Mary E. Sharp1

b. 25 August 1820, d. 23 February 1899
FatherBenjamin Sharp2 b. abt 25 Jan 1793, d. 25 Dec 1840
MotherMargaret Montgomery Edmondson2 b. 21 Jun 1798, d. 21 Jun 1855
Birth25 Aug 1820 Mary E. Sharp was born on 25 Aug 1820 in Virginia.3,4,1,2 
Death23 Feb 1899 Mary died on 23 Feb 1899 at age 78.3 
Burial She was buried at Bethel Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.5 

Research Comment:

The 1850 Annotated Census entry (Waverly Barbe, 2000) for Mary's widowed mother (household 756) reads:

Margaret Sharp, 51, owns land worth $856; Mary 27; Frances 21; East__ [smudge] 18; Wm 17, farmer; Robt 14; Margaret 12; all b. VA)

and includes this annotation: Mary "A". Sharp, 3 Sept. 1824-2 Sept 1895.

I do not believe this is the correct cemetery entry for Mary "E" Sharp, daughter of Benjamin and Margaret.

The Mary "A". Sharp information is found on a headstone at Zion Methodist Cemetery in Washington County. It is the same cemetery in which Mary "E". Sharp's parents and several of her siblings are buried. However, another Sharp family also has many members buried at Zion Methodist Cemetery. That family includes Richard and Margaret Sharp and several of their children. Richard and Margaret's 1850 household included a son Thomas J. and a daughter Mary "A" Sharp. Thomas and Mary "A", both single, were enumerated together in 1880. Thomas lived alone in 1900. I believe the Mary "A" Sharp buried at Zion Cemetery was Thomas' sister, the daughter of Richard and Margaret and that Mary "E" Sharp, daughter of Benjamin and Margaret Sharp is buried at Bethel Cemtery with her sister Hettie Reed with whom Mary lived for most of her adult life. Mary "E" Sharp, Hettie Reed and her husband Benjamin Reed were all charter members of Bethel Presbyterian Church.6,3,1,2,7
Last Edited24 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S234] Adam Rosenbalm household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 125 (original script), dwelling 921, family 884, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2010. Household included: Adam Rosenbalm, 30, farmer, owns land worth $1,170 and pers. prop of $800; Hettie, 30; Mary 1; Mary E. Sharpe, 39, spinster, owns land worth $250; all b. VA.
  2. [S156] Benjamin Reed household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Abingdon Twp, ED 93, p. 17-A (p. 33 stamped), dwelling 151, family 151. March 2010. Benjamin Reed, 67, no occup; Hettie, 49, wife; Louisa, 11, dau; N. Blanch, 9, dau; Mary Sharp, 60, sister; James Jones, 24, black, servant; all b. VA.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 252. Stone reported to read: Mary E. Sharp, 25 Aug. 1820-23 Feb. 1899.
  4. [S367] Margaret Sharp household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. after 117 (stamped), dwelling 756, family 756, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2010. Household included: Margaret Sharp, 51, owns land worth $856; Mary 27; Frances 21; East__ [smudge] 18; Wm 17, farmer; Robt 14; Margaret 12; all b. VA.
  5. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 252 Stone reported to read: Mary E. Sharp 25 Aug. 1820 - 23 Feb. 1899.
  6. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 257. Stone reported to read: Mary A. Sharp, 3 Sept. 1824-2 Sept 1895.
  7. [S2878] Bethel Presbyterian Church 1881-1981, p. 7.