Relationship to me:	1st cousin four times removed	Gen -4
Born	1792 in England
Died	c.1865
Age	~73
Father:	Francis Newman	1759-1818
Mother:	Lydia Sheridan (née Fergusson)
Brothers:	(2) Jean Elisabeth Francois Georges Newman  alias (Captain) Francis Newman	1786 - 1851
Sisters:	probably none
Married	Edward G. Woodyear of Baltimore, Maryland - married 28 May 1814
Children:	William E.	1822 (see 1850 and 1860 Maryland Censuses)
	Thomas Y.	1827 (see 1850 and 1860 Maryland Censuses)

Updating in progress

There is conflicting information about who Elizabeth Rachel Newman was, her birth date and her parentage. On the one hand, Johney Larned claims that she was born around 1800 and therefore Elizabeth Friers' daughter. On the other hand, there is a census record that suggests she was born in England in 1792, in which her mother would almost certainly have been Lydia Sheradon.

It's possible that the confusion has arisen as a result of Francis Newman and his family attempting to conceal her illegitimacy. Norita N. Massicot's novel “The Beasts, The Sheep and The Chariots” alludes to difficulties that Francis may have experienced in concealing the illegitimacy of Lydia's son Jean Elisabeth Francois Georges Newman, so he may have been more successful in concealing the details surrounding the birth of Elizabeth.

Evidence for her earlier date of birth came from French researcher Bernadette Murphy who, in October 2008, was undertaking research into the Woodyear family. She wrote to say:

I found [Elizabeth Rachel Goodyear] on the US 1850 Census saying she was aged 57 and 1860 aged 68... both of which would place her born in 1792-3... so of a legal age to be married in 1814. Her mother died on 6th May 1856 in Washington DC.

In both censuses, she is shown as being born in England. The 1850 census is dated 13th August and the 1860 census is dated 24th October 1860 which puts her birth date between 14th Aug and 24rd Oct 1792, some 4 years before Lydia Sheridan's death and not long after Francis Newman was recorded as being present at the Chancery Court to answer claims made against him. The name Elizabeth would be consistent with the name chosen for Lydia's son - Jean Elisabeth Francois Georges Newman.

If both Jean Elisabeth Francois Georges Newman and Elizabeth Rachel Newman were Lydia's children, then it can be assumed that they both travelled to the USA with Francis and Lydia sometime before 1796 (when Lydia died in Maryland). The fact that no equivalent character appears in Norita Massicot's novel may only indicate that she knew nothing of Elizabeth's parentage.

Slight support for the contention that Elizabeth Rachel was Lydia's daughter comes from Francis Newman's will where she is listed second behind his son Francis and before John Francis Newman, but this could as equally indicate that she was Elizabeth Frier's eldest daughter.

The suggestion that Elizabeth Rachel was Elizabeth Friers' daughter, born around 1800 comes from Johney Larned of New Braunfels, Texas who wrote to me in Sept 2004 . His comments (copied below) are largely reiterated in a book that he published in 2006 titled "Though Silent They Speak". The book is viewable on Google Books.

In fact, the veracity of several of the statements in the book relating to Elizabeth Rachel is highly questionable (though none have been checked). For instance, on page 87 s

The text of Johney Larned's email is as follows:

I have been doing extensive research on my ggg-grandfather, Col. Benjamin Franklin Larned who served as Paymaster-General of the United States up until his death on September 6, 1862. Fort Larned Kansas was named in his honor. B.F. Larned was first married to Lucy Fearing Willis in 1823 and after her death, he married Elizabeth Rachel Newman in 1851. After her death, he married Maria Hayward Wilson in 1860. Some of my Newman information comes from Lance Key of Texas of which I received almost one year ago.

The 1850 US Census lists E.R. (Elizabeth Rachel) Larned as age 50 and living in Washington D.C. Elizabeth was the widow of James Larned, B.F. Larned’s cousin. Elizabeth was living with her mother, Mrs. Newman - 70, Susan Jones - 32, and Mary Shivron - 30. (179) Benjamin Franklin Larned married Elizabeth Rachel Newman on September 04, 1851 in New York City.

Elizabeth was the daughter of Col. Francis Newman and Elizabeth Hannah Friers Newman. She was born about 1799 in Port Tobacco, Charles Co., MD and she died on May 06, 1856.

Elizabeth Rachel Newman was at first married to Edward G. Woodyear on June 18, 183? and is believed to have had one son with him. Research has found a Woodyear 'nephew' living with one of her brothers in Alabama in 1850. She then married James Larned, first cousin to BF Larned. James was an auditor for the US Treasury Department and died August 2, 1849. She then married Benjamin F. Larned in 1851. Research has found two portraits of Elizabeth Rachel Newman that were painted by Charles Bird King, a famous American artist who was a first cousin to Elizabeth Hannah Newman, ER's mother. Both portraits were painted circa 1838.

Found in a letter dated May 26, 1969 from Mrs. Parley Johnson to Mr. Harry Wright Newman:

"Mrs. Francis Newman always walked or rode to St. Patricks Church in Washington twice a day and often three times. Her daughter Susan Bird Newman Young went with her mother, and when she suddenly died and left 2 or 3 small children, she was buried from St. Patrick’s.

"Mrs. Elizabeth Larned, her sister, attended St. John’s Church in Washington and when she married Mr. James Larned it was in the same church. Her first husband was a Mr. Woodyear, June 18, 183?"

From the Will of Mrs. Francis Newman, mother of Elizabeth Rachel Newman Larned dated July, 1854, Washington DC:

"That is to say I hereby give, devise and grant all my real estate lots and part of lots and buildings and appurtenances situated in the square lying between 9th and 10th streets in the city of Washington and District of Columbia unto Charles B. King and Benjamin F. Larned of the city of Washington and the survivor of them and the heirs of that survivor to have and hold and the same in trust for the following uses, that is to say to hold one third of said real estate for the use and benefit of my daughter Emily Johnson, wife of Dr. James T. Johnson, one third for the use and benefit of daughter, ER Larned wife of Benjamin F. Larned and one third use for the benefit of McClintock Young, Jr. and Alexander young, the children of my daughter, the late Susan Bird Young." (40)

The reference to Charles B. King is actually Charles Bird King, the famous American painter of portraits and a 2nd cousin to Elizabeth Rachel Newman Larned.

Codicil to Last Will and Testament of Elizabeth H. Newman, August 1854:

"Having by my last will and testament bequeathed to my son-in-law Dr. Johnson and Mr. Young each a legacy of two hundred dollars, I also bequeath to my son-in-law Col. Benjamin F. Larned a like sum of two hundred dollars…" (40)

Sometime around 1851 to 1854, Benjamin F. Larned’s son, Charles Trowbridge Larned was attending West Point Academy along with two of his friends, Frank Larned Hunt and James McNeill Whistler. Frank Larned Hunt was a distant cousin to Charles T. Larned his mother being Martha Bull Larned Hunt of Detroit. Also B.F. Larned’s second wife, Elizabeth R. Newman Larned had been previously married to Frank Hunt’s uncle, James Larned. The other classmate, James McNeill Whistler would later become a very famous artist and is known for his painting, 'Whistler’s Mother.'

An excerpt from a letter written by Frank Larned Hunt to the artist, James McNeill Whistler in Washington dated May, 1855 says:

"Now Jamie dear - I’m going to please you - in this wise- Mrs. Larned (Elizabeth Newman Larned) quite bored me talking of your "Denny"(Portrait Anna Denny). She really & enthusiastically - Good Lord what a long word- thinks it the most beautiful picture she ever saw - in fact "King" cousin tho he is - is jerked off his throne - tripped up & thrown nowhere. King was, you are - in fact this amiable lady wants you to copy a picture of her sister for her - run over some day & take dinner here - strike this hot iron - the Iron by the way does not want Cousin Charles - to know of it - Artists are so jealous."(153)

In a second letter written by Frank Larned Hunt to James McNeill Whistler much later in December, 1882, Hunt recalls meeting the artist, Whistler.

"I can see you as on the first evening I met you at my Kinsmans Col. Frank Larned’s (Paymaster General) You and Charlie had just cut the point in West Point- achieved buckram, pipeclay and deportment militaire- were standing- as I too- very much at ease. We became friends at once and to me was confided the delicate task of building you an Easel- when you painted your belle cousine Annie Denny, you chose the color in a melancholy place behind Gadsbys- I can see us both coming out now- and awakened the admiration- not only of all- but even that veteran Artist Chas B. King by the charming grace and color of the portrait."(153)

B.F. Larned’s son, Charles Trowbridge was known as "Frank" at West Point and would follow his father’s footsteps serving as Deputy Paymaster-General.

" The following is an excerpt from a 1944 letter by Frances Pitcher to a Mrs. Newman: "The portrait belonged to my father’s sister, Emily Richardson. My cousin in California inherited it and I’ll get her to send a lovely picture she took of it. I have a most beautiful one of "Aunt Larned", evidently a sister (daughter) of your Dr. Francis Newman. She was married first to an Englishman, Mr. Woodyear, then to two Larned’s. Mother has one of the other sister, Mrs. Johnson."(40) In a death announcement dated May 06, 1856, a Mrs. Eliza R. Larned is listed and described as a "consort of Col. Benjamin F. Larned." (46)

the Baltimore (Maryland) census records (kindly sent to me by Bernadette Murphy in France in Oct 2008) show Elizabeth Rachel Woodyear aged 57 in the census dated 13th August 1850, and 68 in the census dated 24th October 1860. In both cases she is stated to have been born in England. This would put her birth date between 14th Aug and 24rd Oct 1792, some 4 years before Lydia Sheridan's death. Furthermore, the choice of the name Elizabeth is consistent with the name chosen for Lydia's son - Jean Elisabeth Francois Georges Newman - so it is now assumed that Elizabeth Rachel was Lydia's daughter. Presumably both Jean Elisabeth Francois Georges Newman and Elizabeth Rachel Newman travelled to the USA with Francis and Lydia sometime between 1794 and 1796.

From Jerry Gandolfo: Elizabeth Rachel Newman: married 28 May 1814 to Edward G. Woodyear of Baltimore, Maryland. (suspect error: 1st wife may have survived Francis Newman and remained in England, therefore, unlikely daughter would have left to go to USA with father. Other sources are non-committal. 3rd wife (Elizabeth Friers) writing to her natural son in 1832 says, "Your sister Woodyear sends her affection and love" If 3rd wife is mother, (she married Newman about 1798), and if the given marriage date is correct, this daughter would have been only age 16 at marriage. On 12 September 1820 Francis Newman's will was probated in England. In part, the probate states, "the goods chattels and credits of Francis Newman…granted to Francis Charlotte Cox .. the natural and lawful daughter." There is no mention of Elizabeth Woodyear. She could also logically be the child of the 2nd wife (Lydia Sheridan) based on age assumptions.) [source: British Roots of Maryland Families and, transcript of Francis Newman's will via Eleanor Newman Hutchens.