Abraham Newland

Abraham Newland (born c. 1730, died 21 November 1807 aged 77) was the chief cashier at the Bank of England from 1782 to 1807. The expression "an Abraham Newland" came to mean a bank note, because only his signature guaranteed a genuine Bank of England note.

Abraham was the son of William Newland and Anne Arnold. His father was a Southwark baker. ['Highbury, Upper Holloway and King's Cross', Old and New London: Volume 2 (1878), pp. 273-79. [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=45097 British History] . Date accessed: 15 May 2007.]

He slept in the Bank of England itself for 25 years, so he was largely a stranger to his own house adjoining Highbury Fields. ['Highbury, Upper Holloway and King's Cross', Old and New London: Volume 2 (1878), pp. 273-79. [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=45097 British History] . Date accessed: 15 May 2007.]

When he resigned in 1807, he declined an annuity but accepted a 1000-guinea service of plate. ['Highbury, Upper Holloway and King's Cross', Old and New London: Volume 2 (1878), pp. 273-79. [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=45097 British History] . Date accessed: 15 May 2007.]

When he died, he bequeathed many legacies to various family members, including Edmund Edwin, Yeoman Gentleman of Aldbury. He made his money mostly by speculating in shares of loans to the government, as a private investor. ['Highbury, Upper Holloway and King's Cross', Old and New London: Volume 2 (1878), pp. 273-79. [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=45097 British History] . Date accessed: 15 May 2007.]

References

* "The Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable".
* "The Book of Days: A Miscellany of Popular Antiquities", Robert Chambers, 1832.