NEWMAN, William (by 1517-83/89), of Poole, Dorset.

William Newman came from a merchant family of moderate estate settled in Salisbury. It is not known whether his business interests or his marriage first took him to Poole: in May 1540 he witnessed a lease made by the mayor and corporation, and from the following year he was trading extensively through the port, importing a variety of goods and exporting cloth and lead. By 1547 his assessment of £15 on goods for the subsidy put him among the middle range of local taxpayers.4PCC 21 Ayloffe; Poole recs. envelope 19; E122/122/4, 7, 21, 123/2, 207/6; 179/104/174; LP Hen. VIII, add.

Newman’s election to the second Parliament of Edward VI’s reign anticipated his first mayoralty but he took precedence over the ex-mayor Thomas White III, possibly because he benefited from the influence of his brother-in-law the customer John Harward, who had sat for Poole in the two previous Parliaments. After the Parliament was over Newman and White were paid £4 3s.4d. as the sum outstanding ‘for their burgess-ship’. In his capacity as mayor Newman presided over the parliamentary elections in the autumn of 1554, and a year later his name was singled out for mention as a voter on the indenture sent into Chancery. He played an increasingly important role in the town and enjoyed a second experience of Parliament under Elizabeth. His will made on 25 June 1583 was proved six years later.5Poole recs. envelope 4, rec. bk. 1, p. 85; Strype, Eccles. Memorials, ii(2), 64-66; Lansd. 3(19), f. 36; Smith, 16; J. Sydenham, Poole, 253; PCC 38 Leicester.