Charles Joseph Onley
Watt and Betty are the parents of Charles Joseph Onley
(also known as Joseph Charles) who settled in Australia in Jan 1861. Charles Joseph Onley started the family line in Australia. The uniform is a South Australian railway uniform.
Charles Joseph Onley was born according to information in his Australian Statutory Declaration for Naturalization signed 05 JUL 1909. His age is listed as 72. His place of birth is listed as Richmond, State of Virginia, Country of America. His Australian residency is listed as 50 years, indicating arrival in 1859. His railway employee record card lists his date of birth as 18 SEP 1837. Other records also place his birth in 1837. Note: Charles Joseph is the only child who appears rather clearly to have been born after Betty was sold back into slavery, raising the question of whether Betty was his mother.
Charles Joseph Onley jumped ship from a British Freighter in Australia in 1860. He jumped ship from the Edward Thornhill on the Port of Adelaide 29- 6 – 1859. It is recorded on Charles Joseph Onleys naturalization papers that his father was Watson Onley. The Great Grandchildren of Charles’ family has a lot of history reflecting Charles disembarking in Australia, but nothing from anywhere else.
FEB 1861 Charles Joseph Onley listed as a deserter from the British cargo ship Countess of Fife, which sailed from London 19 SEP 1860 and arrived in Adelaide 03 JAN 1861. It appears that Charles Joseph had signed on to the Countess of Fife in Adelaide, but never boarded and had not commenced as a crew member so he was not a deserter. The record shows that a Charles Only, aged 23, born in the USA, previous ship Edward Thornhill, not literate (he made his mark on the agreement rather than sign his name), signed on at Adelaide 31st January 1861 in the capacity of AB., for a wage of 4 pounds, 10 shillings per month.
3 JAN 1862 Charles Joseph Onley married Mary Ann Abbott in Adelaide, South Australia. Marriage license lists age as 24 (born 1837) and father as Watson Onley. No mother is listed. Mary Ann was a white woman and her descendants have identified themselves as white. Charles Joseph worked as a porter on the railways. Charles Joseph and Mary Ann named their children: Maria Elizabeth, Arthur Joseph, Eliza Jane, Ada May, Charles Simeon (called) Henry, Walter Charles, William Albert (called Frederick/Frank), Eva Ethel, and John Watson.
19 MAR 1922 Charles Joseph Onley died in South Australia. The certificate indicates he was 85 years of age, a resident for 65 years and died of a cerebral hemorrhage. His place of birth is listed as South America (possibly southern part of U.S.).
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. (See “Mary Whitehead” page)
Charles J. Onley
USA Seamen’s Protection Certificate
Australian Marriage Certificate (Mary Ann Abbott)
This is a photo of Charles Joseph Onley with his son Charles Simeon and grandson Charles. Jefferson and his great-grandson Ronald Jefferson Onley
Our Family History 