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Shirleys of the Rhee
Shirley's at the time were
tenants of substantial farms. The Griffith Valuation gives Robert
(s/o Alex) and Robert (s/o Robert) in Rhee. These were distinguished
in the family as "Roadman Robert." because one took
roads to repair and Elder Robert because he was the Elder of
the church.Both Rhee farms once owned by the two Shirley families
are now in possession of William Hull of the Rhee, at present
treasurer of the Aghadowey, and son of William Hull and Catherine
Shirley.
1. Robert "Robin"
Shirley
"Elder Roberts' father
was Robert or Robin Shirley, who never did any farm work, but
spent his life weaving. Robin married Betty Gray and they ad
a number of children who died young, while three survived. They
include the one who became Elder Robert Shirley and he married
Margaret Harper of Tamneymore. An old tombstone in Agivey commemorates
"Elizabeth wife of Robert Shirley , late of Rhee, died (1825?),
age 40. Also 4 other children." This must be Robin's first
wife. He married second to Nancy Miller, who stories of her family
were remembered by Elder Robert's children, one of whom Catherine
who married William Hull of Segory in 1890/ Nancy Miller's father
was a united Irishman, and she told how he and another man had
shot an informer near Ballymoney. The father disappeared at the
battle of Antrim and was never heard of again. His wife Catherine
Miller was left to ring up two children. Nancy born 1795 and
George born 1797.
married 1) Elizabeth "Betty"
Gray died ?1825 age 40
(tombstone in Agivey "wife of Robert Shirley, late of Rhee.
Also 4 other children")
married 2) Nancy Miller
Only 3 surviving children:
2.i Nancy Shirley born 1795
2.ii George Shirley born 1797
2.iii "Elder" Robert
Shirley born about 1810;
died Mar 31, 1901 (91yrs) and buried in the Presbyterian Church
yard.
Probate of the Will (and Codicil)
of Robert Shirley late of Rhee Aghadowey County Londonderry Farmer
who died 24 March 1901 granted at Londonderry to Mary Shirley
Spinster and Catherine Hull Married Woman. Date Of Death: 24/03/1901
Date Of Grant: 14/05/1901 Effects: Effects £520 Registry:
Londonderry Londonderry Registry of wills
The Presbyterian Church yard:
In memory of:
Robert Shirley, died Mar 31, 1901 (91yrs)
Margaret Shirley, died Oct 24, 1892 (73 yrs)
Elizabeth C. Loughery, died Sept 17, 1919 (67 yrs)
Mary Jane Shirley, died Jan 11, 1922 (61 yrs)
William Hull, died Feb 26, 1914 (72 yrs)
Margaret A. S. Hull, died Dec 28, 1910 (19yrs)
Lizzie C. Hull, died May 31, 1934 (33 yrs)
Catherine Hull, died Dec 5, 1956 (94yrs)
married Margaret Harper of Tamneymore; born about 1819; she
died Oct 24, 1892 (73 yrs)
Robert Shirley married Margaret
Harper April 15, 1846. The 2nd Presbyterian Meeting House in
the Parish of Errigal. Son of Robert Shirley, farmer of Rhee.
Daughter of James Harper, farmer of Tamnamore.
children:
3. Mary Jane Shirley born about 1851; spinster died
Jan 11, 1922 (61 yrs)
3. Elizabeth C. Shirley born about 1852; married Loughery;
she died Sept 17, 1919 (67 yrs)
3. Catherine Shirley born about 1862; died Dec 5, 1956 (94yrs)
married William Hull of Segory.
Owner of
the two Shirley farms at Rhee
1. Alexander Shirley
children:
2. "Roadman" Robert
Shirley born about 1781.
Likely the brother of Valentine
Shirley, also a son of Alexander Shirley of the Rhee
"Roadman Robert Shirley's
father I take to be Alexander who had the larger of the two Rhee
farms in 1853. This may be the Alexander Shirley who has one
of the seats in a group allotted to prominent local linen merchants
and others who might be termed as "the quality". This
second Robert Shirley had a son Robert Mooney Shirley [sic] who
married Rachel Cochane and had a large family of 8 boys and 4
girls, one of them marrying David Kennedy and one John McKee
of Camus.
Robert Shirley died Sept 26,
1871 in Rhee, 92 years old. Died of old age, labourer. Robert
Shirley present at death. Aghadowey Presbyterian Church [not sure if this Robert
who undoubtedly had wife Nancy is the correct Robert Shirley.
There seems to be an Alexander who may have lived in the 1830s
as a posssilbe father, rather than the elder Alexander]
married 1) __________; she died before 1853
married 2) Nancy Kelly [Keller]
in 1853; she died June
6, 1873 (age 79)
1853 - Robert Shirley married
4 Nov 1853 of full age widower farmer of Ree son of Alexander
Shirley farmer, married Nancy KELLER [Another transcription says
KELLY] of full age widower of Knockaduff daughter of John Keller;
wit: David Smyth Robert Hickeson page 97 #98 Aghadowey Presbyterian
Church
Nancy Shirley died June 7,
1873 Rhee, Aghadowey, 79 years old. Cause of death listed as
Debility Anasenca. She was widow of the late R. Shirley, farmer.
Margaret Shirley was present at her death. Aghadowey Presbyterian
Church
3. John Mooney Shirley born 1840; died 1910
John Shirley married Rachel
Chochrane Nov 22, 1864, 2nd Presbyterian Meeting House in Parish
of Errigal. Son of Robert Shirley, farmer of Rhee. Daughter of
John Chochrane , farmer of Curragh.
Presbyterian Churchyard Burial
John Mooney Shirley 1840 - 1910
Rachel Shirley 1843 - April 20, 1921
also their children...
Robert Shirley 1865 - 1866
William Shirley died Oct 30, 1930 (60yrs)
Robert Shirley, died April 7, 1944 (75)
married Rachel Cochraine born 1843 died April 20, 1921
children: supposedly 8 boys and 4 girls
4.i Robert Shirley born 05 MAR 1865 to John Shirley and
Rachel Cochraine (at Aghadowey); died 1866 according to tombstone.
4.ii John Alexander Shirley born 11 FEB 1867 to John Shirley and
Rachel Cochraine (at Aghadowey)
4.iii Robert Shirly born 26 MAR 1869 to John Shirley and
Rachel Cochraine (source: LDS pedigree); died April 7, 1944 (75)
4.iv William Shirley born 10 OCT 1870 to John Shirley and
Rachel Cochraine; died Oct 30, 1930 (60yrs)
4.v Margaret Shirley born 30 MAR 1872 to John Shirley and
Rachel Cochraine
4.vi Archibold Shirley born 20 JAN 1879 to John Moony Shirley
and Rachel Cochraine (source: LDS pedigree)
4.vii David Shirley 09 JAN 1881 to John Shirley and Rachel
Cochraine (source: LDS pedigree?). Member of the Royal Irish
Constabulary. Enlisted 1900. Age 19
4.viii son Shirley
4.ix dau Shirley married David Kennedy
4.x dau Shirley married John McKee of Camus
4.xi dau Shirley
4.xii dau Shirley
William Shirley, laborer of Rhee
chilren:
2. James Shirley
James Shirley married Margaret Hunter Aug 17, 1866, Presbyterian
Church of Aghadowry. Son of William Shirley, labourer of Rhee.
Daughter of Henry Hunter, weaver of Rhee.
married Margaret Hunter
children:
06 AUG 1867 Margaret Shirley to James Shirley and Margaret
Jane Hunter (at Aghadowey)
20 MAR 1874 Ellen Shirley to James Shirley and Margaret Jane
Hunter
16 FEB 1876 Henry Shirley to James Shirley and Margaret Jane
Hunter (at Coleraine) (source: LDS pedigree)
02 MAY 1878 Mary Shirley to James Shirley and Peggy Jane Hunter
(at Curragh) (source: LDS pedigree)
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Pedigrees