Links:

• John Edwin Sharp
• Theodosia Emma Hann
• Isabella Mary Ann Hann

Generation 1 - Children of John and Theodosia

• Ernest John Sharp
• Alice Theodosia Sharp
• Bertram Sharp
• Arthur Sharp
• Eleanor Rose Sharp

Generation 1 - Children of John and Isabella

• Charles Sharp
• Jessie Sharp
• Isabella Sharp
• Sarah Sharp
• John Bentley Sharp
• Edwin Sharp

Generation 2 - Children of John Bentley Sharp

• Eileen Sharp
• Joan Sharp
• Doreen Sharp
• Dennis Sharp
• John Sharp
• Desmond Sharp
• Norrie Sharp

Jessie Sharp 1880-1952

Jessie (Jessica) Sharp was born on 30 November 1880 at Forth St, Dunedin, the third child of John and Isabella Sharp.

Jessie married Edwin James Mills (Jim) in Dunedin in 1902 and together they had five children - James (Jim), Kathleen (Kitty), Alice, Helen (Nel) and Edwin (Ted). They lived in Surrey Street, South Dunedin. His occupation was "motorman" by trade who was born in England.

Eileen remembers that Kitty and Alice were quite a bit older than her, but Nell was only about 4 years older, and she is the only one of the family who kept in touch. Kitty had one son and she died of a stroke.

Alice married a businessman in the 1930s, but the couple had no children. Alice and her husband came to Nelson when John Bentley and Margaret Sharp were in the Royal Hotel. Eileen remembers that she was in the hotel one day when a red-haired lady arrived. She had bought a citrus fruit farm in Nelson, but they moved up the East Coast of the North Island later. Margaret received word that Alice had died suddenly some time later, but she didn't know the circumstances.

Eileen believes Ted was a tradesman, but she doesn't know what happened to him.

Nel and Eileen kept in touch over the years. She married Alex Creighton and was living in Alexandra for many years, and they swapped notes about the family tree in letters and visits.

Eileen received a letter from 1 Rawhiti St, Alexandra on 2 October about her mother, Margaret Sharp's death.

It reads:

Dear Eileen. Sorry I couldn't get in touch with you while in Dunedin last weekend. I had granddad's photo with me. It wasn't until I came home, I was sorry to see that your mother had passed away. It expect it was all for the best, please accept my condolence. I am putting the photo in for your brother as it may be some use to him, I have no idea when it was taken but it was in Dunedin. It was 1919 when he died. I expect you know that. Sorry I can't be of much help. I would have liked to have gone to the service for your mother and seen some of the relations. The only one I see at times is Colin Cameron, he comes up here for holidays in March. I will try and get in touch with you the next time I come down, but it wont be this year. We may decide to come back to Dunedin to live next year, we have been here nearly 9 years and I am feeling the winters very cold now. I like the summer here, I love the heat. I see it has been very warm in Dunedin. Alex has been in the garden all day in shorts so I think our summer has come. Well I will say cheerio for now and I hope to see you one day in the near future. Kindest Regards, Nell Creighton. Nell, is the third daughter of Dad's youngest sister Jessie, Mrs Mills.

What happened to the photo, or the other members of the family is unknown, and further research is required.

Deaths

Jessie died on 7 December 1952 in Dunedin aged 72 years. Her husband Edwin James had died four years earlier on 15 November 1948. His occupation was Motorman and he was a native of England. They are both buried in Block 164 Plot 71, Andersons Bay Cemetery. The family address was 4 Rowland Avenue, Dunedin.

Edwin's death notice reads:

"Mills, on November 15, 1948, at Dunedin, Edwin James, beloved husband of Jessie Mills, 4 Rowland Ave, South Dunedin, and loved father of Mesdames P H Wootton (Dunedin), G Johnston (Kerikeri), A Creighton, Jim and Ted (Dunedin); in his 73rd year. At Rest. The funeral will leave our chapel, 78 St Andrew St, tomorrow (Wednesday) the 17th inst, at the conclusion of the service commencing at 11 am for the Andersons Bay Cemetery. Hope and Kinaston, funeral directors."

Jessie's death notice reads:

Mills, On December 7, 1952, at her residence, 4 Rowland Ave, South Dunedin, Jessie beloved wife of the late Edwin James Mills, and loved mother of Mesdames P H Wootton, Auckland, G Johnston, Kerikeri, A Creighton, Jim and Ted (Dunedin); aged 72 years. At rest. The funeral will leave our chapel 78 St Andrew St, on Tuesday the 9th inst. At the conclusion of a service commencing at 2 pm for the Andersons Bay cemetery. Hope and Kinaston, funeral directors.

Jessie bequeathed the whole of her estate to her daughter Nellie Rhoda Creighton, in her will made on 9th of September 1952.

Their headstone inscription reads:

In loving memory of Edwin James, beloved husband of Jessie Mills, died 15 Nov 1948 aged 73 years. Also Jessie, wife of Edwin James Mills, died 7th December 1952, aged 72 years.

No further information or photos are available for this family.

Photo taken by Margaret Bremner of Dunedin.