Charlotte Sharp

c1822-1899

Charlotte was born in Caversham Oxfordshire, she was baptised on the 6^th February 1825 with her sister Elizabeth, the daughters of Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Sharp (nee Griffiths), who were married on the 13^th September 1819 at St Giles, Reading, Berkshire. (Mary Elizabeth was recorded as Elizabeth on the marriage record)

Her father Joseph was a Farm Steward, he was born c1793 in Wyggeston, Northamptonshire, the son of Thomas Sharp. Joseph was widowed sometime between 1829-1847, he remarried on the 20^th September 1847 at St Mary the Minster, Reading. 2^nd wife Ruth Hodgson (born c1796 in Reading), a spinster. Joseph died aged 70 in 1856, he was buried on the 8^th June at St Peter Caversham. Ruth remarried on the 19^th July 1858 at St Mary the Minster, Reading, her 2^nd husband was William Dormer. She was widower in 1863 and died aged 86 in 1881 in Oxfordshire.

Joseph and Mary Elizabeth also had the following children:
Henry born c1820 in Reading, baptised 1820 in Reading

Elizabeth born 1822 in Caversham, baptised 6/2/1825 (possibly twin sister of Charlotte, not proved!)

Emma born c1823 in Caversham

Caroline born c1826 in Caversham, baptised 22/10/1826

Mary Elizabeth born c1830 in Caversham, baptised 26/12/1830

In 1851 Charlotte (28) was working as a Servant, she was living in Kings Road, Reading, Berkshire with her married sister Emma Freeman (26), her brother-in-law Samuel Freeman (33) and their children Samuel Henry (6), Mary Elizabeth (4) and Charlotte (11 months).

In 1871 Charlotte (45) was recorded working as a Lady’s Maid in Clifton Gloucestershire (Surname spelt Sharpe)

The 1881 census records Charlotte (55) working as a Lady’s Maid in Tidmarsh Road, Courtfield, Pangbourne, Berkshire.

By 1891 Charlotte (69) was living with her widowed niece Louisa Wood (34) at 17 Craven Street, Newbury, Berkshire. Also recorded in the household were Charlotte and Louisa’s parents Emma and Samuel Freeman, Louisa’s children Fanny Wood (11), Alfred Wood (10) and Samuel Wood (8), Charlotte and Louisa’s brother Charles Sharp Freeman (23), and a boarder, George Carter (18).

Charlotte died aged 79 in 1899, she was laid to rest in the consecrated private grave in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 2^nd June.

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