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Sir Robert Lydston Newman, Bart. of Mamhead Devon (1821-1854)

by

John Williams

Sir Robert William NEWMAN, 1st Baronet Mamhead, born 18th August 1776 married Mary Jane DENNE, daughter of Richard DENNE of Nariteau House, Winchelsea, Sussex, on the 21st of September 1813 at St James Church, Westminster. Mary Jane died 28th July 1834. In 1818 Sir Robert was elected MP for Exeter and he held this seat until the election of 1826. He had extensive business interests in Newfoundland. There were several children and most of them were born at "Sandridge" in the parish of Stoke Gabriel, Devon.

In 1823 Sir Robert William NEWMAN bought Mamhead House and estate near Starcross in Devon, from the Earl of Lisburne. This house became the family seat. Sir Robert died on the 24th January 1848 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Robert Lydston NEWMAN who became the 2nd Baronet Mamhead.

Robert Lydston NEWMAN was born at "Sandridge" 19th February 1821 and was baptised in Stoke Gabriel church 18th March 1821. In 1841 he was a student at Trinity College, Cambridge. Later he was commissioned in the Grenadier Guards and served in the Crimea. He saw service at Alma and was killed at the Battle of Inkermann, in the rank of Captain, on the 5th of November 1854 aged 33. He is buried on Cathcart's Hill in the Crimea, near Sebastopol, in a chest grave. His memorial is carved in slate on top of his grave and reads:

"Beneath this stone lie the mortal remains of Sir Robert Lydston Newman, of Mamhead in the County of Devon, England. Baronet Captain in the Grenadier Guards who was killed at the Battle of Inkermann on the 5th of November 1854 in the thirty fourth year of his age. St Luke XII 4,5 St Matthew XXIV 44" This memorial was erected by his surviving brothers and sisters.

There is also a memorial to his name in Mamhead Church on the estate. Additionally, there is a memorial in the Royal Military Chapel at Wellington Barracks, London and a plaque at the Royal Garrison Church at Portsmouth.

He was succeeded by his younger brother Lydston Newman (b.15th November 1823) who became the 3rd Baronet Mamhead.

Sources Used

1) Newfoundland Will Books Volume 4. (The will of Sir Robert William Newman dated 24th December 1847)
2) National Archives - Medals, Crimea Ref: WO 100/25 Page 1.
3) The IGI
4) The will of Sir Robert Lydston Newman dated 12th September 1854. Ref: National Archives Ref: PROB 11/2227 image No. 278.
5) Battle of Inkermann killed & Wounded from www.old-merseytimes.co.uk
6) "The Last of the Brave" - Resting Places of our Fallen Heroes in the Crimea & at Scutari, originally published in 1857 by Ackermann & Co., London. Re-published by The Naval & Military Press
of Uckfield under ref ISBN 9781843422143
7) The 1841 Census. Ref HO107/87/16 Page 2
8) Devon FHS Baptism Index 1813-1839
9) The Peerage dot com. Page 4362
10) www.mamhead.com