So after many unsuccessful guesses I’ve been examining other peoples attempts to identify the facts and see which ones are closest. There are 2 that stick out. One where Danny asked if it was James Pettitt (amongst other answers) and you said “the answer was in there somewhere”. Then Phil Dean asked a question picking up on Danny’s question saying out of all his guesses James Petit was the one that fitted the bill the most. Your answer to his question was “Keep trying, so close”.
Now the person they nominated was in fact a famous smuggler nicknamed Jevington Jig however the spelling of his surname was not Pettitt or Petit as they put it, but in fact Pettit. You have said in answer to other previous guesses that people have been very close maybe 90% there and they just need to add one word. Well maybe all we needed was the correct spelling.
So Mr Cornwell is Sharpe’s father James Pettit AKA Jevington Jig or am I being petty? (pun very much intended).
Edward Taberner