Isaac Sharp
Encyclopedia
Isaac Sharp was an early New Jersey
settler, politician, judge and Colonel of the militia
.
, Isaac Sharp was the eldest surviving son of Quaker Anthony Sharp
and Ann Crabb. As part of the Quaker settlement of his father’s extensive land holdings in New Jersey
, Isaac Sharp left Ireland
in November 1700, and after an arduous eighteen week journey, arrived in Colonial America
on April 6, 1701.
Isaac settled in Salem County, New Jersey
and named the area Blessingtown after Blessington in County Wicklow
, near the border of Kildare
, on the road travelled by the Sharps from Roundwood, Queen’s County, to and from Dublin. The town was subsequently renamed Sharpstown after the Sharp family settlers.
Isaac Sharp married Margaret Braithwaite of Salem County
in 1704, and had children: Anthony (who inherited the Queen’s County, Ireland
property), Isaac (also a Judge of Salem County
Court, appointed by King George II
in 1741), Joseph, Mary, Sarah and Rachel (mother of Colonel Sharp Delany
). Isaac’s son Joseph Sharp
was the grandfather of Moses Austin
and the great-grandfather of Stephen F. Austin
and Emily Austin Perry
.
, Isaac Sharp served as judge of the Salem County
Court (1709–1717) and was a member of the New Jersey
General Assembly from 1709-1721.
Isaac Sharp was also a Colonel of the militia of West New Jersey
for Salem
and Cape May
.
, and half of his lands in East New Jersey
, as well as his land in Queen’s County, Ireland
, including land in Killinure
, which became the site of the Sharp Roundwood Estate. Isaac returned to Ireland
in about 1726 and resided on his Queen's County property until his death in 1735.
Province of New Jersey
The Province of New Jersey was one of the Middle Colonies of Colonial America and became the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1776. The province had originally been settled by Europeans as part of New Netherland, but came under English rule after the surrender of Fort Amsterdam in 1664, becoming a...
settler, politician, judge and Colonel of the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
.
Early life and family
Born January 13, 1681, in Dublin, IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Isaac Sharp was the eldest surviving son of Quaker Anthony Sharp
Anthony Sharp (Quaker)
Anthony Sharp was a Dublin Quaker and wool merchant.-Early life:Anthony Sharp, the son of Thomas Sharp, was born in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England in January 1643.-Religion and business:...
and Ann Crabb. As part of the Quaker settlement of his father’s extensive land holdings in New Jersey
Province of New Jersey
The Province of New Jersey was one of the Middle Colonies of Colonial America and became the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1776. The province had originally been settled by Europeans as part of New Netherland, but came under English rule after the surrender of Fort Amsterdam in 1664, becoming a...
, Isaac Sharp left Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in November 1700, and after an arduous eighteen week journey, arrived in Colonial America
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
on April 6, 1701.
Isaac settled in Salem County, New Jersey
Salem County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
and named the area Blessingtown after Blessington in County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, near the border of Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
, on the road travelled by the Sharps from Roundwood, Queen’s County, to and from Dublin. The town was subsequently renamed Sharpstown after the Sharp family settlers.
Isaac Sharp married Margaret Braithwaite of Salem County
Salem County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
in 1704, and had children: Anthony (who inherited the Queen’s County, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
property), Isaac (also a Judge of Salem County
Salem County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
Court, appointed by King George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
in 1741), Joseph, Mary, Sarah and Rachel (mother of Colonel Sharp Delany
Sharp Delany
Sharp Delany , was a Colonel in the American Revolutionary War and was appointed first Collector of Customs in Philadelphia by George Washington.-Biography:...
). Isaac’s son Joseph Sharp
Joseph Sharp
Joseph Sharp was an early settler of New Jersey, landowner, supporter of education, an iron manufacturer, an industrialist; his mill provided flour to American Troops in the War of 1812.-Influence on education:...
was the grandfather of Moses Austin
Moses Austin
Moses Austin played a large part in the development of the American lead industry and is the father of Stephen F. Austin, a leading American settler of Texas. He was the first to be allowed to gather Anglo Americans for settlement in Spanish Texas...
and the great-grandfather of Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
and Emily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry was an early settler of Texas and sole heir to Stephen F. Austin. She achieved significant political, economic and social status as a woman in Texas at a time when women often were not equal to men.-Early life:...
.
Career
In addition to being a member of the Council of ProprietorsLords Proprietor
Lords Proprietor was the name for the chief or highest owners or proprietors of certain English proprietary colonies in America, such as Carolina, New Jersey and Barbados....
, Isaac Sharp served as judge of the Salem County
Salem County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
Court (1709–1717) and was a member of the New Jersey
Province of New Jersey
The Province of New Jersey was one of the Middle Colonies of Colonial America and became the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1776. The province had originally been settled by Europeans as part of New Netherland, but came under English rule after the surrender of Fort Amsterdam in 1664, becoming a...
General Assembly from 1709-1721.
Isaac Sharp was also a Colonel of the militia of West New Jersey
Province of New Jersey
The Province of New Jersey was one of the Middle Colonies of Colonial America and became the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1776. The province had originally been settled by Europeans as part of New Netherland, but came under English rule after the surrender of Fort Amsterdam in 1664, becoming a...
for Salem
Salem County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
and Cape May
Cape May County, New Jersey
-Climate:Being the southernmost point in New Jersey, Cape May has fairly mild wintertime temperatures. Contrary to that, the summertime has lower temperatures than most places in the state, making the county a popular place to escape the heat. It is in zone 7a/7b, which is the same as parts of...
.
Later life
Upon his father’s death in 1707, Sharp inherited all of Anthony Sharp’s land in West New JerseyProvince of New Jersey
The Province of New Jersey was one of the Middle Colonies of Colonial America and became the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1776. The province had originally been settled by Europeans as part of New Netherland, but came under English rule after the surrender of Fort Amsterdam in 1664, becoming a...
, and half of his lands in East New Jersey
Province of New Jersey
The Province of New Jersey was one of the Middle Colonies of Colonial America and became the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1776. The province had originally been settled by Europeans as part of New Netherland, but came under English rule after the surrender of Fort Amsterdam in 1664, becoming a...
, as well as his land in Queen’s County, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, including land in Killinure
Killinure
Killinure is a townland in County Down, Northern Ireland, lying on the south-east border of Carryduff.It is approximately 770 acres in area, and still consists mostly of farmland, although since the 1990s, the housing developments of Carryduff have begun to encroach on its north-west corner .It...
, which became the site of the Sharp Roundwood Estate. Isaac returned to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in about 1726 and resided on his Queen's County property until his death in 1735.