Jane Sharp

75

iain Frazier on 5th May 2025

Family connections for Jane (Sharp) are: SHARP Jane (Sharp) was born about 1774. She was tried for housebreaking w/1other & stealing cotton of Patrick (Kilgore) at Old Bailey, sentenced to death commuted to Life, held at London Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 18 11 1792 after a voyage of 10months on KITTY. She was Free by Servitude by 1800. She had a relationship with Paul (Bushell his first relationship) & produced 2children. She helped her partner found the Ebenezer church (Scots/Presbyterian Kirk Portland Head?) with the Coramandel settlers group of Calvinistic Methodists in 1795. She died on 10 12 1820 age46 & was buried at (St Johns CofE?) Wilberforce Hawkesbury-not shown in Smees records. [Some details taken from this Website] Paul (Bushell) was born about 1766 & baptised CofE. He was tried for burglary at Warwick Assizes, sentenced to 14years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship SURPRIZE; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate. He became a farmer. He & his wife helped found the Ebenezer church (Scots/Presbyterian Kirk Portland Head?) with the Coramandel settlers group of Calvinistic Methodists in 1795; he also pledged contributions to the Minister. He was Free by Servitude by 1800 & was issued his Conditional Pardon on 1 8 1801. He may have married Jane (Sharp) in the period 1806-10 (not shown in Smees records). In 1807 he helped establish the Wilberforce school. In the 1820s he became a member of the CofE at Wilberforce. He & Jane (Sharp) fostered Isabella Jane (Forrester born 1806) when her mother died before 1822. He was an emancipist living at Wilberforce when he married secondly Isabella (Brown) of Wilberforce on 3 6 1822 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He was described as a farmer in 1824, a settler in 1825 & a farmer in 1828 & 1830. He died on 5 2 1853 age87 father of 12children. [Some details taken from this Website] Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.

221

D Wong on 3rd January 2015

The Old Bailey transcript is as follows: ELISHA COLLIER and JANE SHARPE were indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Patrick Killgore, about the hour of one in the night, and burglariously stealing therein four pieces of printed cotton, value 6 l. his property, on the 3d of April. WILLIAM RAINEY sworn. I am employed by Mr. Killgore, in Friday-street ; a Scotch warehouse. Between the 2d and 4th of April the warehouse was broke open; we lost four pieces of printed cotton; I saw them laying there on the Saturday night; on the Monday morning I saw the window was broke, and I missed the four pieces; the warehouse is under the dwelling-house; the pane of glass was broke, and the glass laying on the counter, and these two hooks; the window looks into the street. JOHN TYLER sworn. I am a pawnbroker, in Shoreditch; here is a piece of cotton, pledged with me on the 4th of April, in the name of Jane Collier, the prisoner at the bar now under the name of Jane Sharpe ; I lent 7 s. upon it; here is the duplicate; (4th April, remnant of cotton, 7 s. Jane Collier ). (Cotton produced). Rainey. I cannot swear to the piece, it being cut; it is the same pattern we lost. SUSANNAH NEVIL sworn. I have a piece of cotton, which was brought me the 4th of April, by Jane Collier ; I do not know whether the prisoner at the bar is the same person that brought it; I lent her 8 s. upon it. CHARLES ALLEN sworn. I know no more than searching Jane Sharpe 's pocket; I found these two duplicates. JOHN MONK sworn. On the 3d of April, Collier and Sharpe met me in Friday-street, and we went together; Collier and Sharpe broke a pane of glass, and stole four pieces of printed cotton; I was with them on the 3d of April; we had two hooks tied to a stick; by breaking a window, we put the stick in, and drew out four pieces of cotton, which we took to Goswell-street, to one Mr. Tucker's lodging; he gave 4 l. 3 s. for three pieces; the other we took to our own home, and cut it into remnants; there were four six yards, and four yards, which Jane Sharpe pawned, some for 7 s. and some for 8 s. and the four yards for 4 s. some of which was pawned with Tyler, and some with Nevil, and some with one Francis. Court. How came you to be known in this affair? - I informed Mr. Armstrong of it. Was you taken up on this affair? - I was not. Collier. He was taken up for another robbery with another man. JOHN ARMSTRONG sworn. I received some duplicates from Allen, and went to the pawnbrokers, and found the cottons; here they are: Monk was admitted evidence by the magistrate. ELISHA COLLIER , GUILTY, Death. JANE SHARPE , GUILTY, Death. Tried by the first London Jury before Lord KENYON. Court to Jury. Gentlemen; it is not for me to dictate to you; but perhaps, if you were to re-consider the case of Elisha, you will find it stands totally on the evidence of the accomplice, which is not sufficient for conviction. The Jury deliberated some time, and then gave a verdict, ELISHA COLLIER, NOT GUILTY . JANE SHARPE, GUILTY , Death . Court to Collier. The Gentlemen of the Jury have done, undoubtedly, perfectly right in acquitting you; though, privately speaking, I very much suspect your guilt: the rules of administering justice have protected you more than your own innocence; take care the future course of your life is conducted better than that which is by-gone, or else you will be very soon cut off; take care, remember and return God thanks for the mercy that is now shewn you. Jane Sharp was 18 years old on arrival. C1802: Married Paul Bushell (1766-1853 arrived per Surprize 1789) – no children. 1820: Jane died aged 46 and was buried at Wilberforce, Hawkesbury, NSW.

62

Keith South on 2nd January 2015

Conditional Pardon granted by Gov. Hunter 10 March 1788.