Abraham (Abram) Newman was a partner
in one of the leading grocers in 18th century London that imported a
wide range of produce
including tea, coffee, sugar and
spices.
Abram was born at Mount Bures in Essex in 1736, the son of Thomas Newman
of Mount Hall in the same parish and his wife, Anne, the
daughter of Hugh Constable of Bures St Mary. Through his mother, Abram
was the first cousin of Golding Constable of East Bergholt in Suffolk,
the father of the artist, John Constable.
His father, Thomas, was a descendant of Colonel Richard Newman who assisted
King Charles II in his flight from the Battle of Worcester.
Abram went to London and entered the business world as a grocer. On
12 June 1759, he married Mary (1720–1783),
the sister of Monkhouse Davison, a partner in the firm of Rawlinson
and Davison "dealers in coffee, tea, chocolate, snuff, etc"
of
Creechurch Lane in the City. Two years later, he was made a freeman
of the Grocer's Company and, in 1764, he joined his brother-in-law's
company as a third partner.
Five years later, the senior partner, Thomas Rawlinson (not to be confused
with his great uncle Sir Thomas Rawlinson who was Lord Mayor in 1706)
died and the company became known as Davison, Newman and Co., the name
under which it still operates today. In 1774, chests of tea
from Newman's company were amongst those thrown into Boston Harbour
during the Boston Tea Party which started the American Revolution.
The company sought compensation
from George III for £480 for the loss of the tea.
In 1790, Newman purchased the manor of Mount Bures. Davison died three
years later. Newman retired shortly afterwards and followed him to
the grave on 8 March 1799 at his house in Fenchurch Street."He
was one of the richest citizens of London, and a happy instance of the
wonderful powers of accumulation by the steady pursuit of honourable
industry. Without speculation or adventure he acquired £600,000
as a grocer.
He retired from trade about four years
ago [1795], but so forcible was his habit that he came every day to
the shop, and ate his mutton
chop at 2 o'clock (the good old
city hour) with his successors...."
Newman had no sons, and his heirs were his two daughters, Anne, wife
of George Caswell, and Jane, wife of William Thoyts of
Sulhamstead Abbots in Berkshire. Davison, Newman and his wife were buried
together in All Hallows Staining.
After the collapse of the crypt there,
their monument was to be seen in the church of St Olave Hart Street,
London until it suffered
bomb damage in May 1941 during the Second World War.
Note:- Abraham was a partner in the business
"Davison
and Newman Ltd" between the years 1766 and 1837.
This business is still trading today LINK
Updated 08/10/2015
Notes on Abraham Newman written by Ida McMaster
Updated 11/02/2021
