Ancestor Conversion Stories: James Robertson Sharp, Sr.and Martha Arminta Griffith Sharp

James and Martha are the great grand-parents of my Grandma Gregory (Elizabeth Sharp Gregory). This ancestor story also came from the FamilySearch web site. It was submitted to the site a couple of years ago by Michelle Holt.

James Robertson Sharp

1809-1863

Compiled by a 4th great granddaughter, Michelle Kendall Holt Roy Utah, April 2012

James Robertson Sharp was born on 20 June 1809 in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee. He died 22 May 1863 in Kaysville, Davis, Utah. His parents were James Deloss Sharp (b. 1783) and Mary Baldwin (b. 1785). He married Martha Arminta Griffith on 5 March 1835 in Madison County, Illinois. They were the parents of 14 children:

(1) John Martin Sharp, b. 8 December 1835 in Upper Alton, Madison, Illinois, d. 7 March 1916.
(2) Mary Sharp, b. 10 March 1837 in Upper Alton, Madison, Illinois, d. 5 October 1909.
(3) William Sharp, b. 17 November 1838 in Upper Alton, Madison, Illinois, d. 13 August 1839 in Illinois.
(4) Joseph Smith Sharp, b. 17 July 1840 in Bellevue, Calhoun, Illinois, d. 25 November 1899 in Egin, Fremont, Idaho.
(5) Sarah Emma Sharp, b. 23 April 1842 in Bellview, Calhoun, Illinois, d. 23 October 1899.
(6) James Robertson Sharp, Jr., b. 13 April 1844 in Bernadotte, Fulton, Illinois, d. 15 July 1901 in Blackfoot, Bingham, Idaho.
(7) George Washington Sharp, b. 1 April 1846 in Council Bluffs, Fulton, Illinois, d. 11 March 1900 in Soda Springs, Bannock, Idaho.
(8) Nancy Jane Sharp, b. 15 June 1848 in Lewiston, Fulton, Illinois, d. 11 March 1900 in Thatcher, Franklin, Idaho.
(9) Brigham Young Sharp, b. 24 March 1850 in Upper Alton, Madison, Illinois, d. 4 January 1938 in Chici, Buttle, California.
(10) Armintha Elizabeth Sharp, b. 20 January 1852 in Belleview, Calhoun, Illinois, d. 29 March 1888.
(11) Rhoda Rowantha Josephine Sharp, b. 6 October 1853 in Calhoun, Illinois, d. 7 October 1854.
(12) Jefferson Charles Sharp, b. 4 October 1855 in Mills, Iowa, d. 14 January 1881.
(13) Orson Pratt Sharp, b. 16 November 1857 in Kaysville, Davis, Utah, d. 1881.
(14) Heber Chase Kimball Sharp, b. 7 May 1862 in Kaysville, Davis, Utah, d. 27 November 1939 in Riverside, Riverside, California.

I found no accounts of the life of James Robertson Sharp as a young boy. The earliest information comes from a journal written by him where he recounts living in Davidson County, Tennessee for the 16 years following his birth, and then moving to Hickson County, Tennessee. His personal record indicates he immigrated to Mason County, Illinois in 1826.

James was a Methodist Minister and made his beginnings as such in Madison County, Illinois. He was what was known as a circuit rider. “Circuit Rider” was a term used to describe clergy in the Methodist
Episcopal Church (and other similar denominations) who travelled around the surrounding territories to organize and minister to their congregations. The pastor was responsible to visit, on a regular basis; those congregations on his circuit, conduct worship services and attend to the needs of the members. He also had responsibility to possibly establish new churches as he travelled the area. It was common for these preachers to ride on horseback because of the distance between churches. Another name for them was saddlebag preachers. Many circuits were so large it would take 5-6 weeks to cover them.

When James was on one of his circuit trips he attended a meeting where the Prophet Joseph Smith spoke. He later heard of another meeting where the Prophet was to address the congregation and told his wife he was going to attend and convert the young Prophet to the Methodist Church. Well, the roles were reversed. Instead of Joseph Smith being converted to the Methodist faith, James was converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He says in his journal, “Became a saint June 20, 1839.” He was a faithful and active member of the Church, baptizing many and preaching the gospel wherever he went. In his journal he details many of the places he travelled and names some of those he baptized. He continued to follow the pattern from his circuit riding days traveling extensively and organizing branches of the Church in some of the areas he visited. He recounts preaching in a place called Godspains where he organized a branch of sixteen members.

An interesting event happened in James life in April 1843. He was present at the excavation of 6 brass plates, known as the Kinderhook Plates, unearthed from a mound on property owned by one Robert Wiley, near the town of Kinderhook. Kinderhook is about fifty-five miles south of Nauvoo in Illinois. A statement signed by W.P. Harris, M.D., and published in the Times and Seasons says: “…a bundle was found that consisted of six plates of brass, of a bell shape, each having a hole near the small end, and a ring through them all, and clasped with two clasps, the ring and clasps appeared to be of iron very much oxidated, the plates appeared first to be copper and had the appearance of being covered with characters. It was agreed by the company that I should cleanse the plates: accordingly I took them to my house, washed them with soap and water, and a woolen cloth; but finding them not yet cleansed I treated them with dilute sulphuric acid which made them perfectly clean, on which it appeared that they were completely covered with hieroglyphics that none as yet have been able to read.” James and others signed a statement published in the same article. I quote it here, “We, the citizens of Kinderhook, whose names are annexed, do certify and declare that on the 23rd of April, 1843, while excavating a large mound in this vicinity, Mr. R. Wiley took from said mound six brass plates of a bell shape, covered with ancient characters. Said plates were very much oxydated. The bands and rings on said plates mouldered into dust on a slight pressure. ROBERT WILEY, W. LONGNECKER, GEO. DECKENSON, FAYETTE GRUBB, W. FUGATE, W.P. HARRIS, J.R. SHARP, G.W.F. WARD, IRA S. CURTIS, (From the Quincy Whig.)”

These plates created a great public curiosity in the area. Articles were published in the Times and Seasons and the Nauvoo Neighbor published a handbill which contained a reprint of the Times and Seasons article and also added facsimiles of the six plates – all twelve sides. Though there was talk of Joseph Smith making a translation of the plates, no such translation was made. The plates were later found to be a hoax. In 1855 W.P. Harris wrote a letter saying that he had talked with a blacksmith in Kinderhook named Bridge Whitton who said that he had cut and prepared the plates and that he (Bridge Whitton), with Robert Wiley, had engraved them. They then treated them with nitric acid and buried them the night before they were found. Wilbur Fugate also admitted to participating in the hoax and stated that none of the others who signed the certificate published in the Times and Seasons knew of the secret, except himself, Robert Wiley and Bridge Whitton.

Over the years there was much controversy regarding the authenticity of these 6 plates. The matter was finally put to rest in 1980 when tests were done on the 1 known remaining plate and they were declared to be fraudulent. A detailed history of the plates can be found in the August 1981 issue of the Ensign magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The article is titled, “Kinderhook Plates Brought to Joseph Smith Appear to Be a Nineteenth-Century Hoax” by Stanley B. Kimball.

One story from James’ journal illustrates the concern he had for his family as related to eternal things. His daughter, Emma, was being courted by a man by the name of F.C. Taft. Mr. Taft pursued Emma and also gained favor with Martha, Emma’s mother. The two wished to marry. James would have none of it. He said he would not suffer his daughter to marry out of the church and that if she did he did not want to be responsible for her salvation in the hereafter. He told them as much and his daughter agreed to be responsible for her own salvation. Later, after pondering the situation, he was blessed with a feeling of comfort concerning the matter and consented to the marriage.

James was said to have had a good home and owned a lot of property. He demonstrated his faith when he sold everything in 1852, at a great loss, to begin the journey west with his family. He and his wife had a great desire to immigrate to Utah with the Saints. They began their journey in September of 1852 but James became ill and they had to stop in Harrison County Missouri. There he remained for the winter. During this time he was asked to preach by two men – Mr. Gfolet and Hannabel Harrison. He wrote,” I preached for both of them to large audiences the first principles of the gospel and not getting another invitation I hereby seal up the testimony in this settlement to all but the honest in heart 11 February 1853. He recounts in his journal that he continued to preach. On November 1, 1853 he started a mission to “preach the gospel to the world”. Some of the places he mentioned are Harrison County, Missouri and Cakall County, Illinois, Brunswich County, St. Louis in the “Honduras”, Calhoun County, Illinois, Glasgo, Jefferson City, Boonville, Brunswick and Brush Creek in Horkens settlement. He stated in his journal – after recounting visits to the above places, “Started home Sunday 2nd with Charles Mullen, got home on Thursday 15th and found my family well.”

In May of 1860 the James Robertson Sharp family prepared to leave their home for the Salt Lake Valley. James states that all of his family accompanied him except Mary – who went in 1861. Two of his children were deceased before this time – William Sharp and Rhoda Rowantha Josephine Sharp. The record of the John Taylor Company (1860) – which is the company the Sharp family travelled in – states the
following as known members of the company: James Robertson Sharp, age 51, Martha Arminta Griffith Sharp, age 40, Joseph Smith Sharp, age 20, Sarah Emma Sharp, age 18, James Robertson Sharp, Jr., age 16, George Washington Sharp, age 14, Brigham Young Sharp, age 10 and Orson Pratt Sharp, age 2. The other six children are not mentioned in the official record of the company.
A narrative about the John Taylor Company (1860) says:

“Called the Iowa Company, this company actually consisted of English and Danish emigrants who had settled temporarily in various places in the United States, but especially in Iowa and Nebraska. The company started from Iowa City, Iowa, on May 24 with 123 emigrants, 23 wagons, 61 oxen, and 32 cows. John Taylor (not the Apostle and future President, but an early settler in Tooele) was company captain. Jens Peter Christensen was his assistant. Christensen had just spent a year presiding over a Danish branch in Alton, Illinois. After crossing Iowa, they left from Florence on July 3. On July 16, they had traveled to just west of Eagle Island, Nebraska Territory and on July 26 they were near Ash Hollow. They arrived in Salt Lake City on September 17 with 16 wagons. There had been one birth and no deaths.”

James reports that he was sick most of the way and lost his span of five mares on the plains. They left many of their belongings (bedding and other things) piled on the banks of the Missouri River because they did not have room to bring everything. He does not give details, but reports in his journal that he didn’t arrive in the Salt Lake Valley until October 4, 1860, this being 2 weeks later than the company in which he and his family traveled.

James and his family settled in the area around what is now Kaysville and Farmington, Utah. However, James died early in the development of Davis County, Utah Territory. In fact, he lived only 2 ½ years after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley. He died in Kaysville, Davis, Utah on 22 May 1863 at the age of 53. It is believed he may have been buried on family property as there is no record of a gravesite for him.

James’ widow, Martha, married a man by the surname of Dwiggins. They moved to Washington. She died in Reardan, Washington 12 April 1905 and is buried in the Spring Creek Cemetery, Reardan, Lincoln County, Washington, USA.

Sources:
1. Ancestral File database, FamilySearch, http://familysearch.org
2. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Microfilm 1306457
3. http://www.findagrave.com, memorial# 57290099
4. James Robertson Sharp, History of James Robertson Sharp written by Elizabeth Bowles, July 1947, http://myweb.cableone.net/klt2000/JamesRSharp.html
5. Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847-1868, John Taylor Company (1860), http://www.lds.org/churchhistory
6. Personal History of James Robertson Sharp, my Great Grandfather, by Oliver Ira Griffith, www.docs.google.com
7. Journal of James Robertson Sharp, Wapello Camp of D.U.P, Bingham County, Idaho
8. Kinderhook Plates Brought to Joseph Smith Appear to Be a Nineteenth-Century Hoax, Ensign August 1981, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, www.lds.org/ensign
9. Text Files of History of the Church, http://www.boap.org/LDS/History/History_of_the_Church/
10. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, www.wikipedia.org
11. http://www.findagrave.com, memorial# 16365146
This history was submitted to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers in April 2012 by Michelle Holt, Weber West Company, Wilson Camp 55.