William Sharp

[Kappalyn]

I have been searching to no avail to find a record/mention of the death of William Sharp born abt 1795 Elswick (Eleack) in Northumberland.   He became a ships master in Liverpool and then a ship owner/merchant.  He owned a substantial amount of property in Birkenhead during 1840s and early 1850s.  Unfortunately he went bankrupt in early 1850s and died in the mid 1850s (or so it seems) But there is nothing that I can find that mentions his death even though he was well known in Liverpool and Birkenhead.  There was a suggesion that maybe he could have committed suicide.  If that was the case would there be records anywhere? and shouldn't it still be recorded by BDM. This is a puzzle.

 
Margaret

[gortonboy]

had you discounted these  already??

Deaths Jun 1856
~~~~~~~~
 
Sharp William  Liverpool 8b 22


Deaths Mar 1858
~~~~~~~~
 
Sharp William  Liverpool 8b 52

[Kappalyn]

Thanks
but I think that William was a teacher
 

[Cyl]

Would you happen to know the ships owned by William Sharp? According to my information, he owned a 3-mast ship, the UTOPIA. He was the ship's first owner in 1853. The ship was used for immigrant travel between England and Australia.

[Kappalyn]

Hi Cyl,
Thank you for your interest in my many times great grandfather William Sharp.  The 1st ship connection I have for him is in 1822 when he was the master of the brig "General Brown".  During the 1830s -1850s he owned at least 20 ships including the "Norah", "John Campbell" "Ann Dashwood", "Victoria" "Brandon", "Utopia".  The shipping business was pretty risky  and a number of his ships were wrecked, or crew mutiny or other such fate.  William was declared bankrupt in 1852. He died somewhere between 1857 - 1861, and I just cannot find any record anywhere of his death...which seems odd since he was quite wealthy & well known  at the time in Liverpool.

Margaret

[Ormewalk]

Can I revive this discussion on William Sharp- a distant Uncle relative. He was  a merchant/shipowner and property developer of Clifton Park Birkenhead. I am following his younger brother Richard Sharp and family over in Newcastle and Gateshead. In the family their used to be stories of a ship owning Sharp and hey I find they are true. I found the comments on ships really helpful. I am still at  a loss over when he died and where. None of the GRO index ages given for deaths in the Liverpool area match the age he would have been. The 1860 one is a bookmaker age 67. 1858 is age 50 and 1856 age 47. 1854 16.
I know he went bankrupt but I think he began trading again. I can see his wife's probate when she died.
Any info appreciated- I am going round in circles! I am a new member.