MARRIAGE.

Groom: Thomas Cowan SHARPE.
Birth place: Scotland.

Bride: Rachel Mabel MCDONALD.
Birth place: New Zealand.

Year married: 1897.
Place: Victoria, Australia.

DEATH.

Name: Thomas Cowan SHARPE.
Died: 1945 in St Kilda, Victoria.
Age: 80 years.
Father: Named as John SHARPE.
Mother: Named as Elizabeth RANKIN.

Thank you so much. Do you know what part of Scotland John and Elizabeth came from and did they get to Australia. When/where married?

FOUND DEAD IN SEA BATH
A man who was found in a hot sea bath at St Kilda on Monday has been identified as Thomas Cowan Sharpe, 80, of Gordon House, Gordon place, city
The Argus 17th October 1945 p.4

Oh my goodness. That is sad as my father, Keith Sharpe said he had gone "bush" and he never kept in touch. Is he buried in St Kilda and was he remarried. Thank you so much for this information and if there is any charge please let me know. Kind regards, comerm

MARRIAGE.

Groom: John SHARPE.
Bride: Elizabeth RANKIN.
Year married: 1854.
Place: Victoria, Australia.

I'm not sure if the above John SHARPE and Elizabeth RANKIN are the parents of Thomas Cowan SHARPE because they had ten children in Ballarat, Victoria, between the years 1855 and 1872.

Going by his age given at death Thomas Cowan SHARPE was born circa 1865. This indicates John and Elizabeth returned to Scotland for a short time and then returned to Australia after Thomas was born.

What do you think?

BURIAL.

Name: Thomas Cowan SHARPE.
Buried: St Kilda Cemetery, Victoria.
Service date: 17 October 1945.
Location: Independent, Compartment A, Grave 92.

My father used to speak of Ballarat a lot and his mother Rachel Mary Mabel English who married Thomas Cowan SHARPE (then divorced him and married a Edward ENGLISH). She died in Melbourne in 1947. Would his death certificate have any info on it, or perhaps a marriage certificate. My dad was born in Williamstown in May 1906. He had 2 brothers Aubrey Reginald and Valentine Horatio Cowan Sharp born in 1898. I haven't been able to get much info on these two boys.
May be Thomas and Elizabeth did have all these children and they could have returned to Scotland. I always thought that Thomas Cowan was born in Motherwell, Scotland.

The marriage certificate for Thomas SHARPE and Rachel MCDONALD in 1897 will give you the vital details such as when and where married, parents names, places of birth, ages when married, and a few other details of interest.

The marriage certificate for John SHARPE and Elizabeth RINKIN in 1854 will not be as informative and will only tell you when and where married and names of witnesses.

The information appearing on the death certificate for Thomas Cowan SHARPE in 1945 depends on how well the informant knew Thomas. It may name his wife and children and give his status at time of death.

Keep these details handy as they may be the deaths for the parents of Thomas Cowan SHARPE.

Name: John SHARPE.
Died: 1904 Ballarat East, Victoria.
Age: 76 years.
Father: Named as James SHARP.
Mother: Named as Margaret CARMICHAEL.

Name: Elizabeth SHARPE.
Died: 1905 Ballarat East, Victoria.
Age: 73 years.
Father: Named as Andrew RANKIN.
Mother: Named as Janet ALLEN.

The above mentioned death Of John Sharpe is correct one;
John Sharped (secretary) died 10th December 1904, Eureka Street Ballarat East. His Will states that he he came to Ballarat in 1854.
Children mentioned
James Sharpe, Alfred Sharp, John Alexander Sharpe, Andrew Hawthorn Sharpe, Thomas Cowan Sharpe, Elizabeth Robertson, Cecilia? Jean?
Can be viewed online at PRO-VIC Wills/probate

Children of John & Elizabeth Sharpe
Cecilia Carmichael Thorton
William Sharpe
Alfred Sharpe
Jean Elizabeth Robertson
Thomas Cowan Sharpe
Andrew Hawthorne Sharpe
John Alexander Sharpe
James Rankin Sharpe

We seem to be on the right track.
These are the ten children located for John SHARPE and Elizabeth RANKIN.

1.
James Rankin SHARPE.
Born: 1855 Ballarat, Victoria.
Died: 1935 Bairnsdale, Victoria.
Age: 80 years.

2.
John Alexander SHARPE.
Born: 1857 Ballarat, Victoria.
Died: 1915 St Kilda, Victoria.
Age: 58 years.

3.
Andrew Rankin SHARPE.
Born: 1858 Ballarat, Victoria.
Died: 1859 not recorded, Victoria.
Age: 10 months.

4.
Andrew Hawthorn SHARPE.
Born: 1859 Ballarat, Victoria.
Died: 1937 Ascot Vale, Victoria.
Age: 77 years.

5.
Janet Allen SHARPE.
Born: 1861 Ballarat, Victoria.
Died: 1862 not recorded, Victoria.
Age: 01 year.

6.
Elizabeth Janet SHARPE.
Born: 1862 Ballarat, Victoria.
Died: 1862 not recorded, Victoria.
Age: 05 weeks.

7.
Elizabeth Jane SHARPE.
Born: 1867 Ballarat, Victoria.
Died: -

8.
William Michael Malcolm SHARPE. **
Born: 1869 Ballarat, Victoria.
Died: 1941 Bairnsdale, Victoria.
Age: 73 years.

9.
Alfred Augustus Duncan SHARPE. **
Born: 1869 Ballarat, Victoria.
Died: 1947 Parkville, Victoria.
Age: 77 years.

10.
Cecilia SHARPE.
Born: 1872 Ballarat, Victoria.
Died: -

** William and Alfred were twins.

No birth located for Thomas Cowan SHARPE in Victoria so it appears the family must have returned to Scotland and returned to Australia after Thomas was born.

DEATH OF MR. JOHN SHARPE.
A NOTABLE CAREER.
Ballarat, llth December.
Mr John Sharpe, secretary of the Federal Amalgamated Mine Managers' Association,
died on Saturday in his 80th year from paralysis. He came to Ballarat in 1852 and
was an original shareholder in the Jeweller's Shop at Canadian, when it yielded so fabulously. Later he was engineer to many claims, and in 1885, when the Mining Mana-
gers' Association was formed, he was appointed secretary, and organised it so well
that it has now upwards of 300 members throughout Australia. Mr. Sharpe personally knew every Minister of Mines from the time of the institution of responsible government here, and was a member of the Gold Commission, ventilation, and. many other departmental boards. He had visited every mining field of note in the Commonwealth mostly two or three times, and only lately he was asked to again visit Zeehan and Coolgardie. He was a tall man, of magnificent physique, and until stricken by paralysis last Wednesday, had never known a day's illness.
12th December 1904 Bendigo Advertiser p.8

Mrs. Elizabeth Sharp, relict of the late John Sharp, secretary of the Amalgamated Mining Managers' Association,Ballarat, was found dead on Saturday in an armchair at her son-in-law's residence. Deceased, who was 73 years of age, had been attended by a medical man for heart disease.
14th August 1905 Geelong Advertiser p.2

Will at Pro-vic.gov.au
Elizabeth W. Sharped Died 12th August 1905 Ballarat

Hello, I wonder if you could find out about Thomas Cowan and Rachel McDonald's son Aubrey Reginald Sharpe who seems to have disappeared. The last my uncle saw him was during 2nd world war or just after when he came and asked for 20 pounds and they didn't see him again. He was evidently on a ship either smuggling people. I don't know if he was married or how he died or where he died.

The other one I cannot find is Minnie Elizabeth SHARPE who was married to Valentine Horatio Cowan Sharpe. I believe they married and had a son. The last info I have on Minnie (Min) is when her last address was at 12 Albert St, Seacliffe Park Adelaide. I have no information re their son or even if this is correct.

In 1949 Valentine and Minnie Sharpe were residing at Glostermin Private Hotel, Hamilton Road, Hamilton, Queensland. Valentine's occupation is Coxswain

Valentine was in the Navy;
Born 12th March 1898 Camberwell, Victoria
Service Number 6026

It appears that Valentine died 28th? April 1954 (from service record) and has a War Grave

Thomas Cowan Sharpe had a previous marriage to Rose Miller 1890, Victoria reg#2537

Rose died in 1892 buried with daughter Cecilia Rose Sharpe died 1891 (both died within a short time of each other)

Thank you so much. Great info and much appreciated.

Gordon House Melbourne was an accommodation house for homeless men.

Hi, who lived here - was it Thomas Cowan Sharpe?