Thanks for your replies.
I thought there were too many coincidents for such an out of the way destination.
In the Daily Telegraph January 22, 1903 an article recording Mr Wm Thomas SHARP looking back to his time as an Organist at Launceston 1855 - 1875 was quoted as saying ..........
The erection of the Mechanics' Institute provided us with a fine hall, and in it, subsequently, was placed the organ which now stands in the Albert Hall. The instrument was hardly a success at first, but it has since been altered and greatly improved. Mr Robert Sharpe, a namesake of mine, and organist at Trinity Church when I was at St. John's, was organist of the Mechanics', but, he leaving for England, I subsequently occupied the position until my removal from Launceston to Sydney in 1875 ..... end of quote.
The two Launceston examiner clips I already had were noting the arrival of one Robert SHARPE who was credited as arriving on the Red Jacket ex the UK and the Black Swan ex Melbourne. Formerly All Saints Church, Hampshire.
August 2nd, 1859 pages 2 & 3. Then again on October 8, 1859 page 2 noting the arrival of a parcel of music for one Robert SHARPE.
That being the case there was presumably some rivalry between the brothers Robert and William Thomas as, Church Organists, teachers of music and many musical instruments, singing teachers and Choir Masters, plus active with a number of bands. Edit: Op's skip reading again the initials given in print for the Brother were T. H SHARPE and not my assumption W. T. SHARP.
A large number of their concerts, recitals, and fund raisers for improving the community amenities, and Church and Sunday School facilities were reported upon in the Launceston Examiner until reportedly, Robert returned to the UK and W. T. SHARP Jnr., did a stint in NZ via Sydney.
It was while doing research on a pioneer in Napier that I first got side tracked looking into Bankruptcy of W T. SHARP, Organist at the Napier Cathedral. CANDO was able to point out that I jumped to the wrong conclusion assuming that an Australian Wm Thomas SHARP would most likely tie in to the Melbourne SHARP family of West Auckland and Coromandel KAURI TIMBER COMPANY fame which I had delved into on a previous occasion.
Afraid being interested in our early pioneers I easily get side tracked. Renewed interest here when an Australian contacted me because of my earlier post, and started asking after our research findings.
Thanks for your input. More will possibly be learnt when another member of the family, Captain Arthur SHARP'S letters to his sister are supplied by the Victorian National Library. Captaining a ship for the French in the Crimean War, could produce some insightful first hand accounts of that campaign as well. Another side track.
P.S. Have also found Ticket Of Leave for both a William and a Robert SHARP/E in the 1850's plus a Robert SHARP Butcher in Tasmania, so there are some double ups that may, or may not be the same person. Only found one Launceston electoral roll on line and it pre-dates Robert's arrival.
- Alan.
