Shirley Association Genealogical Research Website

The Shirley Association has been a member of the Guild of One-Name Studies since 1988
John Pinkney Shirley
b. ca1827 Alabama. Family lived Mississippi and Texas

MISC INFORMATION FOR THIS BRANCH

Brothers and sisters: John Pinkney Shirley, J. B. Shirley, William Washington Shirley (branch #57), Catherine Shirley Turner, Nancy Griffis 1831 and Benjamin Richard Shirley, b 1835.

DNA Haplogroup R1b1

1. John Pinkney Shirley born May 19, 1827 Alabama, died July 11, 1894, married Sarah Martin Sept 10, 1846. She was the daughter of John Martin. She was born March 25, 1829 Meridian MS and she died July 5, 1883.

He befriended the Mormon missionaries, protecting them from the mobs on several occasions, but he never joined the church.

According to Charles A. Shirley, a grandson, and Joy Ham Montgomery, a great granddaughter, John Pinkney Shirley had two brothers. One was William Washington Shirley who married Mary Bucklew and James B. Shirley. In the 1860 Lauderdale Co. MS census, J.B. Shirley was living in the household with John Pinkney and, William Washington Shirley was living next door.

All three brothers served in the Conferdate Army. J.B. Shirley was captured when Vicksburg fell.

Children

(1). John Martin April 9, 1849 MS , died 1919 Shephard, San Jacinto Co. Texas. m. Elizabeth Chatham

children:

A. William F. 1871 MS

B. Norman M. 1873 MS

C. Margaret 1876 Texas

D. Benjamin F. 1878 Texas

E. Nellie 1880 Texas

(2). Sarah Celita March 15, 1852 MS, died 1932 Walker Co. Texas, m. J. W. "Wes" Hayman

(3). William Washington Feb 14, 1855 died Oct 14, 1909 m. Martha Jane Henderson

William Washington Shirley and Family

children in 1880 - 1900 census

A. John R. 1877 MS

B. May Belle 1879 MS

C. Willie Belle April 1882 MS m. John Sire Booker

D. Ownie March 1885 MS

E. Lillian L. Sept 10, 1887 MS

F. Joseph M. Oct 1888 MS m. Nannie Reynolds

children:

(a). Joe Lee

(b). Roy

(c). Harold

(d). Hilda

G. William Grady April 1892 MS m. Audrey Jay

H. Fanny E. Sept 1895 MS

(4). James Norman April 25, 1858 Lauderdale Co. MS, m. Nancy Durham

children

A. Charles

B. Arabella

C. Tolitha

D. Ora Estelle

E. William Arthur

F. Raymond Octavis

G. Justin

H. Julian

I. James Norman, Jr.

J. Leon

(5). Susan Ellen Feb 1, 1861 MS m. J. W. "Wade" Hughes

(6). Margaret Emeline March 25, 1864 MS, m. E.W. "Eli" Dunham

(7). Benjamin Pinkney April 9, 1867 Meridian, Lauderdale Co. MS, died Oct 18, 1923 Sheppard, San Jacinto Co. Texas. Married Ella Cornelia White May 1, 1890

Benjamin Pinkney was a very jolly and an even tempered man. His wife, Ella, was serious minded and didn't believe in sparing the rod and spoiling the child. They were farmers and believed that hard work was good for everyone.

In 1889, they were converted to the Mormon religion. Because of so much ridicule against the Mormons in that part of the country, they sold everything they had and moved to Shepherd, San Jacinta, Texas to be near Benjamin's brother, John Martin Shirley.

In 1901, Benjamin said he was going to move where they did not have chills and fevers, so he got a map and picked out Durango, Colorado. They left Shepherd with $15, a wagon and a pair of ponies. They packed their children and belongings into the wagon like sardines and traveled as far as they could before they ran low on food and feed for their ponies. They would then stop and work until they replenished their supply and would continue on their way for Durango. They repeated this process several times before they arrived at their destination. It took them six months to get from Shepard TX to Durango, CO. When they arrived, they rented a pasture for the ponies for $1 per pony per month.

One day Ella sent her son, Charles, to the store for a spool of thread. He noticed how white and soft the clerks hands were. He asked his mother what he could do to get his hands soft and white like that. She told him by doing the dishes. He did this and his hands did get better, and he never minded doing dishes the rest of his life.

Charles went to school for two nine month terms in Durango, Colorado. He was eager top learn and an avid reader. When he was twelve years of age, his father, Benjamin, decided to move back to Texas. The same ponies pulled the wagon back to Texas. They again stopped and worked long enough to replenish their supplies to get them back to Texas. On that trip, Benjamin and Ella's son, Benneti Reno Shirley, was born on Aug 20, 1903 in the state of New Mexico. Soon after they were on their way again for Texas.

They rented a farm off Huffman Creek six miles from Shepherd and farmed and worked by the day. Benjamin and Charles sawed logs from their excellent pine. They both hauled barrel staves and made whiskey barrels out of them. He bought two more wagons, and teams and Benjamin, Charles, Johnnie and Homer hauled staves.

By 1912, they moved to Oklahoma with three wagons, taking three cows along. When they got to McAlester, there was a big snow storm. Since all the best places were leased for two to three years, they had to live in a tent. They planted their crops. Charles had 13 acres of cotton, and his portion was 6 bales of cotton. In those days, you rented land on a share basis. For corn, you gave the landowner one third of what you harvested. For cotton, you gave him one fourth. If you chose to go on the half, the land owner furnished the horses and feed. While there, he heard of Kelsey, a Mormon community in Northeast Texas. Charles went there in 1913 to finish school.

Although they made many moves, Benjamin was always able to provide a good living for his family. He was a hard worker as well as a good manager. At the time of his death, he owned a large, fertile farm.

children

A. Charles Andy Feb 24, 1891 MS d. July 2, 1965, m. Mary Pamplin Nov 1, 1920

B. Sarah Ann May 9, 1893 MS

C. John Pinkney Mar 2, 1895 San Jacinto Co. Texas d Dec 30, 1961, m. Laurena Adcock Dec 7, 1930

D. Ella May May 13, 1895 Texas d. Dec 27, 1947 m. Albert Smith Nov 16, 1916

E. William Homer Aug 5, 1899 Texas

F. Benneti Reno Aug 20, 1903 New Mexico

(8). Hulda Mc Guire March 28, 1870, d. 1872

(9). Infant, died young

______________________________________________________________________________

BACK ROW: Raymond Octavius Shirley, Ora Estelle (Shirley) Fleming, J. Howell (husband of Tolitha), Arabella Shirley, Justin Shirley, Winnie Martin Shirley (wife of Justin), James Norman Shirley, Jr., Tolitha Shirley, William Arthur Shirley, Julian Shirley.

MIDDLE ROW: Leon Shirley, Gracie Weems, boy name unknown, Albert Weems, boy name unknown, Nancy Catherine Dunham Shirley, James Norman Shirley, boy name unknown, Lydia Adams Shirley (wife of William Adams), Mary Camp Shirley (wife of Julian Shirley).

BOTTOM ROW: Lita Howell, her sister, Bernadine Shirley, baby, Judy Bell Shirley.

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The Shirley Association has been a member of the Guild of One-Name Studies since 1988		John Pinkney Shirley b. ca1827 Alabama. Family lived Mississippi and Texas MISC INFORMATION FOR THIS BRANCH Brothers and sisters: John Pinkney Shirley, J. B. Shirley, William Washington Shirley (branch #57), Catherine Shirley Turner, Nancy Griffis 1831 and Benjamin Richard Shirley, b 1835. DNA Haplogroup R1b1

		1. John Pinkney Shirley born May 19, 1827 Alabama, died July 11, 1894, married Sarah Martin Sept 10, 1846. She was the daughter of John Martin. She was born March 25, 1829 Meridian MS and she died July 5, 1883. He befriended the Mormon missionaries, protecting them from the mobs on several occasions, but he never joined the church. According to Charles A. Shirley, a grandson, and Joy Ham Montgomery, a great granddaughter, John Pinkney Shirley had two brothers. One was William Washington Shirley who married Mary Bucklew and James B. Shirley. In the 1860 Lauderdale Co. MS census, J.B. Shirley was living in the household with John Pinkney and, William Washington Shirley was living next door. All three brothers served in the Conferdate Army. J.B. Shirley was captured when Vicksburg fell. Children (1). John Martin April 9, 1849 MS , died 1919 Shephard, San Jacinto Co. Texas. m. Elizabeth Chatham children: A. William F. 1871 MS B. Norman M. 1873 MS C. Margaret 1876 Texas D. Benjamin F. 1878 Texas E. Nellie 1880 Texas (2). Sarah Celita March 15, 1852 MS, died 1932 Walker Co. Texas, m. J. W. "Wes" Hayman (3). William Washington Feb 14, 1855 died Oct 14, 1909 m. Martha Jane Henderson William Washington Shirley and Family children in 1880 - 1900 census A. John R. 1877 MS B. May Belle 1879 MS C. Willie Belle April 1882 MS m. John Sire Booker D. Ownie March 1885 MS E. Lillian L. Sept 10, 1887 MS F. Joseph M. Oct 1888 MS m. Nannie Reynolds children: (a). Joe Lee (b). Roy (c). Harold (d). Hilda G. William Grady April 1892 MS m. Audrey Jay H. Fanny E. Sept 1895 MS (4). James Norman April 25, 1858 Lauderdale Co. MS, m. Nancy Durham children A. Charles B. Arabella C. Tolitha D. Ora Estelle E. William Arthur F. Raymond Octavis G. Justin H. Julian I. James Norman, Jr. J. Leon (5). Susan Ellen Feb 1, 1861 MS m. J. W. "Wade" Hughes (6). Margaret Emeline March 25, 1864 MS, m. E.W. "Eli" Dunham (7). Benjamin Pinkney April 9, 1867 Meridian, Lauderdale Co. MS, died Oct 18, 1923 Sheppard, San Jacinto Co. Texas. Married Ella Cornelia White May 1, 1890 Benjamin Pinkney was a very jolly and an even tempered man. His wife, Ella, was serious minded and didn't believe in sparing the rod and spoiling the child. They were farmers and believed that hard work was good for everyone. In 1889, they were converted to the Mormon religion. Because of so much ridicule against the Mormons in that part of the country, they sold everything they had and moved to Shepherd, San Jacinta, Texas to be near Benjamin's brother, John Martin Shirley. In 1901, Benjamin said he was going to move where they did not have chills and fevers, so he got a map and picked out Durango, Colorado. They left Shepherd with $15, a wagon and a pair of ponies. They packed their children and belongings into the wagon like sardines and traveled as far as they could before they ran low on food and feed for their ponies. They would then stop and work until they replenished their supply and would continue on their way for Durango. They repeated this process several times before they arrived at their destination. It took them six months to get from Shepard TX to Durango, CO. When they arrived, they rented a pasture for the ponies for $1 per pony per month. One day Ella sent her son, Charles, to the store for a spool of thread. He noticed how white and soft the clerks hands were. He asked his mother what he could do to get his hands soft and white like that. She told him by doing the dishes. He did this and his hands did get better, and he never minded doing dishes the rest of his life. Charles went to school for two nine month terms in Durango, Colorado. He was eager top learn and an avid reader. When he was twelve years of age, his father, Benjamin, decided to move back to Texas. The same ponies pulled the wagon back to Texas. They again stopped and worked long enough to replenish their supplies to get them back to Texas. On that trip, Benjamin and Ella's son, Benneti Reno Shirley, was born on Aug 20, 1903 in the state of New Mexico. Soon after they were on their way again for Texas. They rented a farm off Huffman Creek six miles from Shepherd and farmed and worked by the day. Benjamin and Charles sawed logs from their excellent pine. They both hauled barrel staves and made whiskey barrels out of them. He bought two more wagons, and teams and Benjamin, Charles, Johnnie and Homer hauled staves. By 1912, they moved to Oklahoma with three wagons, taking three cows along. When they got to McAlester, there was a big snow storm. Since all the best places were leased for two to three years, they had to live in a tent. They planted their crops. Charles had 13 acres of cotton, and his portion was 6 bales of cotton. In those days, you rented land on a share basis. For corn, you gave the landowner one third of what you harvested. For cotton, you gave him one fourth. If you chose to go on the half, the land owner furnished the horses and feed. While there, he heard of Kelsey, a Mormon community in Northeast Texas. Charles went there in 1913 to finish school. Although they made many moves, Benjamin was always able to provide a good living for his family. He was a hard worker as well as a good manager. At the time of his death, he owned a large, fertile farm. children A. Charles Andy Feb 24, 1891 MS d. July 2, 1965, m. Mary Pamplin Nov 1, 1920 B. Sarah Ann May 9, 1893 MS C. John Pinkney Mar 2, 1895 San Jacinto Co. Texas d Dec 30, 1961, m. Laurena Adcock Dec 7, 1930 D. Ella May May 13, 1895 Texas d. Dec 27, 1947 m. Albert Smith Nov 16, 1916 E. William Homer Aug 5, 1899 Texas F. Benneti Reno Aug 20, 1903 New Mexico (8). Hulda Mc Guire March 28, 1870, d. 1872 (9). Infant, died young ______________________________________________________________________________ BACK ROW: Raymond Octavius Shirley, Ora Estelle (Shirley) Fleming, J. Howell (husband of Tolitha), Arabella Shirley, Justin Shirley, Winnie Martin Shirley (wife of Justin), James Norman Shirley, Jr., Tolitha Shirley, William Arthur Shirley, Julian Shirley. MIDDLE ROW: Leon Shirley, Gracie Weems, boy name unknown, Albert Weems, boy name unknown, Nancy Catherine Dunham Shirley, James Norman Shirley, boy name unknown, Lydia Adams Shirley (wife of William Adams), Mary Camp Shirley (wife of Julian Shirley). BOTTOM ROW: Lita Howell, her sister, Bernadine Shirley, baby, Judy Bell Shirley.
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