John Edward Onley

John Edward Onley

John Edward Onley, a son of Watt Onley and Elizabeth (Betty) Green was born in born in Charles City County, Virginia, USA in October1834.

He was by trade a carpenter and freeborn. He had two uncles who were soldiers in the American Army victorious at Yorktown. He had relatives in the War of 1812, in the Civil War and a son in the Spanish-American War.

It is believed that both Charles Joseph (his brother) and John Edward Onley were educated within the community of people living on the Clarke & Folkes properties.

I think John Edward Onley in the 1850 census is important as it links him to Sally Folkes and the Folkes property. In 1850 U.S. Census of Philadelphia, PA Household of Elizabeth M. Parsons (62 Virginia born) includes Benjamin J. Crew (22 Druggist, Virginia born) Jacob L. Crew (20) and John Onley (14, mulatto and Virginia born).  Note age should be 16 according to other records.  Benjamin and Jacob Crew were nephews of Sally Folkes, wife of Edward Folkes.

He was in New York when the Great Race riot broke out in 1863 and was rescued, In 13-16 JUL 1863, by Abolitionist friends, according to his published obituary. He had traveled widely to the West Indies and to Central and South America. He settled as a successful carpenter/builder in Jacksonville Florida.

He was known for his great tenor singing voice.

He was married to Victoria Brown. His son Douglas Watson Onley had the first steam saw & planning mill, totally owned and operated by African Americans. John’s daughter, Anna married Florida’s Senator Henry Chandler.

John Edward Onley was a founding member of an African American church in Jacksonville, Florida

The history of Woodlawn Presbyterian Church dates back to long before the formal organization of the Third Presbyterian Church. For many blacks had been exposed to the worship services, doctrines and activities of Presbyterianism through their association and membership in First Presbyterian Church located at Ocean and Monroe Streets.

  In 1870 five years after the civil war the only African American Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville was organized under the leadership of John E. Onley. This is when a small group of saints met in the home of John E. Onley located at the corner of Julia and North Streets to consider organizing a Presbyterian Church with black leadership. There was unity of spirit and purpose shown for their central idea was absolute sovereignty in God and their supreme beliefs were in the Holy Bible.

  On Friday, February 11, 1870, the committee met to mature the best plan to keep up worship services. On February 12, 1870, the Rev. J. W.C. Pennington met with the committee in the office of Dr. Mitchell, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville. Sunday, February 27, 1870, Rev. Pennington preached the first sermon. This marked the first worship service of the first organized Third Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, Florida. In August 1875, the name of the church was changed to Laura Street Presbyterian Church located at Laura and State Streets in downtown Jacksonville.

   The phenomenal growth of the church and the expansion of downtown Jacksonville was so great that during the pastorate of the Rev. Wilbert B. Miller, the decision was made by the congregation to relocate.

During Rev. Franklin D. Wilson’s pastorate (1961-1977), the church was relocated to its present site. On December 31, 1961, Laura Street was officially named Woodlawn Presbyterian Church. [Reference: History (wpcjax.org)]

16 APR 1905 John Edward Onley died in Jacksonville, Duval, FL. Obituary states he was born in Jamestown, VA 71 years ago (1834). Internment is in Duval Cemetery.