The Newports and the Earl – 3 ‘John Harrison, later John Newport’

[1] Sourced from The Complete peerage of England, Scotland Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct, or Dormant vol 2 p275 fn

“Community Trees,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3HR3-N6B : accessed 31 December 2019), entry for John /Newport/, cites sources; “British Isles. Families with Peerage, Gentry, and Colonial American Connections. Date range: 900s-1900s.” file (2:2:2:MMD2-82K), submitted 27 January 2016 by FamilySearch. Original document not sighted

[2]Abstract of the title of William Henry Earl of Darlington and Henry Viscount Barnard to the grain tithes of the parish of Stotesdon and of the township of Detton in the parish of Neen Savage

Shropshire Archives  Kinlet collection X1045/2/2/3/358  Reference 1045/358  Chronology document Preparation date unknown (before 1921)

[3] Private Act, 9 George II, c, 1

An Act to enable John Harrison an Infant, now called John Newport, and the Heirs of his Body, to take and use the Surname of Newport pursuant to the Direction of Henry late Earl of Bradford deceased  1735

Parliamentary Archives  Ref HL/PO/PB/1/1735     https://archives.parliament.uk/collections/getrecord/GB61_HL_PO_PB_1_1735_9G2n2

[4] Short Title: Smith v Newport  Document type : Answer only   Plaintiffs: Ann Smyth (wife of Ralph Smyth, esq: by Henry Arthur Herbert, esq) Defendants: John Newport alias John Harrison and infant (by William Pulteney, esq) and others 1736 Original document not sighted.

National Archives, Kew C 11/808/37

[5] Short Title” Harrison v Dowager Countess of Bradford Document type Bill and answer

Plaintiffs: John Harrison, aged 14 years (by William Pulteney esq of Westminster, Middlesex) Defendants: Mary [Newport] dowager Countess of Bradfors and Thomas [Newport] Earl of Bradford, her son, a lunatic by said countess Dowager)  1735 (first document)                                    National Archives, Kew C 11/2062/28

[6]Copy Appointment.   (26 Apr 1738) by Mrs. Anne Smyth, of Hammersmith (Mdx), of John Lloyd, Esq., of Shrew., as steward of her hundred cts,: Bradford, Pimhill, Condover, and Stottesdon, and all others        Shropshire Archives  ref 112/5/45/4

[7] Folio 170 Memorial from Ann Smyth to Newcastle requesting that her son, John Newport, sole heir of the deceased Earl of Bradford, should be brought back from France where he appears to have gone over to the Pretender’s cause. 19 Oct 1739        National Archives, Kew SP36/48/170

[8] Short title: Smith v Earl of Bradford  Document type: Depositions and two commissions.  Plaintiffs: Ann Smith (Wife of Ralph Smith); by Henry Arthur Herbert,esq. Defendants: Thomas [Newport] Earl of Bradford, a lunatic (by Mary[Newport] Countess of Bradford, John Newport alias John Harrison, an infant (by William Pulteney, esq), John Hill esq, Sir Hugh Broggs art, George Middleton, William Townshend, esq and Thomas Gibson,

Comments: Depositions taken at Shrewsbury, Shropshire and at Roberstown, Meath, Ireland. esq     Date of bill (or first document) 1739. National Archives, Kew C 11/948/8

[9]Short Title: Lacon v Briggs Document type: Answer only

Plaintiffs: John Lacon (complainant of the original bill) and Hannah Lacon and Ann Lacon spinsters (complainants of the bill of revivor).  Defendants: George Middleton, Ann Smyth (wife of Ralph Smyth, esq) John Newport a lunatic (by said Ann Smyth, his guardian) and Sir Henry Briggs bart.  National Archives, Kew C 11/1069/27

[10] Short title: Earl of Bath v Earl of Uxbridge Document type  Bill only

Plaintiffs: William [Pulteney] earl of Bath, Alexander Small, surgeon of St Martin in the Fields, Middlesex and George Wilson, gent of Symonds Inn, Middlesex (executors of Ann Smyth, deceased, late of Chelsea, Middlesex and sometime of Berkeley Street, St George Hanover Square, Westminster, and wife of Ralph Smyth, esq). Defendants: Henry (Paget) Earl of Uxbridge   1743.   National Archives, Kew C 11/1324/7 . Also   Short Title: Earl of Bath v Earl of Bradford 1746   National Archives, Kew C 11/2113/9

 [11] William Earl of Bath is now John Harrison’s guardian as Mrs Smyth died Oct 1742.  As John is now over 21 he needs fresh direction from the courts. He, William, is Mrs Smyth’s heir and entitled to the 10,000 if John has no heirs. The guardians of Thomas, Earl of Bradford argue that Mrs Smyth did not leave this bequest to William or if she did, she should not have done so.   X5735 Brooke Papers (1190-1890) System Ref X5735/5/2/1/10  Date 18 Jan 1743  Summary retrieved  The National Archives Discovery UK Testator or intestate: Newport, John of Chelsea, Middx., Bachelor

Note: The deceased was alleged by the Crown to have been the illegitimate son of Henry Newport, Earl of Bradford, but Anne Smythe and to have been a lunatic most of his life.  National Archives, Kew PROB37/225

[12] Earl of Bath v Newport: Act for impowering committee of John Newport, a lunatic to make leases of his estates 1743-1782.  National Archives  C110/10

[13] Letter from George Wilson to Sir Hugh Brigges with a copy of the codicils off the will of the late Henry Earl of Bradford; a trust of 10,000 pounds is left to Mrs Ann Smyth for the maintenance of John Harrison and she may give it to anyone she pleases. If John has no heirs, it reverts to Mrs Smyth.  20 Jul 1745.       Shropshire Archives Ref 5735/5/2/1/14

  [14]

  [15] LEASE  4 Jan. 1767: Gen. Harry Pulteney (committee and reversioner of John Newport) to Thos.Hill, Esq., of Hay meadow (adjoining the Tern on the east and south-east thereof) in T.H.’s occupation and of 2 bylets in the Tern and also of J.N.’s fishing rights from the top of Hay meadow as far down river as they extend, with appurts., etc. for 41 yrs. @ 6 pounds 18s. 9d. p.a. 1767   Shropshire Archives  Ref 112/5/10/9

[16] Henry’s illegitimate son by Mrs Anne Smyth, called at first John Harrison and later by private Act of Parliament John Newport, was buried opposite the door of St Paul’s chapel on 9^th May 1783. He was said to have been a lunatic for most of his life. Ho smother, wife of f Ralph Smyth, had been buried in the north ambulatory on 7^th November 1742.

https//www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/henry-newport-earl-of-bradford   Retrieved 26 Dec 2019

 [17]Conveyance and settlement.    The real estate of the late Earl of Bradford is conveyed to the Earl of Bath if John Newport does without heirs. 12 Jun 1755.  Shropshire Archives Ref 5735/5/2/18