On Sat, 03 Jun 2000 06:51:39 -0400. Howard Ray Lawrence <[email protected]> wrote: On Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2000 16:37:11 -0700, Malcolm Sharp <[email protected]> suggested a reference to the website, http://www.megsinet.net/~sharprm/library/sharp.htm It is most interesting reading, since it had been rumored by my mother that she thought there were some Irish roots in her family on the Sharp side. I am still not sure. I have a mother, a grand father, gg great grandfather---all Sharps. Since I am in the process of tracing their roots, any suggestions would be welcome. All were centered, the first known one beginning in 1837, in Waterford, Norfolk, Ontario, CANADA. Thanks very much! Howard H o w a r d R a y L a w r e n c e Penn State url: http://www.personal.psu.edu/hrl/ On Sat, 3 Jun 2000 10:28:34 EDT [email protected] replied . . . Howard, I'm really curious about your Sharp research. My father was a Sharp (although for some reason he and one of his brothers added an "e" at the end once they were grown), and I have been researching this family for many years. I've received almost zero information from older relatives who could have provided some helpful hints. Unfortunately, my father died before I got really interested in the research. Margaret: Sorry, but this post is going to be quite long, but I hope, interesting! A bat in the house awakened me and my cat quite early this morning, so I am writing to calm down! I would again point you towards the SHARP Family history found in the URL, http://www.megsinet.net/~sharprm/library/sharp.htm Also, to reiterate, I must quote from it, as follows: EARLY SHARP HISTORY, according to it shows us that . . . The original Sharp family was from Saxony, eventually migrating to Little Horton (now Bradford) England in the 13th century. The family in Little Horton was split by the War of the Roses in 1470 with one branch going north to Scotland, one south to Bristol and the third remaining in Yorkshire. The Scots became Presbyterian, our clan became Quaker and those remaining became Anglican. (I had French relations from the 1500s that settled in Bristol. The Daniel Lamoureux Family fled from Bristol to New York between 1695-1754 for some reason. It seems they may have gained hope from knowledge of the SHARP migrations. I am not sure.) This is my theory, as follows: My hunch, and it's along shot, is that my SHARP Family took the "traditional" northern migration from the past centuries, and they moved to Ontario from the USA. That would mean they would have been Presbyterian. Well, this is not the case, since they tend to be Wesleyan Methodists! Another idea is that they were United Empire Loyalists, and they could not remain in the Colonies after the Revolution. I believe this is a good possibility! (I have heard from my mother that there were some UEL in the family---on both sides. Another hunch is that they were Anglican, remaining in England, but changed to Wesleyan Methodists as a protest, or descent, against the Church of England, and upon arrival in CANADA. So, my search would tend to favor the middle approach. I might consider a second wave of SHARPS form England, but I do not know the history of such a wave. So, I would have to find connections between Ontario and New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.; and it would likely be Pennsylvania. (My mother had some family and friends in Pennsylvania; and I, by chance, lived there for 27 years---without thinking about any of this!) What do you think? United Empire Loyalists resources can be found at the following URLs: http://www.everton.com/FHN/fhn1998/13jul98.htm and http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/13239.html . . . First Generation 1. William1 Sharpe was born in England, abt 1638. William died 30 Mar 1690 in Flower, Northamptonshire, England, at 51 years of age. Flower (sometimes spelled Floure) is a few miles northwest of Nether Heyford, just a short distance north of London. He married Hannah ??. Hannah was born about 1638. Three of the six children of William Sharpe, progenitor, emigrated to America. William, his wife Hannah, and their other three children did not leave England. For the convenience of this record, I have used the English spelling "Sharpe" for those who remained, and the American spelling "Sharp" for those who emigrated. The three brothers who made the trip, John, Hugh and William, came to America in 1682, landing in what is now Burlington, New Jersey. Parts of the bible of John Sharp survive today, and several historical accounts repeat the writings in this bible: "of the Flower in Northamptonshire" [from Flower, Northamptonshire, England], "came over Sea on the ship 'Samuel'," arriving in "West Jersey about the 4th or 5th Day of September 1682." The record continues: "Born in the year . . . December ," "Elizabeth my wife Departed this life ye 28th November 1705." The record then lists the names of his children. Flower, or Floore, is known by the same name today. The Sharps were staunch Quakers. George Fox, the Quaker leader, died in 1691, and by that time the Society of Friends numbered 40,000 in England. The English, staunch supporters of the Church of England, considered the Quakers as "Dissenters" and threw many of them in prison. This persecution prompted them to seek settlement in America as early as 1656. George Fox himself came to America and in 1672, crossed New Jersey with Indian guides. His coming spurred additional Quaker settlement in America and by 1700, they controlled New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. The Sharps emigrated in the wave of Quaker departures from England in the late 1600's, to escape the persecution applied to the Quakers. The line of descent through William's granddaughter [Rebecca (3), Hugh (2), William (1)] are direct ancestors of Herbert Hoover, President of the United States. William Sharpe and Hannah ?? had the following children: 2 i. Elizabeth2 Sharpe was born in Flower, Northamptonshire, England, 29 Aug 1656. Elizabeth died 29 Nov 1705 in Flower, Northamptonshire, England, at 49 years of age. She married Thomas Falkner in Richard Ashby's House, Buckbruck, England, 25 May 1682. Thomas was born about 1656 in England. Thomas died in England. 3 ii. Henry Sharpe was born in Flower, Northamptonshire, England, 07 Nov 1659. The only living son of Wiliam to stay in England at Flower. + 4 iii. John Sharp was born 29 Dec 1661. 5 iv. Hugh Sharpe was born, 11 Mar 1662/63. Hugh died in infancy. 6 v. Hugh Sharp was born in Flower, Northamptonshire, England, 03 Jun 1668. Hugh died 13 Jan 1741/42 in Burlington Co., New Jersey, at 73 years of age. He married Rachel Ffrench in Newton Colony, Cambridge Co., New Jersey, 09 Feb 1701/02. Rachel was born 24 Mar 1663/64 in Nether Heyford, N'hamptonshire, England. Rachel died abt 1742 in Wellingborrow, Burlington Co., New Jersey. This is near the Sharpe's ancestral home in Flower. The IGI indicates that Rachel was baptised in Nether Heyford either April 3, 1663 or March 24, 1664. In the "Descendants of Thomas French" : "He located in Chester township, becoming the owner of several large plantations in that vicinity. In 1715 he received a grant of 3700 acres of unsurveyed lands from the Council of Proprietors, 230 of which were located in Hunterdon County and 400 acres in Morris county." "Hugh Sharp's special gifts as a writer and man of affairs were utilized in various ways. His signature, as a witness, is found on wills and other documents and he prepared many inventories. He drew petitions to the legislature, notably for a bridge over the Rancocas, in 1709. The same year he served in that body as a member for the western division of Burlington County, the first Assembly of Governor Lord Lovelace." On February 18, 1708/09, Hugh was appointed guardian of Thomas Allen, his step-son. In the description of his step-daughter's husband, Jarves Stockdell, Hugh's family is described as "influential." 7 vi. William Sharp was born in Flower, Northamptonshire, England, 28 Jun 1670. William died in Newton Colony, Collingswood Co., Nj. He married Jemima Estlack in Newton Colony, Collingswood Co., Nj, 18 Jun 1695. Jemima was born 3 Dec 1671 in Bermuda. Is your family Quaker? My theory is that your family were Quakers, and they moved southward. Maybe these were the ones wishing to keep slaves? (Someone had mentioned this on the list.) In your work, have you run across a HIRAM SHARP, b. abt. 1789 in either DE or MD? Some records list one place, while other records list the opposite. Hiram, Sr. settled in Carroll Co., GA, where his descendants stayed. They also owned land in nearby counties, but Carroll Co. was the home county. I hit this rock wall some time ago, and I have not been able to find his parents. If I can help you in any way, please let me know. Also, if you do have any information about Hiram, Sr., I would love to know about it. Thanks so much and good hunting! Margaret Jackson Chattanooga, TN Although you are in the southern USA, you might check Norfolk County Ontario records. I am not anywhere near to finding the source of my SHARP Family migrations. I am just starting on that one. However, it might give you a feel for what I am finding; and possibly there is some kind of connection somewhere to your SHARP family. I hope so. This is just a hunch. The name, "Hiram," tends to be masonic. Genealogical resources at the Grand Lodge of Georgia may be able to help you. Their URL is the following: http://www.glofga.org/ Many CANADIAN records are in the following URL: http://www.50megs.com/genealogy/gencan.html Another thought! Your father was likely trying to make the name "right!" The "right" way would be to use the original spelling of the name. Would it not? I am going to be working with these records in the next several days/weeks. Please share your thoughts with me in this regard. We may be able to have some luck! Keep in touch! Howard H o w a r d R a y L a w r e n c e Penn State url: http://www.personal.psu.edu/hrl/