Denzil Onslow was born in 1811 to Reverend George Walton Onslow and Elizabeth Campbell (reference). His siblings included George Walton (1804-1849), Robert Thorp (1810-), Pitcairn (1813-1894), Edmund (1815-1875) and Arthur Foot (1821-1835) (reference).
Denzil arrived in South Australia in August 1838 on the Shephard. He also travelled on ships after that, including the Elizabeth. Denzil is first mentioned in a newspaper a year after arriving in Australia on 14 December 1839 (reference). The article was a call for a public meeting to be held in South Australia, which Denzil signed his support for (reference). The petition was successful, so a public meeting was organised (reference).
By 1841 Denzil was living in the Bunbury area, as on 15 January that year, he was awarded a retail licence at Port Leschenault, which was what Bunbury was first known as (reference). This retail licence was likely for Denzil to be an auctioneer and general commission agent as on Monday 3 May 1841, he auctioned off the wreck of the ship Samuel Wright, including everything associated with the wreck and the remains of the wreck of North America (reference; reference). Other items up for auction included barrels of pork, 400 fathoms of whale line, hemp cable, whale boats, cook stoves, trypots and empty casks (reference). In addition to the ship goods, a house on 115 acres of land on the Preston River three miles from Bunbury was up for auction (reference). Denzil was a member of the Executive Council in 1841.
In 1842 Denzil was living in Australind and working at Belvidere as the manager on the Princep Estate while Thomas Little, who was in India with his wife, seeing Mr Princep, Belvidere's owner (reference; reference). In 1842 Denzil had his written correspondence with the Colonial Secretary, Peter Brown, published in the Inquirer newspaper to express his displeasure at the Secretary's response (reference). The letters reveal that Denzil was residing in York and was a Magistrate (reference).
"To the Editor of the 'Inquirer' Leschenault 13th December, 1842. Sir, — May I request of you to publish the following correspondence which has taken place between myself and the Colonial Secretary. I accidentally heard for the first time in the beginning of last September, that my name had been struck off the list of Magistrates nearly two years before, and I consequently wrote the following letters to the Colonial Secretary.”
“Fremantle 6 September, 1842. Sir,— Having heard that my name has been struck off the list of Magistrates, may I beg to know whether I am still in the Commission of the Peace or not. I have the honour to be, &c, DENZIL ONSLOW.”
“The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, Perth. In answer to which I received the following polite letter. Sir, — I am directed by the Governor to inform you in reply to your letter of the 6th inst., that you are no longer in the Commission of the Peace. You were originally appointed on account of the great dearth of Magistrates in the York district, and because it was understood that you were likely to remain for some time in that district; you would not otherwise have been selected, as it has been an invariable rule with the Governor to appoint only landholders to the Magistracy, except under very peculiar circumstances. Your departure from the district therefore rendered the continuance of your name in the new commission quite unnecessary. I am, sir, Your obedient servant, (signed} PETER BROWN, Colonial Secretary.”
“Denzil Onslow, Esq., Leschenault, Australind, 27th October, 1842. Sir, — I have received your letter in answer to my enquiry whether I am on the list of Magistrates or not, having before received no communication to the contrary His Excellency I think cannot pay so slight a compliment to my understanding as to suppose I can believe the reason offered to be the true one. Eight or ten Magistrates of the colony are landless, and others have removed their residence without being considered disqualified. The office is a gratuitous and not a very pleasant one. I did not seek it, and I think his Excellency had no right to place me in a position which could enable him to offer me the present insult or to do that which may by misconstruction affect my character. I shall feel it necessary for the satisfaction of my friends elsewhere to take the sense of those in the colony, and publish their opinion in the most effectual way I can. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, DENZIL ONSLOW.”
“The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, Perth, Having waited for some time, I wrote to know if there was an answer, but no notice has been taken of either of the two last letters. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, DENZIL ONSLOW. (reference)"
Denzil married Clarissa Ellen Mackay (1826-) in Bunbury in June 1845 (reference). One newspaper article mentions that they were married on 17 July (reference). Clarissa was the daughter of John Thomas and Clarissa Mackay who lived in Bunbury (reference).
In December 1845, Denzil announced his intention to leave the colony in the Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (reference). The following month in January 1846, Denzil and his wife Clarissa visited London on the Unicorn. They returned to Australia in June 1847 on the William Wise.
Denzil was an overseer of the Royal Sappers and Miners and was appointed as the Senior Assistant. In 1848 Denzil was a shareholder in the Western Australian Mining Company (reference). In August that year, he signed his support in calling for a general meeting for the company (reference). As requested, a public forum for the shareholders was held on 14 September 1848 at 2 pm at the Freemasons' Hotel in Perth (reference).
In 1849 Denzil was awarded a Publican's License for the Rose and Thistle in Bunbury (reference). He was also getting monetary subscriptions from Bunbury residents to get a church built in Bunbury (reference).
In 1850 Denzil was taken to court at the Quarter Session on 6 April, charged with 'feloniously shooting at, with intent to do grievous bodily harm to an Aboriginal man named Marrin, also known as Maringo, at Bunbury (reference). A sworn interpreter conveyed Marrin's account of the assault against his person during the trial: "I lived with Mr Onslow and kept his cattle. I recollect going to Mr Onslow to take out his cattle on the morning that I was fired at — that was a Sunday; the cattle were in the yard; Mr Onslow was in the house, washing his hands; Mr Onslow name running out with a whip in his hand; I ran away, I saw Mr Onslow coming with a gun; I thought he was in play; the gun was fired, and I threw myself down, but he missed me; I got up and ran away again in a sloping position ; the gun was fired again a second time, and I was hit in several places, partly on my head, partly on my back, and partly on my right thigh and leg; the second shot knocked me down; I had a kangaroo cloak on; I afterwards took two small shots out of my right thigh; the shot was of the size that they kill pigeons with; I run away when I saw Mr Onslow with the whip, because he had beaten me with a whip before that day; there is no shot left in me; the two shots were taken out by my brother the same day I was shot; when the shot which struck me was fired I was a little farther off from Mr Onslow than I am now from the Court-house door; the two shots were fired quickly, one after the other — the second shot was fired immediately after the first; some of the shot passed through my cloak; some of the blood came from me when the shot had struck me on the thigh — very little blood from my back; I heard the shot rattle against my cloak; I do not know whether Mrs Morrison saw the gun fired; I went with her to Mr Onslow when I first went to his house. I was sick for one day only; I never was shot before by any person (reference)."
Edward Hester, the Police Constable in the Bunbury district, gave his account of the event: "I am Police Constable in the Bunbury district. On a Monday morning in the month of February last, I heard that a native had been fired at by Mr Onslow the day before; I saw and questioned the native, the witness Marrin; he confirmed what I had heard, and showed me several marks which he said had been made by shot — he said he was sick; I found Marrin about a ¼ of a mile from Mr Onslow's, at a native fire; Marrin then appeared to me to pretend to be a great deal worse than he really was; the next day he walked as far as Mr Eliot's the magistrate; the marks which Marrin showed me, appeared to me to be very like shot wounds, but they seemed to me to be old marks — I saw no blood about him; he told me just the same account then that he has given today in court (reference)." When Edward was asked if he found any shot in Marrin, he responded: "I did not feel any shot in Marrin's person — he did not tell me that he had picked any shot out (reference)."
Louisa Morrison, a servant who worked at Denzil's house, also gave her version of events: "I was a servant in Mr Onslow's house in the month of February last. I recollect one morning in that month the native Marrin coming to Mr Onslow's to take out the cattle — I saw Marrin in the house; I saw him go quickly out of the house as if frightened or angry; after that I heard two reports of a gun fired outside the house, and heard a noise as of some person screaming; I cannot say how long it was after I heard the gun that I heard the scream; just after I heard the scream I went out of the house, and met Mr Onslow with a gun in his hand; I said to him, is the native shot — or have you shot the native — or something to that effect. In the evening of the same day I saw the native Marrin at a native fire, perhaps a ¼ of a mile from Mr Onslow's; Marrin then complained of pain; but still he did not appear to me to be in much pain; he was lying down; he showed me marks upon him, which he said had been made by shot; the wounds he showed me were small, as if made by the prick of anything — I saw Mr Onslow before Marrin came, and while Marrin was there Mr Onslow did not appear to be angry with Marrin; I told Marrin to make haste with the cattle, as he was later than usual; Marrin said to me, when I saw him at the native fire in the evening, that if Mr Onslow would give him some flour, he, Marrin, would not complain to Mr Eliot. I told that to Mr Onslow (reference)."
When cross-examined, Louisa said this: "Mr Onslow made me some answer when I asked whether the native was shot, but I cannot say what the answer was — I did not hear him distinctly; Marrin is not Mr Onslow's regular cattle-herd — Mr Onslow was in bed when I saw him previously to Marrin's coming; I saw Marrin twice in the evening of that day — once about sundown, the second time about dark — I did not see Mr Onslow with a whip in his hand, or running after the native; Mr Onslow was coming towards his house when I met him with a gun in his hand — I was going towards the kitchen; at the time Marrin came out of the house I saw no other native about the place; I had seen one native before Marrin came, I saw Marrin going out quickly from the dwelling house, and I was myself then in the dwelling-house; when Mr Onslow told me to call Marrin, he was standing at his parlour-door — I did so, and Marrin, who was then in the dining-room, whether from fright or not, instead of going to Mr Onslow, ran out of the house; before that I had told Marrin to take the cattle out — I told Mr Onslow that I could not get Marrin to take the cattle out; I did not tell Mr Onslow that Marrin had threatened me; Marrin talked a great deal about taking the cattle out, which I did not wholly understand; it appeared to me that there was some dispute between the regular native cattle-herd and Marrin; the other native had been shortly before standing at some distance off, outside the house. As far as I could understand Marrin, it appeared that neither of the natives wished to take the cattle out (reference)."
Denzil Onslow provided this as his defence: "there is no evidence that the native was shot by me." Supposedly during the trial, the defendant, Denzil, pointed out several alleged discrepancies in Marrin's evidence which was enough in 1850 to be found 'not guilty of shooting someone, despite all the evidence above (reference).'
Back in Bunbury in June 1850, Denzil supported Marshall Waller Clifton's proposal to accept convict labour in the Wellington district at a meeting (reference). The following month a group of prominent Bunbury residents expressed their displeasure at the Inquirer newspaper's misrepresentation of their meeting by publicly ending their inscription to the newspaper (reference). Denzil was amongst colonists including George Eliot, William Pearce Clifton, John Siffilant, John Scott, John Morgan, Thomas Little and William Forrest (reference). Following this, Onslow received a private letter from the Inquirer, which he preceded to publish in the Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News:
"My dear Onslow. You will perceive by the Inquirer that I have had occasion to express myself rather freely upon the recent meeting in Bunbury. In making the remarks referred to, I consider I have done good to your district. You will give me credit for all good feeling towards the inhabitants of Wellington, &c. and will perceive that the blow was aimed not at them, but at a notoriously meddling and interfering individual. I say that I consider that I have done good to your district because I believe that any effort that is made to induce the settlers to judge for themselves, will have a beneficial effect. I have lived at Bunbury, and have attended Bunbury meetings, and I know what they are. I have long wished to oppose the domineering influence of the Australind dictator, and his direct attack upon my journal has given me an opportunity of so doing. I maintain that the views attributed to the Inquirer are not according to fact, and I defy the production of proof. That this proof cannot be furnished must be apparent, otherwise it would have appeared in today's Perth Gazette, and there having been plenty of time for the purpose. I do not think it fair or honest to make accusations which cannot be substantiated. I write to you because I know you are equally capable with the framer of the resolutions of superintending any public business that may have to occupy the attention of your district, and infinitely more capable of conducting such business with fairness. It strikes me that the framer of the resolutions passed at your meeting, is answerable to you all and should be held responsible for any inaccuracies that may have appeared, and I hope you will deem it necessary to compel from him an explanation. In conclusion, I must express my sincere regret if I should have hurt the feelings of any, the more especially as you number among you many for whom I have the highest respect, but a severe charge requires a severe answer. If anything that I have said will lead to your henceforth acting independently of the who arrogate superiority, I shall be satisfied. Such men as yourself, the Sillifants, &c, are as well fitted by education, &c. to be the leaders of the district, as the present usurper, and I sincerely trust that now the ball is at your feet, you will not hesitate to kick it. Believe me, My dear Onslow, Ever yours. (Signed) ROBERT SHOLL (reference)." The 'Australind dictator' mentioned in the article above is highly likely referring to Marshall Waller Clifton.
In August 1850, the Annual Ploughing Match was held, and Denzil shared stewardship of said match with George Eliot (reference). The Match was held at John Scott's farm, known as Eelup but referred to in the newspaper article as Koombana Farm (reference).
In 1851 Denzil was still working as an auctioneer, and on Wednesday 26 March that year he auctioned off Mr A Francisco's stock which included gunpowder, gun caps, snuffers and trays, ostrich feathers and toilet seats (reference). As not everything was sold in one auction, another was held (reference). Before his auction, he announces in the newspaper the continuation of his career as an auctioneer (reference). His job as an auctioneer had him travel to Fremantle to auction items such as bottled ale, wool lashings, doormats, telescopes and coal tar (reference).
In 1851 Denzil was working temporarily at the Colonial Secretary's Office as a clerk (reference; reference). He was then appointed the Superintendent of a party of ticket of leave men employed completing public works at Bunbury (reference; reference). He then became the Bunbury Depot Senior Superintendent from November 1852 until 1855, when he died (reference).
On 1 March 1853, Denzil and his wife Clarissa visited Sydney.
Denzil died in Bunbury in December 1855 at forty-four years old (reference). On Wednesday, 19 December 1855, his remains were buried after a funeral attended by over 150 people (reference). Denzil was buried with his brother-in-law, John Siffilant's infant son, who died on 30 November (reference). After his death, all persons that had claims against him had to forward them to Reverend Brown, the Bunbury Chaplain, within two weeks (reference).
