Thomas Sharpe Sr

     Thomas Sharpe Sr was born before 1698. He married Isabella Wallace, daughter of Matthew Wallace and Elizabeth Alexander, circa 1716. Thomas Sharpe Sr died on 15 December 1749 at Cecil Co, Maryland. He was buried at Sharp's Graveyard, Fair Hill, Cecil Co, Maryland; Although no stone has been found, it is presumed he is buried in the area. He lived in the area the Centre school house, was commissioner 28 Jun 1720 and became an elder of the church.^1,2
     There was a deed from John Sharpe and wife Mary of Elk River to Thomas Clifton of same for 100 acres on the east side of Elk River, part of a tract formerly called Thompson's Town where said John Sharpe now lives, made 16 Nov 1699. Who was John Sharpe?³ In 1720, Thomas Sharpe, Sr was listed as an elder in the Rock Creek Church of Cecil County, Maryland. The Sharpes had settled in Fair Hill, Cecil County before 1718 and had named their plantation "Sharpe's Industry".

Thomas Sharpe was a member of the Cecil County Committee of Safety. He had also helped establish the Rock Creek Church and donated land to be used for Sharpe's Graveyard, nearby which is in Fair Hill, on the way to Lewisville, Chester Co, Pennsylvania.

The first house of worship was actually erected in Chester County, Pennsylvania, at Lewisville. The second was put up about 1741 at Fair Hill, Cecil Co, Maryland. The third was in its present location in Cecil County, not far from the Chester County line. It was calle Elk River until about 1787 when it became known as Rock Presbyterian Church.

He served as an elder for the church and remained so until his death in 1749. In 1735, on March 10th, William Sharp purchased land called "Confusion" (75 acres). Thomas Sharpe's will was dated 9 January 1748, and he was noted as a "yeoman".

There is reason to suspect that our Thomas Sharpe was actually son of Thomas Sharp of Newton, Gloucester County, New Jersey. He was known to be a yeoman, Quaker and surveyor. In the book "First Settlers of Newton Township, NJ" by John Clement, printed Camden, NJ, 1877, there is a biography of Thomas Sharp of that place, and in the back of the book is a map of the area done by his hand. Considering the fine map of Fourth's Congregation in 1773 done by William Sharp, it can be thoughtfully considered that the two might be related.

Thomas Sharp of Newton Township left a will dated 5 August 1724. He provides for his widow, and his son Thomas, along with other children: John Sharp, Elizabeth Hallowell, Mary Smith, Sarah Pearce, Samuel Sharp, and Joseph Sharp, who is disabled.

A great deal more research in this area should be done in order to either prove, or disprove, this idea.¹ Charles Carroll of Annapolis, Esq., to Thomas Sharpe of Cecil Co., planter, 261 acres of land, part of a tract called the Society. Charles Carroll, esq., father of the said Charles Carroll, by deed dated 20 May 1719, conveyed to the said Thomas Sharpe by the name of Guiell Glass, 244 acres, part of the tract called the Society, the former sale, through some mistake of the surveyor, not included in the land. Charles Carroll wants the said Thomas Sharpe to have the benefit of the original intention of his said father. Made 27 Dec 1723. Wit: John Diggs, Char. Daniell. Ackn: 31 Dec 1723. JP: Samuel Young. Rec: 17 Mar 1723. S. Knight, clerk.⁴ He left a will on 9 December 1749 at Cecil Co, Maryland; In the name of God, Amen. The 9th day of January in ye year of our Lord seventeen hundred and forty seven/eight. I, Thomas Sharp of Cecil Co. Maryland, yeoman, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into ye hands of God who gave it and for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at ye Discretion. Nothing doubting but at ye general resurrection I shall receive the same again by ye mighty power of God and touching such a worldly state wherewith I have pleased god to bless us in this life I give devise and depose of the same in the following manner and form.
Imprimis; I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Isabell one third of all my moveable estate at her own disposal forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Walter Sharp the sum of 20 pounds.
Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Thomas Sharp the sum of 60 pounds.
Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved son James Sharp the sum of 40 pounds.
Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved son in law John Smith the sum of 20 pounds.
Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Hanah the sum of 30 pounds.
Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved son in law David Wherry the sum of 20 pounds.
Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Sarah the sum of 30 pounds.
Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Joseph Sharp the sum of 40 pounds,when he arrives at age 21.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Samuel Sharpe the sum of 40 pounds when he arrives at age 21.
Further I order all my estate real & pers. be appraised Item; I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Isabell the third part of my real estate during her natural life and then 12 months after her decease to be divided equally amongst the legatees according to the aforesaid arrangement and the 2 parts estate at appraisal two years after my decease shall be paid to the legatees according to ye appraisal more or less as it shall amount adding to deducting from equally the bequest aforementioned. I do hearby constitute make and ordain my well beloved wife Isabel and my son Thomas Sharp my only and sole executor of my last will and testament whom I do likewise authorize and empower to sell and convey forever all my real estate and their conveyance shall be as good as mine in every respect and I do hear by disallow and revoke all other former wills and testaments by me and ways before this named will and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. Ratifying this and no other to be my last will and testament. In this whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day and year above written.
Signed and sealed published pronounced and declared ye said Thomas Sharp as last will and testament in presence of Walter ?, Geo. Lawson, Alex Logan
[signed] T.Sharp
9 December 1749
Cecil County Maryland
Thomas Sharp.⁵