Notes: Francis Holles Newman was the first of many Francis Newmans who followed him. As the youngest in his family, 21 years youner than his brother Richard, Francis was unusual in that he inherited half of his father's estates, in particular the Cadbury and Sparkford estates. It appears that Evercreech Park had been given over to his brother Richard before his death in 1682 since his will is headed " I Richard Newman the younger of Evercreech Park" and his monument in Fifehead describes him in the same terms. At any rate, Evercreech and Fifehead were passed on to Francis's nephew, the 20 year-old Richard (Francis being 24 at the time of his father's death).

In his 43 year life, Francis fathered 9 children, all but one of whom survived childhood. It is from Francis's children that the Newman line has survived into the 21st Century.

Francis became Sheriff of Somerset in 1700 at the young age of 29, the same year that his 25 year-old nephew Sir Richard Newman became MP for Milborn Port.

Francis also inherited the Family Bible from his mother after her death in 1690, his name appearing in the fly-leaf where his mother bequests it to his him. His wife Eleanor also features in the same Bible where she has listed the names, dates and times of birth of her nine children.

There is speculation as to where Francis's middle name Holles came from:

• It may have derviced from The Honourable Sir Francis Hollis of Winterborne St Martin of Dorset (Knt and Bart) whose name appears in a lease agreement signed by Richard Newman of Fifehead in 1675. This agreement was for Richard Newman, "in consideration of the sum of five shillings of lawful English money", to hand over for a period of 12 months his Evercreech and several other nearby estates to a group of four men:
  • The Honourable Sir Francis Hollis of Winterborne St Martin in the County of Dorsett Knt and Barrt.
  • The Honourable William Harbord of Perry Park in the County of Northton Esqr.
  • Sir William Pargiler of Greedworth in the County of Northton Knt. and
  • William Tate of De La Pre in the said County of Northton Esq.

  It is not clear why this arrangement was entered into, but it appears to have been an amicable arrangement since William Harbord was probably Richard's brother-in-law, and Francis Hollis may have been a friend. A copy of the lease (itself a copy made in 1779) was given to me by the current owners of Evercreech Park Farm. I have made a transcription of the text as best I can (but will be grateful for corrections of any errors that I've made).

• A perhaps more likely derivation comes from the researches of Harold Biggs who postulates that the name came from the son of Denzil Holles who (according to Harold Biggs) was the leader of the Dorsetshire Clubmen, they being a group of countrymen who rose in protest against the plundering of their lands and neighbourhoods by both Royalists and Parliamentarians during the English Civil War. Richard Newman (presumably 1584 - 1664) was also one of the leaders of the Clubmen, so Harold thinks it likely that Denzil Holles's son, Francis Holles became a close friend Richard's son - Francis's father Richard Newman (1620 - 1695).

• I have found no evidence that Denzil Holles was a leader of the Dorsetshire Clubmen. On the contrary, Denzil was a member of Parliament (representing Dorchester) who in late 1642 withdrew from the conflict and joined the Peace Party, seemingly spending most of his time in and around London. A more likely source appears to be a George Holles (or Hawles) of Upwimborne who, according to A.R. Bayley's "The Great Civil War in Dorset 1642 - 1660" (page 272) writes of the Dorsetshire Clubmen that ".... George Holles or Hawles of [Monkton UpWimborne] Upwimborne - brother of Thomas Hawles of Salisbury, who led the Wiltshire Clubmen - with some other of their leaders, including Richard Newman of Fifehead Magdalen, desired a passport from the General (Faifax) in order that ....". Haydn Wheeler presents a short video on YouTube in which he talks at some length about George Hawles (which he pronounces as "Hawes") as one of the leaders of the Dorsetshire Clubmen and mentioning Richard Newman as another leading member. His website at https://www.clubmen1645.com offers more information without (apparently) mentioning either Richard Newman or George Hawles.

Thomas Newman of Colefoot (probably Coleford), Gloucestershire: his name appears in the abovementioned extract from Chancery Proceedings 23rd November 1742. He was also a party to a Tripartite Indenture between Richard Newman, John & Mary Bull, John Bull the younger and Thomas Newman dated 1728 (see here for transcription).

John Newman: of Kingston Juxta Yeovil, born 1699, Christened: May 30, 1699, North Cadbury, Somerset, died 1704, buried November 12, 1704, North Cadbury, Somerset;

William Newman: born 1700, Christened: Dec 18, 1700, North Cadbury, Somerset (from parish records quoted to me by local antiquarian Sam Miller). Sam's records also include reference to the burial in N. Cadbury of William Newman (gentleman) on 13th Jan 1722, who I presume to have been the same person;

Jane Wickham, wife and widow of Henry Mompesson Newman, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Wickham, subsequently married Anthony Wickham (a cousin?) 1729 in Horsington. She died before 1742 but her name features in the extract from Chancery Proceedings 23rd November 1742

Last update 21st March 2019: Speculations as to the derivation of the name Holles amended and expanded with inclusion of George Holles (or Hawles) as the most likely source of the name.
Page updated 24 Oct 2015 - reference added to 1728 Tripartite Indenture between Richard Newman, John & Mary Bull, John Bull the younger and Thomas Newman.
Page updated 7 Jan 2014: References added to research by Harold Biggs
Page updated: 12th June 2005: Note added about Francis's inheritance of the Newman-Rogers Bible