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Shirleys of New Hampshire
Branch #25 continued

< Back to Branch 25 James Shirley

1(vii). Capt. James Shirley born December 1700 in the Province of Ulster, Ireland They first lived in Brookline Massachusetts and in 1734 moved to Chester, NH where they bought Addition Lot #11. He signed the "Association Test" for loyalty to the United States against the British in 1776 (thus recognized by the DAR for 'patriotic service') He was known as the 7th son and was famous for curing "King's Evil" or scrofula by the stroke of the hand. He died May 30, 1796 Chester, New Hampshire, nearly 90 years old.

1796 Estate of James Shirla of Chester, gent. Deced. Testate: WILL Drawn 5/13/1783. Legatees: sons Hugh, William and John; Daus Margret Shirla and Agnes MacNear. Exec son John. (signed) Wit: Robert MacMurphy, Margrit Moor and Daniel Hunter. CERT. WILL (D32:171): 8/17/1796. Presented by Exec and witnesses MacMurphy and Moore. ADMIN: 8/17/1796. Exec MacMurphy, yeoman and John Morrison, esq both of Londonderry. Witnesses: Jonathan Holmes and W. Parker. Rockingham Co NH Estates and Inventories

married Janet Shirley about 1726 in Ireland. Her parents are unknown, but undoubtedly related to this family

children:

2(i). James Shirley born ____. He died 1764. While coming from Exeter, he was caught in a thunder storm. He got off his horse to lead him and was struck by lightning and killed. The silver money in his pocket and his silver knee buckles were melted.

1764, 2nd of July, CHESTER TWP - Mr. James Shirley of this town, while walking by the side of his horse, which was led by another person, was instantly killed by lightning. The flash was observed by persons at The distance of a number of rods to fall upon his head. It tore his hat into fragments, singed his hair, and entered his head just over his right temple. It is remarkable, that the money in his pocket was melted, and his buckles, which were of steel were broken. his horse was killed although the person who led him, escaped with slight injury. - Merrill's 1817 Gazetteer of New Hampshire

He was not married.

2(ii). Margaret Shirley

married Deacon Thomas Shirley about 1728 (son of John, son of James who came to America)

2(iii). Agnes Shirley born 1743. She died February 1823 aged 80, married John McNair/McNear. He was b. Scotland and d. Nov 1798. He came to Sheepscot, Maine and bought lot #12 from William Hopkins. He was taken by the Indians twice to Canada. He was a Mariner.

2(iv). John Shirley born about 1735 Chester, Rockingham Co NH; Executor of his father's will in 1796; "had a son John" (Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Mass, Vol 1)

Editor: I'm trying to verify the next statement: "He died 1826 Warren County Pennsylvania, buried on the old Marsh farm (Kinzua Cemetery), He was considered a great canoeist, carrying freight to Kinzua and other points on Allegheny River. While paddling a canoe up river at flood he could light his pipe and not lose headway."

Also this corroborating source: "John Nesmith married Hannah, daughter of John Shirley, of New Hampshire. Shirley was also a pioneer in Warren, had served in the war of the Revolution, and died here about the year 1826" - History of Warren PA, 1887.

We need more NH Shirley family descendants to do DNA tests to determine the true NH DNA profile.

Could this lineage actually go something like this?

In 1773, John Shirley purchased 10 acres in Chester Co NH from William White, land adjacent to Capt (James) Shirley. This same land was sold by his son John Shirley to Jenny Shirley in 1818; These are the same names found in the 1816 will of John Shirley of Chester NH. In other words, this John Shirley of Chester NH did not move to Warren Co PA

1773 Wm Wright to John Shirley of Chester yeoman land in Chester 10 acres of Add Lot 12 southerly of sd lot adj by highway heading toward Capn Shirley's being a boundary of Mr Wilsons land then East 40 degrees S by his land to a stake by Capt Shirleys land....

1816 Apr 17 Rockingham Co Loose Estate Files #9300 - Will of John Shirley of Chester - 2 January 1809. to my son John Shirley Junior all my real estate in Londonderry or Chester and all stock of cattle. To my daughter Jenny Shirley $200, one half on marriage day, the other half 2 years after my death with a privalege to live in my house so long as she remains a single woman and bed and bedding , and at her mother's decease to have all household furniture that remains. John Shirley Junior executor. <s> John (mark) Shirley, Wit: Peter Shirley, Willm White [file includes executor's bond for the estate of John Shirley, yeoman, signed by John Shirley Jr and Peter Shirley, gent]

1818 John Shirley to Jenny Shirley (single woman) - land in Chester 10 acres my father bought of Wm White out of Add Lot 12 laid out in right of Stephen Webster - Southerly end of lot

1818 John Shirley to William Shirley land that my father bought of David Dickey (ed: deed not found). Wife Jenny Shirley (sic) released dower.

1819 deed between John Shirley and John Bell makes clear that he is not John Shirley Jr.

1819 John Shirley to Charles Goffs 20 ac land in Chester land my father John Shirley bought of David Dickey bounded ...except 10 ac land sold to William Shirley and 10 ac to Moses Hall....wife Jenny Shirley released dower.

children:

3(i). Jenny Shirley (single woman in 1818)

3(ii). John Shirley born Chester NH

married Jenny Patten

children

4(i). Robert P. Shirley born 1821 (age 40 at time of marriage in 1861, 1st marriage, born Chester NH)

married Ester M Stone on 15 Oct 1861 at Auburn, Rockingham NH (she age 19, born Boston Mass, dau of Tadius Stone and Tabitha Goodspeed)

2(v). Hugh Shirley born _____. He lived on lot #13 of Chester Township, Rockingham Co NH. He was clerk of the Presbyterian Parish under Rev John Wilson. He was in a Regiment that went to the French and Indian War in the Crown Point Expedition in 1758 and was with Wolfe at Quebec in 1759, and again in the same Regiment in 1760. He was a Major in Col. John Stark's Regiment in the Battle of Bunker Hill June 17, 1776 and served under Stark after he, Stark, was promoted to General. He sold 50 acres to son Peter Shirley (Lot #14 in Chester Rockingham Co NH) on 3 Feb 1804. He apparently died sometime around 1804.

2(vi). Lieut. William Shirley born about 1760. Died 1807, They lived on Home Lot #124 in Chester, Rockingham Co NH. "He was a prominent figure in the militis of his town. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and for many years clerk of the parish after the tenure of his brother Hugh Shirley.

married Mary Morrison in 1788. She was of Londonderry, born ca. 1769 and died July 1843, age 83.

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		Shirleys of New Hampshire Branch #25 continued
		< Back to Branch 25 James Shirley
		1(vii). Capt. James Shirley born December 1700 in the Province of Ulster, Ireland They first lived in Brookline Massachusetts and in 1734 moved to Chester, NH where they bought Addition Lot #11. He signed the "Association Test" for loyalty to the United States against the British in 1776 (thus recognized by the DAR for 'patriotic service') He was known as the 7th son and was famous for curing "King's Evil" or scrofula by the stroke of the hand. He died May 30, 1796 Chester, New Hampshire, nearly 90 years old. 1796 Estate of James Shirla of Chester, gent. Deced. Testate: WILL Drawn 5/13/1783. Legatees: sons Hugh, William and John; Daus Margret Shirla and Agnes MacNear. Exec son John. (signed) Wit: Robert MacMurphy, Margrit Moor and Daniel Hunter. CERT. WILL (D32:171): 8/17/1796. Presented by Exec and witnesses MacMurphy and Moore. ADMIN: 8/17/1796. Exec MacMurphy, yeoman and John Morrison, esq both of Londonderry. Witnesses: Jonathan Holmes and W. Parker. Rockingham Co NH Estates and Inventories married Janet Shirley about 1726 in Ireland. Her parents are unknown, but undoubtedly related to this family children: 2(i). James Shirley born ____. He died 1764. While coming from Exeter, he was caught in a thunder storm. He got off his horse to lead him and was struck by lightning and killed. The silver money in his pocket and his silver knee buckles were melted. 1764, 2nd of July, CHESTER TWP - Mr. James Shirley of this town, while walking by the side of his horse, which was led by another person, was instantly killed by lightning. The flash was observed by persons at The distance of a number of rods to fall upon his head. It tore his hat into fragments, singed his hair, and entered his head just over his right temple. It is remarkable, that the money in his pocket was melted, and his buckles, which were of steel were broken. his horse was killed although the person who led him, escaped with slight injury. - Merrill's 1817 Gazetteer of New Hampshire He was not married. 2(ii). Margaret Shirley married Deacon Thomas Shirley about 1728 (son of John, son of James who came to America) 2(iii). Agnes Shirley born 1743. She died February 1823 aged 80, married John McNair/McNear. He was b. Scotland and d. Nov 1798. He came to Sheepscot, Maine and bought lot #12 from William Hopkins. He was taken by the Indians twice to Canada. He was a Mariner. 2(iv). John Shirley born about 1735 Chester, Rockingham Co NH; Executor of his father's will in 1796; "had a son John" (Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Mass, Vol 1) Editor: I'm trying to verify the next statement: "He died 1826 Warren County Pennsylvania, buried on the old Marsh farm (Kinzua Cemetery), He was considered a great canoeist, carrying freight to Kinzua and other points on Allegheny River. While paddling a canoe up river at flood he could light his pipe and not lose headway." Also this corroborating source: "John Nesmith married Hannah, daughter of John Shirley, of New Hampshire. Shirley was also a pioneer in Warren, had served in the war of the Revolution, and died here about the year 1826" - History of Warren PA, 1887. We need more NH Shirley family descendants to do DNA tests to determine the true NH DNA profile. Could this lineage actually go something like this? In 1773, John Shirley purchased 10 acres in Chester Co NH from William White, land adjacent to Capt (James) Shirley. This same land was sold by his son John Shirley to Jenny Shirley in 1818; These are the same names found in the 1816 will of John Shirley of Chester NH. In other words, this John Shirley of Chester NH did not move to Warren Co PA 1773 Wm Wright to John Shirley of Chester yeoman land in Chester 10 acres of Add Lot 12 southerly of sd lot adj by highway heading toward Capn Shirley's being a boundary of Mr Wilsons land then East 40 degrees S by his land to a stake by Capt Shirleys land.... 1816 Apr 17 Rockingham Co Loose Estate Files #9300 - Will of John Shirley of Chester - 2 January 1809. to my son John Shirley Junior all my real estate in Londonderry or Chester and all stock of cattle. To my daughter Jenny Shirley $200, one half on marriage day, the other half 2 years after my death with a privalege to live in my house so long as she remains a single woman and bed and bedding , and at her mother's decease to have all household furniture that remains. John Shirley Junior executor. <s> John (mark) Shirley, Wit: Peter Shirley, Willm White [file includes executor's bond for the estate of John Shirley, yeoman, signed by John Shirley Jr and Peter Shirley, gent] 1818 John Shirley to Jenny Shirley (single woman) - land in Chester 10 acres my father bought of Wm White out of Add Lot 12 laid out in right of Stephen Webster - Southerly end of lot 1818 John Shirley to William Shirley land that my father bought of David Dickey (ed: deed not found). Wife Jenny Shirley (sic) released dower. 1819 deed between John Shirley and John Bell makes clear that he is not John Shirley Jr. 1819 John Shirley to Charles Goffs 20 ac land in Chester land my father John Shirley bought of David Dickey bounded ...except 10 ac land sold to William Shirley and 10 ac to Moses Hall....wife Jenny Shirley released dower. children: 3(i). Jenny Shirley (single woman in 1818) 3(ii). John Shirley born Chester NH married Jenny Patten children 4(i). Robert P. Shirley born 1821 (age 40 at time of marriage in 1861, 1st marriage, born Chester NH) married Ester M Stone on 15 Oct 1861 at Auburn, Rockingham NH (she age 19, born Boston Mass, dau of Tadius Stone and Tabitha Goodspeed) 2(v). Hugh Shirley born _____. He lived on lot #13 of Chester Township, Rockingham Co NH. He was clerk of the Presbyterian Parish under Rev John Wilson. He was in a Regiment that went to the French and Indian War in the Crown Point Expedition in 1758 and was with Wolfe at Quebec in 1759, and again in the same Regiment in 1760. He was a Major in Col. John Stark's Regiment in the Battle of Bunker Hill June 17, 1776 and served under Stark after he, Stark, was promoted to General. He sold 50 acres to son Peter Shirley (Lot #14 in Chester Rockingham Co NH) on 3 Feb 1804. He apparently died sometime around 1804. 2(vi). Lieut. William Shirley born about 1760. Died 1807, They lived on Home Lot #124 in Chester, Rockingham Co NH. "He was a prominent figure in the militis of his town. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and for many years clerk of the parish after the tenure of his brother Hugh Shirley. married Mary Morrison in 1788. She was of Londonderry, born ca. 1769 and died July 1843, age 83.
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