SHARP/E - Clyde Valley (IGI) research c1790 - 1860

[Alan SHARP]

In the ‘Statistical Accounts of Scotland 1791-1799’.
© Universities of Edinburgh & Glasgow
(Carmunnock Parish account pages 173 & 174) there are the following paragraphs –

“Manners, etc. – The whole of this parish is connected by inter-marriages; and this, for many ages past, as appears from the public register, which has uniformly been kept. From accurate enquiry, it has been found, that there are not above 15 persons, and these chiefly servants, who have no fixed residence, who cannot claim alliance with the whole parish; so that when an individual connects himself by marriage, he may consider himself as having gained above 500 relations at once, by such affinity. “ ....”It is more remarkable, that in the vicinity of a large populous city, this parish should remain, like the Hebrews of old, a distinct people, and preclude, as it were, the whole world from their alliance.”

Upon looking back from New Zealand, to our forbears’ roots in Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire, the above rings very true, and creates huge issues sorting them all out. Siblings of one family marrying siblings of another; cousins marrying cousins; and the marrying of a cousin of one’s parent; with examples both in Scotland, and again in New Zealand. To add more confusion for researchers, the IGI has assigned gender where none was assigned in the original Parish register, and got it wrong. (Twice in one MUNRO family ! )

To help figure out all the SHARP/E’s I have generated an EXCEL data base from the IGI, for Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire, to allow for easy sorting by each criteria, and am about to add some Dumbartonshire entries. (All up over 700 and growing, c1790 to 1860, by which time most of our SHARP’S were down under.) In the main our lot were, cottage industry, farm, and general labourers, who were on the move seeking available work. Single baptisms were sometimes recorded in Churches, miles away, from the parish where most of the family members were recorded.

Confused about the SHARP’S of the Clyde Valley, or environs of Glasgow c1790 – 1860 ? Email Alan SHARP herringboneAThnpl.net and together, we may be able to, help each other out. Anglo-Scott’s down under, and their world wide relatives.

SHARP/E spouses of interest. Atherton, Atkins, Bailey, Baillie, Ballard, Barr, Borac, Bray, Bush, Campbell, Caldwell, Christie, Cook, Colquhoun, Crombie, Cubis, Davies, Donald, Doull, Dunbar, Faulds, Harper, Holden, Hollis, Hunter, Jackson, James, Johnston, Jonkers, Keen, Kirkland, Laing, Lamond, Machan, Mallyon, Manning, Marshall, McIndoe, Morgan, Munro, Owslay, Parr, Prater, Reid, Richards, Riddell/Riddle, Roberts, Robinson, Rosier, Russell, Simpson, Smith, Vincent, Waite, Watt, Windsor, Wither, Wittle, Wright.

(P.S. Only on a limited budget, and dial-up, so please - no large files in initial contact.) Alan SHARP, New Zealand – April 2010

Edited by Emanday: @ in email address changed to AT

[Montrose Budie]

.....snipped........

Upon looking back from New Zealand, to our forbears’ roots in Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire, the above rings very true, and creates huge issues sorting them all out. Siblings of one family marrying siblings of another; cousins marrying cousins; and the marrying of a cousin of one’s parent; with examples both in Scotland, and again in New Zealand. To add more confusion for researchers, the IGI has assigned gender where none was assigned in the original Parish register, and got it wrong. (Twice in one MUNRO family ! ) ....snipped......

It's not just first cousins marrying, but second, third and so on cousins, and inter-generational marriage as Alan notes above. With a woman marrying at, say, 22, and continuing to have kids well into her 40s, there could easily be a gap of 20+ years between the eldest and youngest siblings.

When this is factored into the situation, it knocks on the head the concept that we all must have 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 ......... and so on ancestors as there was so much inter marriage between families. Such a 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 .....tree collapses dramatically when this is taken into account.

The reason that we are not all congenital idiots is that most of such inter-marriage was at the second cousin, third cousin, and so on level; and there was nearly always also some "fresh" blood coming in now and again.

mb

[Alan SHARP]

Just emailing a good night when up pops this message YOU HAVE INCOMMING, so get back into TS mode to find not everyone is following the elections !

Your illustration mb of 2x2 brings to mind a father of an adopted daughter, who explains away her full on nature of attacking life, verses his dour Scot family traits, as in the adopted daughter's case, it was not 1+1 = 2, but 1 + 1 = 4 when referring to genetically gained energy. (In farming terms akin to hybrid vigour)

Re our SHARP'S.

William SHARP b. Cathcart 1821 fathered children between 1843 and 1878. (35 years - 2 wives)
John SHARP b c.1802 fathered children between 1823 and 1848. (25 years)
John SHARP (Jnr) b. Curmunnock 1837 fathered children between 1878 and 1899. Starting late at age 38 and finishing late at 62 years of age. (21 years).
My Grand Father James SHARP was five years younger than his nephew William SHARP son of William and Grand son of William.

If we had the ability to post photos I would post one of James and his nephew, they are like peas in a pod. See NZSG Mag., Nov/Dec 1996 for those who have access to a copy.

Alan SHARP.

[Montrose Budie]

Just emailing a good night when up pops this message YOU HAVE INCOMMING, so get back into TS mode to find not everyone is following the elections !

Your illustration mb of 2x2 brings to mind a father of an adopted daughter, who explains away her full on nature of attacking life, verses his dour Scot family traits, as in the adopted daughter's case, it was not 1+1 = 2, but 1 + 1 = 4 when referring to genetically gained energy. (In farming terms akin to hybrid vigour)

.....snipped.........
Alan SHARP.

When clearing out my mother's house approaching 25 years ago, I took possession of the small suitcase full of family papers, my elder brother not being interested.

In amongst these papers was a photo from WWI of a group of Royal Navy recruits (thus explaining why my father wore with pride his blazer with its RNVR badge, - he died when I was 13 so that I never had a chance to talk with him about such matters. He served in minesweepers on the Clyde).

My first reaction when I examined this photo was "Whit 'ra heck is my brother doing in this photo". This was the first time I'd seen a photo of our father with hair ! and the "two peas in a pod" applies.

mb