Convicts Sharp Worboys Henahan

Convict [2419]: Henry Sharp [c1810-1898]

Relationship: Direct Ancestor, 4th Great grandfather

Overview

Growing up in Newton, Cambridgeshire, England, Henry fell into a life of petty crime with his friend William Jude.

Marrying Sarah Warboys in 1833 and having children did not put a stop to Henry’s thieving. In 1837 the local court system finally had enough and sentenced both, Harry and William, to a life sentence of transportation to Van Dieman’s Land on the opposite side of the world.

One condition of his sentence was that he was not allowed to return to England.

Henry’s misdemeanors did not abate once he landed in Tasmania, he would still find himself in and out of trouble right up to his pardon which was recinded only 3 days later for stealing mutton.

Henry finally turned a corner and was granted a conditional pardon in 1847. He was able to set himself up in the Parish of Honeywood, located just up the Kermandie River from present-day Geeveston in the south of the state and became one of the early pioneers of the area.

1847 also saw Sarah and their children, Ann and Frederick travelling out from England to join Henry, with another son, William being born the following year.

Somewhere between 1851 and 1854, Sarah died, and Henry remarried to Ann Henahan in 1854. (Locating any information on Sarah has proved elusive.)

During his years living in Honeywood and later Lightwood Bottom (Geeveston) Henry worked as a farmer primarily producing Apples.

As an old man, Henry, while living on his own, received serious burns after his clothes caught fire while tending his fire, unfortunately, Henry did not regain his health and succumbed to his injuries 9 days later.

England

c1810: Birth, Newton, Cambridgeshire, England1

Baptised on the 24th of June 1810, Henry was born to Samuel Sharp (a labourer) and Catherine Rayner in Newton, Cambridgeshire, England.

The second eldest of four children, his siblings were Susan [1804-1870], John [1811-], Thomas [1817-1890] and Joseph [1825-1902].

While John and Joseph appear to have remained in England, Susan migrated to Tasmania with her husband William Geeves and Thomas migrated to NSW, Australia.

1833: Convicted for Stealing2

Henry Sharp and William Jude, by the Rev. William Metcalfe, charged with feloniously stealing a fishing net at Newton, the property of Mr. Henry Headley, of Stapleford.

1833: Application for Marriage Banns3

The 1st of Sep 1833 saw Henry and Sarah Warboys apply for marriage in Sarah’s home Parish of Foxton, Cambridgeshire, England.

1833: Henry and Sarah are officially married (by Banns)4

5th Oct 1833

By me Jos. W. Berry, Sequestrator

This Marriage was solemnized between us, Henry Sharpe (of Newton) and Sarah Warboys (of Foxton), in the presence of Joseph Cooper and Catherine Warboys*.

*Catherine (Kitty) was Sarah’s younger sister

1834: Henry and William Jude living in Whiteditch, Newton.5

To be sold by Auction

Lot 64. A new built double tenement, as now tenanted by William Jude and Henry Sharp, with a piece of land adjoining, containing 0a, 2r, 0p, in Whiteditch, in Newton.

1834: Daughter Ann is Baptised6

Henry and Sarah’s first child Ann is baptised on the 27th of Jul 1834 in Foxton, Cambridgeshire, England.

1835: Henry charged with House Breaking7

The Commission of assize for this county will be opened on Wednesday evening next, before the Rt. Hon. Chief Baron Lord Abinger and the Hon. John Vaughan.

The business on the criminal side will be very heavy, there being already twenty-nine prisoners for trial, several of the cases of a serious nature.

[..]Henry Sharp, for house breaking at Harston[..]

1835: Henry receives one week’s hard labour for stealing half a loaf of bread8

Prisoners, Thursday, March 29.

The following cases were tried on this day in addition to those given in our last.

Henry Sharp (23), of Newton, was convicted of stealing part of a loaf of bread, the property of Mr. Wm. Long, of Harston.

One weeks hard labour

1836: Son Frederick is born9

I have yet to locate Fredericks birth\baptism record; however, he does appear on the 1841 Foxton Census along with his mother Sarah and sister Ann where his age was listed as 5 years old.

1837: Henry and William Jade are convicted for theft10

William Jade*, aged 24, Henry Sharpe, aged 25, were indicted for stealing a woodcutter’s bill, the property of James Rainbird, labourer, of Harston.

The prosecutor stated, that he went to a public-house, called the Three Horse-Shoes, at Harston, for a bill which the landlord, who is a blacksmith, had made for him; the prisoners were present when he took the bill; prosecutor afterwards went to the Swan public-house and left the bill there, and went out; when he returned he found the bill was removed, and having been told that the prisoners had been there, he immediately went out and overtook them; Jude had the bill, and as soon as he saw prosecutor he gave it to Sharpe, who afterwards dropped it, and prosecutor picked it up, saying they ought to be ashamed of themselves to rob a poor man of his bill.

Stearn, the landlord of the Three Horse shoes, corroborated the evidence of the prosecutor.

Mary Holmes, the servant at the Swan, said the two prisoners came in directly after the prosecutor went out, and she saw Jude take the bill, and he and Sharpe go out together.

Guilty.  Mr Orridge having been called to prove a previous conviction, they were sentenced to be transported for life.

*William Jade (Jude): https://stors.tas.gov.au/NI/1407733

1837: Henry and William are transferred to Gosport11

On Monday last three male convicts were removed from The Castle to the York hulk at Gosport, viz William Jude and Henry Sharpe, to be transported for life.

1837: Henry and William held on the York Hulk12

Henry’s Hulk Record

Number: 7174
Name: Henry Sharpe
Ship (Hulk): York
Place Moored: Gosport
Crime: Stealing a woodcutters bill
Where convicted: Cambridge
When convicted: 6 Jan 1837
When received: 7 Feb 1837
Sentence: Life
Status: Married, 2 children
Read\Write: No
Trade: Labourer
Gaolers Report: Convicted of a felony before
How disposed: Per Susan, 24 Jul 1837, VDL

1837: Description of Henry13

Name: Henry Sharpe
Number: 2419
Height: 5/6
Age: 28
Complexion: Dark
Head: Oval
Hair: Brown
Whiskers: Brown
Visage: Round
Forehead: Low
Eyebrows: Thick brown
Eyes: Brown
Nose: Small
Mouth: Medium
Chin: Medium
Remarks*: Woman Sarah Sharp, Woman Susanne Sharp, Woman Ann Sharp, left arm

*Age was taken in the year of Henry’s transportation.
**Sarah and Susanne are possibly the same person, and his wife Sarah, Ann is his daughter.

1839: Six Months Hard Labour for Drunk and Disorderley14

11th of Nov 1839 at New Norfolk, Henry was brought before the Bench, for being “drunk and insolent to District Constable Smith”. Henry was sentenced to “six months hard labour in chains and return to his service”.

Lieutenant Governor’s decision of 15 Nov 1839, Henry was transferred into the “Town Surveyor’s chain gang” and on completion of this six-month stretch he was returned to service”.

1841: Convict Muster15

A short notion to say the Henry was residing at the Prisoners Barracks in Hobart.

1845: Final Entry recorded in Henry’s Conduct Record16

Henry received his Ticket of Leave on the 9 Dec 1845, but two days later at Anthill Ponds was found guilty of “gross misconduct in having in his possession a quantity of freshly killed mutton, representing himself as free and resisting the constables”. This occasioned him to a sentence of six months of hard labour. The Lieutenant Governor’s decision of the 19 Dec 1845 was that Henry serves his sentence at Antill Ponds.

1846: Convict Muster17

Henry is recorded as having his Ticket of Leave.

1847: Henry is recommended for a Condional Pardon18

1847: Sarah, Frederick and Ann arrive in Van Diemans’ Land to joining Henry19

It was accepted that Convicts could make an application to have their spouse and children brought out to Van Dieman’s Land to join them.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to find an application. I have however sourced the passenger list for the Asia which arrived in 1847 with a Mary, Frances and Frederick sharp onboard.

I am confident that this is actually Sarah, Ann and Frederick who sailed out from England to join Henry.

1848: Son William is born20

Sarah gave birth to a son on the 21st of Jul 1848 in Hobart, the childs name is not recorded on the birth record and I’m yet to find a baptism record for him. However it is widely recognised the child’s name was William.

1849: Henry is Pardoned21

CONVICT DEPARTMENT, January 29, 1849

It is hereby notified, that His Excellency has received a despatch from the right honourable the secretary of the state, conveying her Majesty’s approval of pardons, upon the condition that they shall not return or be found within the countries in which they were severally convicted, or the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland during the remaining term of their transportation.

[..]Henry Sharpe, Susan 1[..]

1851: Land Grant Secured in Honeywood*22

Deed of land grant23, 30 Acres located at Honeywood on the Kermandie River.

Map of Grant24

In the Supreme Court and be it remembered that on the Twenty third day of June, One thousand, Eight hundred and fifty of Van Dieman’s Land, one George Turnbull Clerk in the Office of the Collector of Pastoral Revenue at Hobart Town brought into this court a certain Deed Poll or Grant under the Public Seal of Van Dieman’s Land and it’s dependencies to be therein enrolled and recorded the [..] of which said Deed Poll or Grant is as follows (that is to say);

Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen Defender of the Faith.

To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting.

KNOW YE, that we in consideration of the sum of Thirty Pounds to us duly paid have given and granted and do by these presents for Ourself Our Heirs and Successors give and grant Henry Sharpe and his heirs ALL THOSE thirty acres of land situate and being in the Parish of Honeywood in the County of Kent in Our Island of Van Dieman’s Land and bounded as follows (that is to say);

On the North by twenty-seven chains and twenty links, South Westerly along Lot 316 commencing at the Kermandie River. On the West by ten chains and fifty links Southerly along Crown Land. On the South by ten chains and eighty links Easterly along Crown Land to the Kermandie River aforesaid and thence by that River to the point of commencement.

Together with the appurtenances EXCEPTING all mines of gold and silver AND SAVING AND RESERVING ALWAYS the right of making and constructing upon said land from time to time such and so many roads and Bridges for the use of Us and Our subjects of such convenient width and form as may by Us or Our Successors be deemed expedient. AND ALSO the right of improving and repairing the same and of digging for and using for those and other public purposes all such and such quantities of indigenous timber, stone, gravel and soils may from time to time be required together with full liberty of ingress, egress and regress with servants and workman and those with horses cattle and carriages for the purposes aforesaid and of working all such mines and taking and carrying away the produce thereof and of cutting, quarrying and conveying as and where it may be deemed necessary all such timber, stone, gravel and soil respectively.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Thirty acres of land with their appurtenances (excepting always and saving and reserving as aforesaid) unto and to the use of the said Henry Sharpe, his heirs and assigns forever the same in free and common soccage tenure of Us, Our Heirs and Successors to beholden YIELDING AND PAYING therefore yearly unto US, Our Heirs and Successors the Quit-rent of one pepper-corn if the same shall be demanded.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Seal of Our said Island of Van Dieman’s Land and it’s dependencies to be hereunto affixed.

WITNESS, Our trusty and well-beloved Sir William Thomas Denison Knight, Our Lieutenant-Governor of the Island of Van Dieman’s Land and it’s Dependencies at Hobart Town in the said Island the Eighteenth day of February in the Thirteenth year of Our Reign.

*Honeywood (pre 1900) was renamed to Geeveston.

1851: Census25

Name: Henry Sharpe
Place: Lightwood Bottom, Kermandie River
Who is in charge: Henry Sharpe
Who is the occupier: Henry Sharpe
Stone, Brick or wood: Wood
Complete\Incomplete: Unfinished
Inhabited\Uninhabited: Inhabited
How many people: Six
How many are free: Five
How many were dwelling on the 1st day of Mar 1851: Six
What other persons on that night were dwelling with you: None

c1851-c1854: Wife Sarah dies

I cannot prove what became of Sarah as her death record has not been found yet.

I can only conclude that she died somewhere between 1851 when she is recorded on the 1851 census and 1854 when Henry remarried, stating that he was a widow.

1854: Henry seeks permission to marry Ann Henehan26

Date permission sought: 8 Jun 1854
Henry Short, Free
Ann Henahan, Ship, M Luther
Notes:
Will be approved if clergyman is satisfied, 7/6/54
Recommended, 21/6/54
Married, 17/7/54

1854: Henry marries Ann Henehan27

1877: Wife Ann dies28

Registration No.: 263\1877
Date of Death: 10 Mar 1877
Name: Ann Sharp
Gender: Female
Age: 58
Occupation: Farmers wife
Cause of Death: Paralexia*
Informant: Mark Pritchard, Splitter, Honeywood
Date Registered: 13 Mar 1877

*All references Paralexia refer to reduce reading ability due to brain damage. It may be that Ann died after having a stroke?

1898: Henry suffers serious burns29

Geeveston

A very painful accident happened to an old resident of this district named Mr. Wm. Sharp sen., on Friday, 25th inst. 

It appears that Mr. Sharp, who is almost helpless and nearly blind, and in the absence of his household, attempted to reach a piece of wood to place it on the fire. In doing so, he got too close to the fire, and the flames caught his coat, waistcoat, and shirt and burned his back terribly before assistance arrived. 

The burns are more serious than were first anticipated, and little hope is now entertained for his recovery. 

Dr. Anderson, of Franklin, is attending the sufferer

1898: Death30

Registration No.: 336 [86]
When Registered: 4 Apr 1898
Name: Henry Sharp
Date of death: 3 Apr 1898
Where died: Geeveston
Birthplace: Newton, Cambridgeshire, England
Gender: Male
Age: 92
Profession: Farmer
Cause of death: Burning
Medical Attendant: G. Murray Anderson
Informant: Edward Sharp
Informant [description]: Grandson
Informant [residence]: Geeveston

Death Notice31

SHARP:- On April 3, at his late residence, Geeveston, Huon, Henry Sharp, a native of Newton, Cambridgeshire, England, in the 92nd year of his age. Sydney papers, please copy.

1898: Notice of claim against Henry’s Estate32

IT IS REQUESTED that ALL CLAIMS against the Estate of HENRY SHARP, late of Geeveston, in Tasmania, Farmer, deceased, be at once forwarded to the Executor, under cover, to CHARLES BALL, Franklin Chambers, Solicitor to the Estate.

Sources

  1. Newton Parish Records, Cambridgeshire Family History Society
  2. Cambridge Chronicle and Journal – Friday 21 June 1833
  3. Foxton Parish Records, Cambridgeshire Family History Society
  4. “England, Cambridgeshire Bishop’s Transcripts, 1599-1860,” FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9T3-GQ46-M?cc=1465708&wc=Q6JL-T3Y%3A1590153740), 007672857 > image 553 of 869; Cambridge University Library, England.
  5. Cambridge Chronicle and Journal – Friday 09 May 1834, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000420/18340509/034/0003
  6. Foxton Parish Records, Cambridgeshire Family History Society
  7. Cambridge Chronicle and Journal – Friday 13 March 1835, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000421/18350313/020/0002
  8. Cambridge Chronicle and Journal – Friday 27 March 1835, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000420/18350327/063/0004
  9. Not Sourced
  10. Cambridge Chronicle and Journal – Saturday 14 January 1837, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000420/18370114/048/0004
  11. Cambridge Chronicle and Journal – Saturday 11 February 1837, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000420/18370211/019/0002
  12. HO 9/15, http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4286839
  13. TAHO: CON18/1/19, Film No. Z2528, 219, http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON18-1-19,237,219,F,60
  14. TAHO: CON31/1/41, Film No.Z2555, 7, http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON31-1-41,200,7,F,60
  15. Nation Archives, UK, HO 10/51, 209, List of Convicts, https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1905888
  16. TAHO: CON31/1/41, Film No.Z2555, 7, http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON31-1-41,200,7,F,60
  17. Nation Archives, UK, HO 10/39, Ledger Returns S-Z, 1846, https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1905876
  18. Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 – 1899) 21 August 1847: 8
  19. CSO24/1/19 file 482, Film No. Z763
  20. TAHO: RGD33/1/3, Film No.
    Z2402, https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD33-1-3$init=RGD33-1-3-P122
  21. Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 – 1899) 7 February 1849: 8
  22. TAHO: Index to Deeds of Land Grants [1832-1935], AD956/1/1
  23. TAHO: RD1/1/25, Film No.
    Z1167, https://stors.tas.gov.au/RD1-1-25$init=RD1-1-25P62JPG
  24. TAHO:
    Map – Kent 2 – parish of Honeywood, showing grants adjoining the Kermandie River including various landholders, AF396/1/735, https://stors.tas.gov.au/AF396-1-735
  25. TAHO: CEN1/1/108, Film No. Z2084, 171
  26. TAHO: CON52/1/7, Film no Z1421, https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON52-1-7$init=CON52-1-7P099
  27. TAHO: RGD37/1/13, Film no.
    Z2458, https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD37-1-13$init=RGD37-1-13P282
  28. https://stors.tas.gov.au/NI/1209915
  29. “GEEVESTON.” The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 – 1954) 30 March 1898: 4. Web. 23 Nov 2020 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9418657>.
  30. TAHO: RGD35/1/67, Filn No. Z2449, https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD35-1-67p135j2k
  31. “Family Notices” The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 – 1954) 5 April 1898: 1. Web. 24 Apr 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9419077
  32. The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 – 1954) 6 September 1898: 3