NOTE: This account, as provided by Kathleen Lopez, represents a considerable amount of scholarly research backed up by an impressive set of references and original documentation. Having corresponded with Ms. Lopez, I am satisfied that her's is the most inclusive and accurate account of the history of the Newhooks family I have come across to date. Click HERE to view the summary of the Newhook family tree that accompanies this article. The Newfoundland Ancestor is a quarterly publication of the Newfoundland and Labrador Genealogical Society.

The following account represents the intensive research of several years. I owe a great debt to Bridget Power of Chapel Arm, NF, who has a prodigious knowledge of the Newhooks of Newfoundland. My friend, Phillip Hancock of Hampshire, proved to be invaluable as he pursued the Newhooks of England through scores of record offices and libraries.

The quest for my gggg grandfather Charles Newhook began with an innocent letter of inquiry 1 sent to Bridget Power some years ago. Little did I know what that letter would lead to - an obsession with the English Newhooks and a collection of wills, local histories, parish records and documents too numerous to list. The hunt has often been over rough terrain but it has always been challenging and fascinating. I have contacted Newhooks in Canada, U.S.A., Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. However, the Newhooks of Canada and specifically Newfoundland, spring from the progeny of only one couple, Charles and Elizabeth Newhook who arrived in Newfoundland about the year 1777. Charles had been sent by the Benjamin Lester Co. of Poole, Dorset, to be their Master Shipbuilder in Trinity, Newfoundland. Charles and Elizabeth were to found a dynasty of shipbuilders in Newfoundland.

Although the Newhook surname surfaces in Tarrant Gunville Dorset in the year 1575 there is every reason to believe that the family was already firmly established in the lovely countryside of Dorset, Wiltshire, and Hampshire long before a paper trail first appears. Indeed, about 1514 a criminal assault case was heard, in which: one Robert Nauwoke, maimed with a hegding-bill, Silvester Hyne somewhere in Hampshire.

The baptisms, marriages and burials of various Newhooks can be found scattered throughout Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire in the 17th century. However, the family appears to have roots along the border of Wiltshire and Dorset. I have been able to trace, with documentation, Charles' forebears back to George Newhook, blacksmith of Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, who was born about 1670. Tollard Royal lies in the heart of the Cranborne Chase which was a royal hunting forest and was often the scene of bloody confrontations between poachers and gamekeepers.

In the church at Tollard Royal on the 8th of October, 1702, George Newhook married Martha White. Martha was from the nearby village of Ebbesbourne Wake and had been baptised on the 26th of December 1672. As the village blacksmith George would have been a respected member of the Tollard Royal community. Tragically, their first child, Martha, baptised on the 3rd of August, 1703 died at the age of 3 years. However, two more children followed, George Jr., named after his father, was baptised 23rd of January, 1708/9. Another little Martha followed on the 10th of June, 1711, Many of this Marthas' descendants were destined to leave England for a new life in Australia. George and Martha Newhook were both buried in the churchyard of Tollard Royal. George on the 28th of November, 1723 and Martha on the 13th of January, 1733/4. An incredible document exists which gives us a glimpse into their lives. As George died Intestate his executor was required to provide the court with a detailed list and value of his goods. His widow, Martha, provided the court with the following: Inventory. A true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits of George Newhook late of Tollard Royal in the County of Wilts, blacksmith, deceased, taken and appraised this eighteenth day of December 1723, by us whose names are hereunder subscribed.

In primis, his wearing apparel & in his purse £ 02 00 00

Provisions in house.................. £ 02 00 00

A little bay nag..................... £ 02 10 00

In the kitchen & above the stairs 

2 bell-metal pots, 1 other little pot & 3 skillets. £ 01 00 00

2 warming pans, 9 pewter dishes, 10 porringers & 1 Pewter flagon. £ 01 06 06

2 bras pans, 1 cupboard, a pair of andirons, 1 pair of dogs, 7 chairs &
some lumber £ 00 18 06

1 table board, 2 spits, 4 brass candlesticks, 1 Toasting iron, 2 beef
forks, 1 brass skimmer, 2 plates, fire pan & dog tongs & some lumber £ 00
15 06

1 iron pot, 1 dripping pan & 1 brass pan, 3 
earthen pans, 3 earthen platters, 6 earthen dishes 
& other odd things £ 00 03 00 

1 kettle, 4 barrels, 3 tubs, 2 trendles, 2 pails & 
some lumber. £ 01 10 00 

1 feather bed & 2 little dust beds £ 02 10 00

1 chest, 3 coffers, 3 boxes, 1 trunk, 1 quilt,(?) 
& some lumber £ 01 00 00

Item, due to the deceased on bonds & bills, & in the shop goods £ 141 16 08 

sum totalis £ 157 10 02

Taken & appraised by us, Bart. Gilbert x his mark, William Barnes, Willm.
Samway x his mark, Martha, widow & Administratrix

The Inventory speaks to us across the abyss of time of a comfortable life and treasured family mementos. The "two little dust beds" are a poignant reminder of their two little daughters, both called Martha. A "little bay nag" was, perhaps, a well-loved animal.

We follow now the life of George Newhook, Jr., who for some reason did not emulate his blacksmith father. Instead, we find George in Tarrant Gunville, across the Wiltshire border and into Dorset. Tarrant Gunville was a pretty little village with the river Tarrant running alongside the road which wound through the community. Low hills surrounded the village. George had found a position as a gardener at the imposing estate of Eastbury Park. The building of this magnificent house was begun in 1718 and was described as: one of the grandest and most superb in the country and indeed in the Kingdom. Voltaire was a frequent visitor and a good friend of the owner, George Bubb Dodington, 1st Baron Melcombe.

The grounds were glorious, boasting a lake and canals supplied with water by an engine worked by a horse. Eastbury House stood in a park five miles round and no doubt numerous gardeners were employed. The head gardener would have lived on the main grounds of the house, having senior status and entitled to respect and deference from the under staff. Assistant gardeners would have a home in the village. Upon the death of Martha in 1733/4. George Newhook Jr. is described in the Admon granted at the time as being "of Eastbury in the parish of Gunville, in the county of Dorset, gardener".

It is possible that George did reside on the grounds of Eastbury Park and would have witnessed the lavish life of Lord Melcombe - an endless parade of famous guests, wonderful dinners and frequent parties. The house itself was filled with statues and busts, the rooms hung with rich crimson velvet, satin and gilded leather. Even the carpets were woven with silver and gold thread.

On November 30, 1735 George married a local girl, Sarah Sansome or "Sarry" as she was known in the village. According to the parish records the Newhooks had four children, George, baptised on the 26th of February, 1737; Sarah, baptised 29th of October, 1747; Charles, baptised 9th of January, 1754 and lastly, Mary, baptised the 18th of October, 1759. The children were all baptised in St. Marys' Church, Tarrant Gunville, the same church in which their parents wed and were to be buried. The church was already ancient when the Newhooks brought their youngsters for baptisms. Both the 12th century wall arcading and the 16th century bell tower were still visible. Two church windows could be seen bearing the arms of Henry VIII one being quartered with those of Catherine Howard and the other with the arms of Catherine Parr.

It is on young Charles Newhook we now focus our attention on that cold day, the 9th of January 1754. George and Sarah would have walked the short distance down the lane to the church which faced Eastbury House. No doubt they were filled with pride as they carried 2 year old Charles into the church to be baptised, friends and neighbours stopping to admire the bright little boy. The church had figured prominently in the lives of several generations of Newhooks. Sarah Newhook herself would eventually be buried next to the church on the 9th of October 1773, dying at age of 58. While a record of her husband George's death has not been found, no doubt, he too, is buried near his wife's side.

Young Charles would have spent the first years of his life in the picturesque village of Tarrant Gunville. His father, George proved to be an enterprising man, ambitious for his young son. We can only speculate on the chain of events which led Charles Newhook to the shores of Newfoundland- To date, little has been found which would explain this eventual outcome. The craft of Master Shipbuilder is not one you would expect the son of a gardener, born in north Dorset to have acquired.

It is known that there were Newhooks in both Poole and Portsmouth at the time of Charles' apprenticeship. Perhaps, George Newhook found a position for Charles as an apprentice with a Newhook relative in one of these cities. Or, did he prevail upon his employer, Lord Melcombe, to find a position for his son as an apprentice to a shipbuilder? Lord Melcombe was a wealthy, influential man with ties to Poole. Benjamin Lester had a home in Poole and of course was greatly involved with Newfoundland trade. It was this firm which would eventually send Charles to Trinity as their Master Shipbuilder. The following receipt was found in the library at Poole: 4th May, 1771, Pd. to Lester's man and his man Newhook the Younger, œ 34 6s 8d against Baltic pine and hemp for the ropeyard. Now quit and discharged. Ebeneezer Hale, clerk. Obviously, there were two Newhooks in Poole in 1771 involved in shipbuilding. Could one be Charles Newhook? The dates lead one to believe this might be a possibility.

We know that Charles arrived in Trinity, Newfoundland about 1777 and probably brought his new wife Elizabeth with him. To date, no record of this marriage has been found in England or Newfoundland. However, all eight of Charles and Elizabeth Newhook's children were born in Trinity, the first arriving on the 12th of December, 1778 and named Charles. It is interesting to note the incorrect spelling of the first three Newhook children who are entered into the Trinity pariah records as Newick. As a reliable employee of the Lesters and probably communicating frequently with them in Trinity and Poole, Charles would be a literate man. No doubt he noticed the error and took pains to rectify it as the rest of his children are correctly entered as Newhooks.

Charles was to found successive generations of sons trained by their fathers to be shipbuilders. The Newhooks came to be known as the "greatest family of shipbuilders in the history of Newfoundland" Charles, son of a gardener and grandson of a blacksmith was to be the progenitor of countless Newfoundland Newhooks. Charles died the 18th of November, 1799, at age 49 and is buried with his young daughter, Sarah, in St. Paul's churchyard, Trinity, NF. The stone still stands proudly next to the church and if one takes the time the epitaph can still be read.

In the Newfoundland, Trinity Census of 1800-01 Elizabeth Newhook is listed as the occupier of the fishing room at Trinity along with four of her children. I understand that Elizabeth was shortly to marry a man by the name of Wilson. have been unable to verify this and 1 would be delighted to hear from anyone who might have knowledge of this second marriage. In my research, I have discovered only one other Newhook couple who left England for North America. Shadrack Newhook was Baptised in Poole on the 18th of April, 1702, son of Alice and Harry Newhook. His wife, Dinah Mohun was born about the same time and in the same place. They appear in Norfolk, Virginia, with a daughter Hannah, born in 1722.

Further research uncovered Luke who was discharged from H.M.S. Strafford Muster Roll on 23rd of December 1742 in Norfolk, Virginia. It seems possible that Luke Newhook might also be a son of Shadrack and Dinah Newhook. Then the bane of all researchers takes place and the surname of Newhook disappears from the available American records. The surname surfaces again when Newfoundland Newhooks leave the outports for the east coast of the U. S. A. The Newhooks thrived in Newfoundland while apparently fading into oblivion in England where the name is uncommon. The Toronto telephone book alone lists 32 Newhooks, probably all with Newfoundland roots. 1 continue to trace this facinating family and would be pleased to hear from anyone with additional information or those interested in the Newhook dynasty.

SOURCES:

Old Dorset, by M. B. Weinstock Portrait of Dorset, by R. Wightman 

A History of Dorset, by C.N. Cullingforol Trinity Census of 1800-01 

Parish Records of St. Paul's Anglican Church, Trinity, NF. 

Public Record Offices in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire 

Libraries of Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire 

Wills and Inventories Settlement Certificates 

Research of Bridget Power Research of N. Royal 

Colonial Soldiers of the South 1732 - 1774 by Murtie June Clark 

Headstones