Newman genealogy	3 October 2011
NEWMAN family tree NEWMAN family summary NEWMAN ancestor chart		Dr Geoffrey Mann geoff.mann@btinternet.com home page
	5 Edward NEWMAN c1800-1882
spouse's records	m Deborah HARRIS 1823

Edward was probably born around 1797 in the Battle Bridge (now Kings Cross) area of London but nothing is known of his origin. The area was then a dumping ground for the refuse collected from much of London and a huge mountain of spoil developed until its removal in 1848. A painting of 1835 shows how it dwarfed nearby cottages. Labourers worked at the heap sorting and salvaging anything of value. The bulk, mostly cinders and ash from coal fires, was sifted, the fines being sold for agricultural use, the coarse for brickmaking mixed with local clay.

Edward was a labourer in the area until 1829 having married Deborah HARRIS at Holborn in 1823, neither of them could write. He probably worked at the dust heap, for in 1831, having moved to East London with wife and family, he became a scavenger, one who collects the refuse with horse and cart and takes it to a yard. Mayhew (London Labour & the London Poor”) noted that a medium yard may employ 20 or more collectors carriers, sifters and sorters while a large yard will employ up to 150. Families and children worked at the yard and were reputedly healthy despite the dirt and smell (night soil was also collected).

Edward and Deborah baptised three children before moving to East London and then thirteen more in or near Bethnal Green during the next 20 years. In keeping with Mayhews observation, all survived childhood. In 1842 Edward was noted as a “contractor for dust” rather than a scavenger. This means he had moved up the scale to contract with the local authority for the removal of refuse perhaps subcontracting from another contractor and probably owning his own yard and employing others. Mayhew states that contracts were worth about £200 pa on average, and the plot of Dickens’ novel “Our Mutual Friend” written about 1850 revolves about the fortunes to be made from owning dust heaps

For at least 20 years Edward and Deborah lived at the same address in Duke St, Bethnal Green. Deborah died there in 1867 and then Edward moved to North London where his sons had become house builders and owners of brickfields – continuing the association with the products of dust. He lived first in “Newman’s houses” Ponders End – the name showing they were built by one of his sons – with his children and grandchildren. Later he moved to Enfield and died at the home of his daughter Mary Ann Mansfield in 1882.

His will showed he owned a brickfield of his own, with total effects worth £6301, equivalent to about one quarter of a million in today’s values. Not bad for a dustman! He left his brickfield to his son William, the rest divided equally between his children.

C=Christened; StM = St Matthew Bethnal Green

age DATE EN DH

EVENT

c 1797 30Nov1823 26 18 8Sep1824 27 19 7Sep1825 28 20 29Jul1827 30 22 19Jul1829 32 24 2Jan1831 34 26 6Sep1832 35 27 9Apr1834 37 29 15Nov1835 38 30 21Apr1837 40 32 12Aug1838 41 33 7Sep1839 42 34 8Apr1841 44 36 6Jun1841 44 36 18Oct1842 45 37 24May1844 47 39 5Dec1845 48 40 30Mar1851 54 46 11Oct1851 54 46 3Apr1861 64 56 20Aug1867 70 62 1871 74 1Mar1875 78 11May1882 85

Edward born at Battle Bridge Edward & Deborah married at Holborn St Andrew; both signed with x son John Edward born C 26Sep St Pancras Old Church Ed labourer of Battle Bridge dau Martha born C 5Sep St Pancras Old Church Ed labourer of Weller St son Edward C St Pancras Old Church Ed labourer of Willer Place dau Mary Ann C. Stepney St Dunstan Ed carman of Bethnal Green dau Elizabeth born C 30Jan Shoreditch St Leonard Ed scavenger of Old Cock Lane dau Sarah born C 30Sep StM. Ed scavenger of Gibraltar Walk son George born C 27Apr StM Ed scavenger of Gibraltar Walk dau Deborah born C 6Dec StM Ed scavenger of Turk St son James born C 28May StM Ed scavenger of Turk St son William born C 2Sep StM Ed contractor of Tyson St son Thomas Henry born C 29Sep StM Ed scavenger of Tyson St dau Eliza born C 2May StM Ed scavenger of New St census: Ed and Deb with 11 children at Duke St Ed scavenger dau Emma born C 6Nov StM Ed contractor of Duke St dau Caroline born C 16Jun StM Ed scavenger of Duke St dau Jane born C 26Jan1846 Shoreditch St Leonard Ed contractor of Turk St census; Ed and Deb with 11 children at 2 Duke St Ed contractor for dust son Charles Alfred born C 2Nov Shoreditch St Leonard Ed dust-contractor of New Inn Yard census: Ed & Deb with 4 children at 2 Duke St Ed a contractor for dust Deborah died at 2 Duke St Ed at Newman’s Houses, Ponders End with 2 ch1ldren 3gchn Ed a brick merchant Ed made his last will at Ponders End; Ed a brickmaker Ed died at Tottenham; dau Mary Mansfield present

PRINCIPAL RECORDS

b=born m=married d=died

C=Christened B=Buried

BIRTH

Census records indicate that Edward was born between 1795 and 1800 (his death certificate age of 96 – b1786 - is almost certainly exaggerated). He was born either in Bethnal Green (1851) Battle Bridge (1861) or Paddington (1871). The 1861 census seems most reliable as it gives the correct birthplace for Deborah whereas the 1851 merely repeats Bethnal Green for every member of the family. Battle Bridge was the area subsequently occupied by Kings Cross station where dustcarts emptied their refuse. Since Edward was later a dust collector and moreover baptised his first three children at St Pancras, the parish church for Battle Bridge, it seems certain that Edward was either born in this area or spent his early years there. However no suitable baptism has been found at St Pancras neither have any suitable NEWMAN families been found there. In nearby St Mary Islington, William & Mary NEWMAN baptised children from 1799 to 1809 including Edwin:

C 26May1805 B 12Mar1805 Edwin s William & Mary NEWMAN

This is rather late by the census ages but needs further investigation. No evidence for a non-conformist background in view of the baptism of all Edward's children in parish churches. There is a family story that his wife Deborah was Jewish, but this has proved to be incorrect. It leaves the possibility that it was Edward who was Jewish rather than his wife, but no suitable Edward NEWMAN/NEUMANN was found in a database of London Jews. Another possibility is that Edward was born elsewhere but moved to Battles Bridge when young. The London IGI has the following possible Edwards:

C Nov1792 s Samuel & Sarah NEWMAN at Whitechapel St Mary

C 27Oct1799 s Edward & Lydia NEWMAN at Shoreditch St Leonards

C 18Mar1801 s William & Sarah NEWMAN at Chelsea St Luke

C 17Oct1802 s Edward & Susannah NEWMAN at St Giles Cripplegate

William & Ann NEWMAN baptised Emma Letitia at St Matthew Bethnal Green in 1837 while living in Turk St - the same street as Edward at that time. Possibly William was a brother.

MARRIAGE

Census records show that Edward's wife was named Deborah and that their eldest surviving child was born about 1825. Birth certificates show that Deborah's maiden name was HARRIS; this identifies the following marriage at Holborn St Andrew

m 30Nov1823 Edward x NEWMAN otp & Deborah x HARRIS otp by banns

witness: Henry x HARRIS; Frances x CARRINGTON

DESCENDANTS

from various parish registers:

born Christened church occupation address

John Edward 8Sep1824 26Sep1824 St Pancras Old Church labourer Battle Bridge

Martha 7Sep1825 25Sep1825 " " Weller St

Edward 29Jul1827 " " Willer Place

Mary Ann 19Jul1829 Stepney St Dunstan carman Bethnal Green

Elizabeth 2Jan1831 30Jan1831 Shoreditch St Leonard scavenger Old Cock Lane

Sarah 6Sep1832 30Sep1832 Bethnal Green St Matthew scavenger Gibraltar Walk

George 9Apr1834 27Apr1834 " " "

Deborah 15Nov1835 6Dec1835 " " Turk St

James 21Apr1837 28May1837 " " "

William 12Aug1838 2Sep1838 " contractor Tyson St

Thomas Henry 7Sep1839 29Sep1839 " scavenger "

Eliza 8Apr1841 2May1841 " " New St

Emma 18Oct1842 6Nov1842 " contractor Duke St

Caroline 24May1844 16Jun1844 " scavenger "

Jane 5Dec1845 26Jan1846 Shoreditch St Leonard contractor Turk St

Charles Alfred 11Oct1851 2Nov1851 " dust-contractor New Inn Yard

certificates:

b 8Apr1841 Eliza girl at 2 Duke Street Turk Street; fa: Edward NEWMAN scavenger; mo: Deborah NEWMAN formerly HARRIS

r 4May1841 by Deborah x NEWMAN mother, of 2 Duke Street Turk Street at Town, Bethnal Green, MDX

b 24May1844 Caroline girl at 2 Duke Street Turk Street; fa: Edward NEWMAN dust contractor; m: Deborah NEWMAN formerly HARRIS

r 22Jun1844 by Deborah x NEWMAN mother, of 2 Duke Street Turk Street at Bethnal Green, Bethnal Green, MDX

DEATH

certificate

d 20Aug1867 Deborah NEWMAN female at 2 Duke Street age 62 [b 1805] wife of Edward NEWMAN dust contractor; cause: senile decay

r 24Aug1867 at Town, Bethnal Green by M MANSFIELD of 1 Mape St, present at death,

d 11Apr1882 Edward NEWMAN at Foyle Rd age 96, retired contractor; cause: senectus

r 14Apr1882 at Tottenham by M A MANSFIELD dau of Foyle Rd Tottenham pad

[place of death from certificate is Foyle Rd; from probate record at nearby Coleraine Park]

will of Edward

Edward Newman of Ponders End, MDX, brickmaker

to Jane NEWMAN dau: all household effects

to William son: my brickfield called Southbury

to my trustees: rest to sell and divide between my children except William

executors: my son John Newman of Gibraltar Wharf, Bethnal Green & William Lewis solicitor

s 1Mar1875 wit: A Goodeare, L Pashhr clerks p 22Jun1882 by William Lewes the surviving exec

Probate: 22Jun1882, the will of Edward Newman late of Ponders End and of 1 Coleraine-park Tottenham Brickmaker who died 11Apr1882 at 1 Coleraine-Park was proved … £6,301 15s 9d

CENSUS

1841 Duke St Bethnal Green HO107/694/12 f24

Edward NEWMAN 45 1795 scavenger y

Deborah NEWMAN 35 1805 n

John NEWMAN 15 1825 y

Edward NEWMAN 14 1826 y

Mary NEWMAN 12 1828 y

Elizabeth NEWMAN 11 1829 y

Sarah NEWMAN 9 1831 y

George NEWMAN 6 1834 y

Deborah NEWMAN 5 1835 y

James NEWMAN 4 1836 y

William NEWMAN 3 1837 y

Thomas NEWMAN 2 1838 y

Eliza NEWMAN 2m 1841 y

1851 2 Duke St, Bethnal Green HO107/1542 f645

Edward NEWMAN he mar 50 1800 contractor for dust Bethnal Green MDX

Deborah NEWMAN wi mar 45 1805 Bethnal Green MDX

Elizabeth NEWMAN da unm 20 1830 needlewoman Bethnal Green MDX

Sarah NEWMAN da unm 18 1832 home Bethnal Green MDX

George NEWMAN so 16 1834 home Bethnal Green MDX

Deborah NEWMAN da 14 1836 scholar Bethnal Green MDX

James NEWMAN so 13 1837 scholar Bethnal Green MDX

William NEWMAN so 11 1839 scholar Bethnal Green MDX

Thomas NEWMAN so 10 1840 scholar Bethnal Green MDX

Eliza NEWMAN da 9 1841 scholar Bethnal Green MDX

Emma NEWMAN da 8 1842 scholar Bethnal Green MDX

Caroline NEWMAN da 6 1844 scholar Bethnal Green MDX

Jane NEWMAN da 5 1845 scholar Bethnal Green MDX

1861 2 Duke St, Bethnal Green RG9/263 f150

Edward NEWMAN he mar 63 1797 dust contractor Battle Bridge MDX

Deborah NEWMAN wi mar 55 1805 Walworth SRY

Eliza NEWMAN da unm 19 1841 Bethnal Green MDX

Caroline NEWMAN da unm 16 1844 Bethnal Green MDX

Jane NEWMAN da unm 15 1845 Bethnal Green MDX

Charles A NEWMAN so 9 1851 Bethnal Green MDX

1871 Newmans Houses, Ponders End, Enfield RG10/1344 f108

Edward NEWMAN he wdr 75 1796 brick merchant Paddington MDX

Jane NEWMAN da unm 25 1846 brick merchant’s dau Bethnal Green MDX

Charles A NEWMAN so 19 1852 brick merchant’s son Bethnal Green MDX

Elizabeth ROOK gd 12 1859 scholar Bethnal Green MDX

Elizabeth NEWMAN gd 6 1865 scholar Ponders End MDX

Emma NEWMAN gd 14 1857 scholar Bethnal Green MDX

1881

Edward has not been found in this census despite extensive searches of the index. He was not in any 81 census from Foyle Rd, his address in 1882 when he died. His daughter Mary Ann MANSFIELD of Foyle Rd registered the death and surely Edward was living with her at the time. Mary Ann and her husband James MANSFIELD continued to live in Foyle Rd until their deaths in 1890 and 1895 respectively. It is significant that neither Mary Ann nor James Mansfield have been found in the 1881 census either despite extensive searches. It is almost certain therefore that they were all at the same address in 1881 and are not included in the surviving census returns or are not included in the index in any identifiable form

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