Newman Virginia Roots

Loften Newman’s family

We found Loften Newman on King William County, Virginia tax records in 1782.

King William is a “burned county” of Virginia. Very few early records from King William County have survived the courthouse fire of 1885. Thankfully some tax records have survived for King William County. When a white male turned age 16 in Virginia they became taxable, and their names were added to tax lists. However, King William was missing random years without any tax records from 1793-1812. We knew the men were at least 16 because their names were on tax records, but the missing records made it difficult to know when males actually turned age 16.

Another of the challenges of piecing this family together from tax records were multiple men with the same name, over the age of 16. These Newmans used the same family names generation after generation, resulting in cousins with the same name, close in age.

Additionally, a William Newman arrived in King William County in about 1789. We know he was married to a lady named Christian and died before 1812 because her taxable property in 1812 matches William’s estate in prior tax records. He had at least two sons, named George and William, which became difficult to sort out from a George and William, of the same age, who were grandsons of Loften Newman. Based on the different taxable amounts were were able to sort out which George and William belonged to each father.

Fortunately, although Loften Newman’s family lived in King William, they show up in court records in other localities. They were collecting or paying debts in Spotsylvania, Essex, Henrico, Fairfax and Fauquier counties. Loften Newman was born in Charles County, Maryland. His mother was Priscilla Loften. The name Loften was repeatedly used as a male first and middle name in this Newman family for at least 5 generations.

Loften Newman’s brother, George, ran a store in Annapolis, Maryland. George named his mother, siblings, nieces and nephews in his will. George did not list William Newman married to Christian as a sibling. Loften and George’s paternal grandfather was also named George Newman. A book published in 1940 included a chapter about this George Newman who was also a merchant. 

Loften and his son Robert Bagg Newman were taxed for multiple horses and carriages. One year this family was taxed for a “stage”, most likely meaning stagecoach. In addition to probably being merchants, they may have rented vehicles or had some form of a transportation business.

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John F. Newman

about 1795-1849

John F. Newman married Mary Hope in Goochland County, Virginia, but did not show up on tax or deed records in Goochland. Mary Hope’s family lived near Dabney’s mill, and John lived in Hanover. Looking at a map, it appears they lived near where 3 counties meet. John and Mary lived in Tennessee a year or so, then lived the remainder of their lives in Todd County, Kentucky.

Loften Newman’s son, John Newman, had 5 sons: John F., William, Robert L., Thomas and George. John F., the grandson of Loften Newman, was last seen in King William County in May 1821 selling land he inherited from his father. The marriage of John F. Newman and Mary Hope was October 1821 in Goochland. John F. was in Hanover tax records in 1823. He named his oldest child Thomas Loften Newman.