Rev. Edwin Sandys Newman
c.1762 - 1836

 Relationship to me: Great Great Great Grandfather Gen -5
 Born c.1762 (from Alumni Cantabrigienses  
 Died 19 April 1836, buried at Babcary, Somerset  
 Age 74  
 Father:      Henry Newman c.1726-1798
 Mother: Ann Underwood
 Brothers: (elder) Francis Newman (emigrated to USA) 1759 - 1818 died in America
 Sisters: None  
 Married: Frances Tucker2 Lyde, Daughter of John3 Lyde of Berry Pomeroy, Devon 1773 - 18451
 Children: Brigit Sherston
  Henry Brown, Rector of Little Bromley, in Essex 1798-1878
  Ann (from Somerset County records) baptised 17 Nov 1801 1801 - ????
  Edwin Newman of Yeovil 1803-1884
  Frances 1 1808 - 1831
  William Cuming 1 1810 - 1829
  Charlotte Cox 1 1816 - 1824


Edwin is believed to be the first Newman to have been given the name Edwin, which has been adopted as a family name in almost every generation since. Presumably the name came from his mother's father.

Outline his Life: Somerset County Council quote Alumni Cantabrigienses stating that Rev. Edwin Sandys Newman was born c1762 and educated at Rugby School and Magdalene College Cambridge (gaining a Bachelor of Laws there in 1791 according to Campbell Newman's website). He was rector of both Shepton Beauchamp and Sparkford from 1798 to 1836, curate of Babcary 1804 to 1836, and died at Babcary on 19 April 1836 aged 74. See Priesthood in the 18th and 19th Centuries. [Quite why the Rector of Sparkford would take on the lowly position of curate at Babcary is something of a mystery to me.]

Edwin inscribed a bible which is now in my possession with the words: "a valuable present from my invaluable mother. October 26th 1793". Perhaps it was a 30th birthday present.

The name Sandys comes from Hannah Sandys, his grandmother, and was a name that my mother thought would be a good "family name" for me and/or my children. For some reason it didn't materialise in either instance. [Added 10 Mar 2003:] More interesting (and uncertain) is the question where the name Edwin came from. This is the first time it appears in my Newman Family Tree, and I speculate that it too may have come from Hannah Sandys, and that she might have been related to Sir Edwin Sandys a leading light in the colony of Virginia in the early 17th century (see my notes about Hannah)

Note 1: 1st Aug 2002: Ian Caldwell sent me the following transcription of the memorials in the church at Babcary which gives the name of Edwin Sandys's widow and her date of death:

FROM THE MEMORIALS IN THE PARISH CHURCH
AT BABCARY, SOMERSET

HSE
Charlotte Cox Fil: Rev. E.S.Newman LLB
& Fran: T: Uxor : ejus
ob: die Novemb: 13 AD 1824,.Aetat: suae 8.

Thou art gone to the grave, but t'were wrong to deplore thee
When God was they ransom: thy guardian, thy guide;
He gave thee, and took theee, and soon will restore thee,
Where death hath no sting, since the Saviour has died.
[Note: There is some confusion here: all indications are that Frances Charlotte Cox was the daughter of Francis Newman and therefore Edwin Sandys Newman's neice.
The evidence further suggests that Charlotte died c.1846 rather than 1824.]

Necnon
William Cuming iisdem Parentibus natus
ob: Die Decemb: 1 moA:D:1829 Aetat suae 19
In spe beatae Resurrectionis
[as well as

William Cuming born of the same parents
died December 1st 1829 in his 19th year
in the hope of resurrection.]

ALSO
FRANCES NEWMAN
Sister of the above who died Jun 13th
AD 1831 aged 23 Years
Her Character is truly described in the
words of the Apostle

"To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Philip: 1st.Ch:21st.V:

IN THE SAME VAULT IN THIS CHURCH
WITH THOSE OF HIS THREE CHILDREN
ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS
OF THE REV: E.S.NEWMAN LLB. RECTOR OF SPARKFORD
AND FOR MORE THAN TWENTY SEVEN YEARS
THE FAITHFUL CURATE OF THIS PARISH.
HE DIED APRIL 19 A.D.1836 AGED 74
TO THE INHABITANTS OF BABCARY HE CAN TRULY SAY
"I TAKE YOU TO RECORD - THAT I AM PURE FROM THE BLOOD OF ALL MEN. FOR I HAVE NOT SHUNNED
TO DECLARE UNTO YOU ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD."

ALSO OF FRANCES TUCKER, HIS WIDOW
WHO DIED JUNE 23: A.D. 1845 AGED 72
BELOVED AND REGRETTED BY ALL WHO KNEW HER.
"AND I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAYING UNTO ME. WRITE. BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD."
REV.CH.14. v.13

Note 2: Information passed to me from my father gave Edwin Sandys Newman's wife as Frances Lyde, Daughter of Allen Lyde of Berry Pomeroy, Devon. Tony Newman's information on Ancestry.com confirms that her name was Frances Tucker Lyde.

Note 3: On 13 Feb 2016 Ron Walker advised that familysearch.org shows Frances Tucker Lyde's father being named John Lyde of Berry Pomeroy. This indicates that the Proceedings of Somerset Archeological Society Vol XXXIX (which give his name as Allen) are incorrect. Ron Walker goes on to say that "there is also a christening record for John Lyde in the same jurisdiction of Berry Pomeroy for 03 Mar 1835 38 years before 1773 the christening of his daughter. Berry Pomeroy Devon is less than 8 miles from Rattery Devon where other information says Frances was born and where Frances Tucker LYDE and Edwin sandys Newman were married . I have seen an online record of the marriage certificate."


Last Updated: 22 Feb 2016: Note 3 added indicating that Frances Tucker Lyde's father was named John Lyde (not Allen Lyde).
Updated: 28 Jun 2005: reference added to Family Bible