Jack O'Newbury
Encyclopedia
Jack O'Newbury was the much-used nickname
of John Winchcombe, otherwise John Smallwood, one of the richest and most influential English
cloth merchant
s of the late 15th and early 16th century. As the nickname suggests, he resided in Newbury
in Berkshire
.
in Gloucestershire
, after which he later took his formal surname. He was set to work at the abbey
there, but ran away in order to seek his fortune. He became a cloth worker in Newbury where he apparently came to the attention of his master's wife. Upon this clothier's death, he was tricked into marrying the widowed lady and so quickly became the proprietor of one of the largest wool
manufacturing establishments in the country. He is said to have set up the first factory
in England
, sent troops to the battle of Flodden and refused a knighthood from King Henry VIII
. His story is told by Thomas Deloney
in his Pleasant History of John Winchcombe and less fully in Thomas Fuller
's History of the Worthies of England.
Jack was a great patron of Newbury and the site of his house can still be seen off Northbrook Street. Contemporary panelling
from this building can be seen in West Berkshire Museum
. He began the rebuilding of St. Nicolas Church in 1500 and was buried there under an extant brass memorial
upon his death in February 1519. His vast fortune was inherited by his eldest son, John Winchcombe II.
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
of John Winchcombe, otherwise John Smallwood, one of the richest and most influential English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
cloth merchant
Cloth merchant
Cloth merchant is, strictly speaking, like a draper, the term for any vendor of cloth. However, it is generally used for one who owned and/or ran a cloth manufacturing and/or wholesale import and/or export business in the Middle Ages or 16th and 17th centuries...
s of the late 15th and early 16th century. As the nickname suggests, he resided in Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
.
Biography
Jack was supposedly born, John Smallwood, at WinchcombeWinchcombe
Winchcombe is a Cotswold town in the local authority district of Tewkesbury, in Gloucestershire, England. Its population according to the 2001 census was 4,379.-Early history:...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, after which he later took his formal surname. He was set to work at the abbey
Winchcombe Abbey
Winchcombe Abbey is a now-vanished Benedictine abbey in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, this abbey was once the capital of Mercia, an Anglo Saxon kingdom at the time of the Heptarchy in England. The Abbey was founded c. 798 for three hundred Benedictine monks, by King Offa of Mercia or King Kenulf. In...
there, but ran away in order to seek his fortune. He became a cloth worker in Newbury where he apparently came to the attention of his master's wife. Upon this clothier's death, he was tricked into marrying the widowed lady and so quickly became the proprietor of one of the largest wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
manufacturing establishments in the country. He is said to have set up the first factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, sent troops to the battle of Flodden and refused a knighthood from King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. His story is told by Thomas Deloney
Thomas Deloney
Thomas Deloney was an English novelist and balladist.He appears to have worked as a silk-weaver in Norwich, but was in London by 1586, and in the course of the next ten years is known to have written about fifty ballads, some of which got him into trouble, and caused him to keep a low profile for...
in his Pleasant History of John Winchcombe and less fully in Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his Worthies of England, published after his death...
's History of the Worthies of England.
Jack was a great patron of Newbury and the site of his house can still be seen off Northbrook Street. Contemporary panelling
Panelling
Panelling is a wall covering constructed from rigid or semi-rigid components. These are traditionally interlocking wood, but could be plastic or other materials....
from this building can be seen in West Berkshire Museum
West Berkshire Museum
The West Berkshire Museum is a museum located in Newbury, Berkshire. Established in 1904, the museum houses various artworks and collections. The museum is housed in two of Newbury's most historic buildings. The Cloth Hall was built in 1626-1627 by Richard Emmes, a master carpenter of Speenhamland...
. He began the rebuilding of St. Nicolas Church in 1500 and was buried there under an extant brass memorial
Monumental brass
Monumental brass is a species of engraved sepulchral memorial which in the early part of the 13th century began to partially take the place of three-dimensional monuments and effigies carved in stone or wood...
upon his death in February 1519. His vast fortune was inherited by his eldest son, John Winchcombe II.