James Archer Sharp Jr

  General Notes:

The 1850 Federal Census for the Western District of Rockingham County, NC., page 85 records James (46) and Mary (49) [Margaret] Sharp with children John (22), Alexander (18), Calvin (16), Benja F. (14), Sarah J. (9), James M. (7), Joseph T. (3), and Mariah (6/12). Next door is J. A. Sharp Jr. (26) and his family: Mary (23), Samuel D. (5), Mary E. (3), and Fannie E. (6/12). Most family histories do not list this person (J. A. Sharp, Jr.) as a son of our James Archer Sharp, however, he is living next door to our James and while James has real estate valued at $2,500, this J. A. Sharp has real estate with no value, an indication he is living on the older Sharp's farm and is perhaps his son.

The 1860 Federal Census for the Upper Division of Wilkes County, NC., page 118B records James A. (36) and Mary Ann (33) with children Samuel (14), Mary (12), Francis (10), James (8), Jane (6), and Henry (3). Nearby is Anderson (62) and Rebecca (59) Sharp with children Martha (23), Mary Jane (20), Adeline (18), Isabel (16). This could be an indication that James moved to Wilkes Co. with his uncle, Anderson Sharp ... Anderson's brother is James Archer Sharp, Sr.

Official records have James A. Sharp, from Wilkes Co., N.C., enlisted in Co. B, 55th North Carolina Infantry as a private on April 5, 1863 at the age of 32. He was hospitalized on June 4, 1863 at Richmond, VA and to duty returned on June 23, 1863. He became a POW on July 14, 1863 at Falling Waters, MD and confined on July 16, 1863 at Old Capitol Prison, Washington, DC (Estimated day). James was transferred to Point Lookout, MD on August 8, 1863, paroled on March 3, 1864 at Point Lookout, MD and exchanged on 06 March 1864 at City Point, VA. He once again became a POW on March 31, 1865 at Hatcher's Run, VA and again confined at Point Lookout, MD on April 2, 1865. He took the Oath of Allegiance on June 20, 1865 at Point Lookout, MD.

James married Mary Ann. (Mary Ann was born circa 1827.)