Martha Sharpe
Martha Sharpe > Robert Reily > Annie Reily > Frank Murphy
Martha Ann Sharpe was my great-great-great-grandmother.
Martha was born on 8 February 1801 in Parramatta, the daughter of Thomas Sharpe, a soldier, and Martha Burrell, a convict. She was baptised at St John's Anglican Church in Parramatta on 25 December 1801 [1].
Martha Sharpe was married twice, first to Christopher Harper and then to Robert Magrane Reily, my great-great-great-grandfather.
Note that Martha's name is sometimes given as 'Martha Sharp'.
Martha was born on 8 February 1801 in Parramatta, the daughter of Thomas Sharpe, a soldier, and Martha Burrell, a convict. She was baptised at St John's Anglican Church in Parramatta on 25 December 1801 [1].
Martha Sharpe was married twice, first to Christopher Harper and then to Robert Magrane Reily, my great-great-great-grandfather.
Note that Martha's name is sometimes given as 'Martha Sharp'.
Childhood
Martha was born less than a year after her convict mother, Martha Burrell, arrived in the colony of New South Wales. On arrival, Martha was assigned to work for Thomas Sharpe, a Private in the English army, and the two began to live as man and wife almost immediately. Martha and Thomas were living together in Parramatta but were not yet married when their first child, Martha Sharpe, was born.
Martha spent her early years in Parramatta where Thomas was a Private in the 102nd Regiment. Three younger brothers were born before her parents married in 1810 and two further siblings were born before Thomas was discharged from the army in 1814.
Upon his discharge from the army, Martha's father was granted land at Richmond and the family moved from Parramatta to Richmond to farm. Two further siblings for Martha were born before her father died in January 1823.
Martha spent her early years in Parramatta where Thomas was a Private in the 102nd Regiment. Three younger brothers were born before her parents married in 1810 and two further siblings were born before Thomas was discharged from the army in 1814.
Upon his discharge from the army, Martha's father was granted land at Richmond and the family moved from Parramatta to Richmond to farm. Two further siblings for Martha were born before her father died in January 1823.
Marriage to Christopher Harper
Martha married Christopher Harper on 15 June 1818, when she was 17 years old and Christopher 24 [2]. They were married at St Philip's Church of England in Sydney. Christopher was an Irish convict who had arrived in Sydney in 1814 aboard the Three Bees and received his Certificate of Freedom in 1817 [3].
Christopher and Martha had six children together [4]:
Edward (1821-1895)
Ellen (1822-1907)
Mary (1823-1896)
Jane (1825-1907)
Ann (1825-?) [5]
Patrick (1827-1901)
It seems that in 1822 Martha and Christopher were living in Prospect and in 1824 in Upper Minto.
The records below are from the Colonial Secretary Index, 1788-1825.
Christopher and Martha had six children together [4]:
Edward (1821-1895)
Ellen (1822-1907)
Mary (1823-1896)
Jane (1825-1907)
Ann (1825-?) [5]
Patrick (1827-1901)
It seems that in 1822 Martha and Christopher were living in Prospect and in 1824 in Upper Minto.
The records below are from the Colonial Secretary Index, 1788-1825.
By 1825, Christopher was a free man employed by the Reverend George Middleton and living with his family in the district of Newcastle. By 1828, he was working for F Mitchell at a place called Melville, Luskintyre in the Hunter region of New South Wales with his wife, Martha, and their five children [6].
By 1828, Robert Magrane Reily had been assigned to Peter McIntyre at Bulwarra, Patersons Plains, near Maitland, NSW [7].
Patersons Plains is approximately 20km from Luskintyre and it seems that Martha Harper met Robert Magrane Reily around this time.
By 1828, Robert Magrane Reily had been assigned to Peter McIntyre at Bulwarra, Patersons Plains, near Maitland, NSW [7].
Patersons Plains is approximately 20km from Luskintyre and it seems that Martha Harper met Robert Magrane Reily around this time.
Marriage to Robert Magrane Reily
Martha was still legally married to Christopher Harper when she began a relationship with Robert Magrane Reily, probably in 1829 or 1830. Christopher and Martha were witnesses at the marriage of Patrick Quin and Catherine Walker in Newcastle in March 1829 so they were clearly still together then [8].
Martha and Robert had a number of children together, beginning in 1830, before they were married on 24 February 1848 at Hinton near Maitland. When they married, Martha gave her name as 'Martha Sharpe', though Christopher did not die until 1862 [9].
Martha and Robert had a number of children together, beginning in 1830, before they were married on 24 February 1848 at Hinton near Maitland. When they married, Martha gave her name as 'Martha Sharpe', though Christopher did not die until 1862 [9].
Children
Robert and Martha's children were:
- James Magrane Reily, born 1831 in Maitland, NSW;
- Martha Cecily Magrane Reily, born 10 November 1833 in Maitland, NSW. Christened 10 November 1834 in Squatters Creek, Wambrook, NSW (registered at St Mary's Cathedral; copy on file). Died 13 April 1911;
- John Magrane Reily, born 1835 in Maitland, NSW;
- Catherine Magrane Reily, born 2 March 1838 in Maitland, NSW. Christened 12 November 1838 in West Maitland, NSW;
- Robert Magrane Reily, born 2 October 1844 in Maitland, NSW. Christened 26 January 1845 in the Catholic church at Maitland, NSW;
Death and Burial
Martha Reily died on 26 November 1861 at Adelong Creek at the age of 60. The cause of death given on her death certificate was pleurisy and pneumonia following an accident she suffered five months previously in which she broke a rib. The informant was her daughter, Catherine Dickinson. Martha was buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Tumut on 28 November [10].
At the time of death, Martha was helping her husband, Robert, to run The Diggers' Arms, the public house of which he was licensee.
Robert died on 31 January 1864 in Tumut, NSW at the age of 56. He was buried on 31 January 1864 in The Pioneer Cemetery at Tumut, NSW.
The photos below were taken by me on 24 October 2020.
At the time of death, Martha was helping her husband, Robert, to run The Diggers' Arms, the public house of which he was licensee.
Robert died on 31 January 1864 in Tumut, NSW at the age of 56. He was buried on 31 January 1864 in The Pioneer Cemetery at Tumut, NSW.
The photos below were taken by me on 24 October 2020.
References:
[1] Baptismal record, St John's Church, Parramatta (copy on file);
[2] Marriage Certificate (copy on file): NSWBDM 2200/1818 V18182200 3A & 316/1818 V1818316;
[3] https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I5405/Christopher-Harper
https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/harper/chrsitopher/130707
[4] https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I64036/Thomas-Sharpe
[5] Ann may have been a twin and seems to have died in infancy. Her name does not appear in the 1828 Census however I have been unable to find a record of her death in NSW BDM;
[6] 1825 & 1828 Convict Musters:
https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I5405/Christopher-Harper
[7] 1828 convict muster records https://www.jenwilletts.com/ Note that Robert's surname is given as "Rylie";
[8] https://www.jenwilletts.com/searchaction.php
[9] https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I5405/Christopher-Harper
[10] Death certificate NSW BDM 4953/1861 (copy on file);
[2] Marriage Certificate (copy on file): NSWBDM 2200/1818 V18182200 3A & 316/1818 V1818316;
[3] https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I5405/Christopher-Harper
https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/harper/chrsitopher/130707
[4] https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I64036/Thomas-Sharpe
[5] Ann may have been a twin and seems to have died in infancy. Her name does not appear in the 1828 Census however I have been unable to find a record of her death in NSW BDM;
[6] 1825 & 1828 Convict Musters:
https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I5405/Christopher-Harper
[7] 1828 convict muster records https://www.jenwilletts.com/ Note that Robert's surname is given as "Rylie";
[8] https://www.jenwilletts.com/searchaction.php
[9] https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I5405/Christopher-Harper
[10] Death certificate NSW BDM 4953/1861 (copy on file);