Anthony Sharp (Quaker) facts for kids

Anthony Sharp (born in 1643, died in 1707) was an important person from Dublin, Ireland. He was a Quaker, which is a type of Christian, and he was also a very successful wool merchant.

Early Life

Anthony Sharp was born in January 1643. His hometown was Tetbury, a place in Gloucestershire, England. His father's name was Thomas Sharp.

Religion and Business

In 1665, Anthony Sharp became a member of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers. He was inspired by the teachings of William Dewsbury.

Around 1669, Anthony had to leave Gloucestershire. This was because Quakers faced unfair treatment for their religious beliefs. He moved to Dublin, Ireland, and started working in the wool trade. He became very successful in this business. By 1680, he had about 500 workers. In 1688, the weavers' guild (a group of skilled workers) chose him as their leader.

Anthony Sharp was also very active in the Quaker community in Dublin. In 1683, he and other Quakers were put in prison. This happened because they continued to hold their religious meetings, even though the government had banned public gatherings for people who disagreed with the main church.

Land in America

Anthony Sharp was one of the first people to own land in West Jersey in 1677. Later, when William Penn bought land in East Jersey, Anthony also became a landowner there.

Anthony did not move to America himself because his wool business in Dublin was doing so well. However, he helped pay for the Quaker colony that was started in the Province of New Jersey in 1681.

Anthony's nephew, Thomas Sharp, was one of the people chosen to help start this new colony. Anthony and Thomas wrote letters to each other about both business and family matters.

In his will (his last wishes), Anthony Sharp left his land in West Jersey to his oldest son, Isaac Sharp. He also gave Isaac half of his land in East Jersey. Anthony also owned land in Queen's County, Ireland, including land in Killinure. This land later became the site of the Sharp Roundwood Estate.

Death and Family

Anthony Sharp passed away on January 13, 1707. He was buried in the old Quaker burial ground near St. Stephen's Green in Dublin. He had three sons: Isaac, Joseph, and Daniel, and one daughter named Rachel Sharp.

Anthony's father, Thomas Sharp, was born around 1603 in Tetbury, England. He married Anthony's mother, Elizabeth Hookham, in 1628. Elizabeth was born around 1607. They had seven children: William, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Anthony, Isaac, Anis, and Thomas.

Biography Published

A book about Anthony Sharp was published by Stanford University Press. It is called Dublin's Merchant-Quaker: Anthony Sharp and the Community of Friends, 1643–1707 and was written by Richard L. Greaves.