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This
Lineage Page Last Updated December 2021
The origin of
the Shirley family who long resided in Spotsylvania County Virginia
is unknown beyond what we show below. However, records suggest
a relationship may exist between the Shirley family of Spotsylvania
Co VA shown below and several "stray" Shirleys, a Thomas
and John Shirley who appear earlier in records in Spotsylvania
and neighboring Caroline County. The Shirleys of Spotsylvania
Co VA are related by DNA to lineages that orginiated out of nearby
Culpeper Co VA (Branch 21) as well as families who migrated to
South Carolina (very early, by 1765), and to the Midwest e.g.
Indiana. DNA for this family matches Shirley families in Norfolk
England, Cambridgeshire and London (all the same origins), but
it is not known if the original immigrant to the Americas came
from Norfolk England or merely shared the same Shirley ancestor
who resided much earlier in a different part of England
Stray
Shirley Lineage, relationship unknown
Thomas
Shirley
of St George Parish Spotsylvania Co Virginia born about
1687; He likely died about 1755 in Spotsylvania Co VA
In 1743, a Thomas
Shurley, age 60 was ordered by the county court of Spotsylvania
to be exempt from paying the annual levy (tax) due to his age
and infirmity. Thomas was thus born in 1687, but his parents
are unknown. This Thomas Shirley whose wife was likely Mary appears
in various entries of the St George parish vestry book recieving
assistances as a "poor and infirm man". Church assistance
continued through at least 1755, when Thomas would have been
age 72. After that point, Mary Shirley is granted the church
support, albeit only 1/3 the amount provided her presumed husband,
Thomas Shirley. This suggests Thomas Shirley died about 1755-56.
Presumably this same Thomas and Mary Shirley appear earlier in
neighboring Caroline County records: In 1735, per county court
minutes, they both acknowledged a deed of sale to William Weller
and separately a deed of lease, receipt to Robert Huddleston
(Note: Most Caroline County records were destroyed during the
Civil War, thus these Shirley deeds no longer exist)
1735 Caroline
County Court Minutes - Thomas Shurley and Mary his wife acknowledged
their deed of land indented to William Weller.
1735 Caroline
County Court Minutes - Thomas Shurley and Mary his wife acknowledged
their deeds of lease, release and receipt to Robert Huddleston.
16 Nov 1744
St. George Parish Vestry Book - to Thomas Shirley a poor man
500
married Mary
______
She appears as wife in her husband's two 1735 land transactions
in Caroline County VA. A Mary Shirley was a witness to the Last
Will and Testament of William Pruitt of Caroline County in 1748.
This William Pruitt sold 200 acres of land to a John Shirley
- all suggesting a familial relationship between the Pruitts
and the Shirleys, possibly through Mary Shirley? Mary Shirley
receives church support from the St George Parish vestry beginning
in 1756, presumably after the death of her husband who had been
granted church support in the preceeding years. Mary Shirley's
church support was granted annually by the St George parish vestry
through 1758, at which time she may have died, nothing more
known.
children:
None identified
or known
Stray
Shirley Lineage, relationship unknown
John
Shirley of
Caroline County Virginia born,
say 1690-1710; His estate was administered by his wife Elizabeth
Shirley in August 1764 in Spotsylvania Co Virginia
John Shirley
appears in Caroline Co records beginning about 1740. In 1741,
he was named in a court order to keep a road in good repair.
His neighbors at the time were identified with surnames Chapman,
Walker, Hubbard, Emerson, Madison, Coleman etc. In 1755, William
Prewett of Caroline Co sold 200 acres of land to John Shurley
who resided in Caroline County. The land was, however, located
in Spotsylvania County, originally granted to Pruitt/Prewett
in St George Parish in 1726. Note: a Mary Shirley acted as witness
to the 1748 Last Will and Testament of the same William Pruitt
(Wife of Thomas Shirley, above?); No record of the subsequent
sale of the 200 acres of land sold to John Shirley has been found
as yet. (Question: was it inherited by the Shirleys shown in
the lineage below - can their land be traced, all accounted for?).
Caroline County court minutes for 1741 also indicate John Shirley
was temporarily taken into custody by local Justice of the Peace
for taking up of a runaway slave named Simon who was then owned
by Peter Wagoner of nearby Essex County. No resolution of that
situation is indicated in extant records. John Shirley appeared
periodically in extant Caroline County court minutes, as a witness
to a deed in 1748, as court ordered appraiser of the estate of
Robert Hall as well as plaintiff in two court cases in 1760 against
Lewis Lowry and also against John Vice. And plaintfiff against
William Brown in 1764 and again against James Farish in the same
year. John Shirley died sometime before August of 1764 when the
Spotsylvania County court granted his (presumed) wife Elizabeth
Shirley letters of administration for the estate of John Shirley.
1741 Caroline
County Court Minutes - John Shirley produced a mittimus from
George Goodloe Gent, a justice of the peace for this county,
and several other papers relating to the taking up of a runaway
Negro man slave named Simon belonging to Peter Wagoner of Essex
County, gent.
1744 November
17 - Spotsylvania Co Deed Book D pg 173 - William Prewett of
Caroline Co. VA, planter, to John Shurley of Caroline Co. VA,
planter, 25 pounds currency, 200 acres in Spotsylvania Co, part
of a patent granted said Prewett. Beg at a hickory in the patent
line Thence South 30 E 160 poles to a corner Spanish Oak and
red Oak of John Smith's standing on the South East side a Branch,
thence South 60 W 210 poles to a three small corner red oaks
of the sd John Smith's standing on a hill side, Thence North
30 W 160 poles to a black oak in the sd patent line; Thence N
60 E to the place it first began; Wit: William Emerson, George
Stubblefield and Henry Williamson. Nov 1744, William Pruitt's
deeds of lease and release for land John Shirley was proved by
oaths of Wm Emerson, Geo Stubblefield and Hen Williamson and
admitted to record.
1750, May
1 - Spotsylvania Co Deed Book D pg 182 - Henry Pendleton of King
William Co. sold land to James Dyer of Caroline Co. in consid.
of 27 Pounds currency of Virginia. 70 acres in St. George Parish,
Spotsylvania Co, joining lands of Zachary Lewis, Daniel Prewitt,
John Shirley and Nicholas Horn, part of a tract purchased by
said Pendleton of George Woodroof, and known as Woodroof Ordinary
Aug 6, 1764
Spotsylvania Co VA Will Book D pg 61 - Elizabeth Sherley, adm.
of John Sherley, deceased with Roger Dixon.
married Elizabeth
_______ She
administered the estate of John Shirley of Caroline County VA
in August 1764
children:
None identified
or known
This
Lineage was Last Reviewed and Updated December 2021
John
Shirley, Sr.
of Berkeley Parish Spotsylvania Co Virginia born say 1735, parents
unknown; John Shirley Sr first appears in extant records in Spotsylvania
Co Virginia in 1772 when he witnessed the deed by John Mason
and his wife Anna (Note: according to 'A History of Kentucky
and Kentuckians' this John Mason married Anna Shirley and they
both died in Fayette Co KY). His name next appears in a 1778
petition to the Virginia legislature by inhabitants of Spotsylvania
County who were urging the courthouse be moved to a different
location. On the list were John Shearly (25 miles from the courthouse)
John Shearley Jnr, Jno Shearley Senr and Thomas Shearley (Note:
their distance from the courthouse obliterated in the original
document). In 1783, John Shirley (Sr) was taxed in Spotsylvania
Co VA with 7 slaves, 4 horses and 9 head of cattle. He died sometime
prior to March 1797 when the Spotsylvania county court ordered
his estate taken in possession by the Sheriff for appraisal,
for lack of anyone who would agree to administer the estate;
1785 Sept 10 - Spotsylania Co Deed Book K pg 505 - John
Shearley and Elizabeth, his wife, of Spots. Co., to Samuel Luck
of same county, 10 pounds currency, 9 acres of land etc... wit:
Nicholas Payne, Thomas Shirley and Frances Hodges.
1788 March 27 - Spotsylvania Co Deed Book L pg 416 - John
Shirley Sr. to John Shirley Jr. both of Spots. Co. 50 pounds
currency, 191 acres in Spots. Co., etc... wit; Thomas Shirley,
Christopher Crawford, Dorothy Dodd, and Thomas Turner.
1788 October 27 - Spotsylvania Co Deed Book M pg 77 - James
Crawford Sr. and John Sherley, Sr. of Spots. Co. , for the natural
love and affection they have for John Crawford and Phebe, his
wife, of same county, deed of gift, 70 acres in Spots. Co., and
two slaves, etc. Wit: John Waller, Thomas Turner, William Arnold,
Thomas Hicks, John Shirley, JR. and James Crawford Jr. ref: Deed
book M page 424
1791 April 5 - Spotsylvania Co Deed Book M pg 433 - John
Shearley, Sr. and John Shearley. Jr., and Frances, his wife,
of Spots. Co., to James Wilson of same county, 45 pounds currency,
60 acres adjoining James Crawford, Waller Lewis, Jona Clark,
in Spots. Co., etc... No witnesses.
1794 September 13 - Spotsylvania Co DB O pg 20 - Know all
men by thse presents that I, John Shirley, Sr. of the County
of Spotsylvania Co. VA had this day bargained and sold to William
Anderson of Cumberland Co. VA one negro woman named Bess for
an in consideration of the sum of thirty pounds to me in hand
paid by him and said Anderson which negro woman slave I am to
have the use of during my life and then to be delivered to the
said Willaim Anderson, his heirs, executors or administrators
or assigns and I do hereby warrant and defend the right of the
said negro woman slavae against the claim or claims of any person
or persons whatsoever. Given under my hand this the 13th day
of September 1794. Test: John Shirley, Jr., Henry Dodd, James
Crawford. John Shirley, Senior "At a court held for Spotsylvania
County December 2nd 1794 this bill of sale from John Shirley
Senior to William Anderson was proved by the oath of two witnesses
thereto and ordered to be recorded.
1795 January 12 - Spotsylvania Co DB O pg 143 - John Shirley
Sr. of Berkeley Parish, Spots. Co., to his daughter, Dorothy
Dodd, deed of gift, a Negro girl, et. Wit: Thomas Shirley, Morady
Morris and James Crawford.
1797 March 10 - Spotsylvania Co Court Minutes pg 285 -
Court held 10 day March 1797 - John Shirley of this County deceased
dying Intestate possessed of a small estate on which no person
will administer . It is ordered that the Sheriff take the said
Estate into his hands and dispose thereof as the law directs
and that Benjamin Waller, Edmd Clarke, James Wiglesowrth, benjamin
Reynolds or any three of them being first sworn do appraise in
current money the said Estate and that the Sheriff return the
appraisment and account thereof to the Court.
married Elizabeth________. She was identified in the 1785 deed between
her husband John Shirley Sr and Samuel Luck (Note: It has been suggested her
name may have been Thomas, but there is no proof).
Sept 10, 1785,
Spotsylvania Co DB K pg 39 - John Shearley and Elizabeth, his
wife, of Spots. Co., to Samuel Luck of same county, 10 pounds
currency, 9 acres of land etc... wit: Nicholas Payne, Thomas
Shirley and Frances Hodges.
children:
1(i). Dorothy
Shirley
born about 1758. She received
legal title to a slave from her father in 1795. She married Henry
Dodd
Jan. 12, 1795 John Shirley
Sr. of Berkeley Parish, Spots. Co., to his daughter, Dorothy
Dodd, deed of gift, a Negro girl, et. Wit: Thomas Shirley, Morady
Morris and James Crawford. ref: deeds 1794-1797
1(ii). John
Shirley, Jr. of Adair Co KY born
April 1760 likely in Berkeley Parish, Spotsylvania Co. VA; Revolutionary
War Soldier; He initially enlisted in the "marine service"
of the United States under Capt Gabriel Jones on the ship Venture;
His father at one point hired James Kemp as his subsitute in
the war; He moved from Virginia to Adair Co KY in 1807;The family
lived in Mercer Co. KY before settling in Adair co. KY. He applied
for a pension for his war service in Dec 1832, at age 72 in Adair
Co KY; He died Mar 12, 1840 Adair Co. KY. SAR Certified
married Frances Yates on 25 November 1782 (source: family
bible) She died Sept 22, 1843 Adair Co. Kentucky. (note: the death date
cannot be correct as Frances Shirley appeared before a KY official
regarding her husband's pension on that same date and she made
a statement as to the date of her marriage to John Shirley in
October 1845)
1782 - Frances Sherley of
Franfurt Ky widow of John Sherley, a Revolutionary War soldier,
states that they were married in 1782. [9 Oc 1845] Box 2 Caroline
Co Misc Records. "Rev. War Soldier, Misc Mil. Papers"
1(iii). Thomas
Shirley of Adair Co KY born 21 March 1761, Berkeley
Parish, Spotsylvania Co., VA. He was the son of John Shirley
Sr and wife Elizabeth of Spotsylvania Co VA; Thomas Shirley enlisted
in the Revolutionary War on 21 January 1777 in the 8th VA Reg.
12th VA, and fought in the battle of Cowpens, SC. His name last
appeared on the military muster roll March 1778, at Valley Forge.
According to tradition, the family settled in Culpeper Co., VA
for a while. They probably migrated out of Virginia, along with
his brother John Shirley, in the year 1807 to Adair Co., KY.
Family tradition says that Thomas Shirley had 60 slaves who cut
a road through the forest as they traveled (the number of slaves
owned clearly an large exaggeration). Family tradition also states
Thomas Shirley predicted Adair Co., KY would have a great future
and that Thomas died very wealthy, The Civil War divided this
family. Nine of his children sided with the North and two with
the South. His will was dated 11 April 1820 and he died soon
afterward.at Five p.m. Monday 17 April 1820 at Adair Co., KY.ref.
VA Rev. Rec. 8th VA Reg., family Bible, Henry Wright Newman,
C. M. Shirley.
married Molly Yates on 5 April 1788 in Caroline Co.,
VA. She was born 17 August 1767, Caroline Co., VA. She died 16
July 1839 Adair Co., KY, daughter of Capt. George and Frances
(Lewis) Yates. George Yates, who was born 1727 was fourth named
George Yates who immigrated from England to Maryland, and had
a brother Dr. Michael Yates. Frances Lewis, b. 1730 Glocester
Co., VA, daughter of Col. John and Frances (Fielding) Lewis.
These were all very prominent families of Colonial Virginia
1(iv). Phoebe
Thomas Shirley
born about 1763. She and her new husband received 70 acres of
land and 2 slaves from their respective parents in 1788. She
married John Crawford. He died and left a will in Spotsylvania
Co VA in 1797.
Oct 27, 1788,
James Crawford Sr. and John Sherley, Sr. of Spots. Co. , for
the natural love and affection they have for John Crawford and
Phebe, his wife, of same county, deed of gift, 70 acres in Spots.
Co., and two slaves, etc. Wit: John Waller, Thomas Turner, William
Arnold, Thomas Hicks, John Shirley, JR. and James Crawford Jr.
ref: Deed book M page 424
1(v). Catherine
Shirley
She died 1833 Cumberland Co. VA; She married William Anderson who died about
1795 in Cumberland Co. VA. Some of their family moved
to Jackson TN;
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Shirleys of Spotsylvania Co Virginia