GIBBONS Mary

Mary married SHARPE Burwell on 25 Jan 1773. Burwell (son of SHARPE John I and SHARPE Constant --LNU--) was born about 1750 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; died between Aug and Oct 1799 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married WHITE Elizabeth on 22 May 1801 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States. Elizabeth died after 1830. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1830, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States

Notes:

Mussel Forks Plantation and Notes on the Sharpe Family
From the notes of Olive Willie West Jennings (grandaughter of Charles Rufus Sharpe). Olive West Jennings was born in 1907 and died in 1982.
Mussel Fork Plantation

Riding along Route #31 in Surry County, Virginia, just inside the Northern boundary line of the Town of Dendron, one notices to the west (east?) and some distance from the highway, a very handsome two-story fram farmhouse known as Mussel Fork Plantation. The house was clearly built in two stages differing in dates by about sixty years. The smaller northern section is the older part and is believed by some to date back as far as 1731, while the larger part to the south dates from circa 1800. During this time, the land, composed of nearly fifteen hundred acres, was owned by the Sharp family of Surry and Sussex counties. They lost their holdings in 1854 because of an unpaid debt. Other families to own the farm include the Holdsworths, Steeles, a Charles Goodrich, the Surry Lumber Company, nd its present owner, Mrs. J. I. Cuthbert of Suffolk. The name has been spelled at least three different ways: today it is spelled "Mussel Fork", in 1943 (when the Cuthberts purchased it) it was "Muscle Fork" and in 1885 it was Mussle Fork". The middle spelling seems to be the correct one since the house sits between two branches that meet to form what resembles a bulging bicep.
Still in excellent condition, the house has suffered little over the years. All of the original woodwork survives as does an old kitchen to the right of the house. The 1800 section is protected by beaded weatherboarding and is a three bay structure with nine-over-nine sashes on both levels. The older portion's clapboards are not beaded and is likewise a three bay structure with nine-over-nines on the first level and six-over nines above., Both sections are covered with a tin roof greatly reducing the risks of leaks and rotting floors. All of the first floor woodwork is painted a pleasant cream including a beautiful sunburst mantel in the room to the right of the hall in the main part of the house. This mantel also boasts flanking Ionic columns. Most of the doors appear to the original and the stairrisers are painted to simulate wood graining.
The story of the Sharp family decline is noteworthy in that they were at the time of the Revolution, one of the more prosperous families in the county. In 1854, Thomas Sharp, Senior, borrowed money of a William Joynes. A few years later, his son, Thomas, Jr., got even deeper indebted to Joynes. Thus adding to the amount left unpaid by his late father. In deed book 14, page 52, Thomas, Jr., admits he owes Joynes $1,060 to be taken out of lands left to him in his father's will. The deed reads: I Thomas R. Sharp do hereby grant, convey and assign to the said William Joynes, his executors and administrators for the purpose aforesaid, so much of my share and interest of the estate of my late father, real and personal, as shall be equal to the amount as aforesaid, and to so much in addition as may be herafter advanced to me as aforesaid by saif Joynes on the same account....".
So, a bad debt lost one of Surry's most preminent families one of her nicest county homes. The house is still waiting to be saved and loved against the ravages of time. Once restored, it would add greatly to Dendron and to Surry County itself as one of the better pre-revolution homes still standing.
This paper was copied from one that Aunt Lill Bevard's grandson gave her. A close friend of Glenn's worked with A William and Mary College Professor studying old homes in Surry County and knew that it was her ancestral home. Her father Charles Rufus Sharpe had mentioned Mussel Fork Plantation and the town of Dendron being built on it - November 1975 - Olive West Jennings

Who was Thomas Sharp senior??
John Gibbons Sharp born 1778 had a brother, Thomas born 1790
His son, Charles Nicholas Sharp, born 1803, had a brother, Thomas born 1809 (Note added by RJS 8/4/2011 -This is the most likely candidate for the Thomas Sharp, Sr. - more research is necessary)
His son, Charles Rufus Sharp, born 1835 (1840), had a brother, Thomas born 1827
The date 1854, given in the record of the unpaid debt, might be either one. We know absoultely nothing about the one born in 1827; whether he died as a child or what. Our grandfather Rufus never talked of the 3 children apparently older than he, and mentiolned in his own mother, Maria Roger's Bible. He was not in that Bible listing but we know she was his mother. - OWJ

Transcription of Maria Rogers' Family Bible
This transcription was done by Anthier Elizabeth Sharp Holdsworth in 1942.
The Bible was published in 1830 and was left with Mrs. Maria Sharp by the Bible Society of Surry. According to Elizabeth Sharp in a letter dated May 20, 1942 to Olive West Jennings she stated that the Bible had two stamps in it. One (Nicholas Sharp & C) and the other looks like (Christinia White)
The Transcription reads:
Maria Sharp wife of Nicholas Sharp was 28 years old the 14th of October 1832
Nicholas Sharp was born 13th of April 1803
Thomas Sharp son of Nicholas Sharp was born 24th day of December 1827
Indiana Sharp daughter of nicholas Sharp was born 22nd of March 1829
Nicholas M. Sharp son of Nicholas Sharp was born 1st day of March 1831
Jesse B. Riggan was born September 22 1842
Mary A Riggan the wife of Jesse B Riggan was born the 18th day of September 1843
William S. Riggan son of Jesse B. Riggan was born 17th day of November 1870
Mary R. Riggan the daughter of J. B. Riggan was born January 21, 1873
Jesse T. Riggan was born April 23, 1878
Lula Bell Riggan daughter of J. B. and Mary A. Riggan was born December 16th 1880
Sarah E. Riggan the daughter of J. B. and Mary A. Riggan his wife was born January 12, 1883
Lillian Osgood Riggan the daughter of J. B. Riggan and Mary A his wife was born August 20th 1891.
Lillian died on Tues., October 4th 1898
Notes by Rebecca Jennings Somerhalder - August 3, 2011
My grandmother, Olive Wille West, who was the grandaughter of Charles Rufus Sharp, did extensive research in her lifetime on the Sharp family and was unable to find any information on the first three children (Thomas, Indiana and Nicholas) of Charles Nicholas Sharp and Maria Rogers. The fact that Indiana's birth is given as 1829 and Nicholas's birth is given as 1831 leads me to believe that the birth years we have found for Alfred and Charles Rufus are most likely incorrect (The census records for both men show inconsistency in their birth years- I have adjusted their birth years in my tree to reflect what I believe is more likely). I believe I have found the family living in Lower Chesterfield county in the 1850 census with Maria still alive and with 4 children: Alfred, Caroline (previously unknown), Charles R and Mary A. The children are listed as 15, 14, 10 and 6 years of age which make there birth years approximately 1835, 1836, 1840 and 1844. The 1850 Mortality Schedule for Chesterfield lists (Charles) Nicholas Sharp as dying in June of 1850 of consumption. The 1850 census record in which I found Maria and the children lists a Wren family living next door. Maria's mother was a Wren and possibly the family moved there for family support when Charles Nicholas and Maria became ill. My grandmother states in her research that her grandfather Charles Rufus Sharp was known to have relatives in Matoaca, Chesterfield. The other older children listed in the Bible very possibly could have already been living out on their own by that time or died earlier although there is no mention of their deaths in the family Bible which listed the Riggan family at a much later time. The stamps in the Bible could possibly be the Nicholas Sharp born 1831 with a wife Christinia White? More research is needed.

Census:
1830 United States Federal Census
about Nicholas Sharpe
Name:Nicholas Sharpe          
Home in 1830:, Surry, Virginia View Map          
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5:1          
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:1          
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5:1          
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29:1          
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23:1          
Free White Persons - Under 20:2          
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:2          
Total Free White Persons:4          
Total Slaves:1          
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):5          

Died:
Not sure why Charles Nicholas was living in Chesterfield County where he died of consumption. His wife and their children were also living in Chesterfield also. There was a Wren family living nearby. Grandma said that there were relatives in Matoaca.

U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index
about Nicholas Sharp
Surname:Nicholas Sharp          
Year:1850          
County:Chesterfield CO.          
State:VA          
Age:46          
Gender:M (Male)          
Month of Death:Jun          
State of Birth:VA          
ID#:MRT46_5911          
Occupation:LABORER          
Cause of Death:CONSUMPTION          

Other Events and Attributes:

• Milit-Beg: 24 May 1861, Sussex County, VA
• Pension: 16 May 1924, Sussex County, VA

Notes:

(Medical):Per pension of wife

Milit-Beg:
Co. A, 41st Regt Va. Infantry, Teamster, Enlisted Sussex C.H.

U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
about Alfred Stith Sharp
Name:Alfred Stith Sharp          
Enlistment Date:24 May 1861          
Rank at enlistment:Private          
Enlistment Place:Sussex Court House, VA          
State Served:Virginia          
Survived the War?:Yes          
Service Record:Enlisted in Company A, Virginia 41st Infantry Regiment on 24 May 1861.          
Death Date:7 Feb 1914          
Death Place:Waverly, Sussex County, VA          
Sources:The Virginia Regimental          

Pension:
U.S., Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958
about Alfred Stith Sharp
Name:Alfred Stith Sharp          
Application Date:16 May 1924          
Application Place:Sussex, Virginia          
Spouse:Mrs Anthier B Sharp          
Marriage Date:7 Feb 1878          
Marriage Place:Sussex County, Virginia          
Death Date:21 May 1914          
Death Place:Waverly, VA          
Application Type:Widow          

Notes:

Died:
Poss died at Caesley, Va

Mary married RIGGAN Jesse Bennett on 5 Mar 1867. Jesse (son of RIGGAN Samuel and RIGGAN Emily --LNU--) was born on 22 Sep 1842; died in 1926. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Died near Waverly