Nat Gould

John Sharpe 1792-1860

The Reverend Dr John Sharpe was the Vicar of St George's church in Doncaster, Yorkshire and Canon of York.

On the night of 27-28 February 1853 his fine old medieval church was severely damaged by fire, and was eventually fully rebuilt.

"The evening of Sunday 27th February, 1853, was cool and clear with a gentle north-west wind blowing. The Sunday had been like most others at the magnificent medieval church of St. George’s. The Vicar, Dr. Sharpe had preached in the morning, his curate in the evening.

After the fire. Probably the saddest person was the Vicar, Dr. John Sharpe, who had served the parish for 36 years. But only seven days elapsed before a rebuilding committee was formed after a meeting at the Guildhall on 7th March, early uncertainty later disappeared as the Committee resolved that the church should be rebuilt in its entirety. A fund was started and within two weeks £11,000 was available, an extraordinary sum equivalent perhaps today to £750,000 and testimony to the richness of the town. The Town Council gave £5000, £500 came from the Archbishop of York. The work was placed in the hand of the eminent architect G.G. Scott, (later Sir George Gilbert Scott)."

The Reverend John Sharpe married Sarah Falconer, and they had the following children, all baptised at Doncaster:

James Falconer Sharpe. He was born on 4 August 1815 and baptised on 17 November 1815. He
married Louisa Westcombe Bruce, daughter of Captain William Bruce.

Maria Affleck Sharpe. She was baptised on 9 April 1817. She was married to the Reverend Charles Eboral Rodgers on 17 January 1843 at Doncaster. He was born in about 1819, and was the Vicar of Harworth in Nottinghamshire at the time of his marriage (1).

Frances Cook Sharpe. She was baptised on 1 January 1819, and was married to the Reverend John Barry Brodrick at York on 5 November 1851.

Harriet Woodcock Sharpe. She was baptised on 14 August 1820, and was married to the Reverend Julian Robinson on 25 January 1844 in St George's church, Doncaster (2).

Robert John Sharpe. He was born on 9 November 1821 in Doncaster, and baptised on 30 January 1822. He became the Reverend Robert John Sharpe, Vicar of Loversall, where in 1846 he married Georgina Banks, the only child of the late George Banks of St Catherine's (3).

John Edward Sharpe 1824-1857. He was baptised on 23 January 1824, and died on 14 July 1857.

Thomas Wethered Sharpe 1829-1905. He was born on 22 October 1829, and baptised on 1 December 1829.

Sarah Sharpe. The fourth daughter, she was married on 18 January 1846 to George Weld of the 14th Native Infantry at Chunar in the Presidency of Bengal in India (3).

Margaret Landell Sharpe. She was baptised on 18 February 1830. On 12 June 1854 she was married to Frederick Pennington 1819-1914 at York. He was born in about 1819, and became an East India cotton merchant and Liberal Member of Parliament from 1874 to 1885. Margaret Pennington became heavily involved in the women's movement and a campaigner for emancipation and suffrage.

Charles Ferguson Sharpe. He was baptised on 3 December 1833.


Sarah Sharpe, wife of the Reverend Dr John Sharpe died at Doncaster vicarage on Sunday 29 May 1853 (4). He himself died there on 25 July 1860 aged 69 years. He had been Vicar of Doncaster for 43 years (5).

(1) The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 21 January 1843.
(2) The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 27 January 1844.
(3) The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 10 October 1846.
(4) The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 4 June 1853.
(5) The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 28 July 28 1860.