Nicholas and Elizabeth Newlin
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Nicholas and Elizabeth Newlin
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Woodward Home Page

Warning - As much as possible of the data on this Web Site is from primary records, such as wills, probates, cemetery records, church records, etc. When we do use secondary sources we like to warn people. Much of the information on this page is from secondary sources such as: Newlin Family and Collateral Lines from Colonial Families, Immigration of the Irish Quakers, A Mendenhall-Newlin Alliance, Biographies of Delaware County, Family List Queries, etc (so as far as we are concerned, much of it is unproven!) Where we do have evidence we will mention it. We would like to thank people from the Chester County mailing list for providing some of the evidence.

Newlin descendant, Sandra Ferguson, has a fine Web Site up on the Newlin Family of Chester County, Pennsylvania. If there are differences in the Newlin data between her page and ours, would suspect that hers is more accurate! She has a page on that Web Site with an amazing quilt story - be sure to see it. Given that bad things sometimes happen to things on the Internet we have reproduced the quilt story as well, as a backup, and it is linked on our Nathaniel (Jr.) and Jane Woodward Newlin page. Sandy is our eighth cousin through this Woodward connection.
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Nicholas Newlin and two of his sons came to America in the early part of 1683 on the ship Levee out of Liverpool. They settled on a large tract of land in Concord Township (now part of Delaware County, Pennsylvania). They transferred from a Quaker meeting in Queen County, Ireland, but, as with most Irish Quakers, their origins seem to be in England. The name is seen as Newland in early records and claims are made that it originates from the De Newlands, manor lords under the early Norman kings of England. Supposedly Nicholas's coat of arms was the same as that born by the de Newlands of England (we question this, as a Quaker would probably have not had a coat of arms in his possession, and we suspect it was a later addition made for the family by one of the firms always eager to oblige).

Dublin, Ireland, records indicate that the wife of Nicholas was Elizabeth Paggett or Paggot. We find a record at Concord Monthly Meeting in Pennsylvania that Elizabeth, husband of Nicholas Newlin, followed her husband to America in 1699. We need to get the actual date from the records to see if she arrived before his death.

  Nicholas Newlin
born Abt 1630 Hampshire, Eng
died bet 2/8/ & 6/5/1699 Chester Co, Pa		 Elizabeth Newlin
born unknown
died between 8/18/1714 & 2/10/1717 in Chester Co, Pa
  Married: Probably Ireland, possibly England

Children:
Nathaniel Newlin born 12/18/1663, Ireland; married (1)Mary Mendenhall and (2) Mary Ffinchon (Fincher?)
John Newlin born Ireland, died unmarried
Elizabeth Newlin born Ireland, married (1) Thomas Burton (2) William Paggett
Rachel Newlin, born about 1674, Ireland; married Ephraim Jackson (more below)
Nicholas Newlin (named in Nicholas Sr.'s will but will abstract may be in error, and it may be his namesake grandson? More below)

Immigration to America

A certificate was granted for Nicholas and his sons, Nathaniel and John, at Mount Mellick Monthly Meeting in Ireland, on 12/25/1682, giving him permission to immigrate to the New World. It mentions concerns about persecution of the Quakers in Ireland. "At the request of Nicholas Newland, we do hereby certify that the said Nicholas Newland acquainted our Men's Meeting with his intention of removing himself and family out of this nation into New Jersey or Pennsylvania in America; and we have nothing to charge against him or his family, or to their conversation in the world since they frequented our meetings, but hath walked honestly among men for ought we know or hear by inquiry, which hath been made, but our Friends' meeting is generally dissatisfied with his so removing, he being well settled and having sufficient substance for food and rainment, which all that profess Godliness in Christ Jesus ought to be content, for we brought no thing into this world, and we are sure to take nothing out, and he hath given us no satisfactory reason for his removing, but our Godly jealousy is that his chief ground is fearfulness of sufferings here for the testimony of Jesus or coveting worldly liberty. All of which we certify from our Men's Meeting at Mount Mellick, 25th of 12th mo, 1682, and we further certify that inquiry hath been made concerning the cleaness of Nathaniel and John Newland, sons of Nicholas Newland, from all entanglements of marriage, and that they are released for ought we find. Signed by the advice and in behalf of the meeting Tobias Padwell, William Edmundson, Christopher Rofer, and others." We find no mention of a corresponding certificate from the Mount Mellick Women's Meeting for Elizabeth and daughters so we do not know if she came at this time and returned to England, resulting in the certificate presented at Concord in 1699. We also have some concern that a son Nicholas is not mentioned in this certificate, although he might have remained behind.

That Nicholas Newland had good reason to fear persecution is given in Immigration of Irish Quakers: "In 1680, there were taken from him for tithes, seventeen truckle-loads of Hey, and nineteen sheaves of Beans, and thirty-three sheaves of small Barly, all worth one pound, one shilling; seventeen fleeces of Wooll and five lambs, valued at 1 pound, 7. The church-wardens took from him, 4 Mo 13 [date], 6 lambs worth 15 s; 4 Mo 23, three fleeces of Wooll, eight Lambs fleeces and some coarse wool, worth 5 s. 4Mo. 25 church officers brought a pair of Sheep-shears and took a Sheep and shore it, then the said Nicholas caused the Pen to be broken, and the Sheep to be drove out, as he had done before, to hinder their intent; the said persons struck many blows with a stick on the Backs, Arms and Hands of those that drove out his Sheep; afterwards the said persons penned up the Sheep again, and shore and carried away with them five fleeces of Wooll, in all valued at 2 pounds, 15 shillings."

Life in Pennsylvania

Nicholas Newlin was styled as yeoman in his will; however during his lifetime he was much more than a small landowner/farmer. He was a member of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania from 1685-1688; and Justice of the Courts of Chester County 1685-1691. He built and operated a grist mill in Concord Township. The 1694 tax assessment for the Concord Mill was ten pounds. Sandra Ferguson recently visited the area and kindly sent us a photo of the Mill complex and a little of the history. The mill is frame and stone and the miller's house of fieldstone adjoins the mill, and is now as it was originally built, 2 rooms up and 2 down, with a beehive oven outside the kitchen fireplace. The mill was purchased in the 1950s by a Newlin descendant, was fully restored, and again grinds corn into meal. The mill and house are listed on the National Historic Register and are operated as a non-profit foundation. The grounds have a blacksmith shop, spring house and log cabin (not part of the original complex). The mill race is stocked with trout and fishing is possible for a fee. If you want to see the mill work and go through the miller's house you must make arrangements in advance. Sandy Ferguson gives directions: Address - US Rt. 1 at Cheyney Rd., 18 miles from downtown Philadelphia, 12 miles north of Wilmington and 7 miles SW of Media, on the old Baltimore Pike. For advance reservations or information call 610-459-2359 or write Newlin Mill Park, 219 S. Cheyney Rd, Glen Mills, PA 19342.

We do not find the original land record for Nicholas in Concord but there is a deed made 27 June 1684 for a tract of land in Concord bounded by land of Phillip Romans, Nicholas Newlin & John Hardin.

The Newlins were Quakers in Ireland, and were charter members of Concord Meeting in Chester County when it was set up as Chichester Meeting in 1684. Some sources say early meetings were held at the Newlin home and at the home of the widow after Nicholas died. (Actually the early records indicate the places of holding the meetings rotated, but no doubt some of them were held in the Newlin home.) On 13 December 1697, John Mendenhall of Concord, yeoman, for 5 shillings released and confirmed to Nicholas Newland, Nicholas Pyle, George Pierce & Peter Dix a tract in Concord bounded by the land of John Mendenhall & Birmingham Road for a meeting house for the people called Quakers. The deed was delivered in the presence of Caleb Pussey & Thomas Bowater. On 10th day 11th month 1697 the Concord Quakers had taken up a subscription toward building a meeting house to serve Concord, Birmingham, and Thornbury and for a burial ground. Nicholas Newlin subscribed 6 pounds 15 shillings toward the meeting house and 18 shillings toward the burial ground. Nicholas's sons, Nathaniel and John, also contributed. Our ancestor, Richard Woodward, also participated in the subscription. The land purchase resulted from this subscription.

Wills of Nicholas and Elizabeth Newlin

From Nicholas Newlin's will abstract we learn that his will was written February 8, 1699, and proven June 5, 1699. He named wife Elizabeth, son Nathaniel Newlin, son Nicholas Newlin who had a son Nicholas. There were legacies to daughter Elisabeth who seem to be living elsewhere (genealogies mention she stayed in England); daughter Rachell; sons-in-law Ephraim Jackson and William Paggett. Estate to son Nathaniel, sole Executor. Witnesses were Edward Kinnison, Nicolas Pile, and Thomas King. As time and finances permit we will try to obtain the original of the will. The way the abstract is written it is not clear if it means Nicholas was son of Nicholas or whether it is referring to Nicholas, son of Nathaniel.

From Elizabeth Newlin's will abstract we learn she wrote her will August 18, 1714 and it was proven February 10, 1717. It mentions daughter Rachel and son-in-law Ephraim Jackson and their children. It mentions son-in-law William Pagett, late of Ireland and granddaughter Mary Burton, late of Ireland; 3 daughters of daughter Elizabeth and William Pagett, late of Ireland (so it seems Elizabeth and family did eventually come to America.) It clearly mentions grandson Nicolas Newlin, late of London (this gives us a clue that there might have been a son Nicolas with son Nicolas who remained behind when the family came to America). It mentions daughter-in-law Mary Newlin and children of Nathaniel and Mary: Nicholas, Nathaniel, John, Jemima, Kezia, and Mary. Nathaniel Newlin was executor and witnesses were George Pearce, John Fred., John Mendenhall.

More on the Children of Nicholas and Elizabeth Newlin

Rachel Newlin Jackson: There is a will for Ephraim Jackson, husband of Rachel Newlin, written September 11, 1732, proven March 30, 1733. He is styled as a yeoman of Edgmont. It names sons John and Joseph; son Nathaniel; son Samuel; son Ephraim; daughter Mary and husband; daughter Rachel and husband; son Nathan; granddaughter Elizabeth and grandson John. Executors were wife Rachel and friend William Hammons.

From a Delaware County History: Ephraim Jackson was a member of the Chester Monthly meeting, as early as 1687. He married in 1695, Rachel, the daughter of Nicholas Newlin, purchasing land in Edgmont township. Being a well educated man for his day, he served as a clerk for the Chester Monthly Meeting of Friends and was employed in much of the civic affairs of the county, for in 1710 he represented it in the Provincial Assembly. Ephraim and Rachel Newlin Jackson had children: John Jackson, born 1/26/1697; Joseph Jackson (born and died 1698; Joseph Jackson, born 7/13/1699; Nathaniel Jackson, born 6/17/1701; Josiah Jackson, born 11/20/1702, died 1715; Samuel Jackson, born 12/13/1704; Ephraim Jackson, Jr., born 11/7/1706; Mary Jackson, born 4/3/1708; Rachel Jackson, born 5/10/1710; Nathan Jackson.

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