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1(ii). Walter Shirley Jr. born about 1728, likely in Maryland. He
died 1805 in Jefferson County, West Virginia. For many years
after his father's death Walter Shirley lived on the parental
plantation near Keyes Ferry, and then later near Charles Town,
West Virginia, where he died in April 1804. Walter served in
Rutherford's Rangers at the time of the French and Indian War
(Hening's Statutes at Large, Vol. 7, p. 215). The following
notation appears in the records of the Virginia Land Office,
Richmond, Virginia, in French and Indian Bounty Warrants, Vol.
2, p. 537:
"Berkeley Sct. March Court, 1780 "Walter
Shirley personally appeared in Court and made oath in the holy
Evangelist of Almighty God that in the year 1758 and 1759 he
served as a soldier in a company of Rangers Commanded by Captain
Robert Rutherford and embodied under an Act of the Assembly of
Virginia until it was Reduced and that he hath never Received
any Land for his services under the King of Great Britain's Proclamation
of 1763 the above affidavit was Supported by a Certificate under
the hand of said Robert Rutherford which is Ordered to be Certified.
"Teste Will Drew Cl. Cur. "No. 14 Walter Shirley 1064"
An extensive history of Rutherford's Rangers by Colonel Robert
L. Bates may be found in Vol. 4 (1938), page 4, of "The
Magazine of the Jefferson County Historical Society."
Walter and his brothers James and Jarvis are mentioned. It is
believed that Walter's wife Esther (or Hester) died not
long after the birth of their last child Lawrence Vance Shirley
(b. ca.1785). Walter married 2nd to Margaret Riley, widow of
Richard Riley. That Walter did so is based on the following:
1) a deed executed by "Walter Shirley and Margaret his wife"
dated February 9, 1804 (Deed Book 2, page 111, Jefferson County,
West Virginia), and witnessed by "Martha Arendorf"
who was mentioned in Walter's Will as his housekeeper. 2) A Berkeley
County newspaper article dated February 19, 1829, which states
that "Mrs. Margaret Shirley, aged 72 years, relict of Walter
Shirley, formerly of Charlestown, Jefferson County, Virginia"
died at the residence of Richard Riley [her son] in Belmont County,
Ohio. 3) In a private publication called "The Riley Manuscripts,"
a history of the Richard Riley family gathered by Jesse Keyser
Riley of Bealsville, Ohio, it is noted in the family records
of Ephriam Shirley, by his son Benjamin F. Shirley in 1912, that
Margaret Riley "married Walter Shirley, Samuel Shirley's
father." Walter's Will is recorded in Will Book 1, page
205, Jefferson County, West Virginia. In it he leaves his
land to sons James and Lawrence, on the express condition that
they together pay son Samuel the sum of "twenty five pounds
currency" within one year of his death. The remainder
of his estate was to be equally divided between his "son
David and my daughters Elizabeth French, Nancy Campbell, Margaret
Wysong, and Mary Barton." His last request was that
his housekeeper Martha Arendorff [probably Orndorff] be moved
with her property to her home in Loudoun County at no expense
to her. Wife Margaret is not mentioned in the Will. Walter's
brother Robert and son-in- law Michael Wysong were made his executors.
1805 April 10 Jefferson Co WV WB 1 page 205 - Will of Walter
Shirley of Jefferson Co Virginia dec'd. Dated 11 April 1804.
In the name of God amen I Walter Shirley of Jefferson County
and state of Virginia being in a weak and low state of body but
of sound mind and disposing memory do make this my last will
and testament in manner and form as follows that is today. First
I will to my two sons James Shirley and Laurence Shirley their
heirs and assigns forever the whole of my land on which I now
live containing about 90 acres be the same more or less to be
equally divided between them by my executors herein after mentioned
giving to Laurence the part on which my dwelling house stands
and adjoining Major Tates land and being that end on which the
spring of water is reserving however to my son James his heirs
and assigns forever the free use of the aforesaid spring and
in free comunication therewith both for his family and stock
without interruption. On this express condition that they pay
to my son Samuel his heirs or assigns within one year after my
decease the sum of twenty five pounds currency that is to say
twelve pounds ten shilling each reserving also to my son Laurance
the use without waste of what timber he may want for fencing
and fire wood while it lasts provided he does not use more of
it than an equal part or as much as is used by James. Secondly,
The whole of the remainder of my estate containing my moveable
property and personal estate together with what money may be
left at the time of my decease in the hands of Capt. George Tate
and also the crop of grain that may be in the ground or on hand
I will and desire may be equally divided between my son David
and my Daughters Elizabeth French, Nancy Campbell, Margaret Wysong
and Mary Barton either by dividing the property or by selling
it and dividing the money at the descretion of my executors,
my Just debts and funeral charges being first fully paid. Thirdly,
I will and direct that at the expence of my personal estate Martha
Arendeorff who now keeps house for me may be moved by my executors
to her home in Loudon County with her property clear of any expence
to her the said Martha. Lastly, I hereby appoint, constitute
and ordain my brother Robert Shirley and my son in law Michael
Wysong Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revokeing
and disannulling all former wills by me heretofore made. Witness
my hand and seal this 11th day of April 1804 Walter Shirley/mark
Signed, sealed, pronounced and declared by the said Walter Shirley
as and for his last will and testament in the presence of Alex
White Robert Shirley Sarah Miller/her mark
married 1) Hester Vance, daughter of James Vance and
Mary Hogue. She was born Abt. 1738, and died Abt. 1784.
The approximate year of Hester (Vance) Shirley's death is established
by the Vance Family Historian Rose Barton Tyler who asserted
(in 1925) that Hester's daughter Mary Shirley was aged three
years when Hester died. Mary Shirley, who later married to Dr.
Hugh Barton, was born April 11, 1780. Mary Shirley was
alledgedly raised by an Aunt, Margaret (Vance) Snapp
married 2) Margaret Riley sometime around 1798.
She was born Abt. 1757, and died February 19, 1829 in Belmont
County, Ohio.
Children of Walter Shirley and Hester Vance:
2(i). David Shirley According to Robert L. Bates in
"The Story of Smithfield (Middleway), Jefferson County,
Virginia," David Shirley resided in Jefferson County, Virginia.
He served as a ensign in the Revolutionary War, under Captain
Russell. He was killed by a man named Thompson."
2(ii). Elizabeth Shirley, born about 1764, Virginia.
It is reported that Elizabeth and Husband Samuel French moved
to Western Ohio
2(iii). Nancy Shirley born about 1765, Virginia. She
married John Campbell August 31, 1789 in Shenandoah County, Virginia,
son of Richard Campbell and Rebecca Hawkins. John and Nancy (Shirley)
Campbell for some years resided in Martinsburg, Virgina (now
West Virginia). They later moved to St. Louis, Missouri.
2(iv). James
Shirley, born about 1770, Virginia; d. Ohio. On October
24, 1806, in the year following his father's death, James Shirley
and his wife Susanna sold the land inherited from him.
The deed of sale is recorded in Jefferson County, West Virginia,
Deed Book 4, Page 26, and reads in part: "...by these presents,
the said James Shirley and Susanna his wife have granted, bargained,
and sold, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, and sell
unto the said Mangus Tate, Jr., and his heirs One moiety or equal
half part in quality and quantity in a tract of land lying in
the County of Jefferson, which tract of land was on the eleventh
day of April, one Thousand Eight hundred and four devised by
Walter Shirley now decd. to the said James Shirley and Lawrence
Shirley as tenants in common..." The original acreage
devised in his Father Walter's Will to he and brother Lawrence
was "about 90 acres." It is believed that James
and his son David, went to Ohio in 1819 probably in the company
of Robert Shirley (son of James, son of Walter Sr.) and his son
James. James and David ended up in Ross County, cousins
James and Robert ended up in Defiance and Paulding County, Ohio,
in 1821. It seems that James Shirley and his son David fell on
difficult times not long after their arrival in Ross County.
The first reference to James' difficulties include son David
(David's earlier difficulties are describe in his notes).
In the September Court of 1823 a one John McCoy filed suit against
James and son David claiming that in March, 1823, "Defendants
David & James jointly and severally promised to pay sixty
days after the promissory note to the said John McCoy on order
one hundred and fifty two dollars, fifty six cents, and one fourth
of a cent." "And that though often requested...not
regarding their said promises" they "contrivingly
and fraudulently intending craftily and subtly to deceive and
defraud said plaintiff." McCoy claimed $300.00 damages
for their failure to pay. James and David's attorney filed a
statement claiming "that they did not assume and undertake
in any manner and form as the said plaintiff.." charged
in his complaint. Unfortunately, a note signed by David, and
"Xed" by James was produced. In this promissory
note the original $152.56 amount was reduced by $1.12 in return
for "1 skillet lid." Having apparently lost in court,
on September 10, 1925, son David and uncle Lawrence (his father's
brother) assumed an obligation to McCoy in the amount of $205.12.
It has been said by a descendant of James' cousin that James
and David were "fond of gaming," so perhaps the above
may have been a gambling debt. In any case, it is unknown
to this writer if anything of value other than one skillet lid
went to Mr. McCoy. Shirleys of Ross
Co Ohio
married Susanna Strodeman on May 12, 1794 in Berkeley
County, (West) Virginia. The marriage of James Shirley and
Susanna Strodeman is found at page 204 of "Marriage
Records of Berkeley County, Virginia. 1781 - 1854," compiled
by Guy L. Keesecker. James' name is there spelled as "James
Shiely."
2(v). Margaret Shirley, born January 11, 1771, Virginia;
d. February 16, 1824, Jefferson County, West Virginia. She married
Michael Wysong, son of Johann Ludwig Rheinhard Weisang. He was
born February 12, 1767, and died April 04, 1849 in Jefferson
County, West Virginia
2(vi). Samuel
Shirley, born about 1775, Berkeley County, Virginia;
d. Abt. 1842, Caldwell County, Kentucky. It has been said of
a descendant of Samuel Shirley and Phoebe Cook that Samuel was
a tryer and tester of arms for the Army at Harper's Ferry, Virginia.
At a fairly early age he departed for Blountville in Sullivan
County, Tennessee, with his brother in law Dr. Hugh Taylor.
From there he ended up in Caldwell County, Kentucky. Shirleys of Caldwell Co Kentucky
married 1) Mary Ellen Riley, daughter of Richard Riley
and Margaret _______. She was born March 01, 1777 in Charles
Town, (West) Virginia, and died Abt. 1797 in Berkeley County,
Virginia. In Unrecorded Deeds No. 1, Page 450, Berkeley
County, West Virginia, there is a deed dated August 13, 1791,
between Charles Washington (brother of George) and Mary Riley.
Mary is identified in the deed as "daughter of Margaret,
and Rich'd Riely deceased." For the sum of fifteen
pounds Charles Washington and his wife Mildred sold a town lot
number 51 in Charles Town to Mary. It is interesting to note
that at the time of the sale Mary Riley was a girl of 14. Mary
Riley died at age 20, unmarried giving birth to Ephriam Benson
Riley. The fact that Mary was unmarried and the father
of Ephriam Benson Riley is clearly established in a Deed found
in Deed Book 21, Page 260, of Jefferson County, West Virginia,
dated September 10, 1836. This Deed is between "Ephriam
Shirley, alias Riley, and Leodocea his wife of Ohio," and
Andrew Hunter of Jefferson County. The land they were selling
was town "lot No. 51, being the same lot which was sold
and conveyed by deed
bearing date on the 13th day of August 1791 and duly recorded
in the Clerk's Office in the County of Berkeley, from Charles
Washington, and Mildred his wife, to Mary Riley, daughter of
Margaret and Richard Riley, the above named Ephriam being the
only child and heir of said Mary Riley, who died intestate, and
the said Ephriam having assumed the name of his reputed father
(Shirley)". Ephriam is named "Ephriam Shirley
alias Riley" some nine times in this deed and its
associated certifications. It has been speculated by numerous
Shirley researchers who may have been the father of Mary's child
Ephriam Benson Shirley, alias Riley. It seems certain that
Samuel Shirley fathered Mary's son Ephriam in view of a letter
written September 9, 1912, by Ephriam's son Benjamin F. Shirley
to Richard Riley. In this letter Benjamin writes "Ephriam
Shirley, my father, told me his father and my grandfather was
Samuel Shirley, and that his grandfather [was] Walter Shirley."
He further writes that "Samuel, Ephraim's father, moved
to a place called French, Broad County, Tennessee."
Samuel Shirley departed for Tennessee with his brother-in-law
Dr. Hugh Barton about the time of Ephriam's birth and Mary's
death. Samuel Shirley was the son of Walter Shirley, Jr. (as
indicated in his notes, Walter married second to Mary's mother,
widow Margaret Riley).
married 2) Phoebe Cook about 1808 in Blountville, Sullivan
County, Tennessee. She was born Abt. 1784 in New York,
and died Abt. 1842 in Caldwell County, Kentucky.
2(vii). Mary Shirley born April 11, 1780, Berkeley
County, Virginia; d. December 27, 1852, Franklin County, Alabama.
She married Dr. Lewis Barton on January 1799 in Greenville, Tennessee,
son of Roger Barton and Margaret Galbreath. He was born
May 17, 1775 in Frederick County, Virginia, and died February
19, 1853 in Franklin County, Alabama.
2(viii). Lawrenece
Vance Shirley born about 1784, Frederick County, Virginia.
Lawrence Shirley sold the 50 acres of land he "became entitled
to under the last Will and Testament of his deceased father Walter
Shirley." The Deed is dated April 6, 1808, and describes
Lawrence as "now of the County of Ross in the State of Ohio"
(Deed Book 7, Page 515). He was paid the sum of $575.00 for the
property. In a second Deed dated February 16, 1812, it
appears that the same property [50 acres] is again sold to the
same individual (Mangus Tate) for the same amount ($575.00)
This Deed appears at an earlier page in the Deed Book(108), but
was made at a date later than the first. A possible explanation
for there being are two Deeds for the same property may lay in
the fact that the earlier one was between Lawrence Shirley and
Mangus Tate alone, and was not recorded until May 24, 1813. Evidently
in order to be binding at the time of recording a wife must also
be named in the Deed. Lawrence and Elizabeth Haynes were married
on May 25, 1808, after the first deed was executed, but well
before it was recorded. Thus the second Deed is between
"Lawrence Shirley and Elizabeth his wife" and Mangus
Tate. As noted in the Deeds above, Lawrence Shirley and his wife
were residing in Ross County, Ohio, before 1808. On May 1, 1813,
Lawrence volunteered for service with a Rifle Company of the
Ohio Militia, commanded by Joseph Chew. A portion of his
application for a War of 1812 Bounty Land Grant dated April 5,
1851, reads as follows:
"...he served in this enlistment about one month,
and that he was honorably disbanded, and that neither he nor
the rest of the company received a written discharge...afterwards
enlisted in the Quarter Masters Department at Franklinton on
the Scioto River sometime in the Month of June, AD 1813...for
a term of three months, and continued in actual service nearly
the full term, being released and allowed to return home a few
day before the expiration of his service account of sickness
in his family." He was released at Basher Mills, North
Fork of Paint Creek, Ohio. At the date of this application
he is shown to be "..aged 66 years, a resident of Middleport,
County of Iroquois and State of Illinois."
Lawrence was still attempting to obtain his Bounty Land Grant
on June 11, 1855, and at that time was residing in Miami County,
Indiana. It is not know by this writer if he was successful
in obtaining a grant. Shirleys of
Ross Co Ohio and Miami Co Indiana
married Elizabeth Haynes on May 25, 1808. She was born
Abt. 1791, and died Abt. 1839.
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Walter Shirley (cont.)