In 1777 John Shurley and his brother Robert Shurley and ?relatives
Edward, Thomas, and William Shurley were enumerated on the militia
rolls at Fort Womack in Washington District (now Sullivan Co),
Eastern Tennessee. This land was disputed between Fincastle Co
VA and NC and is often referred to as both in documents of the
time. John Shurley appears the next year in Wood District with
Edward Shurley in a 1778 Washington District tax list; About
that time, Shirley secured a very large grant of 640 acres on
Cherokee Creek that was later the subject of considerable dispute;
Shirley's land was adjacent land of Joseph Pinson and where "widow
Sherly lives", no doubt his widowed mother Mary Shurley;
By 1782, John Shurley had moved to Wilkes Co NC by 1782, likely
following the Rev. Aaron Pinson family who moved from Cherokee
Creek church to take up a new church there. It was at that time
that Shurley's land on Cherokee Creek came into dispute; The
land was ultimately granted to Shirley in 1790, but that was
long after the Shurleys left East Tennessee, moved to Wilkes
Co NC and then returned to Laurens Co SC; Rev Pinson was preaching
at Rabun Creek church in Laurens Co SC by 1784 and it is likely
that John Shurley's family was in SC by that date as well; In
1788, John Shirley and wife Rebecca sold the 200 acres of land
on Rabun Creek in Laurens Co SC originally granted to him in
1767. John Shirley of "Lawrence District SC" sold his
land in East Tennessee in several transactions by his attorney
John McKinney between 1808 to 1811. He signed the administrative
bond for the estate of George Wright on 6 February 1804 in Laurens
Co SC. He is identified in estate documents as John Shirley Senr.
He purchased a gun and a bay mare for $33.87 1/2 from the Wright
estate sale.
John Shirley died sometime prior to the date his estate was
probated 11 March 1816 in Laurens Co SC.
11 Mar 1816 Estate of John Shirley, dec'd. Robert Shirley
applied for admin. Citation read by Jacob Niswanger March 1816.
Appraisement $402.12 by Jacob Niswanger, James McPherson, ___
Moore. Admin bond: Robert Shirley, John Shirly, Wm McPherson.
married Rebecca______. She died before June 1825
in Laurens Co SC (There is some evidence
that the wife of the above John Shirley is the daughter of Thomas
Calloway of Wilkes Co NC, information documented in the Draper
manuscripts regarding the capture of Col. Benjamin Cleveland
by the Tories)
Writ of Summons in the Case of Shubel Starnes vs. John
Shirley et al. May 2nd, 1825... Laurens Co. South Carolina; To
John, Aaron, Beverly, Lydia, Jane, Easter, Polly, Sarah, Hulda
and Edy -- legal heirs and legal representatives of Rebecca Shirley,
who died intestate.
Greetings: You are hereby required to appear at the Court
of Ordinary to be holden at Laurens Court House for the said
District on the 6th day of June 1825 to show cause, if any of
you can, why the real estate of Rebecca Shirley deceased containing
ninety-six acres more or less, situate in the District and State
aforesaid, being part of four hundred granted to Richard Shirley
bounded by land of Jacob Newanger, Beverly Shirley and Shubel
Starnes, should not be divided or sold attaining the same in
equal porportion to the said John Shirley, Aaron Shirley, Beverly
Shirley, Lydia Shirley, Jane Shirley, Elizabeth Shirley, Easter
Shirley, Polly married to Graham Elmore, Sarah married to William
McPerson, Rebecca married to Elijah Elmore, Hulda married to
George Elmore and Edy Wright, widow. Given under my hand and
seal the 2nd day of May 1825. David Anderson, Ordinary, Laurens
District.
Distribution of estate to: 1826 Mar
23 - Laurens Co Real Esate Receipt Book 1826 - 1836, page 2;
Joint Receipt from all the legatees [list of legatees] John Shearly
dec'd real estate; Shubel Starnes, petitioner v. Aaron Shearly,
Moses Shearly, Eady Wright, Easter Shearly, John Shearly, Gray
Elmore, George Elmore, Beverly Shearly, Elizabeth Shearly, Lydia
Shearly, Jean Shearly, William McPhearson, Elijah Elmore
children according to land and court documents
1790 Laurens SC census (age 52): 3 sons born before 1776,
1 son born between 1776-1790, and 11 daughters
1800 Laurens SC census (age 62): 1 son born 1774-1784, 2 new
sons born 1790-1800; 11 daughters (3 new in household); sons
John Jr and Moses Shirley living out of the household.
2(i). Moses Shirley
(Shirley Branch #61) born about 1769; He was named as a legatee
in the 1826 division of his father's estate; lived Habersham
County, Georgia
2(ii). Aaron
Shirley born about 1770; Apparently, this Aaron is the person
who is enumerated in the 1800 Spartanburg SC census (no children
b before 1800). He is then found in 1810 and 1820 censuses in
Laurens Co where he lived until about 1828 when he and wife sold
their land. They do not appear in the 1830 Laurens census, but
appear in an 1830 Habersham Co GA record (but not in the census).
Then appears in Habersham Co GA 1840 and 1850 census ("dec'd").
2(iii). Robert Shirley born about 1775 in South Carolina;
He was the administrator of his father's estate; Moved family
to Tuscaloosa County Alabama around 1830. Lived in son Aaron
Shirley's household in 1850 census, age 75.
DB J: 253 10/5/1811 - 2/10/1812. Robert Shirley planter
of Fairfield Dist to Robert Shirley son of John Shirley of Laurens
Dist for L50 stg, 150 ac on Raburn Cr part of 500 ac originally
granted to Richard Shirley 2/15/1769 conveyed to sd Robert Shirley
of Fairfield heir of sd Richard Shirley. Wit: John Shurley, Elijah
Shurley. James Powell J.P.
married Ann Stearns, likely born about 1780. Daughter
of Mary Ann Stearns (b 1760-70) and grandaughter of Sarah Wright;
Ann died sometime before 1843
DB K: 184 Jan 28 1815 - Sept 16 1817 - Deed of gift: I
Sarah Wright, widow of Laurens Dist SC for divers good causes
love good will and affection do hereby give and grant unto Robert
Shirley and his wife Ann grand daughter one Negro boy about 7
years old by the name of Lan. And I do hereby bind myself my
heirs exec and adm to warrant and forever defend the right of
the sd Negro Lan unto the sd Robt Shirley and wife Ann and thier
heirs forever. 28 Jan 1815. Wit: Jacob Niswanger. Proven 14 Sept
1817.
children:
(See 1810 and 1830 Laurens Co census profiles next to each
listing below). Joel and Mary Berry listed based on the connection
with Ann as wife of Robert Shirley). Not sure why they specifically
inherited a share but the other children did not?
3(i). male Shirley born 1800-1810 (could this son
be Roland Shirley, see at bottom of page)
3(ii). Aaron Shirley
(Shirley Branch #42) born 1800-1810; (b. abt 1810 in 1850 Tuscaloosa
County AL census); lived White Township in Newton County Arkansas
in 1860.
3(iii). Joel Shirley
(male born 1800-1810) born abt 1803 in Tuscaloosa AL census;
lived in Tuscaloosa AL from abt 1830; named in 1851 will of grandmother
Mary Ann Stearns as daughter of Ann Shirley, dec'd. This Joel
Shirley fits birth census profile for Robert Shirley's children.
He married Sarah Tierce, daughter of Benjamin Tierce of Tuscaloosa
Co.
3(iv). Mary Berry Shirley (female born 1800-1810) born
about 1806. Mary was age 44 in the 1850 Chickasaw Co MS census,
husband Abraham Berry. Named in 1851 will of grandmother Mary
Ann Stearns as daughter of Ann Shirley, dec'd.
Mary Shirley married Abram Berry on 4 June 1835 in Tuscaloosa
Co AL
3(v). Lewis Shirley
(male born 1810-1815) (Shirley Branch #43) born about 1814; lived
Tuscaloosa Co Alabama until about 1843; died Dec 30, 1874 and
was buried in Shirley Cemetery not far from Shirley Spring in
Montgomery Co. Arkansas. (Editor: Lewis
as son of Robert and Ann is likely, but not proven)
3(vi). female Shirley born 1810-1815
She might be Susannah Shirley who married William Copeland
Tierce in Tuscaloosa Co in 1833. William was the son of Benjamin
Tierce. Note brother Joel Shirley also married a child of Benjamin
Tierce.
1834 DB K p 1. Indenture 18 Mar 1834 between Wm Tierce
of Tuscaloosa and Joel Shirley of same in consideration of natural
love and affection for his daughters Elizabeth and Rebecca. E
1/2 of SW 1/4 Sec 26 T24 R5E 80acres. W 1/2 of SE 1/4 Sec 26,
T24 R5E. 80acres. A negro girl Harriet about age 12, 2 bay horses,
household and kitchen furniture when they turn 21. [note: this
conveyance revoked 6 Apr 1835]
3(vii). Wade Shirley (male born 1815-1820) He is untraced
Tuscaloosa Co Book 2, p156 18 Nov 1841. Ordered by the
court that Robert Shirley be appointed guardian of Wade Shirley,
Rebecca Shirley, and Rhoda Shirley children of said Robert Shirley.
[signed by] Aaron Shirley, Lewis Shirley
3(viii). Rebecca Shirley (female born 1815-1820)
Tuscaloosa Co Book 2, p156 18 Nov 1841. Ordered by the
court that Robert Shirley be appointed guardian of Wade Shirley,
Rebecca Shirley, and Rhoda Shirley children of said Robert Shirley.
[signed by] Aaron Shirley, Lewis Shirley
3(ix). Rhoda Shirley (female born 1820-1825)
Tuscaloosa Co Book 2, p156 18 Nov 1841. Ordered by the
court that Robert Shirley be appointed guardian of Wade Shirley,
Rebecca Shirley, and Rhoda Shirley children of said Robert Shirley.
[signed by] Aaron Shirley, Lewis Shirley
2(iv). Edy (possibly Edith) Shirley born about 1776
Laurens Co SC (estimated by first child born 1796). She died
in Meriwether Co Georgia; She was named in the 1825 estate settlement
of her father; She married George Wright who died about 1803-4
(after the birth of their last child)
2(v). John
Shirley Jr born 24 January 1777 at Shirley Town, Laurens
Co. SC (dob source: Updike book, ref. Joel B. Shirley family
Bible. The names of only 2 of their children known.); named
as a legatee in the 1826 division of his father's estate; living
in Laurens Co SC in 1800 (age 23), 1810 (age 33), 1820 (age 43)
and 1830 census (age 53); death date and place unknown.
married Lucretia __________. She was born
July 22, 1778 (dob source: Updike book, ref. Joel
B. Shirley family Bible. The names of only 2 of their children
known.)
2(vi). Sarah Shirley born between 1780-90, age 40-50
in 1840 census; She was named in the 1825 estate settlement
of her father John Shirley; She died sometime between 1840 and
1850 censuses at Tuscaloosa Co Alabama; She married William McPherson
2(vii). Lydia Shirley born say 1782 Laurens SC; She
was named in the 1825 estate settlement of her father John Shirley
2(viii). Jane Shirley born say 1784 Laurens SC; She
was named in the 1825 estate settlement of her father John Shirley
2(ix). Polly Shirley born 6 July 1787; named
in the 1825 estate settlement of her father John Shirley; She
married Graham Elmore
2(x). Easter Shirley born about 1788 Laurens SC, age
72 in the 1860 census household of her son Hezekiah Shirley in
Chambers Co Alabama; She was named in the 1825 estate
settlement of her father John Shirley. She likely had children
out of wedlock; See Branch
66 for her children, surname: Shirley
2(xi). Beverly Shirley New
- born say 1789; Named as legatee in his mother Rebecca Shirley's
1825 estate; He was married with children in the 1820 Laurens
Co SC census, age 26 to 45 (born 1775-1794), but likely on the
younger end of the age range with 1 son and 2 daughters under
the age of 10 in the household; Robert Shirley sold land to Beverly
Shirley in 1823 (Grantee index has this as 1813 in error).
Named as legatee in his mother Rebecca Shirley's 1825 estate
settlement; He was age 30-40 (b 1790-1800) in the 1830 Laurens
Co SC census; In 1831 FB Walker sold 72 acres of land on the
Reedy River to Beverly Shirley (no indication yet of when the
land was sold). His land was identified as adjacent to Eli (Elie)
Shirley's land in the latter's 1832 transaction. Beverly does
not appear in Laurens Co records after that date; He may be
the Beverly Shirley who moved to Tuscaloosa Co AL although
his theorized birth date is after 1800
2 May 1825 - Laurens Co. Estate records -Writ of Summons
for partition in the case of Shubal Starns vs. Jno. Shurley and
others. To: John Shurley, Aaron Shurley, Beverley Shurley, Lydia
Shurley, Jane Shurley, Elizabeth Shurley, Easter Shurley, Polly
married to Graham Elmore, Sarah married to Wm McPherson, Huldy
married to George Elmore, Rebecca married to Elijah Elmore, Edy
Wright a widow, legal heirs of Rebecca Shurley who died intestate.
To appear at court 6 June 1825 in Laurens Dist - settlement of
est. land granted to Richard Shurley bounded by Jacob Niswanger,
Beverley Shurley and Shubal Starns. Signed: 9 may 1825. All appeared
in court 6 June 1825. Mention of Wm Moore and Jonathan Forgey,
respectable free holders; land to be sold by sherriff on 1st
Monday of July next.
married __________ age 26-45 in 1820 census, may be
dead by 1830, although an older female is in the household, age
60-70 (the census markings could be messed up)
children: (some of the following children could
be duplicates due to census taker error)
3(i). daughter Shirley born about 1810-1820, age 0-10
in 1820 census, age 20-30 in 1830 census
3(ii). son Shirley born about 1810-1820, age 0-10 in
1820 census, gone in 1820 census
3(iii). son Shirley born about 1810-1820, age 0-10
in 1820 census, gone in 1820 census
3(iv). son Shirley born about 1820-1825, age 5-10 in
1830 census
3(v). daughter Shirley born about 1820-1825, age 5-10
in 1830 census
3(vi). daughter Shirley born about 1820-1825, age 5-10
in 1830 census
3(vii). daughter Shirley born about 1825-1830, age
0-5 in 1830 census
3(viii). son Shirley born about 1825-1830, age 0-5
in 1830 census
2(xii). Rebecca Shirley born about 1790 in Laurens
Co SC, age 60 in husband's 1850 census household in Gordo, Pickens
Co Alabama; She was named in the 1825 estate settlement
of her father John Shirley; married Elijah Elmore
2(xiii). Elizabeth Shirley born say 1792 Laurens SC;
She was named in the 1825 estate settlement of her father John
Shirley
2(xiv). Hulda Shirley born 20 August 1801 in Laurens
Co SC; She was named in the 1825 estate settlement of her father
John Shirley; She died 20 Oct 1881; married to George Elmore,
brother of Graham Elmore who married her sister Polly (apparently
another brother Travis Elmore married a Detrie Shirley)
This Lineage Updated and Verified
July 2019
Unknown Laurens Shirley connections
The following lineage is clearly sourced from the 1969
Chamblee book, who interviewed Joel B Shirley about his extended
Laurens Co ancestry and his Shirley relatives. Joel is obviously
the primary source for these connections that do not have documented
proof
Roland Shirley born say 1800
Laurens Co. SC; He apparently died sometime after the births
of his 2 sons in the late 1820s. He is not found in any SC census;
A Roland Shirley (single no children) is enumerated in the
1840 census of Tuscaloosa Co AL, age 30-40, next to Joel Shirley
of the same age (son of Robert Shirley, see lineage above). Is
it possible he divorced his wife (or ran off), or is that a different
Roland Shirley? No other mention of that Roland Shirley found
as yet.
married Sabra Shirley She was born about 1810 SC, age
70 in 2nd husband's 1880 census household in Cokesbury Abbeville
Co SC; She married 2nd Lorenzo Dow Elmore (15 yrs her junior)
likely sometime after the 1840 census (based on his dob), the
son of George Elmore and Hulda Shirley. The L D Elmores are enumerated
extensvely in South Carolina census 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 etc.
children:
1(i). Joel Shirley born about 1826 SC, age 24 in 1850
census household of L D Elmore (age 30) in Laurens Co SC; Also
living in the household was brother David Shirley and Easter
Elmore, age 50; He died 15 April 1860 pneumonia,
married Lucretia Shirley; born about 1835; She was
the daughter of Elihu Shirley of Laurens Co SC; Enumerated in
Laurens Co SC in 1870 census, age 35 (as Cressey), according
to the census, living in the same dwelling house as Lorenzo and
Sabra Elmore; She lived in the household of her mother-in-law
Sabra Shirley and her 2nd husband Lorenzo Elmore in the Abbeville
Co SC 1880 census, age 45
children:
2(i). James Calhoun Shirley born 25 August 1856 SC,
age 14 in 1870 census household of his widowed mother; He was
enumerated with his widowed mother in the 1880 census household
of Lorenzo Elmore in Abbeville Co SC, age 23; He died 5 December
1921
married Nancy C. White on 7 July 1887. She was born
5 December 1859 Greenwood Co. SC and died 9 December 1901. She
was the daughter of Benjamin and Jane Campbell Harper.
children:
3(i). David Jay Shirley born 28 March 1888 SC; He died
17 April 1902, age 14
3(ii). Joel Benjamin Shirley born 5 February 1890 SC
married Nina Pearl Strickland on 2 October 1910. She
was born 23 November 1885 Barkers Creek Section, Anderson Co.
SC, She died 13 January 1958 Greenwood Co. SC
3(iii). Marie L. Shirley born 2 January 1892 SC
3(iv). Martin Shirley born February 1894 SC; He died
28 October 1904, age 10
3(v). Bessie Lee Shirley born 11 August 1898 SC
3(vi). Rosetta Shirley born April 1901; She died 1901
infant
2(ii). Martin Morris Shirley born 11 April 1859
SC, age 11 in the 1870 census household of his widowed mother;
He was enumerated with his widowed mother in the 1880 census
household of Lorenzo Elmore in Abbeville Co SC, age 21; He died
19 February 1939
married Elizabeth L. Anderson. She was born 23 February
1858 and died 8 September 1911
children:
3(i). Emma Pearl Shirley born 27 January 1884 SC; She
married L.C. Cooper (children: Juanita, Doris and Wyatt Cooper)
3(ii). Orrie Lee Shirley born 5 September 1886 SC;
She married Henry McKinney (4 children)
3(iii). Olin Smart Shirley born 20 January 1890 SC;
Enumerated at Greenwood SC in 1930, age 40; He died 20 may 1947
at Charleston SC; Buried at Greenwood SC
married 1) Joanna Frick
married 2) Grace Rush
No children either marriage
3(iv). Walker Talmadge (Monk) Shirley born 22 August
1898 SC
married Mary Davis (4 children).
1(i). David Andrew Shirley born about 1829 SC, age
21 in 1850 census household of L D Elmore (age 30) in Laurens
Co SC; Also living in the household was brother Joel Shirley
and Easter Elmore, age 50; Oddly, he is either skipped or
mis-indexed in both 1860 and 1870 censuses; He died 30 September
1873 and buried at Zion Church in Laurens Co. SC with Masonic
honors
married Mary Sanders
children:
2(i). Amanda Jane Shirley (twin) died in infancy
2(ii). Odessa Rane Shirley (twin) died in infancy
-------------------------------------
Hulda Shirley Aug 20 or 28, 1801 Laurens Co. SC
d. Oct 20, 1881, supposedly daughter of Thomas Shirley and wife
____Pinson
m. Elihu Duke Shirley, son of John and Lucretia Shirley
(see that lineage via John Shirley Jr above)
Richard Shirley