Thomas Newton 1544/5-1607

Thomas NEWTON 1544/5-1607

Biographical Note

Born in Cheshire, son of Edward Newton of Butley. He reportedly spent time at Trinity College, Oxford and Queens' College, Cambridge, but no degree is recorded. He became rector of Little Ilford, Essex in 1583, and was based there for the rest of his life. he seems to have acted as a physician as well as a clergyman, and he published numerous poems and translations of Latin texts.

Books

In his will, Newton left to his son Abel his "best great Bible" together with 30 or 40 books "fitt for his use" to be chosen from his study. He also bequeathed his "second best Bible of Geneva print" to his daughter Grizell, along with "such competente number of books as shall be deemed by my Executor and some other godlie frende" to be fit and profitable for her. He made some other specific bequests of books to friends, and left the residue of his estate to be divided equally between Abel and Grizell.

His copy of Samuel Huber, De peste, 1584, is now in the Middle Temple Library, and other books with his inscription have been sold at auction (e.g. Christie's December 2001, Sarum Primer, 1554).

Characteristic Markings

Newton regularly inscribed his name on his titlepages, with a flourish at the end of the signature, and sometimes further annotated his books.

Sources

• Will of Thomas Newton, The National Archives PROB 11/110/49.
• Braden, Gordon. "Newton, Thomas (1544/5–1607), translator and Church of England clergyman." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
• Information from Renae Satterley.