The surname Sharpe has its origins in an old English nickname for someone
who is keen, active and quick, ie. Scearp. The word later became Scharp and eventually Sharpe.
The Sharpe family of King Township and Toronto originated in the Parish of Killasnet, County
Leitrim, Ireland. They were descendants of
English or possibly Scottish planters in the sixteenth century.
The earliest known members of this family are William and Agnes Sharpe. Three
of their children (possibly more, but unknown at present) immigrated to Canada in the early years of the nineteenth century.
William, John and daughter Jane Somerville, in that order made the journey to Upper Canada between 1819 and 1830. There
is no evidence that William and Agnes emigrated with their children and it is likely that they remained in Ireland with
their younger children.
William Sharpe Jr. arrived in the town of York in September of 1819 and may have travelled
with other relatives. He married Catherine Rose, also from the County Leitrim on Oct. 29 1822 in St. James York.
William and Catherine remained in the town of York, later to become Toronto
in 1834 and raised a family of at least eight children. William started and prospered in a boot and shoe making business
and at the time of his death in 1869 owned several lots on Maitland Street ( Wellesley and Yonge area).
The Sharpe family, at least for a time belonged to the Anglican Church and at some point
they switched to the Methodist Church. The Four daughters of William and Catherine never married and continued
to live in the family home on Maitland Street. The sons appear to have left the area and there is some evidence that
they went to New York City. There is little trace of them.
John Sharpe arrived in the Port of Quebec on Aug. 16 1824 and was in the town of York by
late September. He and his wife the former Matilda Fowler of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, had been married
April 19, 1824 in Ireland and set out immediately afterwards for Upper Canada. John
was a shoemaker like his older brother William. In 1825 John and Matilda moved to the village of Newmarket were they
remained for several years, perhaps operating a general store or shoe-making business. They eventually purchased land
in King Township and there they settled into farming and raising their family of eleven children. John purchased other
land as the years went by and these eventually went to his sons.
John Sharpe and his family remained members of the Newmarket Anglican Church and John became
Justice of Peace. It is said that he was known as "Squire Sharpe" John like his brother William prospered in Upper Canada.
Thanks to Susan Somerville for this information
