There is strong evidence to indicate that Mary (Polly) Whitehead cohabitated with Watt Only, Sr. Watt was the father of her children.
4 OCT 1857 Charles D. Only (son of Henry and Mary Elizabeth Jackson) was born in Charles City County. The birth was reported by Watt Sr. “Hd of Fam.” (Note: he is not described as the grandfather.) This listing follows immediately after the listing for Lucy Whitehead (born Sep. 1857) whose birth was reported by her mother Mary Whitehead.
1860 Census of Charles City County Watt Only (48) (instead of 38) is head of household with Mildred Green (28) and children Martha (13), Saloma (3), Elias (10) and Harriet (1). (Note: Sally Henry is missing, as is Mary who was listed in the 1850 Census. Note also: Household of Robert McCurdy also lists Elias Green (5) and Martha (12).) Mary Whitehead (50) is head of household including her children Betsy (16), Cato (13), Cornelius (10), Elijah (8), Mary A. and (6), Seiny (4), as well as Watt Only (65) (born @ 1795). Henry Only (27 mulatto) is listed with wife Mary and three children Willie (7) (born@ 1853), Charles (5) (born @ 1855), Benjamin (3) (born @ 1857). (Note: this listing shows a child (Willie) born before Henry and Mary were married and whose birth does not appear in the CCC Birth Register.)
Several of the descendants of Charles Joseph Onley, in Australia, have received a DNA report reflecting a strong link to a descendant of Cornelius Whitehead, son of Mary and Watt.
Charles City County Richard M. Bowman Center for Local History on Facebook (October 31, 2016) reflects the family of Cornelius Whitehead (grandson of Mary Whitehead) taken about 1959. Cornelius appears in the center of the photo.
Our Family History 