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DESCENDANTS OF ROGER NEWTON & MARY HOOKER NEWTON
My immigrant ancestor was Reverend Roger Newton who enrolled in Cambridge University in 1636 and came to Massachusetts in 1638 to study at Harvard. In 1640, Roger traveled on foot from Cambridge, MA to Hartford, CT where he studied for the ministry in the home of Reverend Thomas Hooker. Roger married Thomas Hooker's daughter Mary Hooker in 1644. He went on to be the first minister in Farmington, CT and the second minister in Milford, CT.
The line of descendants from Roger Newton and Mary Hooker Newton has been documented by my uncle, Robert S. Newton, in his monograph
The Newton Family: The Ancestry and Descendants of David Newton of Milford, Connecticut and Hartford, Vermont (Rev. Roger Newton, CA 1620 – 1683, of Farmington and Milford, Connecticut). This detailed history of the Newton family from Roger Newton and Mary Hooker down to the present time through David Newton is a valuable resource for Newton’s whose origins trace back to 17th -18th century Connecticut. Although it does not trace all descendants, there is a large body of information on Newtons descended from Roger through this period. Newtons who have “hit a wall” trying to go back further in their family history may find the missing links within this document."The Newton Family: The Ancestry and Some Descendants of David Newton of Milford, Connecticut and Hartford, Vermont". This is available in a searchable pdf file in
The Newton-Dimick Allied Families document compiled by Robert S. Newton cross references all family names found in the Newton and Dimick family records. This remarkable document lists 403 family names and thousands of individual family members. Their origins go back to Massachusetts Bay Colony, Plymouth Colony, early settlers of Connecticut, early settlers of Vermont, and other places. The Allied Families document is available as a searchable pdf file for those who are looking for their own family origins.
NEWTON/DIMICK FAMILIES - ALLIED FAMILIES SUPPLEMENT TO THE ANCESTRY AND SOME DESCENDANTS of DAVID NEWTON of MILFORD, CONNECTICUT and THE DIMICK FAMILY Compiled by ROBERT S. NEWTON (1 MB searchable pdf)
PLACES IN THE LIVES OF REV. ROGER NEWTON & MARY HOOKER NEWTON
Visit some of the places where Reverend Roger Newton and Mary Hooker lived. UNDER CONSTRUCTION
SEARCH FOR THE ENGLISH ORIGINS OF REVEREND ROGER NEWTON
My search for Roger Newton goes back to England. To my knowledge, this is a brick wall that no one broken through to determine where Roger came from and who his family was. I am seeking leads to confirm Roger's ancestry or point me in new directions.
Roger Newton was born about 1620 in England. The approximate year of birth is based on his enrollment at Cambridge University in 1636. Typical age for Cambridge entry was around 16 years old at that time. No date or place of birth has been identified.
Family history records that Roger Newton's father was Samuel Newton and his mother's name is unknown.
Some Clues
The search for Roger Newton's origins in England has been a "brick wall" for those who have tried. The usual resources have not been productive. There are some clues that are now being explored that offer potential solution to the mystery.
1. Alice Hales in Hales family web site http://www.hales.org/ha04.htm
The Hales family history lists Alice Hales: Born about 1568 of Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England. Married (1) about 1590 John NEWTON. He was born about 1565 of Bourne, Cambridgeshire, England. He died about 1635.
Children:
M- Edward NEWTON; born about 1591 of Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England.
M- John NEWTON; born about 1593 of Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England; married about 1618 Anne TAYLOR; died about 1660.
M- Samuel NEWTON; born about 1595 of Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England; married about 1620 Sarah WELBORE.
Alice HALES married (2) about 1637 Joseph JACKSON of Woodnesborough, Kent, England.
The timeline of Samuel Newton and Sarah Welbore (birth & marriage) could fit with the birth of Roger Newton about 1620. Bourn is located within 10 miles of Cambridge to provide a general area where the Newton family lived.
2. Diary of Samuell Newton, Alderman & Sometimes Mayor of Cambridge
Samuel Newton (1628-1718) was born in Cambridge and served as Alderman and Mayor of Cambridge. His diary provides a record from 1662-1718. Within the diary, Samuel Newton recorded and signed his family genealogy (displayed below).
A genealogy chart of the family was included in the published diary, with a trick of their arms, that was developed from the record of the Heralds Visitation of Cambridge in 1684, authenticated by the signature of Samuel Newton, writer of the Diary. NOTE: There appears to be some confusion in the chart when compared with references in the diary. Samuel Newton referred to "his sister Ellis and his wife" within the diary. On the chart, Samuel is shown as married to Sarah Ellis. View of the original record of the Heralds Visitation may clear up the relationships shown in the chart.
Samuel Newton, Alderman/Mayor and author of the diary is listed (lower left side) as living 1684. His father was John Newton who died in 1660. Samuel's grandfather was John Newton who married Alice Hales.
John Newton and Alice Hales Newton had four children: Edward; John; Samuell; and, Deborah. The first 3 children (Edward, John, Samuell) are listed in the Hales family record (see 1 above).
Samuell Newton married Sarah Weldbore as listed in the Hales family record. The genealogy recorded by Samuel Newton shows that his uncle, Samuell Newton, and aunt, Sarah Weldbore Newton had two children: John and Sarah.
It is not known whether Roger Newton was son of Samuell and Sarah Newton. Several factors may account for the possible omission.
A. Roger Newton would have been 8 years older than Samuel Newton who record the family genealogy during Samuel's late adult years. Roger would have left home to enter Cambridge University when Samuel was 7-8 years old. Roger would have left England when Samuel was 9-10 years old. Communications with family who emigrated from England were difficult, and it appears that Roger did not return to England. It is possible that the children of Samuell and Sarah Newton ( John & Sarah) were listed as they were Samuel's cousins who may have been living in England and known to Samuel through his lifetime.
B. Roger Newton may have been omitted from the family record due to family conflict. The political and religious climate in England was volatile during the time when Roger was studying at Cambridge University just prior to the English Civil War. Roger Newton is likely to emigrated to New England because of strongly held Puritan religious beliefs that would be in conflict with civil authority. There are stories of individuals whose families split as a result of conflicting beliefs. Those who went to New England were sometimes forgotten or written out of the family record in England.
Samuel Newton's genealogy gives some clues to follow as to location in the Bourn and Cambridge area. However, the specific locations needed to narrow the search among a large number of parish records are not known.
3. Cambridge University records
Roger Newton is listed in the Alumni Cantabrigienses which provides a record of students enrolled between 1261-1900. The listing reads:
"NEWTON, ROGER. Matric. sizar from King's, Easter, 1636. Emigrated to New England, c. 1638. Studied theology at Hartford, Conn., under Rev. Thomas Hooker. Pastor of Farmington, Conn.,
1652-7. Pastor of Milford, 1660-83. Married, at Hartford, in 1645, Mary Hooker. Died June 7, 1683. (J. G. Bartlett.) ."
Cambridge University has been contacted to determine whether any other records are available. No student records are available for Roger Newton or other students enrolled at that time.
Review of the list of Newton surname alumni listed in Volume 1 of Alumni Cantabrigiences found only one Samuel Newton who enrolled in October 1630 at age 18. This Samuel Newton would be too young to be father of Roger Newton. His older brother, John Newton, enrolled in April 1620 at age 18. Both are listed as from Stock, Essex. It appears that the grandfather of Samuel and John Newton was John Newton of Stock, Essex who is listed as enrolled at Cambridge in 1556. No name is listed for the father of Samuel and John Newton. There is a possibility that that their father was Samuel Newton. Records for Stock, Essex have not been reviewed
An interesting connection between John Newton off Stock, Essex who enrolled in 1620 and Thomas Hooker is found in Thomas Hooker: Father of American Democracy by Deryck Collingwood. After Hooker was removed from his position as lecturer in Chelmsford, he moved to Little Baddow. John Newton was the Vicar of the parish of St. Mary the Virgin where the Hooker family undoubtedly worshipped while the family lived at the Cuckoos Farm. Rev. John Newton was among the 49 ministers who petitioned Bishop Laud on behalf of Thomas Hooker. If Roger Newton is related (brother, extended family), then his acceptance into the Hooker family may have been based on a relationship going back to England rather than meeting at Harvard where Roger was studying.
An alternative line to be followed relates to the family genealogy of Samuel Newton of Cambridge (see 2 above) that lists his great grandfather "John Newton Minister of Bourne". This John Newton is listed in Alumni Cantabrigiences :
NEWTON, JOHN. Matric. pens, from Clare, Michs. 1572. Perhaps s. of John, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, who in his will (Sept. 10, 1570) mentions his son John, as at Cambridge. One of these names presented to Bourn, Cambs., by Christ's, 1577. (H. M. Wood.)
The listing references two pieces found in Samuel Newton's genealogy: 1) presented to Bourn where a list of ministers indicates he served, and 2) reference to John of New Castle-on-Tyne as the father. If a connection can be found Roger Newton and the Samuell Newton listed, then Thomas Hooker may have known Rev. John Newton of Bourn while studying at Cambridge University. Cambridge University assigned the part time minister to the church in Bourn. Another possibility of connection between Roger Newton and Thomas Hooker predating their meeting at Harvard.
4. In his book The Newton family : a genealogical journey, Reverend Roger Newton comes to the New World, 1638, Jack Newton identified the birthplace of Roger Newton as the village of Aldbrough on the North Sea coast in Yorkshire. No citations were provided to document this claim. Review of the parish register for Aldbrough did not find any record for Roger Newton.
5. Given the education level required for entry to Cambridge University, it is likely that Roger Newton attended one of the church sponsored grammar schools that provided a rigorous preparation for the University. While no enrollment records have been found that place Roger Newton at a school, the level of university requirements suggest that Roger would have attended one of the more prominent schools of the time.
The Newton surname is too common to attempt to find the origins of Roger Newton without some clues to investigate. Anyone who has found a solution OR who has clues to help guide the search is asked to contact the Jason Newton by e-mail at oldconnecticutpath@gmail.com
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