Anne Sharp of Drigg Cross, Holmrook

[maddys52]

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

[Annied22]

That's brilliant, I think you've have cracked it. It's got to be her! Thank you so much for your perseverance.

[maddys52]

 
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.

[maddys52]

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.

[Annied22]

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.

[maddys52]

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

[Annied22]

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.

[maddys52]

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

[maddys52]

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