Robert Onion (abt. 1609 - 1673)

Born about 1609 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Unknown) Onion — married [date unknown] (to 4 Apr 1643) in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Husband of Grace (Ebrew) Onion — married 3 Dec 1643 (to 16 Feb 1647) in Dedham, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Husband of Sarah (Metcalf) Onion — married about 1649 in Dedham, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 21 Nov 1673 at about age 64 in Dedham, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Robert Onion migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 5, p. 309) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Robert Onion was born about 1609, location unknown, but probably England. His birth year is based on the fact that he was aged 26 on June 17, 1635.

At the age of 26, on June 17, 1635, he enrolled at London as a passenger to New England and migrated on the ship Blessing.

He first resided at Roxbury where he was married to Mary (_____) by 1642. "Mary the wife of Robert Onion" died and was buried at Roxbury on April 4, 1643. She died after delivering a stillborn child.

Child of Robert and 1st wife, Mary:

1. child buried in April 1643.

He moved to Dedham, MA in 1644.^[1]

Robert married (2nd) Grace Ebrew at Dedham on December 3, 1643. She died in Dedham on February 16, 1646/7

He married again by 1649 to Sarah Metcalfe, daughter of Michael Metcalfe. In his will, Michael included a bequest to his daughter "Sarah Onion."^[2]

Children of Robert and 3rd Wife, Sarah:

1. Sarah was born on May 23, 1649 and baptized May 27, 1649 at Dedham. She died at Dedham on May 22, 1676.
2. Mary was born on February 12, 1650/1 and baptized February 16, 1650/1at Dedham. (her children's birth dates cause one to question how (or whether) this Mary fits into the family on Robert Onion.)
3. Elizabeth was born about 1654; she chose Thomas Metcalfe as guardian on January 27, 1673/4.
4. Hannah was born on June 29, 1656 and baptized Jukly 6, 1656 at Dedham; she chose Thomas Metcalfe as guardian on January 27, 1673/4. This may be the Hannah Onion who died August 11, 1696 at Dedham.
5. Benjamin was born December 24, 1659 at Dedham. He married Deborah Woodcock on May 24, 1683. The marriage was recorded at both Dedham and Rehoboth.
6. Joseph was born March 10, 1662/3 and baptized March 22, 1662/3 at Dedham. He died before Januay 27, 1673/4 having no guardian.
7. Grace was born on March 22, 1665/6 and baptized March 25, 1666 at Dedham. On January 27, 1673/4 Thomas Metcalfe was appointed her guardian.

Robert was admitted as a townsman and signed the town covenant at Dedham on January 1, 1644/5. He was received as a member of the Dedham church on January 23, 1645/6; his wife Sarah on June 12, 1653. He was made a freeman on May 6, 1646, making his eligible for voting in elections of selectmen, etc. About this time, on February 4, 1644 he was granted one acre and one rood of woodland at Dedham. He must have previously sold his property in Roxbury to Robert Pepper, for he held the property by 1652.

He was not a wealthy man for on February 20, 1656 his estate was 61st in size out of 79 on the list; in 1648, 1651, and 1664 the value of his house was at the bottom of the range for each year; and his name is usually at or near the lowest rate on the tax assessment list.

On January 3, 1658/9 the town agreed to not require him to do highway work because of his service in ringing the bell forenoon and afternoon on the days that are appointed for working in the highways. He had been neglectful in his highway work in 1651 and 1652. The town paid him "for his service about the meeting house" about a pound every three months.

Sarah (Metcalfe) Onion died at Dedham on February 25, 1671/2.

Robert Onion died November 21, 1673.

Robert's inventory was taken December 23, 1673 and totalled L63 2s of which L27 10s was real estate; it included "one musket, sword, [and] rest which was valued at 16s. The administration of his estate was granted to Thomas Medcalfe, with Captain Danniell Fisher and Richard Ellis as sureties. Dedham selectmen acknowledged that there was 4L due to the estate of Robert Onion, a bill was given to Thomas Metcalf by the court.

Guardian for his daughters, Elizabeth, Hannah and Grace was Thomas Medcalfe. Guardian for his son Benjamin was Richard Ellis.

Notes

Robert Onion descendants' family history information:

The following information was obtained by John A. Onyun, who was born in Greenbush (Rensselaer County), New York, and given to his nephew, Charles A. Onyun, about 1900.

My father, Addison Onyun, was the sixth generation from Robert Onion, who went to Dedham, Mass. in 1643, coming from the Highlands of Scotland. Born Robert O'Nion, he dropped the apostrophe in his name and spelled it Onion. Robert was one of 12 brothers and the only one of the brothers who came to America.

In the history of Dedham, Mass., in 1659 Robert Onion is allowed to have his highway work set off year to year for his services in ringing the bell forenoons and afternoons on the days appointed for working on highways. In 1672, any man who hitched his horse to the meeting house ladder forfeited sixpence to Robert Onion. Jonathon Onion was a selectman of Dedham for three years, from 1739. Dedham is the oldest town in New England. Nearly all the Indians died of smallpox in 1633.

Sources

1. ↑ Hill, D. G. "The Early Records of the Town of Dedham, Massachusetts. 1636-1659.", Vol. 3. Printed Records of the Town : Dedham, Mass., 1892. https://archive.org/details/earlyrecordsofto03hill/page/105
2. ↑ Pope, Charles Henry. "The Pioneers of Massachusetts"

Unless otherwise cited, this biography is based on R. C. Anderson's "Great Migration"

• Great Migration 1634-1635, M-P. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007. Vol. V., M-P. p. 309link for subscribers
• Pope, Charles Henry. "The Pioneers of Massachusetts" Pub by Charles H. Pope, 221 Columbus Av., Boston, Mass. 1900. p. 312, 313.see at archive.org
• The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) Vol. 6, p. 172. "Metcalf Genealogy"subscription site
• GENEALOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF NEW ENGLAND K-R by James Savage,John Farmer,Orlando Perry Dexter--GOOGLE BOOKS
• Winthrop Society Ship Manifest (passenger Robert Onyon) Roll#34{Master John Lester} (ship The Blessing 17 June 1635)
• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FH8K-P49 : 13 July 2016), Robert Onion, 02 Nov 1673; citing Death, Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 593,353.