Individual Details
Wesley ANDERSON
(Abt 1820 - 4 Sep 1859)
Gwyn WISEMAN says in First Families that he was a sawyer and gold miner. The family oral history is that he discovered a coal deposit south of Colac and mined it.
My great, great grandfather was Wesley ANDERSON, born about 1821 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The names of his parents are not known. He traveled to England and then to Australia where he married Sarah Jane Clarke in 1843. He died 4 September 1859 and his death certificate has "Negro" written on it. The informant was his son. It appears that there may be a connection to John Wesley and his brother Charles, evangelists who went on to form the Methodist Church. Wesley Anderson was not born for about another 85 years so I don't see how they could be connected but there is a story of a silver spoon given to a family member by the brothers Wesley. Any and all help appreciated. mjvburns@optusnet.com.au (January 9, 2005)
John and Charles Wesley were English preachers who went to Georgia in 1735 to spread the Word of God. They met with great success and many converts named their sons after the brothers.
Wesley Anderson was born in Pennsylvania around 1821 and was reputed to have been a 'man of colour' - his parents most probably were negro. Wesley went to sea and spent some time in England. At the age of 18 he landed in NSW. The following year he married a widow, Sarah Jane Black on 25 April 1840. Sarah was twelve years senior to her husband.
In Sep 2010 Kirsten said, "All I know is that Wesley was the son of an African slave and came to Australia via England where he was apparently educated. I don't know if he maybe had a white father or not, but someone must have paid for him to go to England. Newspaper articles described him as a "man of colour". I have tried unsuccessfully to find records, but many sons were named after the Wesley brothers back then, and there were lots of Andersons and Wesleys in the Philadelphia region - maybe I'm not looking in the right spot.
In the biographical notes from the Anderson Family History Book, Gwyn Wiseman (Committee member) says that some of the documents ( I don't know if they are in her possession, or if they are in another family member's possession) state he was a Negro and some documents appear to have been altered to hide the fact. Best to try and get a copy of 'the book' from the Committee who put it together.
The Organising Committee members were:
Gwyn Wiseman Phone 050 833240
Kevin Hatcher Phone 050 837261
Beryl Mill Phone 050 833175
Wally Smith Phone 050 833353
I think prefixes have changed since the printing in 1994, so you'd have to check them out in the phone book. :)
Another source ( a friend of my mother's who did a history for her) said that he went to sea from Philadelphia and spent some time in England, landing in NSW at 18 years of age."
My great, great grandfather was Wesley ANDERSON, born about 1821 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The names of his parents are not known. He traveled to England and then to Australia where he married Sarah Jane Clarke in 1843. He died 4 September 1859 and his death certificate has "Negro" written on it. The informant was his son. It appears that there may be a connection to John Wesley and his brother Charles, evangelists who went on to form the Methodist Church. Wesley Anderson was not born for about another 85 years so I don't see how they could be connected but there is a story of a silver spoon given to a family member by the brothers Wesley. Any and all help appreciated. mjvburns@optusnet.com.au
John and Charles Wesley were English preachers who went to Georgia in 1735 to spread the Word of God. They met with great success and many converts named their sons after the brothers.
Wesley Anderson was born in Pennsylvania around 1821 and was reputed to have been a 'man of colour' - his parents most probably were negro. Wesley went to sea and spent some time in England. At the age of 18 he landed in NSW. The following year he married a widow, Sarah Jane Black on 25 April 1840. Sarah was twelve years senior to her husband.
In Sep 2010 Kirsten said, "All I know is that Wesley was the son of an African slave and came to Australia via England where he was apparently educated. I don't know if he maybe had a white father or not, but someone must have paid for him to go to England. Newspaper articles described him as a "man of colour". I have tried unsuccessfully to find records, but many sons were named after the Wesley brothers back then, and there were lots of Andersons and Wesleys in the Philadelphia region - maybe I'm not looking in the right spot.
In the biographical notes from the Anderson Family History Book, Gwyn Wiseman (Committee member) says that some of the documents ( I don't know if they are in her possession, or if they are in another family member's possession) state he was a Negro and some documents appear to have been altered to hide the fact. Best to try and get a copy of 'the book' from the Committee who put it together.
The Organising Committee members were:
Gwyn Wiseman Phone 050 833240
Kevin Hatcher Phone 050 837261
Beryl Mill Phone 050 833175
Wally Smith Phone 050 833353
I think prefixes have changed since the printing in 1994, so you'd have to check them out in the phone book. :)
Another source ( a friend of my mother's who did a history for her) said that he went to sea from Philadelphia and spent some time in England, landing in NSW at 18 years of age."
Events
| Birth | Abt 1820 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |||
| Immigration | 11 Sep 1838 | Ship: Camden, New South Wales, Australian Colonies |  | ||
| Marriage | 25 Apr 1840 | Scots Church, Sydney, New South Wales, Australian Colonies - Sarah Jane CLARKE | | ||
| Trial Criminal | 19 Jan 1842 | Aquittal, but remand on other charge - Sydney New South Wales, Australian Colonies | |||
| Description | 12 Apr 1842 | Height 5'10.5", Complexion Black, Hair Black, Eyes Hazel - Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australian Colonies | | ||
| Trial Criminal | 19 Mar 1845 | Fine imposed for illegal impounding of cattle - Brisbane Waters, New South Wales, Australian Colonies | |||
| Event-Misc | 1848 | Wesley Anderson moved family from NSW to Victoria - Victoria, New South Wales, Australian Colonies | |||
| Event-Misc | 1852 | Wesley sets out for the goldfields - Goldfields, Victoria, Australian Colonies | | ||
| Event-Misc | 7 Nov 1852 | Robbed at the Goldfields - Goldfields, Ballarat, Victoria, Australian Colonies | | ||
| Event-Misc | 13 Nov 1852 | Affidavit re stolen gun - Geelong, Victoria, Australian Colonies | |||
| Event-Misc | Bef 1857 | Family move by bullock dray - Lorne, Victoria, Australian Colonies | | ||
| Event-Misc | Abt 1857 | Complaint about Bad Rations - Winchelsea, Victoria, Australian Colonies | | ||
| Event-Misc | 9 Mar 1857 | Wesley Anderson discovered coal at Wormbete - Wormbete Forest, Victoria, Australian Colonies | |||
| Occupation | 1857 | Coal miner - Retreat Gully, Wormbete Forest, Bambra, Victoria, Australian Colonies | | ||
| Occupation | 1859 | Splitter - Wormbete Forest, Victoria, Australian Colonies | | ||
| Death | 4 Sep 1859 | Phthisis Pulmonalis (Tuberculosis) 3 months - Wormbete Forest, Victoria, Australia | | ||
| Burial | 7 Sep 1859 | uphill from Winchelsea Cemetery grounds, Winchelsea, Victoria, Australia | | ||
| Alt name | John Wesley ANDERSON | ||||
| Alt name | Westley ANDERSON | ||||
| Description | "Negro" | |
Families
| Spouse | Sarah Jane CLARKE (1809 - 1899) |
| Child | Joseph ANDERSON (1841 - 1841) |
| Child | Charles Wesley ANDERSON (1843 - 1914) |
| Child | John Wesley ANDERSON (1844 - 1915) |
| Child | George Henry "Sandy" ANDERSON (1846 - 1930) |
| Child | Joseph ANDERSON (1848 - 1937) |
| Child | Mary Ann ANDERSON (1850 - 1904) |
Notes
Immigration
Could be 1839 or 1840Vessels Arrived in Sydney 1837-1925
Series: 1837_1841 | Page No: Page 005 | Ship: CAMDEN | Year: 1838 | Month: Sep | Day: 11
Details
Number INX-49-24823
Title CAMDEN
Index Number 49
Ship CAMDEN
Day 11
Month Sep
Year 1838
Series 1837_1841
Page No Page 005
Marriage
First name(s) Sarah ALast name Black
Denomination Presbyterian
Marriage year 1840
Registration year 1840
Registration district Sydney, Scots Church
State New South Wales
Country Australia
Spouse's first name(s) Wesley
Spouse's last name Anderson
Registration number -
Volume reference V1840565 73A
Cross reference -
Record set New South Wales Marriages 1788-1945
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Civil Marriage & Divorce
Collections from Australasia, Australia
Mary Cavigan says: Married 25 April 1840, in the presbyterian church of Scotland. She is listed as Sarah Jane Black , and both signed with a "x"
Description
Another Entrance Description Book has his height at 5' 8.75" and black eyes. He is said to be Protestant or Methodist and a bricklayer and coachman.Event-Misc
Mary Cavigan says: In Geelong Advertiser old Wesley is described as a fine American Black. Started from Geelong for the Eureka diggings last week. Father of Joseph Anderson set off for diggins at old Bendigo with family, later to move to BallaratEvent-Misc
This article from the Geelong Advertiser 11 Nov 1852, written by a court reporter, describes how Wesley Anderson reacted to his horse being stolen. He showed indignation, determination & a keen intelligence in seeking to find the whereabouts of the thief & his horse. He certainly demonstrated that he was courageous, had a strong sense of right & wrong & was determined that justice would be done. He is described as a "fine American black" by the court reporter. He was obviously a strong, athletic man. It is also notable that he was not subservient, with any sense that a coloured person of the time might have had of being a second-class citizen.Event-Misc
Mary Cavigan says: Later in 1850's family moved to Lorne. Story about the bullock dray being lowered down the cliff at Devils Corner, one by one, as there were no roads. Wesley discovered the Wormbete Coal Mine on the northern side of the Otway Ranges in Green Gully or Black Diamond Creek. He was described as a man of colour.Event-Misc
This report appeared in the Geelong Advertiser - Wesley Anderson took his employer to court for providing him with poor food & a lesser quantity than had been agreed upon. In a community where coloured people, mostly Aborigines were poorly treated, Wesley did not accept being treated unfairly & insisted upon his rights as a human being. On his death certificate in 1859 his occupation was "splitter", so this incident was shortly before that time.Occupation
Wesley Anderson's letter to the Editor of the Geelong Advertiser notifying his discovery of coal at Wormbete Forest (later known as Bambra), gives a description of the coal seam & details of the excavation. This discovery led to the establishment of a coal mine in the area.Occupation
This is the occupation shown on his death certificate.The family oral history is that he was felling trees in Wormbete Forest, splitting them and selling sleepers to the Victorian Railways. While working in Wormbete Forest he discovered coal and was also selling that to the Victroian Railways.
I believe the coal mine was in the vicinity of the Wensley Bray Coal Mine.
Wensley Bray Coal Mine is a mine which is located in Victoria nearby to Countrywide Cottages, Winchelsea South and Wormbete. It is also nearby Riverstation and Bambra. The latitude of https://geoyp.com/AU/5/wensley-bray-coal-mine-94471/ Wensley Bray Coal Mine is -38.33986, and the longitude is 143.97626 with the gps coordinates of 38° 20′ 23.49″ S and 143° 58′ 34.53″ E.
Death
Victoria Deaths 1836-1985 TranscriptionFirst name(s) Wesley
Last name Anderson
Age 38
Sex Male
Birth year 1821
Death year 1859
Father's name -
Mother's name -
Death place -
State Victoria
Registration number 6262
Record set Victoria Deaths 1836-1985
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Civil Deaths & Burials
Collections from Australasia, Australia
Burial
The family oral history is that he was refused burial in Winchelsea Cemetery because he was black and that he was buried uphill from the cemetery near the reservoir. His wife's headstone faces towards his grave site.Description
Goal entrance papers from New South Wales described his black complexion, black wooly hair and black eyes.A newspaper account from Australia described him as a "fine American black".