Hi Nicola! I know this is a connection! Your Elizabeth Sharp and James Vannan Sr. are my Great Grandparents!
Their children were Isabella Jane, known as Bella; James Sharp and Daniel Sharp Vannan.
Daniel was a minister, so I was told long ago. Daniel stayed in Scotland as far as I ever knew. James was an iron worker in the steel mills of Youngstown, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan. He immagrated to the USA in 1910.(He was my Grandpa.) His co-workers knew him as "Scotty" Vannan. Bella...I know nothing about. I believe she either remained in Glasgow, Scotland, or went to Canada, as did other family members. I have letters that she wrote to my grandparents. (Sarah Jane and James Sharp Vannan)
In my fathers family Bible, James Vannan is entered as James Vannan Sr. (My dad was named after him as James Vannan Jr....neither having a middle name.) James Vannan Sr. is entered in our bible with a date of death Aug 19 1918. Elizabeth Sharp, 1938. I have a picture of her that my Grandpa brought with him to the USA. It looks to have been taken at a stone wall of some sort and I wonder if it were not a castle ruin.
My James Sharp Vannan was only married once to Sarah Jane Phillips (Burns lineage, as noted in one of my previous entries.) These are my paternal grandparents.
The children of James Sharp and Sarah Jane Vannan were as follows:
Sarah Jane Vannan, known as Sadie,born Sept. 23, 1907, Glasgow, Scotland. Deceased, Youngstown, Ohio in 198?. (will have to look that up)
James Vannan Jr, known as Jim, born Aug. 2, 1911 deceased July 18. 1966, Youngstown, Ohio USA. (My father)
Elizabeth Sharp Vannan known as Betty,born Dec. 9, 1915, Detroit, Michigan, USA. Deceased Oct 15,2003 in Youngstown, Ohio. Aunt Betty was almost 15 pounds at birth! She had told me it was front page news in Detroit. I need to look into getting a copy if available.
Sadie was named after her mother. James named after his paternal Grandfather. Betty named after her paternal Grandmother.
To my knowledge, there was no other Helen Vannan, other than my mother. I never heard mention of a Helen that was a sibling. The only names I heard were Bella, James and Daniel.
Helen Louise Meyers (May 25, 1926-Feb. 18, 1998, Youngstown, Ohio USA, married James Vannan Jr.in Youngstown, Ohio USA on July 3, 1948. Their children were James Thomas Vannan, born March 29, 1949, is living in North Carolina USA. Margaret Louise Vannan, born Aug. 22, 1951, living in Coitsville, Ohio USA. That is my brother and myself.
This certainly sounds like a connection! That would make us cousins??
Somewhere in a trunk, I have pictures and old letters. The family bible rests in my dining room, as it did in Grandma Vannans' house.
When my mom had the bible, she stored it in her attic, where it was almost lost in a lightening strike fire. I will have to dig that other stuff out again! I have not attempted any ancestral searches in about 5 years.
Anxious to hear more from you.
Bless you!
Peggy Vannan Welsh