History of Jane Patterson Sharp
by Martha Sharp Anderson
[Jane Patterson Sharp was married to John Sharp, son of John and Mary Hunter Sharp. He was a brother to Joseph Sharp, our ancestor. I have taken relevant portions from Jane’s history, below. I have modified some punctuation, but kept spelling the same.]
Cover:
History of Jane (Jean) Patterson Sharp
Born 26 July, 1816 [1818 written above] – Clackmannan, Scotland
Died – 25 Aug 1822 Salt Lake City, Utah
Married – John Sharp – 13, Jan. 1840-
Came to Utah-Aug. 28, 1850 – Milo Andrews Co.
History submitted by a Great Granddaughter—
Martha Sharp Anderson – Highland Park Camp.
South Center Salt Lake County, Utah – 1970
Stamp: This copy, made available through the courtesy of the International Society DAUGHTERS OF UTAH PIONEERS, may not be reproduced for monetary gain
Page 2
…May I quote Mr. Bennion after he visited in Clackmannan, Scotland in 1919. “Although the great majority of those who joined the Mormon Church in Scotland were the lowly esteemed Colliers, the anger of the clergy was stirred and mob action aroused. Mr. Bennion talked to the Parish Clerk who told him this story, “This is the verra hoose where the Mormons were holdin a meetin when the mob came and rapped on the door and demanded entrance. He said, My Grandfather held them talking while the Mormons slid out the back windows and through the fields to Sauchie.”
“In 1848 the spirit of gathering to Zion took hold of the Sharps. Perhaps the anti-Mormon sentiment of the locality strengthened a resolve to emigrate, Entries in the Clackmannan Branch membership record indicates that a band of 63 members, plus their children, left Sauchie under the leadership of Elder John Sharp bound for Glasgow on the first part of their journey to the Salt Lake Valley. This was about the 13th of Sept, 1848. It seems that John Sharp went back to his old home on business and preformed [sic] a confirmation in Oct. 1848.
From much searching, Mr. Bennion concluded that the Sharp family, along with the other Clackmannan Saints sailed from Liverpool England on 29 Jan. 1849 on the ship “Zetland”, with Orson Spencer as their leader. There were 358 Mormon Saints on board.
For a time all went well, then severe adverse winds struck this ship and Jane, with the rest, were very worried when they commenced to be blown back toward England. Their food and drinking water became short, finally the winds changed and they were able to reach their destination, New Orleans, La. On April 2nd, 1849.
They continued their journey up the Mississippi River by River boats. The dreaded disease, Cholera broke out on the boat, many became ill and others died. Jane’s Mother-in-law, Mary Hunter Sharp, sucummed [sic] to Cholera and died near St. Louis, Missouri.
The Sharps went to work in the coal mines just south of St. Louis, across the Mississippi river in Alton, Illinois to earn money to buy teams, harnesses, [page 3] wagons and food supply to make the journey to Utah. By spring of 1850 they were ready to travel so they went by boat of the Missouri River to Kanesville, (Council Bluffs) Iowa. John, Jane and their family were assigned to the Milo Andrus Co. According to Vol. 12, Heart Throbs of the West, the Andrus Company was composed of 206 souls with 51 wagons. John Sharp was put in as one of the sub-captains. They left Kanesville, June 3, 1850. On page 443 of Heart Throbs of the West, Vol 11 we find listed the names of the Sharp family….
After a very hard and tiresome journey, John, Jane, and their family arrived in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake on Aug. 28, 1850.
Information taken from the Salt Lake County book, “Tales of a Triumphant People” tell that the Sharp brothers, John, Adam and Joseph and their families, first made their home in the 11th [or 10th handwritten above] Ward. Then in 1852 or 1853 they moved to that part of Salt Lake City known as the 20th ward. The 3 brothers all built homes on the North side of South Temple st. between D and F streets, occupying two whole blocks….
Transcribed by: Emily Barker Farrer, 2007
Source: Bonnie Barker Rice