Thomas Sharpe
Thomas Sharpe > Martha Sharpe > Robert Reily > Annie Reily > Albert Francis Murphy
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Thomas Sharpe was my great-great-great-great-grandfather.
Thomas was born in 1773 in Honeybourne in Gloucestershire, England, the son of Thomas and Ann Sharpe [1]. He was baptised on 13 June 1773 at the church in Honeybourne [].
Military records note that Thomas enlisted in the army on 10 March 1791 in Oxford. He is described as being 5 feet, 5 and a half inches tall and having a sallow complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair and a small visage (face).
Private Thomas Sharpe came free to the colony of New South Wales, arriving on 17 September 1791 aboard the ship Sugar Cane at the age of 20. He was in Captain Macarthur’s Company, the New South Wales Corps (the Rums Corps) which was later renamed the 102nd Regiment of Foot and transferred to the 73rd Regiment of Foot, 1st Battalion in about 1812.
Between 1791 and 1813, Thomas was stationed at Parramatta, serving in the army for 17 years and 176 days in total.
Thomas Sharpe was my great-great-great-great-grandfather.
Thomas was born in 1773 in Honeybourne in Gloucestershire, England, the son of Thomas and Ann Sharpe [1]. He was baptised on 13 June 1773 at the church in Honeybourne [].
Military records note that Thomas enlisted in the army on 10 March 1791 in Oxford. He is described as being 5 feet, 5 and a half inches tall and having a sallow complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair and a small visage (face).
Private Thomas Sharpe came free to the colony of New South Wales, arriving on 17 September 1791 aboard the ship Sugar Cane at the age of 20. He was in Captain Macarthur’s Company, the New South Wales Corps (the Rums Corps) which was later renamed the 102nd Regiment of Foot and transferred to the 73rd Regiment of Foot, 1st Battalion in about 1812.
Between 1791 and 1813, Thomas was stationed at Parramatta, serving in the army for 17 years and 176 days in total.
Marriage and Children
In 1810, Thomas was 35 years old and a Private of the 102nd Regiment stationed in Sydney when he married Martha Burrell on 13 March 1810 at St Philips Church in Sydney. The two had been living in a de-facto relationship for some years when in 1810 Governor Macquarie decreed that all such relationships should be legalised.
When signing the register, Thomas gave his marital status as 'bachelor' and Martha gave hers as 'spinster'. Both made their X marks when signing [3]. The Reverend William Cowper officiated at the marriage.
Martha and Thomas went on to have the following eight children together:
Martha, born 8 February 1801 in Parramatta. Baptised 25 December 1801 at St John's Anglican Church [].
Thomas, born 20 May 1803 in Parramatta;
Joseph, born 1805 in Parramatta. Died 18 Sep 1874, Richmond;
James, born 1808 in Parramatta;
William, born 1810 in Parramatta (NSWBDM 2669/1810 V18102669 1A);
Ann, born 1813 in Parramatta (NSWBDM 3013/1813 V18133013 1A);
Elizabeth, born 1815 in Richmond (NSW BDM 221/1815 V1815221 156 & NSWBDM 4078/1815 V18154078 1B);
Mary, born 20 November 1821 in Richmond (NSWBDM 327/1821 V1821327 156). Died 18 Feb 1840, Richmond.
Note that the children's names are sometimes recorded as 'Sharp' and sometimes as 'Sharpe'.
When signing the register, Thomas gave his marital status as 'bachelor' and Martha gave hers as 'spinster'. Both made their X marks when signing [3]. The Reverend William Cowper officiated at the marriage.
Martha and Thomas went on to have the following eight children together:
Martha, born 8 February 1801 in Parramatta. Baptised 25 December 1801 at St John's Anglican Church [].
Thomas, born 20 May 1803 in Parramatta;
Joseph, born 1805 in Parramatta. Died 18 Sep 1874, Richmond;
James, born 1808 in Parramatta;
William, born 1810 in Parramatta (NSWBDM 2669/1810 V18102669 1A);
Ann, born 1813 in Parramatta (NSWBDM 3013/1813 V18133013 1A);
Elizabeth, born 1815 in Richmond (NSW BDM 221/1815 V1815221 156 & NSWBDM 4078/1815 V18154078 1B);
Mary, born 20 November 1821 in Richmond (NSWBDM 327/1821 V1821327 156). Died 18 Feb 1840, Richmond.
Note that the children's names are sometimes recorded as 'Sharp' and sometimes as 'Sharpe'.
1813 -1823
Thomas remained in the army and was stationed at Parramatta until 1813 or early 1814 where most of his and Martha's children were born.
In 1814 he was discharged from the army and granted land in Richmond. This was followed by a further grant of land in 1816 at Kady Creek (possibly a misspelling as no record of Kady Creek online).
In 1814 he was discharged from the army and granted land in Richmond. This was followed by a further grant of land in 1816 at Kady Creek (possibly a misspelling as no record of Kady Creek online).
Death and Burial
Thomas died in Richmond on 29 January 1823, aged 50 years [10]. He was buried on 31 January 1823 in Richmond, though I don't know where.
Note that Saint Peter's Anglican Church, where Martha is buried and where Thomas is remembered by a plaque on her grave, was not constructed until after Thomas died.
Click on the photos of the graves to enlarge the images. There are more photos of this family's graves here.
Note that Saint Peter's Anglican Church, where Martha is buried and where Thomas is remembered by a plaque on her grave, was not constructed until after Thomas died.
Click on the photos of the graves to enlarge the images. There are more photos of this family's graves here.
Research notes and footnotes
No record of Thomas Sharp(e) in NSW State Archives;
[1] The present parish of Honeybourne is an amalgamation of two former parishes, Cow Honeybourne, which was in Gloucestershire until 1931, and Church Honeybourne, in Worcestershire.
[2]
[3] Marriage certificate (copy on file);
[10] Death certificate NSWBDM 80/1823 V182380 156 (copy on file);
[1] The present parish of Honeybourne is an amalgamation of two former parishes, Cow Honeybourne, which was in Gloucestershire until 1931, and Church Honeybourne, in Worcestershire.
[2]
[3] Marriage certificate (copy on file);
[10] Death certificate NSWBDM 80/1823 V182380 156 (copy on file);