John "W" Sharp
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Ann Maria Easter Bailey Sharp Evans
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Ann Evans Sainsbury
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Mary Sainsbury Visser
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Steven Mathew Visser
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Me

John W. Sharp was born on 22nd day of July, 1836 in the town of Northhampton, Northamptonshire, England. he was the sixth child of twelve children born to George and Esther Richards Sharp. He was christened John Sharp, but after coming to Utah he took the initial "W" to distinguish him from other John Sharps in the city. His father was a shoemaker, and John learned the trade of boot-fitter, which consisted of preparing and fitting the tops of the shoes to the soles.
He was with his mother one day when she saw a placard announcing a course of lectures to be delivered by some Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His mother decided to attend the lectures and took John along with her. His mother joined the church in 1850, as did his older brother Charles. Two years later, at the age of sixteen, John became a member of the church. He was baptized at Northampton, by Elder Samuel Parks. He was ordained a deacon in February of 1855, and ordained an Elder on May 25, 1856 under the hands of Elder James Lavender and William Bayliss.
When he was nineteen years old, he was called to labor as a traveling Elder in the Bedfordshire Conference, under the presidency of William Bayliss. He continued this assignment until January 1, 1858, when he was appointed to labor and travel in the Norwich Conference. He worked there under the direction of Elders Edwin Scott and William Jeffries until June 20, 1859. He was then sent to New Castle-Upon-Tyne pastorate to travel under the presidency of Thomas Wallace and Joseph Stanford. He labored in the Durham, New Castle-Upon_Tyne, and Carlisle conference until April, 1861 when he was released to immigrate to Utah. During the almost six years spent as a missionary, he reported that he "met with opposition and was often mobbed."