SHARP, William (Grimwade p. 406)

[buckler]

The account below probably contains two or even three William Sharps.
One at Princes Street, Bridgewater Square, Barbican - A member of the Leathersellers Company
The other, or others , at Holborn and Strand.

The main thread is certainly that of the Barbican Leather seller.
Much of this information came by courtesy of Jerome Farrell, the Archivist at the Leathersellers

7th August 1758 - William Sharp(e), son of Richard Sharp(e) of Olney, Bucks, maltster, deceased was apprenticed to Charles Barnet Lawrence, a silversmith of ‘Princes Street near Bridgewater Square’ according to Leathersellers Quarterage register.
Charles Barnet Lawrence, son of Hans Leopold Lawrence late of St James Clerkenwell, baker, deceased, had been apprentice to William Coles for seven years from 29 Nov. 1732. No premium.
William Coles was also of the Leathersellers - see http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... les#p55917" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

8th September 1767 - William Sharp was made Free of the Leathersellers by servitude.
Goldsmiths Hall kalamazoo record book gives a William Sharp free by redemption , also in 1767. Perhaps a different man, or perhaps he wished to be free of both Companies for social and business reasons.

23st April 1770 - Sun Life Assurance policy in the name of William Sharp, Silversmith and Watchmaker at No 73 Holborn Bridge may relate. Information from flimsy in card index at Goldsmiths Hall
Westminster Pollbooks: Votes in Westminster Elections, 1749-1820 . 1st January 1774 - 31st December 1774
William Sharp Silversmith of Strand, St Martin in the Fields voted for Percy and Clinton in 1774 This may be another different man as the address does not appear to match .

20th Apr 1774 - Leathersellers Company records shows William Kemp turned over as apprentice from Charles Barnet Lawrence to William Sharp (Barbican) Buckle Cutter ( originally apprenticed 10 Apr 1769 to Charles Barnet Lawrence (Barbican) Buckle cutter
22nd Dec 1774 - Leathersellers Company records shows Edward Noble apprenticed to William Sharp (Barbican) Silver Buckle Cutter
30th Oct 1776 - Leathersellers Company records shows George Butler apprenticed to William Sharp (Bridge Water Square) Silver Buckle Maker [ Butler registered a mark as bucklemaker on 15th December 1784 at 18, Holborn]

6th March 1781- William Sharp entered his first mark, as bucklemaker, at 3, Princes Street, Barbican.
Further marks as bucklemaker in 1783 and 1786, all at 3,Princes Street

1 May 1781 - Leathersellers Company records shows Peter Redford apprenticed to William Sharp (Barbican) Silver Buckle Maker
6 Apr 1784 -L eathersellers Company records shows William Burnet apprenticed to William Sharp (Bridgewater Square) Buckle Maker

1787 - Willliam Sharp is described as Bucklemaker and Leatherseller on the apprenticeship to him of Richard Sharp in 1787. Goldsmiths Company Apprentice Book 9 page 158 This was via the Goldsmiths rather than by the Leathersellers, another indication he may have had dual company-ship. Perhapss William was a relative and he wished to give him membership of the more prestigious company.

Heal gives him as William Sharpe silver bucklemaker at 1784 -1796 ar 75, Holborn Bridge and at 3, Princes Street, Barbican 1790 , re-inforcing the two man theory .
Kent's Directory for the Year 1794. - Cities of London and Westminster, & Borough of Southwark gives - Sharpe Wm., Silversmith & Jeweller, 75, Holborn-bridge - which may be Heal's source
xxxx and Wakefield Directories for 1790 give William Sharp at No 3 , Princes Street, Barbican as Buckle Maker, Tea Tong Maker and classes him under Household/Hardware

15th July 1790- Oracle reports - " Tuesday two women, genteelly dressed entered the shop of Mr Sharp, silversmith, Holborn Bridge in order to purchase a pair of silver buckles"
12th October 1793 - Sun Life Assurance policy in the name of William Sharp, Silversmith at No 73 Holborn Bridge and 75 Holborn Bridge, House No 73 in West Smithfield . Again information from flimsy in card index at Goldsmiths Hall

It is possible that the entry in Holdens Triennial Directory for 1805, 1806, 1807 for "Sharp and Co, working goldsmiths and jewellers, 10, King Street Holborn" may refer.

24th October 1811
Will proved in London Consistory Court ( ref XO20 /354 folio 492) of:-
" William Sharp Master of the workhouse of the parish of St Giles without, Cripplegate London but late of Princes Street ,Barbican in the same parish , Silver Bucklemaker"
He appears to have had a life insurance policy of £200 with the Equitable (?) Assurance Office ,Bridge Street, Blackfriars "dated on or about the seventeenth day of July 1790 " which he had lost or mislaid . And £50 from the xxxxxxxx Society xxxx at the Tower Street., plus "sundry articles of wearing apparel Household furniture linen china and plate." As the total sum declared on the will is £450 it appears that he left very little beyond the insurances. Presumably the insurances were taken out when he was still a working silversmith, then he fell onto harder times and took the workhouse master job. Certainly no visible real estate.
Leaves to be divided equally between his three daughters Elisabeth , Sarah and Mary. Appoints his daughter Elizabeth as sole executrix
Will dated 19th March 1808 and witnessed by John Gwillim and James Simonds [both untraced]
Plus a Codicil dated 8th October 1811 and witnessed by William Alcock and James Simonds [both untraced].
The estate now to be divided equally between two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah . Mary has presumably either died, married or fallen from favour. Also appoints as joint executor - " my good friend Mr John Bejamin Cole of Barbican , Silversmith " [ Entered bucklemaker mark at 10, Bell Square, St Martins le Grand on 20 August 1778, Marks as bucklemaker from 1779 to 1809 at 54, Barbican ]

No mention of wife , so probably a widower. No mention of a son , so the Richard Sharp , apprenticed to him in 1787, is of unknown relationship, or perhaps dead.