Newman, Edward

East side of St Paul's Churchyard, London; chair maker (fl.1714- d.1748)

Edward Newman was born c.1689, the son of Isaac who was a yeoman in Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire. He was apprenticed on 4 June 1706 to a London Joiner of the same name, Edward Newman, also originally from Marsh Gibbon and therefore probably a relative. He was made free of the Joiners Company on 7 Sep 1714 and married Ellinor Snowsell two months later (25 Nov 1714) at St. Matthew's Fryday Street, Cheapside. 

The Newmans began their married life in the City ward of Candlewick, surrounded by many well-known chair makers at the time, including William Old, John Hodson, John Hutt, and William Gardner. By 1719 they had moved to the east side of St. Paul's Churchyard where Edward remained until at least 1739. He became a liveryman of the Joiners' Company (27 Sep 1720) and was included in a 1721 jury service list, implying a certain level of wealth and social prominence, because it was restricted to male inhabitants of the City of London, who owned freehold property in value exceeding £100. He is recorded serving as a juror at the Old Bailey on four occasions between 1722 and 1731.  

Newman's death was announced on 18 March 1748 ‘at his House at Marsh Gibbon, Bucks.’ [General Advertiser, 23 March 1748]. He was described as ‘formerly an eminent Chair-maker in St. Paul's Churchyard, where he acquired a plentiful Fortune with a fair Character’. He was probably the father of the chair maker, Edward Newman: https://bifmo.history.ac.uk/entry/newman-edward-1692-1758-0 

Sources: DEFM; Joiners' Company accounts; https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/; London parish and tax records.