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• 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

Theodosia Emma Hann 1844-1909

Theodora Emma Hann was born on 10 December 1844. She married John Edwin Sharp on 3 November 1864 at Saint Barnabas Church, South Kennington, Surrey, England when she was just 19 years of age. (Reference: Indexing Project (Batch) Number M05846-1, System Origin England-ODM, Source Film Number 355617). (See Wikipedia for information on the history of Kennington.

John and Theodosia had five children within the first six years of their marriage:

• Ernest John, born 17 February 1866 at Blackheath
• Alice Theodosia, born 11 June 1867 at Blackheath
• Bertram, born 9 April 1869 at Lee, Kent
• Arthur, born 27 June 1870 at Lee, Kent
• Eleanor Rose, born 29 April 1872 at Lewisham

Divorce

Apparently, Theodosia was of small physique, about 5' 2" in height with dark hair and dark eyes.

Theodosia filed for divorce in 1874. There was a major scandal in London circles when it was discovered that John Sharp had married Theodosia's younger sister Isabella. Soon after the marriage, John and Isabella were forced to leave England and settle in New Zealand.

Reasons for Divorce

1. On 3 November 1864 the petitioner was married to John Sharp
2. That after the marriage the petitioner lived with her husband and had five children
3. On or about May 1869 John Sharp wilfully communicated a venereal disease to the petitioner.
4. On or about September 1871 John Sharp wilfully communicated a venereal disease to the petitioner.
5. On a certain occasion in October 1871 John Sharp struck the petitioner violently on her mouth with his fist.
6. On a certain occasion in October 1872 John Sharp threw a tea cup at the petitioner.
7. On another occasion in the same month John Sharp threw a knife at the petitioner and threatened to murder her.
8. On many occasions in the year 1867, also in April 1869 and in August or September 1871 John Sharp committed adultery with females unknown.
9. From 17 June 1873 John Sharp cohabited and frequently committed adultery with Isabella Mary Ann Hann the sister of the petitioner.

The divorce was granted on 3 March 1874 and made final on 17 November 1874.

Remarriage

Eight years later, in 1882, Theodosia remarried a doctor by the name of Samuel Walter. It would appear she had another child, a boy named Frederick, who died in 1931 in Sydney.

Ernest, Bertram and Arthur moved to New Zealand and were living in Dunedin with their father, but daughters Alice and Eleanor remained with their mother until they married. The boys possibly came out to New Zealand with their father and new step-mother, but inbound passenger shipping lists have so far failed to reveal on what ship and to which port they travelled. The stories of Eleanor and Alice are given on their own pages.

Death

Theodosia Emma Walter died in the September quarter of 1909, aged 65, at East Preston, Sussex.

Acknowledgements

Information about Theodosia was provided by Gay Brennan of Auckland, who assisted in this research. Further information was found after a Google search on the RootsChat discussion board and pieced together from the threads. There is also mention on the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861-1941 (www.ancestry.com) of a Probate Record. This has not yet been obtained. Investigations continue.