Mystery of William Sharp

[Kappalyn]

I have been searching for information about my GGG grandfather William Sharp for a very long time. He was born in Elswick Northumberland in 1795 and became a ship master then ship owner in Liverpool but lived Holt House Holt Hill in 1841 then Clifton Park in 1851.  My research shows he was the developer of Clifton Park to the design of Walter Scott. But there is so little information about him...rarely is he mentioned as instrumental to the Clifton Park development and yet I would think that was rather important and rarely is he mentioned in the local newspapers yet he must have been well known and wealthy. He went bankrupt in 1852 yet still continued to trade until 1857, then disappears without a trace.  I am looking for background/information regarding his work in Clifton park.  Also can anyone tell me about bankruptcy in the 1850s. If he was declared bankrupt in 1852, why could he continue to trade.  in 1858 a dividend was declared relating to the bankruptcy.  He also had a couple of ships that were sold in 1858.  Would it have been possible for him to sail off into the unknown to escape the bankruptcy ramifications?
Margaret

[BumbleB]

Have you tried contacting the Conservation Areas Wirral organisation -

http://www.cawirral.co.uk/v1/clifton-park/

[BumbleB]

1861 and 1871 show Mary as a widow.

[medpat]

Possible death, age slightly different but difficult to know which is correct 1793 or 95

SHARP, WILLIAM       67 
GRO Reference: 1860  D Quarter in LIVERPOOL  Volume 08B  Page 97

edit - a bookkeeper who committed suicide no reference to a wife. Lodging at 14 Moore Place so doesn't look like him unless he separated from wife and took up bookkeeping after bankruptcy.
 

[hanes teulu]

The Liverpool newspapers, 31 Oct/1 Nov 1860 carry reports/coroner's inquest (brief) of the suicide of a William Sharp, age 67.

[BumbleB]

William Sharp, who "jumped" in the Mersey, was a Book-keeper, lodging at 14 Moor Place.

[medpat]

also https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=405694.0

[medpat]

and this and a link on this thread gives his death

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=358028.0

Only Liverpool death is wayout for DOB - according to previous thread death was 1856

   SHARP, WILLIAM       47 
GRO Reference: 1856  J Quarter in LIVERPOOL  Volume 08B  Page 22

?

[Kappalyn]

Thanks for the replies. The link for William was me searching some years ago.  Unfortunately that death was not correct.  He just disappeared without trace.  His remaining ships were sold in 1858 and he no longer appears in  trade publication, there seems to be no will.  But in 1861 according to the census he is deceased.  But I wondered if he sailed away somewhere to escape the bankruptcy.  His wife was definitely not left destitute. And I don't understand why there is so little mention of him in the newspapers.  He had a large art collection, mixed with the upper classes, owned a significant amount of property.  But I am stumped.