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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cumberland => Topic started by: Annied22 on Wednesday 29 December 21 18:32 GMT (UK)
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I'm hoping someone might help me to find out a little more about Anne Sharp. I'm a hobby bookbinder and my main interest is in antiquarian books. When I find enough information about a previous owner of one of the books I buy, I can't resist trying to find out a little more about them. I'm currently in the process of restoring a book called "The Female Instructor" that belonged to Anne Sharp. The book itself was published in1815. The book has, amongst other things, advice about marriage, recipes and cures for various ailments which makes me think it was aimed at young adults rather than children. My guess would be that Anne was born in the late 1790s/early 1800s and that Sharp is probably her maiden name. My usual, albeit limited resources for searching, haven't brought up anything, so any help would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
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There is an Anne SHARP aged 50 (ages rounded down in 1841 census) in the 1841 census at Drigg Cross, probably married to William:
William SHARP 50 mason
Anne 50
Thomas 25
Rachel 15
Jane 13
Elizabeth 10
Esther 7
Joseph WILSON 15 apprentice
John SHARP 14 apprentice
HO107/156/13 pg 7
She is still there in 1861 with son Thomas and his family. Anne, aged 72, born Calderbridge and William (formerly stonemason), aged 71, born Egremont.
RG9/3954/14 pg 9
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A death notice:
"On Friday last, at the house of her daughter, Miss Easter [sic] Sharpe, at Ravenglass, Mrs. Ann Sharpe, relict of Mr. Wm Sharpe, of Drigg Cross Quarry, in the parish of Drigg, aged 79 years."
Friday, June 15, 1866
Publication: Carlisle Journal
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Thank you! That could well be her. It would make her in her twenties in 1815. I wonder if it was a wedding present and she was married around 1815/1816. It would certainly fit with the contents of the book and also tie in with Thomas being 25 i.e. born around 1816/1817. It looks as though she had a good long life!
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There is also a marriage bond for William SHARP (23) of Egremont, mason who married Anne BRASS (23) of Egremont. Her father - Henry BRASS, shoemaker. Marriage bond date - 10 Aug 1812.
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In case you're interested, Drigg Cross can be seen on this 1860 map (bottom left hand side)
https://maps.nls.uk/view/102340917
And in this 1900 map showing the old quarry
https://maps.nls.uk/view/101093155
Looking on a current map there appears to be a house and the remains of the quarry still there, no street view available in the area however.
Lovely to be able to put some history to a book! :)
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Thank you so much for taking the time to help! Now I'm more awake than I was late last night, I'm realising that Sharp or Sharpe is definitely a maiden name. She's signed the book three times using both spellings but always with Miss, written with a long "s", which leaves little room for doubt.
Drigg Cross looks as though it was only a small place, so you wouldn't expect there to be two women with the same name there. I wonder if perhaps William had a sister called Anne. It's becoming quite baffling!
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That is baffling. :)
There is another Ann SHARP in the 1841 census at Drigg, 12 years old daughter of Anthony and Isabella, however their address is Carleton Green.
I'll do a bit more searching and see what I can find about Drigg Cross and the SHARPs.
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That's very kind of you. The whole book is actually a bit of a mystery. The binding is very old, but from the look of the book block itself, it's not the original one. Before it was rebound, the title page was repaired, the frontispiece was already missing, and both title page and the back of the final page are so dirty that it must have been lying around without any boards for a long time to reach that state. It also had coloured endpapers which I've never seen in a book published as early as 1815. Anne had written her name and address in pencil on the endpapers as well as signing just her name on the title page and final page in ink, so she must have owned it after it was rebound. She'd added a date after her name on the title page, but unfortunately it comes at the very end of the page, the corner of which is missing, and the vital last two numbers are no longer there.
The long "s" has been throwing me. I know it was no longer used in printing after the very early 1800s (1805 is the latest book I have in which it features), but it did remain in handwriting for longer. I thought it had pretty much died out by the mid 1800s, certainly amongst the younger generation, but when I put everything together it's starting to make sense that Anne may well have been the person who had the book rebound, but she wasn't the first owner of it as I'd assumed.
It's really only due to your research that I'm beginning to be able to piece the book's history together and I very much appreciate that, but if I'd realised all of this before, I wouldn't have started the thread as it makes it far less straightforward than I'd originally thought and without a firm date of any kind, it's probably going to be impossible to find a definite answer.
It's possible if Anne and William married in 1812, that Thomas wasn't actually their firstborn. Could there be a daughter Anne who was already married by 1841 to whom her mother passed on the book?
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Yes, have just found a baptism for an Ann SHARP daughter of William and Ann, baptised at Gosforth 31 December 1816. :)
From what I can see:
at Gosforth to William and Ann SHARP(E)
30 Oct 1814 Thomas
31 Dec 1816 Ann
at Drigg to William and Ann SHARP(E)
14 Mar 1819 Sarah
8 Apr 1821 Hannah
8 Jun 1823 Catherine
22 Jun 1825 Rachel
14 Sep 1828 Jane
11 Jun 1831 Elizabeth
8 Aug 1833 Esther
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That's brilliant, I think you've have cracked it. It's got to be her! Thank you so much for your perseverance.
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:)
I think Ann marries William NORMAN (joiner/cartwright) in 1847, they are living at Hensingham in 1851 and 1861 with his father Joseph (joiner/cartwright), and their children Bridget (1848) and Joseph (1850) who both have births registered with mother's maiden name SHARP.
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Ann is still in Hensingham in 1871, now widowed, with her widowed mother-in-law Mary and son Joseph (joiner) (and his wife Isabella).
She possibly dies 1880 aged 63 registered at Wigton.
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I've finally found a website that allows me to see a little bit of information without having to pay and it seems that, by 1851 William had 16 acres and was listed as a farmer as well as a mason and while presumably, not rich, not poor either. That fits nicely as books were comparitively expensive in those days and those on low incomes couldn't afford them, even supposing they could read in the first place!
I've been trying to see if I can find out what Anne might have been doing in 1841. She might have left home and been working, but she could also have been visiting relatives. With my very limited options, the only record I can find that might possibly fit is an Ann Sharp shown on the 1841 census as living with a family called Braithwaite in Workington. No wife has been shown which suggests he's a widower. He has four young children aged 9, 8, 6 and 3, so presumably would have needed a housekeeper to help look after them.
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Yes, I meant to add that 1841 census yesterday as a possibility for Ann. :) The address on the census is Crossbarrow, which you can see here on this 1864 map - between Great Clifton and Little Clifton (middle, LHS).
https://maps.nls.uk/view/102340848
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I think I need a larger screen! The writing is so tiny on those maps it's unreadable, but if I enlarge the map, the area I'm interested in disappears. I think I could just pick Crossbarrow out though.
I think we've probably come to the end of the line now. The more I research both the history of the binding andof the former owner, the more confusing it becomes. The book has machine made headbands. I've been checking when they were first used and it's from the 1850s, i.e. after the marriage you found, so you wouldn't expect her still be signing with her maiden name.
I've also found a marriage between Ann Sharp and William Ray or Reay on 23.09.1847 at Cockermouth. The record shows Ann's father was William Sharp, but again, the marriage appears to predate the signature on the book.
Many thanks for your help.
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That's strange that you can't zoom in on the maps. Even on my phone I can zoom in and it remains very clear. :-\
How frustrating that the apparent age of the book doesn't relate to what we have found so far. However, Thomas SHARP, son of William and Ann who remains at Drigg Cross with his wife Jane, also has a daughter Ann, born c1852. So maybe the signature in the book is hers? Although as you say, it is late to be using the long "s"
Thomas SHARP married Jane FLETCHER in 1845. They appear to have had the following children:
1847 Tom
1850 William
1852 Ann
1855 John
1858 Isaac
1859 Henry
1862 James
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In 1851 census at Drigg Cross:
William SHARP 62 (stone mason and farmer ...)
Ann 62
Thomas 36 (stone mason)
Jane (dau in law) 26
Easter 17
Tom (gr son) 3
William (gr son) 2mth (?)
HO107/2438/pg23
In 1861:
Thomas SHARP 46 stone mason
Jane 36
William snr 71 formerly stone mason
Ann (mother) 72
Esther 27
Tom 13
William 10
Ann 8
John 6
Isaac 3
Henry 1
RG9/3954/14 pg9
In 1871:
Thomas SHARP (wid) 56 landowner stone mason
Thomas 23 stone mason
Ann 18
John 16
Isaac 13
Henry 11
James 9
RG10/5265/pg8
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Ann SHARP marries William STEELE in 1876. they have the following children:
1877 Jane Ann (Bootle)
?1879 Frederick William (Carlisle) - not sure about this one
1881 Margaret Elizabeth (Bootle)
In 1881 at Drigg Cross:
Thomas SHARP 66 mason
Ann STEELE (dau) 28
John SHARP 26 mason
Isaac 23
James 19
Jane Ann STEELE (gr dau) 3
The preceding family at Burnt Moor is:
William STEELE 59 farmer of 20 acres
Tamar (wife) 64
William (unmar) 23 (definitely says "unmarried", so perhaps not the William that Ann SHARP married)
Hannah 27
Jane 26
John FLETCHER (?) 17 farm servant
RG11/5195 pg12
In 1891 at no1 Church St Egremont (grocers shop) (all born Drigg):
William STEELE 42 shopkeeper grocer
Ann 37
Jane A 13
Margaret 9
RG12/4319/39 pg 17
In 1901 at same address as above, now called Post Office:
William STEELE 52 grocer, post master
Ann 46
Jane 23
Margaret 19
RG13/4896 pg39
In 1911 at same address:
William STEELE 60 grocer
Ann 55
Jean 29
Maggie 25
This says they have had only 2 children, so the Frederick born Carlisle above definitely not theirs.
:)
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William STEELE of 1 Church St, Moor Row died 29 May 1912, probate to Jane Ann STEELE £200 5s.
Ann STEELE of the Post Office, Moor Row, Cumberland died 9 June 1924. Probate to Jane Ann STEELE £1123 17s. 7d.
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Perhaps I'm missing the obvious as far as the maps are concerned, it certainly wouldn't surprise me!
I think your persistance, despite me moving the goalposts as I looked into the history of the binding itself, has won through. Unlike the others, Ann(e), daughter of Thomas, ticks every single box.
The binding with the coloured endpapers and machine made headbands certainly fits the 1860/70s very well and the location is right. As for the long s, it continued in handwriting long after it stopped being used in printing; according to Wikipedia it continued to be used in handwriting into the mid 1800s and it gives examples of it still being used in the 1880s. Schooling wasn't compulsory at that time, and if girls were being taught to write by mothers and grandmothers it's easy to see how it could have been passed on. Interestingly she hasn't used the long s for Drigg Cross.
How nice that Ann(e) seems to have ended up comfortably off. I'll make a copy of what you've discovered, that I can put inside the book.
Edited to add that I've now turned up a William Steel aged 13 on the 1861 census. Living at Hagget End, Egremont with his mother aged 35 and two sisters Jane aged 14 and Margaret 4. Occupation farmer's son. His father, Joseph, who only appears on the 1851 census is listed on that as an Iron Miner, born in Drigg.
Edited again to add that it looks as though Hannah, the sister of Thomas, may have married a John Steel, born in Scotland and a Railway Labourer. The 1851 census shows their son William aged 3 was born at Drigg, there's also a daughter Elizabeth Sharp aged 5 and Ann aged under a year.
Seems like there's more than one William Steel(e)s with a Drigg connection born around the same time! I can't find any further trace of these two beyond 1861.
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So glad the history of the book is looking better. :)
Hannah and John STEELE are in Muncaster in 1871, next to the Bayhorse Inn:
John STEELE 52 ag lab (Scotland)
Hannah 52
Sarah 10
Elizabeth SHARP (niece) 8
RG10/5265/ pg15
and widowed Hannah is at the same address in 1881 in Muncaster:
Hannah STEELE 60 charwoman
RG11/5195 pg14
and still there in 1891:
Hannah STEELE 71 charwoman
RG12/4320 pg14
Looks like her death in 1898, aged 78 registered at Bootle
For interest, I also found this picture of the SHARP family grave stone, it crops the bottom though I couldn't find a photo of the whole stone.
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You really are very kind. Thank you.
Have you been able to turn up anything more than I could about the William Steel whose father, Joseph, born in Drigg, was an iron miner in 1851, but then subsequently a farmer living at Haggett End? He must be a different William from the one you think married Ann.
I've also been having a quick scout around today and have discovered yet another William Steel on the 1861 census, also living at Haggett End. Parents are William, another farmer and Jane.
Who would think there were so many William Steels born in the same area at the same time?! That said the evidence we have certainly makes the William you found the most likely.
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I haven't been able to find the marriage details online for William STEELE and Ann SHARP. The only way to be sure of William's father's name is probably to purchase the marriage certificate - the marriage was registered at Bootle in Dec quarter 1876 (10b/1029).
If as seems likely he is the child of Joseph and Ann, these are the census details I have found for them:
1851 at Egremont:
Joseph STEELE 32 iron miner, Drigg
Ann 24 Egremont
Jane 4
William 2
Joseph GRAHAM 26 iron miner, lodger, Beckermet
Jonathan LUCAS 24 thinner (?), Egremont
Ann 26 Abbey Holme
HO107/2437 pg 83
In 1861 at Watson Hill Farm, Egremont
Joseph STEELE 42 farmer of 57 acres, Drigg
Ann 35 farmer's wife Egremont
Jane 14
William 13
Margaret 4
John BENSON 17 servant , Muncaster
RG9/3952/44 pg 34 &35
In 1871 at Woodside, Waberthwaite:
Joseph STEELE 51 farmer of 81 acres, Drigg
Ann 45 farmer's wife, Egremont
Jane 24
William 22
Joseph 7 Waberthwaite
John WALKER 18 Farm servant, indoor
RG10/5265/66 pg 7
In 1881 at Woodside, Waberthwaite:
Joseph STEEL 62 farmer of 87 acres, Drigg
Ann 55 farmer's wife, Egremont
Jane 34 dairy maid
Joseph 17 husbandman, Waberthwaite
William WOODWARD (father-in-law) 79 formerly iron miner Ulverston, Lancs
James NEWBY 24 servant Cleator
RG11/5195/73 pg7
I suspect this is Joseph's death registered at Bootle Dec qtr 1887 (10/427)
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I can't readily find son Joseph in 1891, but he is in the 1901 at Barrow, Lancahsire, single, railway plate layer; and in 1911 at Walton le Dale, Lancashire, waterman at the Manchest Water Works.
Possible death for Ann STEELE registered at Bootle Sep qtr 1885 (10b/382).
Joseph STEELE and Ann WOODWARD married Dec qtr 1845 registered at Whitehaven (25/177). They had the following children:
1846 Jane (Whitehaven)
1848 William (Whitehaven)
1856 Margaret (Whitehaven)
1863 Joseph (Bootle)
I can't see any other births to this couple, though there are large gaps between children.
A possible baptism for Joseph (snr): 2 Aug 1818 at Drigg, parents: William and Jane. I can't readily see a baptism for Ann WOODWARD c1826.
:)
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i know you're having trouble with the maps. ;) However, Watson Hill farm shows on this map (just below the "E" in the large "EGREMONT")
https://maps.nls.uk/view/102340902
And Woodside, Waberthwaite is just to the left of CORNEY (bottom right hand side)
https://maps.nls.uk/view/102340902
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Interestingly, the family of the "other" William STEELE you found are next door to Watson Hill Farm at Whangs Farm in 1861: (I think this is one's you mean? Or is it yet another?)
William STEEL 50 farmer of 43 acres Arlecdon
Jane 45 Seaton
Ann Mc CONKY 23 (dau, married) Cleator
Hannah STEEL 19 Cleator
William 16 Cleator
Sarah Jane 12 St Bees
Elizabeth 10 St Bees
Allce 8 St Bees
Mary 6 St Bees
Eleanor 3 Egremont
Robert Mc CONKY 24 (son-in-law)
Joseway DONELSON 24
John GLENDENDIN 73 (father-in-law, Ireland)
I think I can see this William in later censuses not with Ann SHARP.
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I worked out how to enlarge and move the maps around!
My money would definitely be on Joseph Steele the iron miner turned farmer and his wife Ann being the parents of William. It all fits, not only the Drigg connection but even down to family names being passed on.
I think you've done it! I've now made a fair copy of all the information you've turned up which I think contains all the information we have. I'll make a copy on acid free paper to put inside the book.
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That's great Annie. So happy to help, I feel quite attached to this family now! :)
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Oh me too! Social history interests me and has a lot to do with the antiquarian books I buy. It makes it all even more fascinating when I'm able to have a peep into the lives of the previous owners.
In this instance, what strikes me is the differing fortunes of some of the family members. There's poor Hannah, who for the last 10 or more years of her life ended up as a charwoman and yet her niece Ann(e) left today's equivalent of nearly £73,000 to her daughter.
Thank you again for all your help. I'm only sorry you're too far away to see the book itself. It's currently still in pieces, but if I'm happy with the end result, I will at least post a picture or two of it.
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Please do, would love to see it. :)
I have inherited a few old books over the years, the oldest is published 1889 (a book of jokes!). Very special to have.
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Most of mine are pre-Victorian. I have a lot of very old cookery books, the rest is a mish mash of whatever looks like it might give an insight into life at the time it was written. What I especially like is that nothing much ever changes, people moaned about exactly the same things 300 years ago that we moan about now; it's somehow very reassuring!
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As promised, here are some pics of the actual book. As usual I never thought to take any pictures of it before I began working on it, but the hinges had split and the covers had all but parted company with the book block. It now has a new spine, with the original one glued over it. The frontispiece was missing, but I found one online I could download and incorporate into the book. The dirt on the final page of text was the sign that it must have lain around unbound for some time.
Front (http://www.catsup.co.uk/pictures/1front.jpg)
Endpaper incorporating Anne's signature and address (http://www.catsup.co.uk/pictures/2endpaper.jpg)
Frontispiece and Title Page (http://www.catsup.co.uk/pictures/3titlepage.jpg)
A couple of pages of text (http://www.catsup.co.uk/pictures/4text.jpg)
Final page (http://www.catsup.co.uk/pictures/5finalpage.jpg)
Spine (http://www.catsup.co.uk/pictures/6spine.jpg)
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How lovely. It must be very satisfying restoring a precious object like that.
Some good advice for mother to daughter even for today - love the "Let her not be suffered to taste the draught the world offers to her, until she has learned that if there be sweetness on the surface, there is venom deeper in the cup". Much as we want to protect our children though, some things can be only learned through experience. :D
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Yes, it is. It's tremendously satisfying to think that a book that might easily have been consigned to the bin may well now be around in another two or three hundred years time. It also means that I can use them as much as I like without worrying that the old leather will crack and the condition of the book will deteriorate even further.
Repairs aren't my strong point as the books I buy are usually too far gone to repair and need a complete rebind, and as a result, I don't have as much experience where they're concerned. This one is an 1808 cookery book by a lady called Mrs Raffald that I hope now looks much as it might have done when it was new.