Francis Newman's "disappearance" to America 170 years later and his rapid re-emergence as an estate owner might have had something to do with lingering family connections in the Maryland-Virginia area.

One observation may support the possibility that Hannah was related to Sir Edwin Sandys: it is that her grandson Edwin Sandys Newman was the first Newman to have the name "Edwin" which he passed on to his eldest son Edwin Newman the Yeovil lawyer, and which has since been used in several branches of the family descending from him, including my own.  It is by no means impossible that Hannah named one of her own sons Edwin, and that he died in infancy (and so far unrecorded).

Jerry Gandolfo wrote again about Sir Edwin Sandys in an email sent to me on 15 Mar 2003: "At this point, my research on the Sandys has turned up maybe too much information. They were apparently a very prominent and influential family. Like the Newmans, they have a very strong clerical affinity highlighted by Archbishop Edwin Sandys of York. Apparently this cleric was a major figure in the Reformation who was exiled for a while in Germany then returned to England and prominence during the time of Elizabeth I. The frustrating part is that while I have pages and pages of Sandys information, and several possible candidates who might be the 'John Sandys of North Pertherton' father of Hannah Sandys, I have yet to prove the connection. Like the Mompessons, the Sandys are very colorful and would make a fascinating addition to the family tree. If your contacts have any more information on Hannah Sandys and/or John Sandys, or have a means of obtaining the same, please let them know I would be fascinated and appreciative to learn anything more."