Sharp, John

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: SHAR.J038

Notes:

NOTES FROM STEPHEN GREGORY "STEVE" LUKE (1947-2002):
The earliest mention of John is in 1624 when he was left 2 pounds in a will. ( about 10 months pay)

At this time there were a few Catholics in England, many Presbyterians and Episcopalians, and many who belonged to smaller protestant sects collectively known as the independents. John belonged to one of the more extreme independant sects. I In 1641 Charles, who was King of 2 separate nations England and Scotland raised an army to put down an Irish rebellion. The English Parliament also raised an army , and in 1642 the two armies began to fight each other. This was not a religious war , but all Catholics joined the Royalists and all extreme independents joined the Parliamentarians. Soon the Scottish Parliament also raised an army to fight the King.

John joined the Parliament army and throughout the war hie home county was under Royalist occupation. Armies at this time consisted of artillery , armored cavalry, musketeers, and pikemen. The latter were armored and carried a 16 ft. spear and fought in squares that resembled hedgehogs. Musketeers took 60 seconds to reload and would do this after running inside a pike square. Most battles were decided by push of pike, ie. squares charging each other.

In 1646 the King surrendered to the Scots who promptly traded him to the English Parliament on condition he be treated well. John would have returned home at this time.

In 1648 the King wrote the Scottish Parliament that he was not being treated well, whereupon the Scots invaded England, where they were joined by the English Royalists and many Presbyterians. John joined The New Model Army of Parliament led by Oliver Cromwell, and they defeated all of the above at Preston in 1648.

To prevent him writing any more letters Cromwell and the extreme independants beheaded him. This caused the Scots , English Royalists and English Parliamentarians to declare war on Cromwell and his supporters. Over the next two years The New Model Army including John and his son Anthony defeated all of the above.

In 1652 John and Anthony accompanied Cromwell to Ireland where they defeated all comers, being particularly vicious with Irish Catholics, massacring entire communities.

In 1653 John and his son settled down in Cork, a city which had been reduced to 3000 Irish Catholics whom the conquerors treated as virtual slaves