| Born: | 1790 Thetford Norfolk |
| Died: | 13 Jun 1857 Muntham, Dundas County, Victoria, Australia, Aged 67 |
| Father: | Francis Newstead |
| Mother: | Frances King |
| Spouse: | Clementina Joyce Nimmo |
| Married: | 25 Dec 1810 St Leonard Shoreditch, London |
| Children: | Henry Keene Edward Newstead, William Gustavus Benningfield Newstead, Walter George Newstead |
| Occupation: | Mariner, East India Company |
| Christened: | 05 Dec 1790 St Mary's Thetford |
| Buried: | 15 Jun 1857 Muntham, Dundas County, Victoria, Australia |
| Updated: | 07 Mar 2009 |
Born in Thetford, Norfolk, in 1792, Francis probably moved to the East End of London in the early 1800s. The British Library have a record of his being taken on as a 21 year old labourer in an East India Company tea warehouse on 7 November 1810, a month before his marriage to Clementina Nimmo, a few years older than himself. The Admissions Register also notes that he had previously worked as a cook (on board ship?) and that his height was 5ft 7. 75 ins. By the time their first son Henry was born in 1812, Francis was a "Newsman" living in Mile End Old Town, but in 1814, when their second son William arrived, he described himself on the baptism certificate as "an Officer in the East India Service", a claim that has yet to be verified! Son number three, Walter, was born in Islington around 1818, according to census information, and not baptised until 1832 at St Dunstan's, Stepney.
In September 1820 Francis was one of two plaintiffs at an Old Bailey trial, when Jane Stewart was indicted for stealing two sheets from the laundry which the defendant managed for Newstead's wife and family. Twenty years later Francis was away at sea at the time of the 1841 census, and Clementina was head of a household in Stepney comprising a Miss Dicks and a three year old Frederick Edward.
In 1851 Francis, a mariner, and Clementina were living at 86 High Street, Shadwell, Tower Hamlets, with their four year old granddaughter Martha and Frederick Goodwin, now aged twelve and described as a "visitor".
On 17 September 1855 Francis Newstead, now living at 4 John Street, Johnstone Street, Commercial Road, East London, made his will prior to embarking on a voyage to Portland Bay, Australia, on the vessel "Severn" under the command of Captain Scowcroft. The main beneficiary was his wife Clementina, but Francis bequeathed his gold repeater watch, his own portrait and that of his wife to his eldest son Henry; the remaining watches, "whatever plate... I possess", a secretoire, beer glasses, a set of china and tea tray to William; and to the youngest son Walter (executor) the family Bible, Francis's Testament, "our large glass goblet and one glass jug", together with the portrait of the missionary Rev Robert Newstead (despite its having been originally given to William). The adopted son, Frederick Goodwin, stood to gain only five pounds.
Sadly Francis's Australian venture was short-lived; he died of a fever on 13 June 1857 at Muntham, a sheep station in Victoria belonging to the Henty family. His occupation was given as "cook", but the true purpose of his journey to the Antipodes is still unclear. He may have been involved in the purchase of merino wool, or tempted by the lure of Australian gold. On 12 Dec 1853 the "Severn" carried a cargo of 1329 bales of wool, gold and passenger to London.
Postscript: The engraved portrait of Rev Robert Newstead, although bequeathed to Walter, is now in the possession of a descendant of William; on the back of the engraving is an inscription that reads: "Wm G B Newstead. The plate of his uncle, the gift of his affectionate Father, F F Newstead, on his being bound apprentice. April 1827, in Dursley, Gloucestershire. "
ID: 688 Generated by GedTree on 07 Mar 2009