150 Years in Australia - Charles and Martha (Purser) Olney

http://olneyfamilyarchives.blogspot.com.au

"The Medway"  - The ship Charles and Martha Olney and 9 children travelled on, arriving in Geelong on 9 August 1849.

The following extracts are from "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" compiled by Keith R.Collyer Page 22.

"The Charles Olney family from Pulloxhill were assisted migrants arriving at Geelong on 9 August 1849 on the "Medway", an immigrant vessel of 654 tons with 271 migrants. The parents, Charles (44) from Pulloxhill and Martha (42) (nee Purser), from Harlington, were accompanied by five sons and four daughters. Charles was tragically shot, aged 64, Martha lived to be 82, and one hundred descendants were born in Australia in her lifetime.

They were engaged as agricultural workers in a time of economic depression and probably expected to follow agriculture permanently. The discovery of gold in 1851 at nearby Ballarat changed all that, and for many years all their families were employed as miners, carriers, storekeepers and publicans for the gold industry. They generally married English spouses and “home” was Bedfordshire or at least England. Those who did well financially, bought land and re-established English village life in rural communities, devoted to fruit or wheat growing. The early generations had a big proportion surviving eighty years. The families have supported the Methodist Church significantly over the years. Many served in the Australian Forces in France in the Great War and others in WWII.

There are over three thousand descendants of Charles and Martha, mostly living within one hundred kilometres of Geelong. There are also a significant number in Western Australia. Statistics of their descendants (as at 1999) who were born with the Olney surname may be of interest".

The following chart is from "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" compiled by Keith R.Collyer Page 22.

Generation	Olney Male	Olney Female	All descendants of Charles and Martha Olney
Children born 1824-1846	5	5	10
Grandchildren born 1847-1890	27	30	90
Great grandchildren born 1876-1930	52	41	over 228
Great great grandchildren born 1901-1966	41	41	over 413
Great great great grandchildren born 1924-1990	41	47	over 956
Great great great great grandchildren born 1950-	14	17	over 1136
Great great great great great grandchildren born 1970-	2	2	over 205

The following chart is from "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" compiled by Keith R.Collyer Page 81-81.

DESCENDANTS OF CHARLES AND MARTHA OLNEY’S CHILDREN

as at 9 August 1999

			children	grand	great	great	great	Family
				children	grand	great	great	total
					children	grand	great
						children	grand
							children
A		Sarah Swain	0
N		Phoebe Bradshaw	0
N		James PECK	4
		Charles PECK	0
		William PECK	0
		George PECK	0
		Henry PECK	1					12
E		Sarah Phoebe Rutland	0
L		William John RUTLAND	0
I		Charles James RUTLAND	8	14	34	40	2
Z		Emily Prosser	0
A		Ellen Rutland	0
B		Matthew John RUTLAND	1	0
E		Albert Edwin RUTLAND	1	0
T		Caroline Hinds	1	2	7	17
H		Ellen Prosser	2	5	19	26		188
C		Ann Martha Lovitt	6	20	49	122	103
H		Susanna Doorn Bradish	2	2	3	8	7
A		Phoebe Elizabeth Fricke	2	3	8	13
R		Charles Robert OLNEY	4	2	5	10
L		Rhoda Sheppard Stephens	3	0
E		Ernest Edward OLNEY	5	9	21	19
S		James Ansell OLNEY	6	9	16	13
		Herbert Horace OLNEY, Kt	1	2	4	7	4
		George Hadley OLNEY	2	3	15	18
		Percy Franklin OLNEY	2	8	20	21		587
F		Sarah Ann Whitehorn	1	2	7	13	10
R		Francis David OLNEY	3	2	3	6	7
A		Martha Eva Eldridge	3	7	22	22
N		Charles Stephen OLNEY	0
C		Adeline Mary Hebbard	1	0
I		Adeline Mary Batchelor	0
S		Kezia Jessie Rosser	0
		Ruth Elizabeth Olney	0					116
D		David Benjamin OLNEY	6	10	32	55	13
A		Charles Francis OLNEY	8	20	59	93	2
V		Letitia Brown	6	21	54	91	34
I		Letitia Cooper	0
D		Phoebe Olney	0
		Margaret Randle	1	3
		Margaret Belcher	3	3
		Margaret Burnett	1	0
		Martha Rowe	1	1	0
		Thomas OLNEY	2	9	14	14
		William OLNEY	3	8	36	99	8
		James OLNEY	3	1	0
		Frederick OLNEY	0
		Edwin OLNEY	4	2	3	1
		Henry OLNEY	3	2	6	3
		Frederick OLNEY	7	27	54	129	11
		Arthur OLNEY	3	1	0
		Alfred Ernest OLNEY	3	7	19	38	1
		Walter Ernest OLNEY	5	7	13	4
		Annie Louisa Olney	0
		Elizabeth Olney	0					1085

				children	grand	great	great	great	Family
					children	grand	great	great	total
						children	grand	great
							children	grand
								children
J		William OLNEY		0
O		Elizabeth Oram		11	30	64	97	1
H		Sarah Olney		0
N		Martha Olney		0
		Emily Powell		1	0
		Annie Phoebe Fitzgerald		2	3	3
		Sarah Ann Irving		7	12	25	28
		Victoria Isabella Mack		8	19	37	3
		John Charles OLNEY		11	20	27	3
		Edith Lilian Batson		5	16	50	15
		Ethel May Pluck		0					509
		Edward Robert OLNEY		7	10	21	12
		Clarence Hadley OLNEY		6	21	47	4
		Rhoda Sheppard Olney		0
		Florence Howard		7	13	30	3		185
E		Mary Ann Rutland		0
M		Elizabeth Pitman		3	10	14
M		Jane Collyer		8	12	40	36
A		Mary McCallum		9	13	31	51	2
		William John RUTLAND		0
		Arthur Alfred RUTLAND		1	0				236
W		Emmeline Florence Fergus		3	3	7
I		Alfred George OLNEY		0
L		Laura May Olney		0
L		Ernest Henry OLNEY		0
I		Hilda Blanche Olney		0
A		William Charles OLNEY		0
M		Ruby Alice Hordern		2	2	2			26
M		Robert Friend CAPP (a)		0
A		Robert Friend CAPP (b)		4	2	5	1
R		Charles CAPP (a)		0
T		Charles CAPP (b)		0
H		Rhoda Sheppard Rose		7	11	27	22
A		Samuel Hadley CAPP		2	3	6
		Frederick CAPP		3	4	16	5
		Herbert CAPP		3	2	6	16
		Annie Capp		0
		Ernest CAPP		2	5	1			164
		Florence Capp		0
TOTALS								OVERALL
		90		230	423	982	1178	205	3108
Generations in Australia			first	second	third	fourth	fifth	sixth

This table is known to be incomplete, but was revised following the reunion at Geelong. We thank the reunionists for their assistance.

The following Chart is from "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" compiled by Keith R.Collyer Page 23. 

The following extracts are from "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" compiled by Keith R.Collyer Page 24 - 25.

Immigration of Olney Relatives and In-laws

The Swinnerton family including Louisa arrived at Melbourne on the "Wallace" in November 1841. Louisa Jane Swinnerton married David Olney on  25 December 1854 in Geelong.

Shipping Records, Public Records Office, Victoria

"Saxon" arrived at Point Henry, Geelong, June 1849 Book 4A p. 108

Capp    Robert Friend                 54 years       labourer

Capp    Ann Hadley                    51 years       housekeeper

Capp    Robert F.                        20 years

Capp    Frederick                        17 years

Capp    Ann Elizabeth Fagg        12 years

Capp    Ansell                             10 years

Employer:        William Roadknight, Geelong - stock jobbing

Also on this voyage were daughter Rhoda Sheppard Bayley and son-in-law Edward Bayley, future parents of Ann Hadley Bayley (second wife of John Olney).

Shipping Records, Public Records Office, Victoria

The "Medway" arrived at Point Henry, Geelong, 9 August 1849, sailing from London and the Downs on 27 April 1849, weighing 654 tons. Capt. Abel Mackwood had 271 migrants on board. Passengers included Charles and Martha Olney and their 9 children.  Their eldest daughter Ann remained in England as she married James Peck 2 October 1846.

It is likely that William Rutland arrived on this voyage also, recorded as William Ruttleton.  The voyage is described in detail in "The Somerset Years by Florence Chuk, pages 120 - 121.

130    Olney          Charles             Farm servant     44 years

131    Olney          Margaret           Housekeeper      43 years          (should be Martha)

132    Olney          Elizabeth          D                        20 years

133    Olney          Charles             S                        18 years

134    Olney          Francis             S                        16 years

135    Olney          David                S                        14 years

136    Olney          John                 S                        12 years

137    Olney          Emma               D                         9 years

138    Olney          William             S                          8 years

139    Olney          Martha             D                          5 years

140    Olney          Phoebe             D                          2 years

233    Ruttleton    William             Ploughman         18 years          (unmarried)                    

Intended residence: (employer)

Charles Olney             (John Highett, Barabool Hills)            Spa    15   with rations

Francis Olney             (Mr Hutchinson, Geelong)                   Spa    10   with rations

David Olney                (Mr Beamish, Point Henry)                 Spa      9   with rations

John Olney                 (Mr Hutchinson, Geelong)                  Spa      7   with rations

William Ruttleton       (Mr Roadknight, Geelong)                   Spa    18   no rations

Ed: Spa is sovereigns per annum, say 1S = $200 today.

Also on the "Medway" arriving 9 August 1849 were James Spendelow and Family. James was the best man at the marriage of Charles and Martha. They are mentioned in Letters 1, 9 and 12.

          Spendelow      James      Ag. Labourer               48 years

          Spendelow      Maria       Housekeeper               40 years    (nee Pedder)

          Ashby              Sarah      Widowed daughter      24 years

          Spendelow      Mary        daughter                      24 years

          Spendelow      Fanny      daughter                       21 years

          Spendelow      Ann         daughter                       16 years

          Spendelow      Betsy       daughter                       11 years

          Spendelow      Eliza        daughter                        7 years                       

The Hewitt family including Elizabeth arrived at Point Henry on 27 October 1851 on the "Constance" (see The Somerset Years pp. 147- 148)

The King family including Mary Ann arrived at Point Henry on 28 September 1854 on the "Joshua" (see Somerset Years p. 275)

The arrival of George Rutland has not been verified - he was still at Pulloxhill according to the 1851 census.

James Neal born 1815, arrived in South Australia in 1856 on the "Blundell",

occupation carpenter. Husband of Louisa (who died in 1854) and sister of Charles senior (see Letter 9).

William Arnold, mentioned in the Geelong letters, was a friend of Charles Olney jnr and a son of William and Sarah Arnold from Pulloxhill. From the records of assisted migrants, William Arnold arrived at Melbourne on the "Duchess of Northumberland" in January 1849. He was a twenty-year old bricklayer born at Greenfield, the next village to Pulloxhill. He was an Episcopalian, could read and write, had his own Bible and was unmarried. In 1854 he married, living near James Sharpe in Chilwell and employed John Olney as a bricklayer. He died in Victoria in 1856.

The following extracts are from "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" compiled by Keith R.Collyer Page 25.

 The "Medway" Voyage

"What caused Charles and Martha Olney and their family to migrate?

Their family structure was different from their neighbours, who had a large number of children but many died quite young. Charles and Martha lost only Phoebe at a young age so their family was larger than most. Perhaps access to their family butcher’s shop resulted in a better diet. Their health was well above normal and they and many of their children and Australian-born grandchildren lived to be over 75, which was about fifty percent longer than normal.

As assisted migrants, their parish provided capital for food, clothing and tools. The "Medway" was great transport and a testimony to the kindness of the Captain and the Surgeon indicated. The death of only one adult and one child during the voyage confirmed their competence. With 77 children and 10 infants on board the vessel was crowded. As usual, each adult was allowed sleeping space of eighteen inches by six feet, and children under 14 had half this, in bunks below their parents.

The final route was cold and lengthy, being via the Cape of Good Hope then east using the roaring forties winds.  Later vessels tpook less time because they went further south on a great circle (the shortest route).  The account given by Charles (snr.) to his daughter on arrival tells us little, but the book "The Somerset Years" by Florence Chuk referred to in the Biolography on page 106 is fairly detailed".

The following photos are from "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" compiled by Keith R.Collyer Page 26.

Olney Family Passengers on the "Medway", 1849

 No Photo is available of Phoebe as she died aged 3.)

Passengers on "The Medway" 1849

The following Inquest Papers and Obituaries are from "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" compiled by Keith R.Collyer Page 59 - 60.

Inquest Papers and Obituaries

INQUEST 1868 No. 322

CHARLES OLNEY

Accidentally shot

Finding

10th day of April 1868 at Mt Colete Connewarre Charles Olney went out in the company with others beating for shooting rabbits when the gun which one Squire Ward held in his right hand and was carrying, discharged. The trigger of the said gun caught in the scrub as he (the said Squire Ward) was passing at the moment, such that the contents of the said gun were discharged in the face and neck of the said Charles Olney inflicting such injury to the said Charles Olney as then and there to cause his instant death.

And so the jurors aforesaid on the oaths aforesaid do say that the said Charles Olney his manner and means aforesaid accidentally casualty by misfortune came by his death at the hands of the said Squire Ward and not otherwise, no blame being attached to the said Squire Ward.

Wm Lennox, Farmer. I recognise the body now shown to the jury as that of Charles Olney of Connewarra, farmer. I have known him for the last 23 years, he has been in good health up to this day.     Mt Colete 10 April 1868.

Evidence of Charles Olney, grandson aged 11 years.

I have been stopping with my grandfather. I left home with him this morning for the purpose of rabbit shooting on this hill. We knew that several people were coming to shoot and came to see the shooting. I was within three or four yards of my grandfather. We were both beating the bushes for the rabbits. I heard a gun go off and saw my grandfather drop down. I looked around and saw smoke coming from Mr Ward's gun who was a short distance from the deceased. Grandfather never spoke or moved after. There was no quarrelling or angry words amongst any of the party. They were all on the best of terms and grandfather assisting them.

Evidence of Squire Ward

The deceased was a total stranger to me.

The grave of Charles Olney (1806-1868) is in the Geelong Eastern Cemetery at

141 Ormond Road, Geelong. The official location is COE OA506. This can be found by looking in a westerly direction from the Administration Office towards the Church of England Section and a large peppercorn tree. The grave and headstone are under this tree.

Martha’s plot is recorded by the Geelong Cemeteries Trust as COE OA146. The headstone at this location says “Frank Dalton, 22 years, died 2 August 1881, second son of James and Mary Dalton”. The Trust cannot explain why Martha is recorded at this location. A plaque has been added to Charles’ headstone (circa 1990) referring to Martha.  

Charles and Martha’s daughter Phoebe, who died in 1850, is said to have been buried in the same Cemetery, unfortunately the Trust has no record of her plot.

INQUEST 1889 No. 36

MARTHA OLNEY

Irrewarra

Disease of the heart

Evidence of William RUTLAND, a fruitgrower at Irrewarra.

The deceased was my mother-in-law and resided with me. She was 82 years of age the 30th of last November. I was called in by my daughter Caroline this morning at about 7 o'clock who said, "father I think grandmother is dead". I went into the deceased's bedroom and felt her hands and found they were cold. I also felt her body which was warm but felt perfectly satisfied she was dead. She has not been attended by any doctor for the past twelve months but prior to that she was attended by Dr Pincott, who said he could do nothing for her, all that could be done for her was to give her proper nourishment and good nursing. Since she came to me which was about 12 or 14 months ago she enjoyed very fair health and continued to do so until the time of her death.

(William Rutland 7.1.1889)

Tombstone of Charles Olney at Geelong Eastern Cemetery taken 2003

Martha Olney (it is believed photo taken 1868 after Charles died)

The following Obituary is from "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" compiled by Keith R.Collyer Page 60.

OBITUARY

JOHN OLNEY

Report from Geelong Advertiser (Edited where reporter had errors in names.)

JOHN OLNEY, late of Mt. Moriac, died Geelong, 17 April 1918.

The funeral will leave his son's residence at Mt. Moriac on the 19th for Church of England Portion, Mt. Moriac cemetery, Reservoir Road (second row, left from gate).

John Olney was born in Bedfordshire, England in July 1837. He arrived in Victoria in 1849 with his parents, when 12 years of age. Soon after arrival in Geelong he was employed by Shipmate Smith in helping to erect St Paul's Church Geelong; later he followed the gold mining at Ballarat and Bendigo, with varied success. At 24 Years of age he married Miss Elizabeth Hewitt (members of whose family are still resident in Warracknabeal in 1918). At that time he carried on the business of general storekeeper at Happy Valley. In 1874 he took up land at Rupanyup North, being one of the first settlers in that district, where he went in largely for wheat growing.

His wife predeceased him in 1885, the surviving members of the family being Mrs J Oram, Joel Joel; Mrs G Fitzgerald, Dimboola; Mrs GB Irving, Winchelsea; Mrs W Mack, Narrandera Rd., Wagga Wagga; JC Olney, Mt. Moriac; Mrs H Batson, Winchelsea; Mrs RC Kingley Pluck, Melbourne.

A few years later he again resided in Geelong and married (1889) Miss Annie Bayley, there being three surviving children of the second marriage: ER Olney, Bambra; CH Olney, Bambra and Mrs W Howard, Boonah.

In 1891 he came to Mt. Moriac and again entered into business, which is now being conducted by his eldest son (Mr JC Olney).

Shooting has always been his favourite pastime, and being an adept with the gun he has bagged some fine hauls of game during his career on every place worthy of note from Corangamite to the Grampians.

Again tiring of business he purchased the Brickmakers estate, (Ed: about 12 km South of Winchelsea, Victoria) where he resided almost to the time of his death, which took place in a private hospital in Geelong, after three years of patient suffering.

At the funeral:

Sons: J.C., E. R., C. H. Olney

Sons-in-law: H. Batson, W. Howard, G. B. Irving

Brother-in-law: H. Dupe

Nephews: W. R. Prosser, R. Hinds, C. Rutland

Grandsons: C. G. Batson, E. N. Batson

Messrs G. Moodey, D. Irving, T. Irving, W. Anderson and D. McPhee

Rev. Tinniswood of St Matthews Church, Geelong.

I acknowledge and give credit to the copyright work of Keith R.Collyer (desceased) in his book "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney". Pages 22 - 26, 59 - 60, 79.

OLNEY FAMILY JEWELLERY (photos taken 2005)

Fob Watch worn by Ann Elizabeth Fagg Capp, wife of Charles Olney, eldest son of Charles and Martha Olney. Valmai Olney inherited the watch from Lilian Judge (nee Stephens) in 1981.

Fob Watch worn by Ann Elizabeth Fagg Olney (nee Capp), passed down to Rhoda Stephens (nee Olney), to Lilian Judge (nee Stephens), to Valmai Olney (nee Feakes) in 1981.

Diamond and ruby ring was worn by Ann Elizabeth Fagg Olney (nee Capp) and remodelled by Gwendoline Bennett (nee Stephens) when she inherited it from her mother Rhoda Stephens (nee Olney). Gwendoline's sister Lilian Judge (nee Stephens) inherited the ring, then it was passed down to Lila Olney (nee McKay) and onto Valmai Olney (nee Feakes) in 1994. 

Necklace worn by Rhoda Sheppard Stephens (nee Olney).  Possibly made by her husband Francis W.Stephens, Jeweller & Watchmaker. Valmai Olney (nee Feakes) inherited the necklace from Lilian Judge (nee Stephens) in 1981. The green and gold stones were mined locally.

Charles Olney, eldest son of Charles and Martha Olney, was born on 28 August 1831, christened 16 December 1830 at Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire, died  22 August 1906 at Prahran, buried 24 August 1906 at Kew now Boroondara Cemetery in O/D A0204.

Ann Elizabeth Fagg Olney (nee Capp) was born on 6 January 1837 at Sholden, Deal, Kent, died 31 July 1918 and buried 1 August 1918 at Kew now Boroondara Cemetery in O/D A0204.

Ross Olney, Lyn Olney, Joy & Peter Olney visited the grave of Charles and Ann Olney at Boroondara Cemetery, Kew in August 2013. (Barbara Olney took the photo)

Fond memory of Charles, beloved husband of Ann Olney, born August 28th 1831, died August 22nd 1906. At rest.  Also the above Ann Olney, died 31st July 1918, aged 81 years.  "Peace, perfect peace".   Also Ann Lovitt, died 27th November 1925, aged 68 years.

Please note: Ross Olney was the keeper of the Olney family tree, but in 2020 he handed it onto myself.  If you have information that needs to be corrected or added to, please contact Joy Olney at joyolney@gmail.com

You can order your own hard copy of "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" by clicking on -
http://olneygenealogy.weebly.com

If you wish to contact the author of these Olney Family Archives blogs with corrections or further information email Joy Olney - joyolney@gmail.com

These blogs have been written as another way of sharing the Olney family history with those interested.  They do not cover all branches.  My interest primarily is with the "David" Olney branch with parents Charles and Martha Olney.

Peter and Joy Olney were fortunate enough to visit England in 2007 and visited many of the churches, places, houses and villages written about in the books by Keith Collyer and A.Gordon Keys.  More resent generations in Australia are also included in the Olney Family Archives blog.