Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Newman, Francis
NEWMAN, FRANCIS (d. 1660), New England statesman, emigrated to New Hampshire in 1638, and subsequently removed to Newhaven, Connecticut. In his barn in the latter place, in June 1639, was formulated the compact or civil constitution by which the colony for many years was ruled. He was made ensign of the trained band in June 1642, a surveyor of roads and bridges on 21 Oct. 1644, deputy and lieutenant of artillery on 31 March 1645, interim secretary on 10 March 1646, deputy for jurisdiction and secretary on 18 Oct. 1647, and magistrate on 25 May 1653. In 1653 he formed one of the deputation that waited on Governor Peter Stuyvesant of New Netherlands, to request satisfaction for the injuries inflicted by the Dutch upon the colony. On 5 July 1654 he was appointed commissioner of the united colonies, and on 26 May 1658 succeeded to the governorship of Newhaven. In September 1659 one Henry Tomlinson of Stratford molested Newman, and even caused him to be arrested at Connecticut, as a protest against a new impost on wines and liquors. The general court of Newhaven made Tomlinson humbly apologise and give security for future good behaviour. Newman died at Newhaven on 18 Nov. 1660, and was awarded a public funeral in recognition of his great services to the colony. He left a widow.
[Savage's Genealog. Dict. iii. 274; New Haven Colonial Records, 1638–65, ed. C. J. Hoadly; Appleton's Cyclop. of Amer. Biog.]