Henry Nugent
Henry Nugent’s birth was the result of a relationship his mother, Frances Byne, had formed with Dr. Alan Henman alias Taylor while her husband, Edmund Nugent, was absent, serving in the French army. Frances’s father had not been happy when his daughter married, in 1687 at the age of sixteen, a handsome Irish army captain. Shortly after the marriage, Edmund Nugent returned to Ireland to fight for James II, who was attempting to recover the English crown he had lost in the Glorious Revolution. After the capitulation of Limerick, Edmund moved to France, joining the Irish Brigade of the French Army. He was stationed in France, Italy, and Germany, and apparently did not visit his wife, who had stayed in England, until 1701. After a few weeks, he returned to his post in the French army, and was killed shortly after, during an attack on Chiari, Italy.
Henry had been born in about 1697, during Edmund’s absence. He was baptized as Edmund’s son, and then apparently raised by his natural father, Dr Alan Henman alias Taylor. The exact circumstances of his upbringing are not exactly clear, but Henry later complained of having been raised “in great privacy and obscurity” and of not having been sent to school. His sister commented that he had nevertheless been taught to read, write, and do accounts. The existence of Henry was hidden from Edmund during his visit to England in 1701, although he had been baptized as Edmund’s son.
Henry was also described as Edmund’s son when he was apprenticed (in the Vintner’s company) in 1716, and he described himself as Edmund’s son when he took his mother and sister to court in the 1720s.
Henry took them to court to claim property that would normally have been entailed to the eldest legitimate son, but which was instead passing to Henry’s elder sister, Elizabeth. (Elizabeth had been born shortly after her mother’s marriage and her legitimacy was not in doubt.) The court records contain extensive documentation, from many witnesses, concerning the facts described so far. Henry's suit was heard before the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain in 1730, and it was dismissed. Henry did not have to pay costs, as long as he refrained from bringing another suit in future.
Henry married Hannah Webb in 1725, and the name of their first child, Henry Byne Nugent, recalls the name of Henry’s maternal grandfather, Henry Byne, the owner of the contested property that Henry Nugent was hoping would descend to him. (This naming pattern was repeated when Henry Nugent’s daughter’s son received the name “Henry Newgent Hall”.)
Henry is probably the “Henry Nugent, of Carnaby-Market, in the Parish of St. James, Westminster, Dealer in Dorchester-Beer, Warehouseman and Chapman” who went bankrupt in 1734. (From 1729 to 1734 he seems to have been living just south of Carnaby Market, in Swallow Street.)
In 1738, a daughter was baptized in Richmond upon Thames and buried in Twickenham.
In 1752, Henry and Hannah were living in the parish of St Margaret New Fish Street, London.
In 1753 Henry’s daughter Harriot was married in Kingston upon Hull. It is not known why she was married in Yorkshire.
in 1768, Henry is described as a gentleman, living in Lincolns Inn.
At the time of his death, Henry was living in the parish of St John Horselydown, in Southwark, probably with his daughter, Harriot. It is not known when Henry’s wife Hannah died, or if any of their children, except for Harriot, survived childhood.
Events
Date of Baptism: 13 February 1697/98.
Place of Baptism: St Clement Danes, Middlesex, England.
The date and place come from the parish register. (Under February 1697/8: “Henry Neugent of Edmund and Francis uxor -- 13”).
Date of Burial: 29 August 1773.
Place of Burial: Southwark, Surrey, England (Saint John Horselydown).
The date and place come from the parish register. (Under burials for August 1773: “29th Henry Nugent”).
Relationships
(natural) Father: Dr Alan Henman alias Taylor (about 1665 - 1711/12).
Henry’s baptism and apprenticeship records give his father as Edmund Nugent, and this is what he tried to maintain in the court case referenced below. However, testimony given in the case makes clear that his actual father was Dr Alan Henman alias Taylor, who, in the words of Henry’s sister, had formed “an unhappy acquaintance and familiarity” with Henry’s mother, Frances Byne, during the long absence of her husband, Edmund Nugent.
Mother: Frances Byne (1671 - about January 1726).
The record of Henry’s baptism gives “Frances” as the name of his mother. The court case referenced below makes clear her identity as the daughter of Henry Byne. Corroborating this, Henry Nugent gave the name “Henry Byne Nugent” to his eldest son.
(supposed) Father: Captain Edmund Nugent (born between 1649 and 1661 in Westmeath, Ireland - died 1 September 1701 in Chiari, Italy).
Spouse: Hannah Webb. Married 29 April 1725, London, England (Lincoln’s Inn Chapel).
The marriage is recorded in the register. The marriage licence (Henry Neugent and Hannah Webb) is dated 27 April 1725, according to the Society of Genealogists transcription.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Henry Byne Nugent (baptized 4 March 1725/6 at Saint Andrew, Holborn, London).
Harriot Nugent (born 31 December 1728; baptized 21 January 1728/9 at St James, Westminster; buried 19 October 1783 at St John Horselydown, Southwark) married Benjamin Johnson 6 December 1753 in Holy Trinity, Kingston upon Hull.
Katherine Pearson Nugent (born 1 October 1731; baptized 9 October 1731 at St James, Westminster).
Alice Nugent (born 27 March 1734; baptized 12 April 1734 at St James, Westminster).
Lewis Nugent (born 9 May 1735; baptized 14 May 1735 at St James, Westminster ; buried 3 July 1735 at Saint James, Westminster).
Rebecca Nugent (born 3 August 1736; baptized 14 August 1736 at St Anne, Soho; probably buried 19 November 1818 at St Mary at Lambeth).
Alice Nugent (baptized 23 June 1738 in St Mary Magdalene, Richmond, Surrey; buried 2 February 1739/40).
Evidence
from London Apprenticeship Abstracts:
Nugent Henry son of Edmund, [living at] St Clement Danes, Middlesex, [father’s occupation] gentleman, deceased, [apprenticed] to Edmund Ebbutt, [date of indenture] 7 Mar 1715/6, Vintners' Company
from The Registers of Lincoln’s Inn Chapel:
Henry Neugent, of St. Clement Danes, Middlesex, and Hannah Webb, of Kensington, Middlesex, were married April 29th, 1725.
I give some transcriptions from the court records for the cases “Nugent v Nugent” and “Nugent v Hancock” here.
Baptisms of children
[March 1725/6, St Andrew, Holborn]
Henry Byne [the] son of Henry Newgent & Hanah Northumb Court --- 4
[January 1728/9, St James Westminster]
[date illegible] Harriotte Nugent of Henry & Hannah [born] 31
[October 1731, St James Westminster]
9 Katharine Pearson Nugent of Hen: & Hannah [born] 1
[April 1734, St James Westminster]
[date illegible] Alice Newgent of Henry & Hannah [born] 27
[May 1735, St James Westminster]
14 Lewis Newgent of Henry & Hannah [born] 9
[August 1736, St Anne Soho]
[born] August 3. Rebecca Nugent of Henry and Hannah [baptized] 14
Burials of children
[July 1735, St James Westminster]
3 Lewis Newgent C[hild]
from the Westminster Rate Books:
1729
Swallow Street (St James Piccadilly)
Hennery Nugent rated: 11s 6d received: 11s 6d
1730
Swallow Street (St James Piccadilly)
Henry Nugent rents: 18 lbs. rated: 11s 3d
1733
Swallow Street (St James Piccadilly)
Henry Nugent rents: 20 lbs. rated: 10d
1734
Swallow Street (St James Piccadilly)
Henry Nugent (crossed out) rents: 18 lbs rated: 9d
from The London Magazine, November, 1734 (Volume 3, page 609), Persons declared Bankrupts.
Henry Nugent, of Carnaby-Market, in the Parish of St. James, Westminster, Dealer in Dorchester-Beer, Warehouseman and Chapman.
from The London Gazette (1734):
Whereas a Commission of Bankrupt is awarded against Henry Nugent, of Carnaby-Market, in the Parish of St. James, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Dealer in Dorchester Beer, Warehouseman and Chapman, and he being declared a Bankrupt, is hereby required to surrender himself to the Commissioners on the 15th and 22d Instant, and on the 21st of December next, at Three in the Afternoon, at Guildhall, London, and make a full Discovery and Disclosure of his Estate and Effects; when and where the Creditors are to come prepared to prove their Debts, and at the First Sitting to chuse Assigners, and at the last Sitting the said Bankrupt is required to finish his Examination. All Persons indebted to the said Bankrupt, or that have any his Effects, are not to pay or deliver the same but to whom the Commissioners shall appoint, but give Notice to Mr. Stagg, Attorney, in Red cross street, London.
from The Universal Pocket Companion: a Henry Nugent is listed as a factor or a merchant in Old Swan Lane (near London Bridge) in editions between 1759 and 1767. [Images: 1760, 1767]
from the probate of the 1768 PCC holograph will of William Martyn:
April 19.th 1768
On which day appeared personally Henry Nugent of Lincolns Inn in the County of Middlesex Gentleman and Hannah Nugent wife of the said Henry Nugent of the same place and being severally sworn on the Holy Evangelists to depose the Truth severally (and not each for the other) deposed that they have known and been well acquainted with William Martyn late of the parish of Saint Andrew Holborn in the County of Middlesex Esquire deceased for the space of fifteen years before and to the time of his death which as they are informed and believe happened on the tenth day of April instant and also with his manner and character of handwriting having frequently seen him write and subscribe his Name and having well viewed and carefully perused the paper Writing or Testamentary Schedule hereunto annexed purporting to be the last will and Testament of the said deceased...
A transcription from the “Will Extracts”:
E4204
Mem.m that Henry Nugent of Lincolns Inn Gent, died possess'd of Two hundred pounds Consolidated ₤4 - pcent annuities, and dying Intestate Letters of Administration dated at Doctors Commons 4.th January 1774, (in which he is described late of the parish of St. John Southwark in the County of Surry) were granted to his daughter Harriott Johnson (wife of Benjamin Johnson) who may dispose of these Annuities, with the consent of her husband. Register'd 13.th January 1774
N. 2868 E Bangham
[Marginal note] I do hereby Certifie that Henry Nugent by the different descriptions within mentioned was the Same person. London 13.th Jan.y 1774
Sam'l Littlewood No: 9 Lombard Street
Deliver'd for Mr Johnson 13 Jan'y EB
References
Henry Neugent, Baptism registration (13 February 1697/98), St Clement Danes parish register, page 116; digital image Findmypast.co.uk (http://www.Findmypast.co.uk : accessed 12 March 2014), citing the Westminster Archives (no exact citation given).
"England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N2F8-M82 : accessed 13 Mar 2014), Henry Neugent and Hannah Webb, 29 Apr 1725; citing Lincolns Inn Chapel, Holborn, London, England, reference: FHL microfilm 823848.
Henry Nugent, Burial registration (29 August 1773), St John Horsleydown parish register; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 March 2014), citing Saint John Horselydown, Composite register: baptisms Jun 1733 - Sep 1809, marriages Aug 1733 - Mar 1754, burials Jun 1733 - Apr 1810, in London Metropolitan Archives, P71/JN, Item 009.
Henry Nugent, Apprenticeship abstract (1716), Origins.net (http://www.origins.net accessed 12 March 2014), transcription made by Cliff Webb.
Baptism of Henry Newgent, Parish Register, St Andrew Holborn; digital image Ancestry.com, accessed 31 March 2017).
Westminster Rate Books; digital images Findmypast.co.uk (http://www.Findmypast.co.uk : accessed 14 March 2014).
The London Magazine, November 1734 (Volume 3, page 609); digital image at Google Books (accessed 14 March 2014).
The London Gazette, 1734; digital image at london-gazette.co.uk (http://www.london-gazette.co.uk : accessed 12 March 2014).
The Registers of Lincoln’s Inn Chapel (a transcription available on FamilySearch).
Will of Rebecca Martyn of Saint John Hackney, Middlesex, proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 19 August 1752, National Archives reference number PROB 11/796/448.
Will of William Hancock, Gentleman of Abchurch Lane , City of London; Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11/696/454, The National Archives, London.
Will of William Martyn of Saint Andrew Holborn, Middlesex, proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 19 April 1768, National Archives reference number PROB 11/938/210.
Henry Nugent, Bank of England Will Extract no. 2868 (13 January 1774); digital image Findmypast.co.uk (http://www.Findmypast.co.uk : accessed 12 March 2014), citing Bank of England Wills Extracts 1717-1845, Book 27, Reg. 2868, Film 58/3, Record Type N, Date: 1773-1776, (Society of Genealogists).
National Archives index listings for the court cases (transcriptions linked to above):
C 11/1776/25
Short title: Nugent v Nugent.
Document type: Bill only.
Plaintiffs: Henry Nugent, gent of St James Westminster, Middlesex (only son and heir of Edmond Nugent, gent of St Clement Dane, Middlesex and Frances Nugent his wife, only daughter of Henry Byne, gent deceased late of Crowhurst, Surrey).
Defendants: Frances Nugent, William Hancock and Elizabeth Hancock his wife.
Date of bill (or first document): 1723
C 11/285/49
Short title: Nugent v Hancock.
Document type: Bill and answer.
Plaintiffs: Henry Nugent (son and heir of Edmund Nugent, gent late of St Clement Dane, Middlesex and Frances Nugent his wife deceased, who was daughter and heir of Francis Byne, deceased late of Crowhurst, Surrey).
Defendants: William Hancock and Elizabeth Hancock his wife.
Date of bill (or first document): 1727
C 11/285/45
Short title: Nugent v Hancock.
Document type: Bill and two answers.
Plaintiffs: Henry Nugent (son and heir of Edmond Nugent, gent late of St Clement Dane, Middlesex and Frances Nugent his wife deceased, who was daughter and heir of Henry Byne, deceased late of Crowhurst, Surrey).
Defendants: William Hancock and Elizabeth Hancock his wife.
Date of bill (or first document): 1728
C 11/1912/5
Short title: Nugent v Hancock.
Document type: Depositions.
Plaintiffs: Henry Nugent (son and heir of Edmund Nugent, gent and Frances Nugent his wife, both deceased).
Defendants: William Hancock and Elizabeth Hancock his wife.
Depositions taken at Doway, France.
Date of bill (or first document): 1729
C 11/1912/8
Short title: Nugent v Hancock.
Document type: Deposition and two commissions.
Plaintiffs: Henry Nugent (son and heir of Edmund Nugent, gent and Frances Nugent his wife, both deceased).
Defendants: John Hancock and Elizabeth Hancock his wife.
Depositions taken at Limpsfield, Surrey and at Dublin, Ireland.
Date of bill (or first document): 1729