Dixon Taylor Sharper was born in South Shields in September, 1825, and appears to have moved to West Hartlepool sometime in the early 1850s. He is known to have resided in Brunswick Street, Stranton and also in Victoria Terrace, both in West Hartlepool.

With his son (of the same name), Dixon Sharper established himself as a successful businessman, owning a number of small sailing ships and a sailmaking firm. All of the vessels in his fleet were pre-owned, with very few being re-registered at Hartlepool; unfortunately, many came to grief under their ownership.

Dixon Taylor Sharper senior died in Doncaster on March 18th, 1895 and the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail ran the following obituary: "We regret to announce the death, which took place this morning, at Doncaster, of Mr. Dixon T. Sharper, senior, late of West Hartlepool. About forty years ago Mr. Sharper came to West Hartlepool from Shields, and for some time was manager to a sailmaker at the docks. He subsequently started in business on his own account, and up to within four years ago his figure was well-known in West Hartlepool. Between three and four years ago he transferred his business to his son, Mr. Dixon T. Sharper, jun., and retired to Doncaster, where he has since resided.

Both in his business and social relations he was held in high esteem, and the news of his death was received with regret on all hands. The deceased gentleman was for a considerable time a regular attender at Lynn-street Chapel. He was married twice, and leaves three daughters and two sons. The daughters are Mrs. Stephen Furness, Mrs. Mann [Elizabeth, second daughter, to Thomas W. Mann, at St. James’ Church, August 12^th, 1880], and Mrs. Guthe.

During the whole of the past winter Mr. Sharper, who was about seventy years of age, has been in ill-health, being very much troubled with bronchitis. The cause of death, we understand, was directly attributable to influenza. All his children were present when the deceased passed away. The funeral will take place at West Hartlepool Cemetery on Friday noon."

By no means a complete history, the following information has been compiled, largely from local newspapers, and sheds a least a little light on his life and that of his family:

Durham County Advertiser, November 30^th, 1849:
Deaths: 24^th, in Shadwell Street, [South Shields], Andrew Allen [aged 4 months], infant son of Mr. Dixon Taylor Sharper, mariner.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, March 5^th, 1879: "LIQUIDATIONS ARRANGEMENT. Dixon Taylor Sharper, West Hartlepool, sailmaker, rope and canvas merchant, etc. First meeting at the office of Mr. Ralph Bell, solicitor, West Hartlepool, on the 20^th inst., at three p.m." A second meeting is recorded as taking place on April 23rd.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, January 19^th, 1886:
THE WRECK OF THE SYREN. The Syren, of Hartlepool, from London for Goole, in ballast (reported in yesterday's Mail), struck on Cross Sand, off Yarmouth, yesterday morning, and became total wreck. Her crew of six succeeded in reaching the Cockle lightship, and were subsequently landed at Yarmouth by the Caistor lifeboat. The Syren,a  schooner of 142 tons, was built in 1857, in Prince Edward's Island, and was owned Mr. Dixon T. Sharper, West Hartlepool.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, December 2^nd, 1887:
LEGAL NOTICES: I, JOHN PAYNE, of North Caroline Street, West Hartlepool, in the County of Durham, Master Mariner, having made public slanderous statements touching the reputation of Mr. DIXON TAYLOR SHARPER, of the Docks, West Hartlepool, Shipowner, by calling him Rogue and Swindler, and using other slanderous words calculated to affect and injure reputation and business, do hereby express my sorrow and regret, and APOLOGISE to the said Dixon Taylor Sharper for having made such statements, and freely retract the same.
And I further say that I had no cause to make the said statements, which are untrue in substance and fact.
And I do hereby agree pay all Costs occasioned my action, and desire that this Apology be made as   public as the statements were made by me.
JOHN PAYNE. Witness : Herbert W. Bell, Solicitor, West Hartlepool.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, November 19^th, 1897:
TOWER-STREET CHURCH. Last night, in connection with the Ladies’ Working Party, a tea and concert was held in the Sunday School. The tea was given by Messrs. Dixon Sharper [junior], and Weatherall, and the tea urns presided over by Messrs. Dixon Sharper, J. W. Brown, J. J. I. Smyth, and H. Weatherall, members of the congregation. After tea a very successful concert was held, the Rev. W. Heath occupying the chair. The programme was contributed to by the Misses Thurlby, Hewitt, Warr, Lillie Langley, Lillie Jackson, Atkins, Mrs. Langley and Mrs. Goodwin, and Messrs. A. Warr, J. J. I. Smyth, F. Makin, Griffiths, W. Allen, and H. Hunter.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, June 29^th, 1899:
“A SHIPPING DEAL . LEE AND WILSON v SHARPER AND FORD. “FOUR DISCORDANT ELEMENTS." [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE MAIL.”] London, Wednesday Afternoon. To-day, in the Admiralty Division of the High Court, Mr Justice Bucknill had before him the action by Thomas Wright Lee and J. Wilson against Dixon Taylor Sharper [junior], and Chas. Henry Ford. The plaintiffs sought to restrain the defendants from despatching the sailing coasters, the Lizzie and Edith and the Britannia, now lying at West Hartlepool, to sea.
Mr F. Laing, Q.C., and Mr. Bulloch appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. Dawson Miller was for the defendants.

Mr JOHN WILSON, examined by Mr Bulloch, who appeared with Mr Laing, said he had known Mr. Sharper for some time, and had been interested in other vessels managed by that gentleman. With regard to the Lizzie and Edith, he heard that that vessel, which was then sailing under another name, was for sale. He went down with Mr. Sharper to the vessel, and was there introduced to Mr. Ford as the likely purchaser of a quarter of the shares. All his conversation with regard to the business was with Mr. Sharper. Mr. Sharper said that the shares would be issued at the cost price £600, and that witness’s share would be £150. Witness paid £150 as his share. When the first account was delivered he noticed that he was charged £5 on account of “over cost." Mr. Sharper explained to him that the vessel had cost more than was expected, and that £5 would be deducted from each account until witness had paid his share of the overcost. He noticed £5 on several accounts. With regard to the Britannia, Mr. Sharper told witness that the vessel was for sale, and that he could have a quarter of the shares in her. He said she cost £400. Witness paid £100 by cheque to Mr. Ford, who, Mr. Sharper informed him, had purchased the vessel. Afterwards witness found that the vessel cost £350, and that £5O was put down in the accounts for shares. He did not know the vessel was repaired.

In cross-examination by Mr. Miller, witness said he complained of the overcharges that he had been charged more than be complained of the overcharges. He meant by overcharges that he had been charged more than be agreed to pay. He understood from Mr. Sharper that he was to pay a quarter of what the vessels would cost after they had been repaired - that he was to pay what Mr. Sharper himself paid. He thought that the Britannia belonged to Mr. Sharper, or he would not have taken a quarter in her. He knew that Mr. Ford had paid the money for her. When he was told he could have a quarter of the vessel on the basis of £400, he thought £400 had been paid for her hull.
Then do you mean to suggest that Mr. Sharper told you a deliberate falsehood with regard to the cost of the Britannia?— Yes.
Then if you suggest fraud why have asked have the contracts set aside?
Mr. LAING : We do not wish to set the contracts aside.
Mr. MILLER : A few weeks ago did you say to Mr. Sharper that you had nothing to complain of, and that you were very sorry the action was brought ?
Mr. WILSON : I said I was very sorry the action had been brought, and I would have done anything to avoid it.
Mr. MILLER: Did you not say you were willing to continue with Mr. Sharper as a co-owner if Mr. Lee could be bought out? —Yes.
Mr. MILLER: Although you knew, as you say, he had been guilty misrepresentation and fraud ? —Yes. I should have liked to have avoided the action. I should have tried to recover the overcharges in another way.

THE JUDGE URGES A SETTLEMENT. At this point the witness utterly broke down. Mr. Justice BUCKNILL asked if they could not put an end to this miserable litigation. It would only end in their spending all their money over it. Mr. MILLER said he and his friend, Mr. Laing, had done his best to come to some arrangement, but had failed.
Mr. Justice BUCKNILL : Do try before to-morrow morning. It is pity to see Mr. Wilson, who is evidently friendly towards Mr. Sharper, in this plight. The defendants are men of common sense and men of the world, and they ought to be able to settle this miserable litigation. It is quite possible that there is some explanation of the matter without going so far as alleging fraud. Settle it before to-morrow morning. I give no opinion as to the merits of the case whatever. The Court then rose for the day.”

Dixon Taylor Sharper junior, (born in c1848), died in 1913. His obituary appeared in the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer on April 17^th, 1913: “Mr. Dixon Taylor Sharper, an uncle of Mr. Stephen Furness, M.P. and head of a firm of sailing ship owners and sailmakers, died at West Hartlepool yesterday. Mr. Sharper, who was 58 years of age, was a Conservative and in religion a Congregationalist. He was a great lover music and an ardent supporter of local musical organisations of the district.”
A later issue gave details of his Will: Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, July 10^th, 1913: RECENT WILLS. Mr. Dixon Taylor Sharper. Clifton Avenue. West Hartlepool, head of the firm of Sharper, Robinson, and Co., shipowners, ... etc. £7,349.

The company name at least seems to have llived on, as an advert appeared in the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail on June 27^th, 1923, for "Sharper & Robinson Ltd., Stranton Tarpaulin and Tent Factory."