Although John Newbery was the son of a small farmer, living in an obscure and remote Berkshire village, it is noticeable that he came of a stock which had been intimately associated with books. Ralph or Rafe Newberie (sic), from whom, according to a pedigree in possession of the present family, he traced his descent, was one of the greatest publishers at the end of the sixteenth century, who had his printing house in Fleet Street, a little above the Conduit. He was Warden of the Stationers' Company in 1583, and Master in 1598 and in 1601; he gave a stock of books, and the privilege of printing, to be sold for the benefit of Christ's Hospital and Bridewell. His first book is dated 1560, and his name appears on many of the most important publications of his day, such as “Hakluyt's Voyages,” “Holinshed's Chronicles,” a handsome Latin Bible, in folio (by Junius, Tremellius, &c.), 1593, which he published in conjunction with George Bishop and R. Barker. Among the other productions of his press may be noted “Eclogues, Epitaphs,” &c., 1563; “Stow's Annals,” 1592 and 1601; “A Book of the Inuention of the Art of Nauigation,” London, 1578, 4to; “An Ancient Historie and Curious Chronicle,” London, 1578; “A Remonstrance, or plain detection of some of the faults and hideous Sores of such sillie Syllogismes and Impertinent allegations, out of Sundrie Pamphlets and Rhapsodies as are cobled vp into a Book, intituled, A Demonstration of Discipline, etc.,” Lond., 1590, 8vo. In the same year he printed, in Greek types, “Joannis Chrysostomi,” &c.