Shirleys of Stinsford
Dorset
   
 

17(xiv). Rev. Arthur George Sewallis Shirley - born July 20 1810; MA of Christ Church Oxford; He was the Vicar of Stinsford, Dorset; He died 8 October 1891

REV. ARTHUR SHIRLEY, VICAR 1837-91

"The Shirleys, who claimed to be the country's oldest family, prided themselves on a tradition of widespread public service. Their family tree encompassed figures as varied as the naval officer who killed the native who shot Captain Cook, and Walter Waddington, the English Prime Minister of France. Just as there had been a Shirley at Agincourt, and a Shirley at Shrewsbury who is mentioned by Shakespeare, the new vicar's brothers served with distinction in the Peninsula, at Waterloo and in the Crimean campaign.

Rev Shirley had been an undergraduate of Oxford in the early days of the Oxford or Tractarian movement, which sought to reform the ideas, beliefs and practical effectiveness of the church of England in accordance with the High Church ideas. Undeterred by the fact that Dorset was one of the most Low Church areas in England, Shirley sought to introduce to Stinsford the newest High Church practice.

The fabric and music Shirley altered completely. In a sweeping restoration in the early 1840's, he removed the chancel pews, and replaced the string choir with a barrel organ. A susbsequent restoration, in 1868, involved the removal of the church's remaining box pews. These changes, though in strict conformity with the best High Church practice at the time, were greatly to the distaste of the Hardy family, and little though Hardy the writer could have known of the early alterations first hand, he nonetheless never forgave Shirley for them." - Taken from a booklet available in the church parish.

married 1) Georgiana Emily Cookson on 24 August 1841 at Sherborne Minster, Dorset, daughter of Rev William Cookson. She died on 8 July 1852 and buried at Stinsford Dorset

married 2) Mary Beadon Turner on 3 September 1853 at Swanage, Dorset, daughter of Edward Turner, esq. of Sherborne, Dorset. She was the widow of Dr Jackson MD of Dorchester; She died 3 April 1877.

married 3) Francesca Vincenzia Edith Money in 1878, daughter of Captain John Ernle Money.

children:

18(i). Sewallis Shirley - born Aug 11 1842 at Stinsford Dorset; He died 3 days later

18(ii). Sewallis Shirley - born June 18 1843 at Stinsford Dorset; He died 27 November 1898, age 55

married Christiana Williams on 28 March 1878, daughter of Rev. Henry Blackstone Williams.

no children

18(iii). Leiut. Robert Shirley - born Nov 12 1844 at Stinsford Dorset; 2nd Queen's Royal Regiment; He died at Chatham on 21 April 1869, age about 25; Buried at Stinsford Dorset.

4 February 1881, Administration of the Personal Estate of Robert Shirley late a Lieutenant in the 2nd Queen's Regiment of Foot a Bacbelor who died 21 April 1869 at Chatham in the County of Kent was granted at the Principal Registry to the Reverend Arthur George Sewallis Shirley of Stinsford in the County of Dorset Clerk the Father and Next of Kin. L1500

18(iv). Francis John Shirley - born June 23 1847 at Stinsford Dorset. Age 3 in mother's 1851 census. Unmarried bank clerk at the Bank of England, living at Kensington MDX in 1871 census. Living with mother-in-law Sarah Saunders in Hove Sussex in 1891 (widower) and 1901 census. He was enumerated at Hove Sussex in 1911, widower, Retired Bank Clerk, unpensioned. His will was probated in 1931, residence Southwick Sussex. (note: another Francis John Shirley was chr at Dorchester about the same time, so careful tracing)

(see biography of Francis John Shirley at bottom of page)

married Catherine May Warne Greaves (Her mother was Sarah, later Saunders)

children:

19(i). Frances Sara May Shirley born 1870 at Brighton Sussex, age 23 living in grandmother Sarah Saunders household in 1901 census, living with her widowed father in 1911 census. She was the executor of her father's estate in 1931, spinster

18(v). Mary Selina Shirley - born Dec 7 1848 at Stinsford Dorset

18(vi). Capt. Arthur Horatio Shirley - born June 25 1854; Served in the Royal Navy, held the office of Justice of the Peace for Devon; He died 30 November 1933

married Katherine Shirley on 14 November 1899, daughter of Evelyn Philip Shirley of Ettington

18(vii). George Shirley - born July 17 1855

18(viii). Rev. William Shirley - born Aug 23 1856; M.A. Keble College, Oxford University; He was rector of Bursledon Hampshire between 1908 and 1920; He died 1 March 1949, age 92.

married Alice Louisa Pryor on 22 April 1884, daughter of Rev Frederick Bell Pryor; She died 8 September 1929.

children:

19(i). Brigadier Sewallis Robert Shirley, esq. born 31 January 1885; Educated at Winchester College and Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He fought in the Mohmand Expedition in 1908. Fought in WWI. Decorated with the Military Cross; Colonel, Temporary Brigadier India Army, Regional Officer for Civil Devence 1940-41, Royal Navy Minewatching Service in 1951; He died 8 November 1969, age 84

married 1) Hilda Grace Young in 1917, daugher of Henry Gavin Young, late India Police (divorced)

married 2) Edna Blodwen Laking on 31 July 1940, daughter of Albert William Laking

children:

20(i). Eileen Diana Shirley born 11 September 1922

20(ii). Anne Devereux Shirley born 21 August 1943; She died 1 July 1983.

19(ii). Geoffry Stanhope Shirley, gent. born 19 July 1888; He served as conservator in the Indian Forest Dept. Burma; He died 12 March 1960, age 71 unmarried.

19(iii). Lieut. Ralph Devereux Shirley, esq. born 19 August 1889 at Fareham Hampshire; late rifle brigade. He was an architect residing at 6 Fitzroy Sq, London in 1933 (bankrupt).

married Marie Louise Jouve' in 1926, daughter of M. Jouve' of Calais

 

This branch of the Shirleys of Ettington died out in the male line

 


Grave of Rev. Arthur Shirley and family members

STINSFORD CHURCH

This biography researched and written by Ian Shirley (2020)
Francis John Shirley
was born the youngest son of Arthur George Sewallis Shirley and Georgiana
Emily Cookson at Stinsford on 23 Jun 1847. The marriage produced three living siblings: Sewallis
(1843-1898), Robert (1844-1869) and Mary Selinah (1848-1895). A forth, Sewallis, died aged 3 days
in 1842.

His early years were spent at the Stinsford Vicarage where in 1851 there resided Arthur GS (40),
Georgiana E (29), Sewallis (7), Robert (6), Francis John (3), Mary Louise (2), and three servants. Soon
after Francis had turned five, his mother Georgiana, aged but 30 years, died at Stinsford and was
buried on 13 Jul 1852. One year later, in Q3 1853 at Swanage, his father married Mary Beadon
Turner, the widow of Francis Jackson. They produced six children at Stinsford: Arthur Horatio (1854-
1934), George (1855-1855), William (1856- ), Charles Henry (1857-1858), Phyllis (1858-1906), Emily
Gertrude (1861-1913), and Louisa (1863-1949).

Francis began his education in 1856 at the 20 South Street Grammar School in Dorchester, about
3km from the Vicarage, where the 1861 Census records him as one of ten scholars. He moved up to
Winchester College in 1863 where he remained for two years, during which time he played cricket
for the College team [Hampshire Chronicle, 11 Jun 1864, 8 Apr 1865, 27 May 1865]. The headmaster
at the time of his attendance was Henry Beeston. In 1860 “The Winchester College Rifle Volunteer
Corps” was founded by boys in their top year and remained autonomous until it was taken over by
the Second Master in 1868 [Wikipedia]. Latin formed a core plank of the academic curriculum when
Francis was educated.

He is detailed under Winchester Commoners in Britain, School and Univ Register Books, Winchester
1836-90 as “SHIRLEY, FRANCIS JOHN, born 23rd June, 1847, son of Rev. Arthur George Sewallis
Shirley, Stinsford Vicarage, Dorset. At one time Clerk in the Bank of England, Burlington gardens, W.”

Francis John Shirley aged 18 years joined The Bank of England on 27 July 1865 as a clerk; some
biographical data is documented in the Bank’s Examination ledgers: -

Was educated for seven years at the Dorchester Grammar
School and for two years at Winchester College which he
has just left. He had produced satisfactory testimonials.
Writing – fair. Dictation – good. Good at accounts

It seems that he was recruited into the Threadneedle Street City Branch in 1865. In April 1871 he
transferred to the Western Branch (Westn B) in Burlington Gardens where he worked for some 9
years until he returned to the City in December 1880-February 1881. His salary in 1871 was £132pa
incrementally rising in steps of £8pa and £10pa to about £240pa in 1884. He rose to being a 1st Class
Clerk at the Western Branch and was a 3rd Class Clerk in Private Drawing in February 1881. There was
no freeze or reduction in salary on moving from a 1st (Western Branch) to 3rd (City) class clerk Feb
1881.

The 1871 Census documents Francis, (23, born Stinsford, Clerk to Bank of England) residing at 5
Selwood Terrace Kensington with George (52, born Fareham, Hants, Traveller to a Brewery) and
Caroline (44, born Dorchester) White. Selwood Terrace was almost half way between Burlington
Gardens (c3.5 km) and Threadneedle Street (c5 km)

In or before 1876 Francis began a relationship with Catharine/Katharine May Warne Greaves. A
daughter Frances May Sara (Greaves) Shirley was born in Brighton on 16 Nov 1876 [1939 England
and Wales Register; no birth record has been found]. In censuses her birth dates are given variously
as 1877, 1878 and 1880. Francis subsequently married Katherine at St Johns Church in Waterloo
Road on 9 April 1877. Her father William Greaves’ occupation was given as ‘gentleman’.

The year 1877 also saw the death of his step-mother Mary Beadon Turner. Less than a year later on
17 January 1878 Arthur GS Shirley married Francesca Vincenzie Edith Simons Tremayne, a marriage
of which the family disapproved [National Archive]. Arthur moved to 3 Swakley Terrace, Kensington
and Chelsea in 1878.

Sir Horatio Shirley KCB died on 7 Apr 1879. His will was proved at Blandford by his brother Rev AGS
Shirley and his nephew Francis John Shirley of 2-Moresby-villas East Moulsey [London Gazette 12
Sep 1879; Eng and Wales National Probate Calendar]. Francis is recorded as a voter at Park Road in
the Polling District of East Moulsey in 1879 [Western Division of the County of Surrey 31 Dec 1878 – 1
Jan 1880].

A quantity of jewellery, clothing and cash in all valued at £50 was stolen from Francis and Katherine
at 2 Moresby Villas in February 1881. Elizabeth Barratt was sentenced to six months hard labour
[Surrey Comet 19 Mar 1881, 9 Apr 1881]. At the same address, the 1881 census has Francis (33, born
Dorchester), wife Katherine (24), daughter Frances M (4) and Catherine’s Cousin Mary Ann
Chegwidden (22, born Probus, daughter of Henry Chegwidden and Betsy Warne).

At some time between 1881 and 1884 Francis moved to 2 Heath Villas, Vardens Road, New
Wandsworth, which was about 100m from Clapham Junction Station. The proximity of the railway
station was convenient for commuting and travel.

In September-October 1884 worlds collide when Francis quits his job at the Bank of England, his
father Arthur is declared bankrupt, and Katherine Greaves Shirley dies.

Katherine May Shirley died on 24 Oct 1884 at her mother’s house, 1 Burlington Gardens in Brighton,
of complications in pregnancy - “Pregnancy Sub-acute gastritis Asthenia”.

Her will was probated about one month later: SHIRLEY Katherine May 28 November. Personal estate
£57-2-11. Administration of the Personal Estate of Katherine May Shirley (Wife of Francis John
Shirley) late of 2 Heath-villas Varden-road New Wandsworth in the County of Surrey who died 24
October 1884 at 1 Burlington-street Brighton in the County of Sussex was granted at the Principal
Registry to the said Francis John Shirley of 2 Heath Villas Gentleman

The BoE E41/6 Salary Ledger shows that Francis quitted the Bank on (Thursday) 11 September 1884,
some six weeks before his wife died. It is not clear why, after 19 years’ service, he should leave such
a well-paid, secure, and respected position likely knowing that he would soon be supporting another
child, and that he would not receive a pension.

Francis’ resignation was concomitant with his father’s bankruptcy. Arthur George Sewallis Shirley
instituted bankruptcy proceedings in February 1883. Notices of the proceedings appeared in the
London Gazette on Feb 23, April 3 and December 14 1883. The case went to Court in June 1884 and
was heard on 28 Aug 1884, i.e. about 2 weeks before the resignation. The outcome was published
on 20 September 1884, with the appointment of a Trustee, Peter Padget. AGSS and his new wife
were resident in Brighton, possibly in 1882. The London Gazette Feb 23, 1883 lists recent addresses
as: No 9 Ladbroke Square Notting Hill, No 103 Marine Parade Brighton and No 17 Sillwood Place,
Brighton.

After his wife’s death Francis apparently returned to Park Road in East Molesey in 1885. He is listed
in Electoral Registers at both the Vardens Road address [Mid Division of the County of Surrey 31 Dec
1884 -01 Jan 1886] and the Park Road address [Western Division of the County of Surrey, 31 Dec188 -
01 Jan 1886].

By 1891 (census) Francis and his daughter had moved to Brighton to live with his mother-in-law
Sarah Saunders at 1 Lillian Villa Clarendon Road [Sarah B Saunders (53, widow), Francis J Shirley (42,
widow, Wine Merchants Clerk, born Stinsford), Frances M Shirley (14, born Brighton), Hester Coles
(59, Visitor).

Francis’ sister Mary Selina Shirley died 1 Aug 1895 and was buried at Brighton. She left an estate of
£172 10s 2½ d to her half-brother William and his wife Alice Louisa Pryor.

The collected family were at the Clarendon Road address in 1901 [Sarah B Saunders (63, widow),
Francis J Shirley (52, widower, no occupation given, born Lough Fea County Monaghan,) Frances SM
Shirley (23, born Brighton)].

Sarah Saunders died in Q3 1901 at Brighton, shortly after the census. At about the same time Francis
filed a Patent Application: 19448 – Mr Francis John Shirley, of Lillian Villa, Clarendon-road, Hove. “A
bicycle chain protector (for keeping mud from the chain)” [Sussex Agricultural Express 9 Oct 1901].

Francis and his daughter moved to 31 Albert Road Southwick where they appear in the 1911 Census:
Francis John Shirley (63, widowed, Retired Bank Clerk, Un-pensioned, born Ireland, “Lough Fea” had
been struck through and replaced with “Carrickmacross Co Monaghan), Frances May Shirley (31,
born Brighton).

Francis John and Frances May remained at the 31 Albert Road address until his death, aged 83 years,
on 15 Mar 1931.

Francis John Shirley was interred on 18 March 1931 in Grave No FA79 in the Woodvale Cemetery in
Brighton. He was buried in the same grave as his sister, Mary Selina Shirley who was interred on 5
August 1895.

SHIRLEY Francis John of 31 Albert Road Southwick Sussex died 15 March 1931. Probate Lewes 8 July
to Frances May Sara Shirley spinster. Effects £1693-0-9.

   


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