THE NEWTON FAMILY.
From a document of Mr. Willowby Newton, father of the present
Willowby, and grandson of a Willowby Newton, I learn that at an
early period four brothers emigrated to Virginia,—one of whom
settled in Norfolk, another in Alexandria, one in Westmoreland,
and one in Stafford; so that it is probable that all of the name in
Virginia, and many out of it, are from the same stock. Richard
Lee, of Lee Hall, in Westmoreland, not far from the ruins of the
old burnt house, which was an ancient Lee establishment, married
a Miss Poythress, of Prince George, who was a granddaughter of
Richard Bland. After the death of Mr. Lee—commonly called
Squire Lee—she married Mr. Willowby Newton, both of whom
were vestrymen, as was John Newton, father of this Willowby,
and son of the first Willowby. The name of Willowby was an
ancient one about Norfolk, and intermarried with the Newtons.
At Bushfield, in this county, there is an inscription which gives
us the origin of the name Bushrod, which is incorporated in many
other names of Virginia:—
"Here lies the body of John Bushrod, Gentleman, son of Richard
Bushrod, Gentleman, by Apphia his wife. He was born in Gloucester
county, Virginia, the 30th of January, 1663. He took for his wife Hannah,
the daughter of William Keene, of Northumberland, and Elizabeth
his wife, and by her left two sons and four daughters, and died the 6th of
February, 1719, in the 56th year of his age."
At Wilmington, the family seat of the Newtons, we have also the
following inscription:—
"Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of Mrs. Sarah Newton,
daughter of George Eskridge, and late wife of Captain Willowby Newton,
of Westmoreland county, who, after having justly established the character
of a dutiful child, a faithful friend, an affectionate mother, and
sincere Christian, departed this life on the 2d of December, 1753, in the
46th year of her age."
In the same graveyard is the tomb of Mrs. Elizabeth Oldham,
wife of Colonel Samuel Oldham, who died in 1759, in her 72d year.
