Sarah (McNEELY) Sharp (aft. 1700 - aft. 1752)

Born after 1700 in Ireland [uncertain]

Wife of Edward Sharp — married about 1719 in County Armagh, Ireland

Descendants

Died after 1752 at about age 52 in Pennsylvania [uncertain]

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Biography

Very little can be found about her or her family. She is wife of Edward Sharp and daughter of John McNeely. Probably born in Ireland, probably married in Ireland and died in Pennsylvania probably Paxton township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

She is mentioned in Will of Edward Sharp written in April 1752, Township Paxton, Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania but only as wife Sarah. Edward Sharp's will also names 2 sons, Henry Sharp and Edward and a daughter Helener. Helener lives in Lygawery, Ireland. Edward is not yet 21 years old. Apparently son Henry is older and has 4 sons who are also mentioned in Edward Sharp's Will of 1752. Grandsons are Jeremiah, Abraham, Edward and Anthony Sharp. It is not known if Sarah is biological mother of Henry, Edward, Jr or Helener or only some of them. John Roan the pastor of New Siders Church in Paxton is witness to Will of Edward Sharp. In Chapter 5 of Bowie/Sanders book Sarah Sharp (McNeely-15) is described as daughter of John McNeely. Main source for all the above is Descendants of Edward Sharp book by C Newell Bowie and Jerold B Sanders, (Bagpipe Press, 1985), Volume 1^{[1][citation needed]}

The most compelling data to link Sarah McNeely as wife of Edward Sharp is the complete Will of John McNeely. Below is a transcription by Carl Fowler posted in July 2002.^[2]. In his will the grandson Edward Sharp would be the son of Edward Sharp and wife Sarah McNeely.

Research Notes

From Edward Sharp 1700 and Sarah McNeely Genealogy.com post by Carl Fowler, July 2002 ^[2][3]

Following is the will of John McNeely, which was typewritten, needed; it also looks as though a line or two may have been skipped, but has been copied as written):

In the name of God Amain the Nineteenth day of December in the year of our Lord 1757, I John McNeely of Hannover Township, Lancaster County and Province of Pennsylvania, being of Sound mind and memory tho weak in Body therefore Calling to mind ye mortality of Body, I do make this my last Will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul to God yt. Give it and my Body I do Recommend it to the Earth to be decently Buried at the discretion of my Executors and touching Such Worldly Effects as it hath pleased God to Bless me with in this life I Give and dispose of them in manner following. I will all the funeral Charges and all my lawful debts to be paid and Satisfied.

I Give to my well Beloved Wife Martha Mckneely one half of all my plantation that lies on the East side of the Spring Run that is the Spring at the house and what meddow is from the Corner of the plowed Ground next to the spring from thence to two white Oaks Grubs that Grow on the point of the meadow down from the Spring that is both from one Root this to be Continued with her during the time of her Widdowhood and no longer; also the two Big Mares and the two Biggest Cows and the third part of the Sheep and a Bedding of Cloaths and a Bed and all the Household furniture in the house and the Barn.

I Give to my Grand Son Edward Sharp the other half of my plantation that is on the East Side of the Spring Run during the time of my Wife Martha's life or Widdowhood and then the one half of all my plantation from thence to be for his use; also the Bay Colt and a Black pafsing mear two yer ole and furniture and a White Heffer and the third part of the Sheep and A Bed and furniture with all my Utensils for Husbandry Except the plough Irons and Tacklin that did Belong to John Gamble; also a full Shute of Cloths to be made of the Grey Cloth in the house and the Remainder to my Wife Martha.

I Give to my Daughter Rachael Gambel all the Clear land that is on the West Side of the Spring Run and from the forementioned plow land and Grubs to Raise bread on for her and her Children with fire wood and what Timber she stands in need of for the Supporting of fences on otherwise upon the premises during the time of Edward Sharpe being under twenty ~ne year of age and no longer.

I Give to my Grand son John Gamble the other half of my plantation at the end of my Wife Martha's Widdowhood if he be Come of age and if not then Come of Age then to be for the Support of the rest of his Brothers and Sisters at the descretion of my Executors as they shall see need till he Comes of age; also my plow Irons and taklins that was his fathers'.

I Give my Grand Daughter Janet Gamble one Mare with a Bald face; I Give to my Grand Daughter Chrissa Cooper one heffer."

John McNeely - WILL-1757 LANCASTER CO PA Page 2 of 2

with a Bald face;

Give the third part of the Sheep to be divided amongst Rachael Gambles children at the Descretion of my Executors.

I Give to my well Beloved Wife Martha McNeely one Colt and a Spring Calf;

I Give to my Brother Michael McNeely and John MClure to be Executors of my Last Will and Testament all other Wills made by me to be void.

Sealed and Delivered in the Presents of us -John McClure
Michael McNeely
John McNeely (Seal)
Lancaster Co. FS. Novr. 16th 1758.
before me the Subscriber one of the Justices and appeared John MCluer and Michael Mckneely the Witnesses to the within will who on their Corporal Oaths did depose and say they were presents and saw and heard John Mckneely the Testater Before named

Sign Seal Publish Pronounce and declare the foregoing Writing as and for his Last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of Sound and disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief. Edwd. Shippen D.R.

Be it remembered that on the 16th day of November 1758 the Last Will and Testament of John Mckneely was duly proved in form of law and Letters Testamentary thereof were Granted unto Michael Mckneely and John MClure Executors in the said Testament named they being first duly Qualified well and truly to Administer the Estate of the said Testator and Exhibit an Inventory thereof into the Registers Office at Lancaster in one Month from this day Given under my hand and seal of said Office.

By me Edwd. Shippen D. Register

From Commemorative biographical encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

• "Sharp, Edward, of Paxtang, d. October 1765, leaving a wife Sarah, and children: Henry, Edward and Eleanor. Executors were William Sharp and Michael Graham"^[4]
• "McNeely, John, of Hanover, d. in October, 1758, leaving wife Martha, and a child Rachel, m.________ Gamble; grandchildren John and Janet Gamble and Chrissa Cooper" ^[5] This indicates that Sarah had preceeded her parents, in deatn.

Sources

1. ↑ Descendants of Edward Sharp book by C Newell Bowie and Jerold B Sanders pages x-x1, Fig 10a-10b (copy of Will), and page 9, chapter 5, Book is under copyright and not available online as of 2023
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Archived at Wayback machine Edward Sharp 1700 and Sarah McNeely Genealogy.com post by Carl Fowler, July 2002
3. ↑ Will Book B, Vol. 1, Page 215, Records and Archives, Lancaster County PA Courthouse.
4. ↑ Schively, R. H. (Rebecca H.)., Huber, H. I., Dudley, A. S. (Adolphus S.)., Egle, W. Henry., J.M. Runk & Company. (1896). Commemorative biographical encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania: containing sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early Scotch-Irish and German settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J.M. Runk & Co. Page 73 Sharp, Edward, of Paxtang, d. October 1765, leaving a wife Sarah
5. ↑ Schively, R. H, Page 65-66 McNeely, John, of Hanover

See Also:

• "The Shirley, Sharp, & Related Families" by Becky Bennett Wallace 12/22/1997
• "Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 8802 #1778059 : accessed 10 June 2023), Sarah Sharp probate in 1891-1892 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA; citing Will Books, 1789-1917, Author Allegheny County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills, Probate Place Allegheny, Pennsylvania.

Acknowledgements

• This person was created through the import of JDS_09_17_10.ged on 09 February 2011.