SHARP FAMILY HISTORY

On December 8, 1852 in the parish of Tetbury, Gloucestershire, my great-grandmother, Charlotte SHARP was born. Her mother, Lydia SHARP, registered the child on the eleventh of December, 1852 with an X where her signature was to be. I do not know who Charlotte may have been named after but I presume it may have been for an aunt, also a Charlotte SHARP. Her father was Charles William Lloyd SHARP and at the time of Charlotte's birth was listed as a "labourer" in the parish of Tetbury.

My great-grandmother was the youngest of three girls to Charles and Lydia. Her older sisters were Mary Ann and Martha. Three boys followed, Joseph, Charles William George and Frederick Robert. As far as I am aware, there were exactly six children in the household.

Charlotte was close to her oldest sister Mary Ann. I know from old letters that when Charlotte and her husband, Frederick GARNER moved to Richmond, Surrey, Mary Ann and her husband, George WHITE followed. Subsequently, Frederick and George worked together at Watney's Brewery for 18 years. Mary Ann and George are buried 150 yards away from Frederick at Richmond Cemetary.

I do not know much about Charlotte's early life except to say that like so many others of her "class" she was probably overworked. Charlotte had eight children with Frederick. The youngest two died in infancy. Their names were Richard and Doris and are also buried in Richmond Cemetary.

After the death of her husband, my great-grandmother went to live with her daughter, Alice KITE, of Letton, Herefordshire. She worked until the time of her death as a "domestic" at one point, becoming part of the household when the exiled King and Queen of Portuagal came to stay at Letton Court. She died in her 66th year on April 19th, 1918 at Letton Court. Cause of death was 1) Carcinoma of the Ovary and 2) Cardiac Failure with bronchitis. Her daughter was present at the death.

The photograph on the Index Page of this website is the only one I have of Charlotte Sharp. Of course, I treasure it. It was one of the few things that my grandfather brought with him when he emigrated to Canada.

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