 The Newports were one of the leading families in Shropshire, a county dominated throughout the 16th century by its landed gentry, although they had land in several other counties.Thomas Newport himself greatly expanded the Newports' wealth.John Leland observed that "This man, and Mitton of Cotton by Shrobsbyri had Syr John Boroues landes in Shropshir and Warwik."