William Sharpe

     William Sharpe was born on 13 December 1742 at Cecil Co, Maryland. He was the son of Thomas Sharpe Jr and Elizabeth Gillespie. William Sharpe married Catherine Reese on 31 May 1768 at Rowan Co, North Carolina. William Sharpe died on 6 July 1818 at Iredell Co, North Carolina, at age 75. He was buried at Iredell Co, North Carolina; Snow Creek Methodist Church Cemetery.
     Not only did William Sharpe serve as a soldier during the Revolution, but he also served in the Continental Congress from 1779-1782 and was a member of the State House of Representatives during those same years. He was a member of the State Congress from Rowan County in 1775. It is obvious the man enjoyed public service - while in Iredell County he was the county surveyor, assistant clerk of court, and a lawyer. In North Carolina's State Records Volume XVI, his name appears with four others who were being considered for the office of Governor of North Carolina.
William's map of the Fourth Creek Congregation in 1773 serves to document the 169 families of that area. He is also credited with laying out the original streets of Staesville, North Carolina - Broad and Center Streets. Sharpesburg was also named after him. His father-in-law, David Reese, was one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence.