Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Newman, John (1677?-1741)
NEWMAN, JOHN (1677?–1741), presbyterian minister, was born in Oxfordshire about 1677. He was educated by Samuel Chapman, the ejected vicar of Yoxford, Suffolk, and at the nonconformist academy of John Woodhouse, at Sheriff Hales, Shropshire. In 1696 he became assistant to Joseph Read, presbyterian minister at Dyott Street, Bloomsbury, but became in the same year assistant to Nathaniel Taylor [q. v.] at Salters' Hall. He was ordained on 20 Oct. 1697, though apparently not of age, and continued as assistant to Taylor's successor, William Tong [q. v.], till in 1716 he was chosen co-pastor. He was a subscriber in 1719 at Salters' Hall [see Bradbury, Thomas]. In 1724 he succeeded Benjamin Robinson [q. v.] as one of the merchants' Tuesday lecturers at Salters' Hall. After Tong's death he was elected (1728) a trustee of the foundations of Daniel Williams, D.D. He long enjoyed great repute as a preacher, using no notes, and retaining the puritan style of laboured and lengthy discourses. His theology was of the old stamp; he was unaffected by the doctrinal changes of dissent. He gave great attention to the pastoral side of his ministry. After a few days' illness, he died on 25 July 1741, in his sixty-fifth year. He was buried at Bunhill Fields on 31 July; Philip Doddridge [q. v.], his intimate friend, delivered the funeral address; his funeral sermon was preached on 2 Aug. by John Barker (1682–1762) [q. v.], his successor. His portrait is in Dr. Williams's library, Gordon Square, London; an engraving from it, by Hopwood, is given in Wilson. His son, Samuel Newman (d. 31 May 1735, aged 28), was his assistant from 1728.
Wilson gives a list of nine of his separate sermons (1702–35), including funeral sermons for Taylor (1702) and Tong (1727). To these may be added a funeral sermon for Richard Mount (1722) and ‘The Importance of knowing Jesus Christ,’ &c., 1728, 8vo (two sermons).
[Wilson's Dissenting Churches of London, 1808 ii. 33 sq., 1814 iv. 376; Jeremy's Presbyterian Fund, 1885, p. 128.]