Samuel Onions

343

Maureen Withey on 7th June 2026

It seems Samuel may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yarmouth Wednesday last, two well-known characters were apprehended in this town, by Coble, the Mayor’s-Officer, who being upon the look-out for a man, for robbery in  Norwich, accidentally met person whom he thought responded with the one was looking after. Coble stopped him he might compare descriptions, and whilst he was looking at a hand-bill, he observed the man shift something from his pocket, and put his hand behind him, and on being asked what he had got in his hand, he said they were some notes to pay his reckoning with, but on his person being examined was found to have plenty of silver in his pocket, which course excited the suspicion of Coble that the notes were forgeries, and upon enquiry they turned out to be. He gave his name as James Wright, and said he had brother living in the Barrack-square, which proved be the fact. Coble there ascertained that another man had been his company to breakfast with his brother; and on questioning a little boy belonging Wright's brother, said he should know the man if he saw him. Coble took the boy with him and searched all the suspicious places in the town, and at last the boy pointed him out at the Little Black Swan, where he was playing at cards with another man. On seeing Coble he immediately thrust his hand into his side-pocket and took out a handful of notes which he attempted to throw to his companion at cards, but was fortunately prevented by Coble, and they fell behind the settle. Coble then endeavoured to secure his man, in which he met with a most determined resistance, but with the assistance of a sailor, they at last succeeded taking him before the Mayor, at the New Hall.  He turns out to be a well-known character of the name of Barney Clark. The notes picked up in the public-house were thirty-two in number, all forgeries. They have been fully committed for trial. Coble turned his attention to the man who was playing at cards with Barney Clark, and who had escaped during the confusion in securing Clark. He was fortunate enough to succeed in his object, and lodged him in the cage. He is also a notorious character, and goes the name of Onion. He will most probably be detained for some mal-practises in and about Norwich.  Norfolk Chronicle, 6 Jan 1821.

54

Phil Hands on 21st May 2017

Tried and convicted at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions on 15th May 1821 of stealing, on the 24th of January last, four pounds worth of silver, a double nankeen purse containing a 10l. and 19 one pound notes, and about 5l. worth of silver, the property of Simon Peck, of St Michael's Coslany; and sentenced to seven years transportation. Left England on 1st August 1821. Ship:- the 'Minerva I' sailed with 172 male convicts on board of which 3 died during the voyage. Arrived on 16th December 1821. Ships indent recorded:- Protestant, can read and write Trade: Blacksmith, married with 4 children Height 5 feet 4 inches, age 42, fresh complexion, round head, dark brown hair, reddish whiskers, broad visage, medium forehead, dark brown eyebrows, dark brown eyes, large nose, medium mouth, small double chin, native place Norwich, scar on left nostril, scar on chin, scar on neck, scar back of right hand, ___ right arm Norfolk Chronicle Saturday 19th May 1821 p. 2 PRISONERS. - Robert Flegg, Samuel Onions, Chas. Wm. Chalker, and William Welling, were severally convicted of stealing, on the 24th of Jan. last, four pounds worth of silver, a double nankeen purse containing a 10l. and 19 one pound notes, and about 5l. worth of silver, the property of Simon Peck, of St Michael's Coslany; and sentenced to seven years transportation. Married convict Elizabeth Jones ('Harmony' 1827) on 10th August 1829 at Parramatta, they had 5 children between 1829-1836 Sydney Monitor Monday 21st August 1837 POSTSCRIPT - TWO O'CLOCK The case of Samuel Onions, for perjury, was decided this afternoon at two o'clock, when the Court sentenced him to transportation for seven years to a penal settlement. Sydney Monitor Monday 6th November 1837 The Government brig 'Governor Phillip', proceeds to Norfolk Island, conveying twenty prisoners under sentence, and amongst them Samuel Onions, the late Ironmonger in King Street. Sydney Morning Herald Thursday 11th July 1844 p. 4 WEDNESDAY. UTTERING A FORGED PROMISSORY NOTE. Samuel Onions was indicted for having, on the 25th of June last, feloniously uttered a forged promissory note, purporting to be made by George Hill, in favour of John Goodwin, at two months after date for £33 12s., with intent to defraud one Patrick Irwin. It appeared by the evidence of Irwin that the prisoner brought the promissory note to him on the day named in the indictment, and having represented it to have been made by Mr. George Hill, the City councillor, prevailed upon him (Irwin) to discount it, receiving £25 in cash, and endorsing the note to the prosecutor. Prisoner said he had received the note from a respectable settler, named John Goodwin, residing in the interior, and that he had actually seen Mr Councillor Hill sign the note. This evidence was confirmed by the similar testimony of a coachman in the service of the prosecutor, and of a joiner named Wood, also in the prosecutor's service, who stated that he had listened at the door when the prisoner came to his master's house, and had heard him assert that the note was made by Mr. Councillor Hill. Mr. Hill himself was then called, and proved that the note produced was not signed by him, or any person on his behalf. The signature was so unlike his, that no person who has seen his signature at all could have been deceived. Prisoner told him that the note was made by Mr. George Hill, builder, of Pitt-street. Mr. PURFOY, who had undertaken to conduct the case on behalf of the prisoner, in consequence of his being hard of hearing and unprovided with legal advice, briefly cross examined the witness, and elicited some contradictory testimony; although the contradictions were not of an important nature. Mr. Toogood was then called, and stated that the prisoner was very much intoxicated in the evening in question, after coming from Irwin's. Mr. PURFOY next addressed the Jury for the defence, remarking that as the prisoner had been charged with uttering a forged note, knowing it to have been so forged, he should be able to afford a complete answer to the charge, by calling Mr. Goodwin, by whom the note had been given to the prisoner for the purpose of getting it discounted. John Goodwin was then called, and stated that he had given the note to the prisoner for the purpose of getting it discounted and that he had received it from Mr. George Hill, builder of Sussex-street Sydney. The truth of this story was proved by Mr. George Hill himself, who admitted that he was the maker of the note; but, on the other hand, it was denied by Goodwin that he had ever led the prisoner to believe that the note thus given to him, for the purpose of procuring cash, was a note of Mr. Councillor Hill's. His HONOR having briefly summed up, the Jury, after a few minutes' consideration, found a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was for the present remanded, as the request of the Solicitor General. The jury in the above case, who had been locked up on the previous evening, came in at about half-past twelve, during the trial of Onions, with a verdict of Not Guilty; assigning as a reason for that verdict, that they did not conceive sufficient evidence had been adduced to show an utterance on the part of the prisoner of the document alleged to be forged. The prisoner was then remanded until tomorrow (this) morning, at the request of the Solicitor-General, to meet any further information that might be filed against him on the part of the Crown. The Court then adjourned until ten o'clock this morning. The Australian (Sydney) Tuesday 16th July 1844 p. 4 SUPREME COURT - CRIMINAL SIDE. FRIDAY, JULY 12. - Before his Honor Mr. Justice Stephen. FRAUD. Samuel Onions, who had been indicted on Wednesday last, for uttering a forged promissory note for 33 pounds 12s. but acquitted, was placed at the bar again this morning on a charge of fraudulently obtaining a certain sum of money from one Patrick Irwin, for the above-mentioned note, but falsely stating that the signature of the drawer to the note was that of Mr. Geo. Hill, one of the Town Councillors of Sydney, well knowing at the time he presented the note, that it was not his signature, and for which said note he received from Mr. Irwin the sum of twenty-eight pounds. The prisoner on being arraigned, pleaded autre fois acquit, but his Honor stated, he was not indicted for the same offence, but one of a minor nature, that of fraud, upon which the prisoner pleaded not guilty. The Solicitor General appeared on behalf of the Crown. M.r Purfoy defended the prisoner. The evidence adduced was the same as on the former trial, viz: the false representation by the prisoner that the bill was made by Mr. George Hill, the Town Councillor, upon which representation he obtained the money from the prosecutor. His Honor having summed up, the jury retired for about ten minutes, and returned a verdict of guilty. Remanded for sentence. The Australian (Sydney) Monday 29 hJuly 1844 p. 3 Text: Samuel Onions, who had been convicted of obtaining money under false pretences, was then placed at the bar. His Honor stated to the prisoner, that he had made diligent enquiry as to his character, which, he was very sorry to say, although no more than he expected, was very bad; and although he had had parties calling at his house, and a relative, (he believed a sister), praying that he would pass a lenient sentence on the prisoner, still, he felt it would be incompatible with his duty were he to pass any but the heaviest sentence the Law allowed, which was, that he be transported for seven years. Onions, Samuel, tried Supreme Court Sydney, 27th July 1844, 12, Jul 1844 5 feet 4 inches tall, age 42, 7 year sentence, Protestant, could read and write, married, 4 children, crime of obtaining money under false pretences, a promissory note for 32 pounds for Patrick Erwin Clarence Street Sydney, occupation blacksmith, native place Norwich, remarks - wife Anne and children in George Street Sydney. B (brother?) Mr Thomas John at Norwich. S (sister?) Esther Elizabeth, Sydney, to NSW Minerva 4th 1820 for stealing money from a public house, Norwich, from William Peck, 7 years. "I have been free by servitude 17 years, 7 years back had the largest ironmongers shop in Sydney was worth 20,000 pounds, lost 10,000 pounds within the last three years by insolvencies". Ticket of Leave 11th April 1848 Police History NSW: Arrived per 'Minerva I'. 16th Dec 1821, was tried at Norwich City 18th May 1821, sentence 7 years 24 Dec 1822 Sent to Emu Plains stealing a hat from his master 27 Sep 1827 10 days treadmill repeatedly absent from duty and general bad character Obtained a certificate of freedom No 28/1089 dated 21st December 1828 Was again tried at the Supreme Court Sydney 10th August 1837 for perjury and sentenced 7 years Transportation to Norfolk Island Returned 31st December 1839 and sent to Cockatoo Island to serve a commuted sentence of One Year and one month there. 19 Aug ____ 14 days cells drunkenness Was again tried at the Supreme Court Sydney 27th July 1844 for obtaining money under false pretences, sentence 7 years Samuel died on 26th May 1848 in Tasmania

2

Pamela Mawbey on 26th October 2012

In September 1836 he had been running an ironmonger business for seven years (since 1829) according to an ad he placed in a Sydney newspaper.