Rev John Sharman’s family

A Wesleyan ministry was not for the faint hearted and if it was a hard life for the Minister, imagine what it was like for his wife.

John Sharman was born on May 22, 1814 the son of Michael Sharman and his wife Hepzibah, in the parish of Walsoken, Norfolk. He began his ministry in 1835 and five years later married Ann Allen. Ann was born in 1840, the daughter of Thomas and Susannah Allen, themselves Methodists.

By researching the birth of John and Ann’s eleven children it is possible to map the many places where John ministered.

Their first child John Parker Sharman was born in Whitchurch, Hampshire on April 25, 1841. Annie Rebecca (1842) and Thomas Michael (1844) were both born in Ashford, Kent.  Selina Jane was born here in Swindon on January 31, 1846. She was baptised at the ‘Wesleyan-Methodist Chapel Swindon & at places in its Vicinity’ on May 16 with her brother John Parker Sharman. James Allen was born in 1847 in New Buckenham, Norfolk and baptised on March 19, 1848 at Attleborough, Norfolk. Frederick William was born in 1850 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. At the time of the 1851 census the family were living in the small hamlet of Botesdale on ‘the turnpike road leading from Scole to Bury Saint Edmunds.’ Elizabeth Hephzibah (1852) and Catherine Laura (1853) were both born in Botesdale. Frederica Allen was born in 1855 in Harwich, Essex as was her brother Frederick James born the following year. Mary Susannah was the last of John and Ann’s children. She was born in St. Just, Cornwall and baptised on July 12, 1859 at East Looe, just three months before John died.

At least seven different homes in 19 years of marriage (and child bearing for Ann) travelling England and Wales.

John died on October 11, 1859 at Holsworthy, Devon, aged 45.

By the time of the 1861 census Ann was living at Grove Street, Wantage with seven of her children and her widowed mother Susannah Allen. In 1871 she was living in Harwell Street, Harwell, Berkshire with her five daughters and by 1881 she was living at 65 Clifton Street, Swindon.

Ann Sharman died in March 1887 at 3 Graham Terrace, Clifton Street, aged 68. She was buried in grave plot E8500 where two of her daughters would later join her; Annie Rebecca Cole who died in February 1913 and Mary Susannah Richards who died in March 1924. Selina Jane Sharman is also mentioned on the memorial. The only child to be born and to die in Swindon was buried in the churchyard at Christ Church. She died aged 29 in 1875, before Radnor Street Cemetery was built.

Ann and John’s son, Frederick James Sharman, who died in 1916, is buried with his wife and daughter in grave plot E8515 just a short distance from his mother’s grave.

A few examples of the busy life of Rev. John Sharman.

“On Thursday morning at five o’clock, the Rev. John Sharman of Abingdon, preached to a large congregation.”  Newbury, Berkshire May 1839.

Rev. John Sharman of Tredegar preached at Nantyglo in October, 1846.

November 1846 – Tredegar. “In the morning of Sunday November 15, Rev. John Sharman, resident minister, preached in the morning.”

Wesleyan Missions – On Sunday, Feb 6^th, two sermons were preached in the Trewelland Chapel, St. Just Circuit, on behalf of the above missions; viz., in the morning by the Rev. John Sharman, and in the evening by the Rev. N. Alston. On the following Wednesday, the annual public meeting was held, when the claims of missions were ably advocated by the Revds. John Hobson of Redruth, Sharman and Alston, of St. Just; William Trezise, Esq. in the chair. Collections were made, amounting to the same as last year.

Royal Cornwall Gazette, Friday Feb 18, 1859.

St. Just Institution

On Monday last, the Rev. John Sharman, Wesleyan Minister, of St. Just, lectured on “Druidism.” The Rev lecturer handled his subject in his usual masterly style, and delivered a highly interesting and instructive lecture, which was approved of by the audience in a cordial vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr John Boyns, seconded by Mr William Holman, and presented to the reverend lecturer by the Chairman, Mr A. Chenhalls.

Royal Cornwall Gazette Friday March 18, 1859.