Louisa Downes Onge (abt. 1802 - 1870)

Born about 1802 in Ireland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died 23 Jul 1870 at about age 68 in Ryde, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: G Phillips [send private message], Grant Phillips [send private message], and Karen Phillips [send private message]

Biography

1802 Louisa Downes Onge, eldest daughter of Abel Onge Louisa Jones, was born in Ireland about 1802. Year of birth inferred from age at death.

1849 She is mentioned in connection with part of her brother Dive's estate.^[1]

1851 She is recorded in her sister Emily's household in Burslem, Staffordshire: LOUISA DOWNS Age 35; Event Date 1851; Event Place Burslem, Staffordshire, England; Registration District Wolstanton; Event Type Census; Residence Note Newport Street; Birth Year (Estimated) 1816; Birthplace Ireland; Marital Status Unmarried; Occupation Gentlewoman; Relationship to Head of Household Sister ^[2]

1852 Louisa Downes Onge emigrated to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1852. She travelled with her sister, Emily Phillips and Emily's children. ^[3]
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
ARRIVALS
September 18.—Merlin, ship, 1030 tons, Captain Laverty, from Liverpool 5th June, and Port Phillip 13th instant. Passengers—Mr. and Mrs. H. Boyce and three children, Mr. O'Mahony, Mr. and Mrs. Molineux, Mrs. G. Phillips and family, Miss Onge, Mr. and Mrs. J. Onge, Mr. Pearce, Messrs. Johnson, D. T. James, Blutcher, Stapleton, and Mr. and Miss Hart.^[4]

1862-1863 Louisa Onge seems to have fallen on hard times and debt recovery actions and, ultimately, insolvency proceedings were initiated against her.
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COURT.—WEDNESDAY
BEFORE James Sheen Dowling, Esq, Judge.
MACKINLAY v. ONGE.
An action for debt. The defendant kept a boarding-house on Church-Hill, and her landlord took a bill of sale on her furniture for rent. Plaintiff subsequently bought the bill of sale, under conditions, that Miss Onge would make good any articles that she might reserve, which were mentioned in the bill of sale. Verdict for plaintiff, £51. For plaintiff, Mr. Greer.^{[5] [6] [7]}
At the time, Louisa Downes Onge was a boarding house keeper, and she attributed her "Insolvency to inability to obtain amounts due to me for board and lodging by several persons mentioned in my Schedule and having the misfortune to break my leg which has incapacitated me from doing anything to obtain a livelihood".^[8]
INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS.
NEW INSOLVENTS.
June 30.—Louisa Downes Onge, of Sydney, late of Parramatta. Liabilities, £258 5s l0d. Assets, £83 17s. 9½d. Deficit, £174 8s. 0½d. Mr. Sempill, official assignee.^[9]

1870 Louisa Downes Onge died on 23 July 1870, at age 68, of apoplexy (stroke) at Ryde, New South Wales. ^{[10] [11]}
DEATHS.
On the 23rd instant, at Hunter's Hill, LOUISA DOWNES, eldest daughter of the late ABEL ONGE, Esq., of Dublin, aged 68 years.^[12]

She was buried at St Anne's Anglican Church, corner of Church Street and Victoria Road, Ryde, New South Wales.^{[13] [14]}

Sources

1. ↑ NOTICES TO CREDITORS. "General Advertiser for Dublin and all Ireland" 17 November 1849 page 3 column 1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
2. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGLT-BML : 9 November 2019), Louisa Downs in household of Emily Philips, Burslem, Staffordshire, England; citing Burslem, Staffordshire, England, p. 58, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey
3. ↑ MERLIN SHIP OF LIVERPOOL, C. LAVERTY, MASTER, BURTHEN 1030 TONS FROM THE PORT OF LIVERPOOL via MELBOURNE TO PORT JACKSON, NEW SOUTH WALES 18TH SEPTEMBER 1852 http://marinersandships.com.au/1852/09/049mer.htm
4. ↑ "Sydney Morning Herald" (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 20 September 1852, page 2 column 1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12940143
5. ↑ "Empire" (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), Thursday 9 October 1862 page 3 column 1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/60517372#
6. ↑ Church Hill was the locale above the western side of Sydney Cove, New South Wales https://dictionaryofsydney.org/place/church_hill
7. ↑ 'ESTATES SURRENDERED OR PLACED UNDER SEQUESTRATION DURING THE QUARTER ENDING 30TH JUNE 1863' "Sydney Morning Herald" (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Wednesday 1 July 1863 page 5 column 3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13080934?searchTerm=Louisa%20Onge#
8. ↑ NRS-13654-1-[2/9080]-6176 | Louisa Downes Onge [Spinster, Sydney] NSW State Archives & Records https://search.records.nsw.gov.au
9. ↑ "Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser" (NSW : 1843 - 1893), Saturday 4 July 1863 page 3 column 1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18705099#
10. ↑ NSW death registration number 5762/1870 ONGE LOUISA D (Parents) ABEL and LOUISA District RYDE https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/
11. ↑ ONGE LOUISA D at Hunters Hill Ryde, New South Wales, Australia (Parents) Abel Onge and Louisa Onge, formerly Jones. Not Married. Death Certificate held by Karen Phillips https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/
12. ↑ "Sydney Morning Herald" (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Wednesday 27 July 1870 page 1 column 1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13209772#
13. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234883442/louisa-downes-onge: accessed 02 January 2023), memorial page for Louisa Downes Onge (1802–23 Jul 1870), Find a Grave Memorial ID 234883442, citing Saint Annes Church Cemetery, Ryde, Ryde City, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by Plothopper (contributor 49523475)
14. ↑ https://austcemindex.com/inscription.php?id=8456402#images

See also:

• England & Wales Census 1851 "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch Louisa Downs in household of Emily Philips, Burslem, Staffordshire, England; citing Burslem, Staffordshire, England, p. 58, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

• Arrival in Australia Mariners and ships in Australian Waters MERLIN SHIP OF LIVERPOOL, C. LAVERTY, MASTER, BURTHEN 1030 TONS FROM THE PORT OF LIVERPOOL via MELBOURNE TO PORT JACKSON, NEW SOUTH WALES 18TH SEPTEMBER 1852

• Death NSW BDM Index 5762/1870 ONGE LOUISA D (parents) ABEL & LOUISA (RYDE)

• Death Certificate NSW BDM Index Held by Karen Phillips 1870/005762 (Parents) Abel Onge and Louisa Onge formerly Jones Not Married.

• Burial Australian Cemeteries Index Inscription 8456402 - Louisa Downes Onge, buried at St Anne's Anglican Church, corner of Church Street and Victoria Road, Ryde.

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