Shirley Association Genealogical Research Website

The Shirley Association has been a member of the Guild of One-Name Studies since 1988 Thomas Shirley
(continued)

7. James Albert SHIRLEY b 1 Jun 1800 in Culpepper county VA; He lived in Howard Co Missouri.

married 1st. Frances (Fanny) Giddings on 20 Apr 1826 in Barren county KY.

children:

2(i) Paul SHIRLEY was born 1828.

Paul Shirley (67) born 1828 in KY. He fought in the Mexican War (1846-48) under General George Stoneman (who later became Governor of California). He came to California in 1849 (age 21) seeking gold. He was four times elected Sheriff of Solano county, being elected in 1851 and serving until 1857. While sheriff he married W1 Mary E. Gift (from TN and daughter of Robert Lee Gift) in May 1857; they had a son (Albert) Guy Shirley born 1859. Mary E.died Sept 1860. Paul then married her sister, Leonora (Nora) Edmona Gift (b. 1843 TN and bapt. 25 Aug 1867 in St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Benicia). Their daughter, my g-grandmother, Maud Shirley was born 1863.

For more than 40 years Paul was a business associate of Lansing B. Mizner, another early pioneer in Contra Costa county, California. Their business was chiefly the construction and operation of wharfs along the Carquinez Straits. He also owned the ferry between Martinez and Benicia, and lands and wharf property on both sides of the straits of Carquinez. He was one of the outstanding Democratic politicians of the state and served from 6 Dec 1875 to 5 Jan 1880, elected State Senator for Contra Costa and Marin Counties, coming 3 votes short of being nominated for State Treasurer. On 13 Oct 1883, a page 1 article in the San Francisco Daily Morning Call proclaims "Paul Shirley Elected Warden of the San Quentin Prison." He served as warden from 1884-1888. An article written the day after his appointment to Warden says that he "is an old Californian, who has accumulated a fortune by his intelligence and business abilty." He died in Martinez from general debility, and is lsted as a capitalist in his obituary.

He and his wife Nora [and his daughter Maud] are buried in the Alhambra Cemetary at Martinez, a privately owned cemetary with some prominent Californian pioneers. Paul died intestate, so there is no will. Probate records from 1895-1897 of about 100 pages, however, have every conceivable type of probate-related document.

There is one small mystery in those records....Paul had owned a distillery in Bergin, Mercer County KY that was wholly destroyed by fire 6 Apr 1893. He received insurance in the amount of $1826.

married 2nd Martha J. Hayden, said to be a Yankee,

at least 5 children: (1850 census in Howard county MO:

2(ii) John SHIRLEY

2(iii) Martha A SHIRLEY

2(iv) Mary E SHIRLEY

2(v) Ibena S. SHIRLEY

2(vi) James A SHIRLEY

2(vii) Charles H. SHIRLEY

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The Shirley Association has been a member of the Guild of One-Name Studies since 1988		Thomas Shirley (continued)

		7. James Albert SHIRLEY b 1 Jun 1800 in Culpepper county VA; He lived in Howard Co Missouri. married 1st. Frances (Fanny) Giddings on 20 Apr 1826 in Barren county KY. children: 2(i) Paul SHIRLEY was born 1828. Paul Shirley (67) born 1828 in KY. He fought in the Mexican War (1846-48) under General George Stoneman (who later became Governor of California). He came to California in 1849 (age 21) seeking gold. He was four times elected Sheriff of Solano county, being elected in 1851 and serving until 1857. While sheriff he married W1 Mary E. Gift (from TN and daughter of Robert Lee Gift) in May 1857; they had a son (Albert) Guy Shirley born 1859. Mary E.died Sept 1860. Paul then married her sister, Leonora (Nora) Edmona Gift (b. 1843 TN and bapt. 25 Aug 1867 in St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Benicia). Their daughter, my g-grandmother, Maud Shirley was born 1863. For more than 40 years Paul was a business associate of Lansing B. Mizner, another early pioneer in Contra Costa county, California. Their business was chiefly the construction and operation of wharfs along the Carquinez Straits. He also owned the ferry between Martinez and Benicia, and lands and wharf property on both sides of the straits of Carquinez. He was one of the outstanding Democratic politicians of the state and served from 6 Dec 1875 to 5 Jan 1880, elected State Senator for Contra Costa and Marin Counties, coming 3 votes short of being nominated for State Treasurer. On 13 Oct 1883, a page 1 article in the San Francisco Daily Morning Call proclaims "Paul Shirley Elected Warden of the San Quentin Prison." He served as warden from 1884-1888. An article written the day after his appointment to Warden says that he "is an old Californian, who has accumulated a fortune by his intelligence and business abilty." He died in Martinez from general debility, and is lsted as a capitalist in his obituary. He and his wife Nora [and his daughter Maud] are buried in the Alhambra Cemetary at Martinez, a privately owned cemetary with some prominent Californian pioneers. Paul died intestate, so there is no will. Probate records from 1895-1897 of about 100 pages, however, have every conceivable type of probate-related document. There is one small mystery in those records....Paul had owned a distillery in Bergin, Mercer County KY that was wholly destroyed by fire 6 Apr 1893. He received insurance in the amount of $1826. married 2nd Martha J. Hayden, said to be a Yankee, at least 5 children: (1850 census in Howard county MO: 2(ii) John SHIRLEY 2(iii) Martha A SHIRLEY 2(iv) Mary E SHIRLEY 2(v) Ibena S. SHIRLEY 2(vi) James A SHIRLEY 2(vii) Charles H. SHIRLEY
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