Newby Family Genealogy & History

Chas Newby, a British musician, briefly served as the bassist for the Beatles during a series of performances in December 1960 when Stuart Sutcliffe was in Hamburg. Known for his association with Pete Best's group, The Black Jacks, Newby was a pivotal figure during the Beatles' early days. Though John Lennon invited him to join their next trip to West Germany, he chose to return to university. Paul McCartney eventually took over the bass role. Later in life, Newby taught mathematics and performed with the Quarrymen, the Beatles' precursor band, until his death in 2023 at age 81.

Paul Martin Newby, born on May 5, 1955, in Asheboro, North Carolina, is a prominent American judge known for his significant contributions to the North Carolina Supreme Court. Elected as an associate justice in 2004, Newby served multiple terms and was chosen as chief justice in 2020, defeating incumbent Cheri Beasley. With a background in public policy and law from Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Newby has also served as an assistant United States attorney and as an adjunct professor. His achievements include co-authoring a book on the North Carolina Constitution and contributing to legal education at Campbell University.

Eric Newby was a renowned English travel writer, celebrated for his adventurous spirit and vivid storytelling. His notable works include "A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush," "The Last Grain Race," and "A Small Place in Italy." During World War II, he served with distinction, earning the Military Cross for his bravery. Post-war, he ventured into the fashion industry and later became the Travel Editor for The Observer. Throughout his career, Newby received numerous accolades, including a CBE and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Guild of Travel Writers.

Newby was born in Barnes, London, and grew up near Hammersmith Bridge. His father, George, was involved in the wholesale dressmaking industry, while his mother, Minnie Hilda Pomeroy, was a former dress model at Harrods.

Dangerfield F. Newby, a prominent figure in John Brown's 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry, was one of the five Black raiders and the oldest among them. Born around 1820 in Culpeper County, Virginia, Newby was a freedman who worked as a blacksmith in Ohio. His efforts to free his enslaved wife, Harriet Vincent Newby, and their seven children, were thwarted when their owner raised the price of their freedom. His involvement in the raid was partly motivated by his desire to liberate his family. Tragically, Newby was killed during the raid, and his body was subjected to brutal indignities.

Dangerfield Newby was born into a complex family context, being the son of Henry Newby, a white landowner, and Elsey Newby, an enslaved woman owned by a neighbor. The couple lived together in Fauquier County, Virginia, but were legally unable to marry. Dangerfield was their first child, and his father eventually freed the family by moving them to Bridgeport, Ohio. Harriet Newby, Dangerfield's wife, later remarried William Robinson, a Union Army soldier, and together they raised his children. The Newby family has descendants still residing in the D.C. area as of 1991.