Data re Mr Charles Mason Sharpe and his Family On the left is the decorative Name plate on the Coffin of Mr Charles Mason Sharpe which is, with others, in the Vault of Holy Trinity Church, Cloudesley Square. On close inspection it appears that the above Name plate reads; Mr Charles Mason Sharpe. Died 30 th August 1849. In his 36 th Year The Entry above left is from the London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1916. Islington, St James, Pentonville 1813-1843. This states that: Charles Mason Sharpe was born on 25 th December 1813 and baptised on February 6 th 1814. His parents were Joseph Sharpe, Gentleman and Sarah Caroline Sharpe. They lived in Chapel Street. (Now Chapel Market) In the Greater London Burial Index on the right, the following information is given: Name: Charles Mason Sharpe; Sex: Male; Age: 36, Birth Year: 1813; Death Year: 1849; Burial Year: 1849; Burial Date: 06 Sept. 1849; Residence: Dalston; Parish: Islington, Holy Trinity. See also in the same image that there is an entry re a Joseph Sharpe of Colebrook Row aged 72. Is this Charles father? See later data. I had failed to find Charles Mason Sharpe in the 1841 Census but this gave me a lead to perhaps finding the whole family at Colebrook Row, which was the case mis-transcribed as Thorpe. (See below)
Looking specifically for Sharpe or Thorpe. I found the above entry, incorrectly transcribing Sharpe for Thorpe in the 1841 England Census. Address: Colebroke Row, Finsbury, Islington. Joseph Sharpe aged 60 Head Sarah Sharpe aged 60 Wife Eliza Sharpe aged 38 Daughter Mary Sharpe aged 30 Daughter Emma Sharpe aged 25 Daughter Jane Sharpe aged 20 Daughter Charles Sharpe aged 25 Son (Whoever filled in the form has dropped the Mason and I would have expected to see him aged 28, however Census ages can be off the mark and the context makes me think this is our man) Phillip Sharpe aged 20 Son And a 20 year old Female Servant, whose name is difficult to read What were the occupations of Joseph, Charles and Phillip. Bearing in mind that at Charles birth in 1814, Joseph styled himself simply as Gentleman? See more later. This required a search into the births of Joseph and Sarah Caroline s other children in the hope that the writing in the entry was clearer, finally in the record for the birth of Catherine Jane Sharpe in 1817, there was Joseph s profession clearly written: Clerk of the Faculty Office Doctors Commons. Note: Doctors Commons, the name formerly applied to a society of ecclesiastical lawyers in London, forming a distinct profession for the practice of civil and canon laws. Some members of the profession purchased in 1567 a site near St Paul s, on which at their own expense they erected houses (destroyed in the Great Fire, but rebuilt in 1672) for the residence of the judges and advocates, and proper buildings for holding the ecclesiastical and admiralty courts.(see more) Children of Joseph and Sarah Caroline Sharpe Eliz Anne b. March 9 (probably 1803. bap. 5 April 1804. (Baptised the same day as her brother below.) William Edward b. 23 Feb 1804. bap. 5 April 1804 Mary b. Aug. 10 1805. bap. 19 Sept. 1805 Henry b. 14 Feb. bap. 15 March 1807 Emma b. 3 May 1808. bap. 2 Dec. 1808 Joseph Arthur b. March 1812. bap. 26 March 1812 Charles Mason b. 15 Dec. 1813. bap. 6 Feb 1814 Catherine Jane b. 18 June 1817. bap. 24 July 1817 Philip Moore b. 21 June 1819. bap. 22 July 1819
Brief History of Joseph Sharpe and Sarah Caroline Sharpe (nee) Hitchock. Marriage of Joseph Sharpe, Batchelor and Sarah Caroline Hitchock of Merton in Surrey on 2 nd September 1798 @ St Botolph, Aldersgate, City of London Their life appears to have been led within the area of Islington and The City Together they had at least 9 children Joseph died @ his address of Colebrook Row and was buried @ Holy Trinity, Islington on 24 th May 1849, the same year and same church as his son Charles Mason Sharpe. He was aged 72 years. Their deaths were just 4 months apart. Sarah Caroline lived to the age of 90 years, dying in the 2 nd Qtr. of 1866. (See Joseph s Will with Codicil below). In the England Census for 1851 and 1861 her status is Head and with her in 1851 are her son William E, Solicitor, her daughter Mary (in 1861 a Daily Governess), daughter Emma, daughter Catherine, son Phillip M (and his wife Mary A Maria), he was in 1851 a Stock Broker s Clerk, and Mary Ann Gollings, Female Servant. In 1861 Sarah Caroline is still Head but shown as Blind aged 85, with her children William E, Mary and Emma. Now living @ 6a Francis Place, Islington. Joseph and Sarah Caroline s children were baptised in either St Gregory by St Pauls in The City (see note below) or St James, Pentonville, Islington (Now gone) Note: It appears that the former church was destroyed by the Great Fire, after which, many parishes in the City of London were united. They shared a church but for administrative purposes some united parishes kept separate registers. For those with separate registers, events were recorded in the appropriate register according to the parish where people lived. As regards the physical location of burials, the parish of St Gregory by St Pauls (like St Faith under St Pauls), retained the right to bury its parishioners in St Paul s churchyard. Joseph and his son Charles Mason were buried @ Holy Trinity, Islington. I have not looked for the deaths or marriages of the rest of the family. Sarah Caroline lived to what must have been a great age, dying aged 90 years. The last record for her that I have found was the 1861 Census when she was 85 and Head of the family. Their address was 6a Francis Place, Parish of St Mary s, Ward of Highbury and Borough of Finsbury. Her neighbours were a Landed proprietor and his housekeeper, a Printer and 2 Fund-holders (sisters). Note: Francis/Frances Place no longer exists, but the LCC book has a Frances Place (with an e) becoming part of Holloway Road N7 in 1864. This was at the same time as a dozen or so other small places. Together they became nos. 1 270. This appears to be the most likely candidate. Question 1: I wonder if the coffin of Joseph Sharpe, Charles father is also in the church vault as he died just 4 months before his son Charles Are the other coffins marked? NB: The Doctors Commons Archives are held at the Lambeth Palace Library and The National Archives, Kew. St Botolph, Aldersgate where Joseph and Sarah Caroline were married Dedicated to a C7th Saxon abbot, who became the patron saint of travellers. Probably dating from the time of Edward the Confessor, protected from the Great Fire by its position just outside the City walls. Largely re-built in 1789-91 by Nathaniel Wright. Set in the delightful Postman s Park created from the churchyards of St Botolph, St Leonards, Foster Lane (destroyed in the Great Fire), and Christ Church, Newgate Street. In this little park is the G.F. Watts unusual memorial to ordinary people who died saving others.
'From Pentonville Road looking West: Evening', by John O'Connor, 1884. On the right is St James's, Pentonville, on the left are Penton Place (now Penton Rise) and the shops of the former Lower Queen's Row. The view appears to be taken from the roof of Dunn & Hewett's cocoa factory (right foreground). This church was demolished I believe this painting is held in the collection of the Museum of London Source: British History On-line Pentonville Chapel, later St James's Church, was the centrepiece of the suburb of Pentonville. Built in 1787 8, it became a familiar if isolated landmark on Pentonville Road, conspicuous in the foreground of John O'Connor's view of St Pancras. Towards the end of its life, Ian Nairn enjoyed the 'splendid, racy rhythm' of its main window, and found its yellow bricks among the mellowest and duskiest in London. Ecclesiastically the chapel enjoyed little fortune. It was declared redundant in 1978, damaged by fire, and pulled down in 1984. Its replacement, Grimaldi Park House, pastiches the chapel front but contains no shred of the old fabric. Joseph Arthur; Catherine Jane; Philip Moore; Eliza Anne and Charles Manson Sharpe were all baptised here. William Edward; Mary; Emma and Henry Sharpe s baptisms are all recorded in the Registers of St Gregory by St Pauls, however reading the text Joseph and Sarah must have taken their children to St. Mary Magdalene, Old Fish Street. (See below) "St. Gregory by St. Paul's (above left) was situated on the south side of St. Paul's, near the west end, in the ward of Castle Baynard. The date of its foundation is not known, but it is said that the body of Edmund, King of the East Angles, who was put to death by the Danes in 870, rested here for three years. It was burnt down by the Great Fire and not rebuilt, its parish being annexed to that of St. Mary Magdalene, Old Fish Street (above right). The earliest date of an incumbent is 1181. It was a Rectory in the gift of the Prebendary of St. Pancras and formed part of the manor of that prebendary. It was appropriated in 1445 to the minor canons of St. Paul's, and so continued until the church was annexed to St. Mary Magdalene, Old Fish Street, in 1666." [Sir Walter Besant. The Survey of London (1903) - transcribed by Brian Randell]. St Mary Magdalene, recorded since the C12, the church was destroyed in the Great Fire and re-built by the office of Sir Christopher Wren but was finally demolished in 1893 following another fire. Note: Looking again at the undecipherable writing on the 1841 Census perhaps the entry for Joseph reads Dep. Registrar Fac. Doctors Commons ; Charles reads Clerk Faculty Office and Philip reads Clerk. Were they all members of the Legal profession? Certainly we know that William Edward Sharpe was a solicitor.
And finally, having spotted the words Doctors Commons No 33 on the map above, I also found this image, the caption of which states: Doctors' Commons in the early 19th century. This plaque is located on the Faraday Building on the north side of Queen Victoria Street and marks the site of the now demolished Doctor Commons England and Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384 1858 for Joseph Sharpe PROB 11: Will Registers 1848-1849. Piece 2095: Vol. 10, Quire Numbers 451-500 (1849) Transcription I Joseph Sharpe of Doctors Commons London so give all the property of which I be possessed to my dear wife Sarah Caroline Sharpe for her sole use and benefit save and except my family Bible which I give to my dear daughter Eliza. In witness whereof I have hereunder set my hand this twelfth day of April One thousand eighteen hundred and twenty seven. I do also hereby nominate and appoint my said dear wife whole and sole Executrix of this my will (Signed) J Sharpe Witnesses S.C. Moon; Geo. Boulton, D rs Commons I Joseph Sharpe declare this to be a Codicil to my last will and testament wherein I have appointed my dear wife sole Executrix and Residuary Legatee. Now I do hereby confirm the same, save and accept as hereinafter mentioned, that is to say, I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my friend Dr Philip Charles Moore of Doctors Commons Executor jointly with my said wife and I request his acceptance of Tollor s Law of Executors which was given to me by his Grandfather who has written several remarks therein which always caused me to value the Book. Dated this nineteenth day of October in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty three (Signed) J Sharpe - Witness to the signature of the above named Joseph Sharpe. (Signed) Eliza A Sharpe, Mary Sharpe. Proved at London with a Codicil the 5 th June 1849 before the Worshipful Frobisher Aeneas Pratt Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oath of Sarah Caroline Sharpe widow and Relict the Executrix named in the Will to whom Admon was grantas having been first sworn duly to the Administrator Phillip Charles Moore Esquire the Executor named in the Codicil died in the lifetime of the said Testator. I have not traced the Codicil dated 5 th June 1849 Other children of Joseph and Sarah Caroline Sharpe are probably traceable via the Census. Certainly Joseph Arthur, his wife and daughter lived @ Adelaide Terrace, Islington in 1851. He is shown as General Clerk to a solicitor.