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William Newton (poet)
Encyclopedia
William Newton the Peak Minstrel was born near Abney
, in the parish of Eyam
, Derbyshire
on 28 November 1750. He was well regarded by other more notable writers and made his fortune as a partner in a mill in Tideswell
; where he died in 1830. His poetry is said to have led to an end to gibbetting in Derbyshire.
Newton was born at "Cockey Farm" near Abney. He was a carpenter's son and after attending a dame's school, worked at that trade. He soon showed mechanical skill in constructing spinning-wheels, and was apprenticed for seven years as machinery carpenter in a mill in Monsal Dale
. Due to his own interest he purchased books, chiefly poetry, and his own efforts in verse were soon noticed by Peter Cunningham, who was curate to Thomas Seward at Eyam. In the summer of 1783 Newton was introduced to Anna Seward
, who corresponded with him until her death.
Seward showed his verses to William Hayley
and other literary friends, who formed
a high estimate of them. Beyond a sonnet to Miss Seward , verses to Peter Cunningham, and others in a Sheffield newspaper, few seemed to have survived. Sonnets were addressed to Newton by Peter Cunningham, by Miss Seward, and by one Lister; while Miss Seward also wrote a published letter.
, Derbyshire, and is buried in St John the Baptist's churchyard. He left 2,000 pounds to the church in Egginton
. Newton had married
early in life Helen Cook (b. 1753), by whom he had several children. His wife Helen died only eight days after her husband. His eldest son, William (1785-1851), supplied Tideswell
with good water at his own expense.
In 1834, the practice of gibbetting was abolished in Derbyshire and a poem by Newton was given much of the credit. The poem was about "The supposed soliloquy of a Father under the Gibbet of his son, upon one of the Peak Mountains near Wardlow
."
‘Art thou, my son, suspended here on high,
Ah! What a sight to meet a father’s eye!
To see what I prized most, what most I loved,
What most I cherished - and once approved,
Hung in mid air to feed the nauseous worm,
And waving horrid in the midnight storm.
If crime demand it, let the offender die,
But let no more the Gibbet brave the sky;
No more let vengeance on the dead be hurl’d,
But hide the victim from a gazing world,’
Abney, Derbyshire
-Notable residents:William Newton, poet was born near Abney at Cockey Farm....
, in the parish of Eyam
Eyam
Eyam is a small village in Derbyshire, England. The village is best known for being the "plague village" that chose to isolate itself when the plague was discovered there in August 1665, rather than let the infection spread...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
on 28 November 1750. He was well regarded by other more notable writers and made his fortune as a partner in a mill in Tideswell
Tideswell
Tideswell is a village and civil parish in the Peak District of Derbyshire, in England. It lies east of Buxton on the B6049, in a wide dry valley on a limestone plateau, at an altitude of above sea level, and is within the District of Derbyshire Dales...
; where he died in 1830. His poetry is said to have led to an end to gibbetting in Derbyshire.
Biography
Monsal Dale
Monsal Dale is a valley in the Peak District of Derbyshire in England.In geological history this area of Derbyshire was long ago under water, and is formed from a subsequent uplift of resultant sedimentary deposits, known as the Derbyshire Dome...
. Due to his own interest he purchased books, chiefly poetry, and his own efforts in verse were soon noticed by Peter Cunningham, who was curate to Thomas Seward at Eyam. In the summer of 1783 Newton was introduced to Anna Seward
Anna Seward
Anna Seward was an English Romantic poet, often called the Swan of Lichfield.-Life:Seward was the elder daughter of Thomas Seward , prebendary of Lichfield and Salisbury, and author...
, who corresponded with him until her death.
Seward showed his verses to William Hayley
William Hayley
William Hayley was an English writer, best known as the friend and biographer of William Cowper.-Biography:...
and other literary friends, who formed
a high estimate of them. Beyond a sonnet to Miss Seward , verses to Peter Cunningham, and others in a Sheffield newspaper, few seemed to have survived. Sonnets were addressed to Newton by Peter Cunningham, by Miss Seward, and by one Lister; while Miss Seward also wrote a published letter.
Legacy
Miss Seward finally helped him to become part-owner of a cotton mill in Cressbrook Dale, and he became wealthy. Newton built a school and a row of cottages near Cressborrok mill for his workers. He died on 3 Nov. 1830 at TideswellTideswell
Tideswell is a village and civil parish in the Peak District of Derbyshire, in England. It lies east of Buxton on the B6049, in a wide dry valley on a limestone plateau, at an altitude of above sea level, and is within the District of Derbyshire Dales...
, Derbyshire, and is buried in St John the Baptist's churchyard. He left 2,000 pounds to the church in Egginton
Egginton
Egginton is a village in the local government district of South Derbyshire, England. It is located just off Ryknild Street, otherwise known as the A38, between Derby and Stretton, Burton upon Trent. It is historically a farming community...
. Newton had married
early in life Helen Cook (b. 1753), by whom he had several children. His wife Helen died only eight days after her husband. His eldest son, William (1785-1851), supplied Tideswell
Tideswell
Tideswell is a village and civil parish in the Peak District of Derbyshire, in England. It lies east of Buxton on the B6049, in a wide dry valley on a limestone plateau, at an altitude of above sea level, and is within the District of Derbyshire Dales...
with good water at his own expense.
In 1834, the practice of gibbetting was abolished in Derbyshire and a poem by Newton was given much of the credit. The poem was about "The supposed soliloquy of a Father under the Gibbet of his son, upon one of the Peak Mountains near Wardlow
Wardlow
Wardlow is a parish and linear village in the Derbyshire Dales two miles from Tideswell, Derbyshire, England. The small village contains the church of the Good Shepherd, and within the settlement is the small hamlet of Wardlow Mires which contains a notable pub...
."
‘Art thou, my son, suspended here on high,
Ah! What a sight to meet a father’s eye!
To see what I prized most, what most I loved,
What most I cherished - and once approved,
Hung in mid air to feed the nauseous worm,
And waving horrid in the midnight storm.
If crime demand it, let the offender die,
But let no more the Gibbet brave the sky;
No more let vengeance on the dead be hurl’d,
But hide the victim from a gazing world,’