Sharman, Mary Anne (nee Fearn) (1839-1915)

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Transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by S.B.

The Staveley Circuit, and Clowne church in particular, sustained a serious loss on July 19th, 1915, when Mrs. Sharman, wife of Rev. W. Sharman, passed to the Homeland. 

She was born at Mugginton, near Derby, seventy-five years ago, and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Fearn, both of whom were loyal Primitive Methodists. Early in life she came under the influence of the ministry of Rev. J. Barfoot in the Belper Circuit, where she became a devoted member of our Church. 

For nearly half a century she loyally supported her husband in his work, and proved herself an ideal minister’s wife. Her goodness was transparent, and her devotion to her Saviour and Lord was deep and unswerving. 

She had exceptional literary gifts, and published a book of poems under the title of “Fern Fronda.” Some years ago she achieved much local fame by her poem on the Audley Pit disaster. 

The funeral service in our Clowne Church on July 22nd was conducted by Rev. S. Bates, who also led a memorial service on August 8th.

Family

Mary was born in late 1839 at Mugginton, near Derby, Derbyshire, to parents Edmund, a farmer, and Ann.

The 1861 census return describes Mary as a farmer’s daughter.

She married William Sharman (1842-1921) in the summer of 1867 at Mugginton, Derbyshire. Census returns identify four children.

• William Edwin (1868-1928) – a joiner/builder
• Edmund Ernest (1871-1874)
• Francis Beeston (1873-1953) – a clothier
• Charles Robert (1875-1938) – a clothier

Mary died on 19 July 1915 at Clowne, Derbyshire.

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1915/918

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers