Bill of Complaint dated 23 Nov 1742

This case relates to an earlier hearing in 1740 that had involved what must have been almost the entire Newman clan. It seems to have revolved around the administration of Henry Mompesson Newman’s will, Henry Mompesson Newman having died in 1725 at the age of 29.

The complainants were most of the surviving brothers, sisters and brothers-in-law of Henry Mompesson Newman, namely:

• Richard Newman of Horsington,
• Thomas Newman of Colefoot, Gloucester,
• John Baily of Rector of South Cadbury, and Eleanor (née Newman) his wife; and
• Walter Burton of Rector of Sutton Montague co. Somerset, and Anne (née Newman) his wife.

The defendants included:

• Jane Newman/Wickham, widow and executrix of Henry Mompesson Newman, who died before the 1742 hearing,
• Anthony Wickham, second husband and executor of Jane Newman/Wickham, (presumably Anthony Wickham was also Jane's cousin since he seems to share her maiden name),
• Thomas and Elizabeth Wickham, parents of Jane Newman/Wickham,
• Francis Newman of North Cadbury, another of the brother of Henry Mompesson Newman,
• Thomas Brodrep and George Dodington , trustees named in the marriage settlement of Henry Mompesson Newman,
• Francis Newman of North Cadbury, nephew of Henry Mompesson Newman, and son of his elder brother Charles Newman who had died in 1734.
• Ann Newman, neice of Henry Mompesson Newman, and son of his elder brother Charles Newman who had died in 1734.
• Charles Newman, nephew of Henry Mompesson Newman, and son of his elder brother Charles Newman who had died in 1734.
• Henry Newman, nephew of Henry Mompesson Newman, and son of his elder brother Charles Newman who had died in 1734.
• Eleanor Newman, mother and administratrix of Charles Newman. She had died in 1741, after the 1740 hearing and before the 1742 hearing.

Eleanor (née Mompesson) Newman, mother and administratrix of Charles Newman, had died after the date of the original hearing in 1740, and it seems that the subsequent hearing in 1742 was held to affirm that her grandson Francis Newman was to take over her role as a defendant in the case. Details of the dispute were not described.

More details can be found in Susan Moore's transcription of the court record, which can be found by clicking here.