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Shirley
Families of Jamaica, West Indies
A published family history of the
descendants of Henry Shirley, esq. of Hyde Hall, Jamaica W.I.
Almost 500 pages. Many descendants live today in Jamaica and
USA. Order
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 New Research
Findings Blog
The following abstracts, transcriptions, photos, lineages and
original historical documents have recently been added to the
Shirley Association website. Check this section regularly to
monitor our research progress. |
 indicates information is posted on a
members-only webpage.
February 5, 2012
I spent some time this morning
creating the following new English Shirley branches.
2. William
Shirley
born about 1728; lived in Chatham and Rochester Kent; This family
were members of the Independent Baptist Church at Rochester.
3. Nicholas
Shearley
born about 1720; lived in Bexley Kent.
January 22, 2012
I read the following query at
Rootsweb this morning and spent a few hours trying to answer
the question posed
Searching for Shirley brothers
James and John who were born in Derry, Ireland 1839 and 1836.
I think they are in 1855 Grafton, MA census with father George
and mother, know they were in Philadelphia by 1865 where one
married and both had children die in infancy. Moved to Mason
County, IL by 1870 where they are listed in that census. James
in Fulton County, IL 1900. Trying to verify they are sons of
George (whose father is Joseph)and where they lived in Ireland.
Aghadowey has other Shirleys, but haven't found a connection.
James married Jane and John married Mary Jane Pattison.
Success. I found the marriage
record for James Shirley who married Jane Patterson in Grafton
Worcester Co Mass. The record names his parents as George and
Jane Shirley.
See their
lineage here at the Shirley Association.
January 21, 2012
Posted the following estate documents
to the Scott
Co KY page in the members' section
1818 Scott Co KY WB D pg 339
Will
of Arge Shirley Dated 29 July 1817; (Guardian
Bond and Executors Bond pages 340-341)
1811 Sept Court; Scott Co KY
WB D pg 448 Revision
of the will of William Shirley, dec'd
January 20, 2012
Posted the following estate document
to the Scott
Co KY page in the members' section
Scott Co KY
1796 July 26. Scott Co KY WB
A pg 9 Administrative
bond to Thomas Shirley for the estate of Richard Shirley, dec'd
1797 June Court. Scott Co KY
WB A pg 25 Appraisement
of the estate of Richard Shirley, dec'd
1797 Oct 1. Scott Co KY WB A
pg 36 Account
of the sales of the estate of Richard Shirley, dec'd.
1805 Mar 25. Scott Co WB A pg
246;Will
of William Shirley, Dated Sept 30 1799; Wife: Margaret. sons:
Robert, William, Richard, John. Daughters: Rebecca, Sarah Johnson.
Executor: wife. Wit: John Rodes, Walker Rodes.
1805 May Court. Scott Co WB A
pg 254 Appraisal
of the estate of William Shirley.
Posted the following estate documents
for Joshua Shirley to the Bullitt
Co KY pages in the members' section
Bullitt Co KY
1866 Bullitt Co KY WB G p 107
Estate
Inventory of Joshua Shirley - Page
108
25 April 1866 Bullitt Co KY WB
G p 109 - Sale
Bill of Joshua Shirley dec'd:
January 18, 2012
Posted the following probate document
image to the Cortland
Co NY page in the members' section
Cortland Co NY
1848 Nov 28. Estate
of Ebenezer Shirley. Letters of Administration granted to
Abigail Shirley, George Ross, and Cornelius Shirley.
January 15, 2012
Posted the following original estate
records for the death of Paul Shirley of Davidson
Co TN to the appropriate page in the members' section
Davidson Co TN
1834 LW&T of Paul
Shirley of Davidson TN probated 1834 (page
2)
1834 Estate Inventory of Paul
Shirley of Davidson TN pgs 388-390 (pdf)
January 14, 2012
Posted the following LW&T document
images to the Adair
Co KY page in the members' section
Adair Co KY
May 4 1840 WB D Page 256 Will
of John S. SHIRLEY; Written: Mar 19 1838; Wife: Florance
Shirley; remainder to be equally divided among my children viz:
George Shirley, John W Shirley, Nancy M Coleman, Polly Rogers
and Betsey Bailey. Exec: Joseph H. Coleman and George Shirley;
Recorded: May 4 1840
1877 October Will
of Mary Shirley WB L pg 274 - To my sons George and John,
or the one that keeps and supports my daughter Sarah Ann Shirley
so long as she may live...all property to be divided equally
among my bodily heirs viz: George S Shirley, John B Shirley,
Sarah Ann Shirley, Elizabeth Bells children and Mary Jane Yates
children. W N Yates my nephew as my executor. 25 May 1877. Mary
X Shirley Wit: P Nelson, C C Yates C H Yates.
1917 May 8 Will
of J. R. Shirley WB M pg 255. - my estate to my wife
Mary Alice Shirley as long as she lives; nominate my son Haryy
O. Shirley to be executor. Mar 10 1917 J. R. Shirley Wit: C C
Hindman, G R Skaggs
Posted the following 1867 estate documents
for Lewis Shirley, deceased of Baine Co AL (now Etowah Co) to
the Etowah
Co Alabama page in the members' section. He's part of Branch
64, of St Clair AL and Sharp Co Ark.
Baine Co AL (now Etowah Co)
1867 Estate
documents of Lewis Shirley, dec'd (includes his estate inventory)
- "..that the late Lewis Shirley, who was an inhabitant
of this county at the time of his death, departed this life on
the 11th day of July 1867 leaving a will...Your petitioner further
states that she is the widow of the said deceased....and that
the next of kin of said decedent are his three children and eight
grandchildren viz; Matilda C Humphries a widowed daughter of
said decedent of full age residing in this county, Lewis H Shirley
a son of said decedent of fulla ge and Sarah Ann Shirley a daughter
of said decedent between 14 and 21 years of age both of whom
reside out of state of Alabama the exact place of their residence
not known to your petitioner, and his grandchildren are Polly
and Nathan F., Sarah and Lewis Shirley children of Wm Shirley
deceased who was a son of said decedent - all of whom reside
with their mother Elizabeth Shirley in this county. The said
Polley and Nathan F. between 14 and 21 years of age and the said
Sarah and Lewis under 14 years of age; and Jane, Catherine, Lewis
and Caroline Shirley children of Franklin Shirley deceased who
was a son of said decedent - all of whom are minors under 14
years of age and said Lewis and Caroline reside with their mother
Mary Shirley in St Clair County Ala and Jane and Catherine reside
with your petitioner in this county.....27 July 1867 Sarah X
Shirley." [other documents included; short inventory indicated
he owned 780 acres of land]
January 8, 2012
Posted more of the following medieval
documents to the England page in the members' section. These
are from the Court of Common Plea Rolls
Northamptonshire
1465 Nhants; trespass: close;
Plt: Shukburgh, Thomas, esq; Def: Shirley,
John, of Kyslyngbury, miller CP40 814
Surrey
1465 Surrey; covenant; Plt: Shirley,
Reginald and Rawelyn, William; Def: Chattok, John; Joan his
wife CP40 814
Warwickshire
1544 Coventry; debt; Plt: Kylbs,
Henry, of Coventry, mercer, executors of; (Shurley,
Richard, of Coventry, clerk; Wyllys, Richard, of Uffton,
Warw, gent); Def: Browne, William, of Swyneshed, Lincs, mercer
CP40 1120
Essex
1537 indenture; Plt: Shurley,
John, of Thaydon Hall, Essex, esq; Def: Humfrey, Richard,
of Barton, Nhants, esq CP 40 1092 "..John Shurley son
and heir of Hugh Shurley of Swepston in the county of Leics,
esquire deceased..." page
2; page
3
The above
John Shirley of Theydon Hall, [Theydon Garnon parish] Essex is
part of the only stray branch discoverd thus far of the ancient
Shirleys of Ettington. See the Shirley Association's research
findings
about the Shirleys of Swepstone
January 5, 2012
Posted the following original medieval
documents to the England page in the members' section. Note:
the John Shirley, esq mentioned below is a famous Chaucer scribe,
secretary to the Earl of Warwick.
England
1433 Chancery Court C1 12/247
- Walter Roger v. John
Shirley, esq., and Geoffrey Fyldyng, mercer.: Money matters.
1407-1456 Chancery Court C 1/16/272
John
Shirley, esq. v. Thomas Gerard, esq. and John Preston, his
servant.: Forgery of an indenture of debt.
1407-1456 Chancery Court C 1/16/430
Thomas Gerard, esq. v. John Verney, dean of Lichfield, and William
Forstede, esq., arbitrators.: Surrender of a release in a matter
between petitioner and John
Shirley, esq., concerning the issues of the manor of Preston.:
Rutland.
1407-1456 Chancery Court C 1/16/244
- John Noel, master of St. Thomas of Acres, London. v. John
Shirley: Detention of a tally upon the customers of London.:
London. Items
A, B,
C,
D,
E1,
E2,
E3
1475-1485 Chancery Court C1 53/151
- Robert,
son of Reynold Shirley. v. Richard Camberwell, surviving
feoffee to uses.: Land at Croydon.: Surrey.
1493-1500 Chancery Court C1 202/53
- Robert Forthey, Richard Newdyke, Rauf
Sherley and Fraunceys, his wife, heirs of Thomas Osney. v.
Nicholas Folyett: Detention of deeds relating to land in Overhowsell
in the parish of Lye.: Worcester.page
2, page
3, page
4, page
5, page
6.
1493-1500 Richard
Ryse or Ryce v. Hugh Shirley: Actions against complainant
on various bonds entered into with Robert Fennerother and others.
C 1/221/27 page
2
1493-1500 Chancery Court C 1/201/11
- Thomas Froxmer v. Thomas
Shorley and Joyce, his wife, previously the wife of John Fraunces,
and others.: The manor of Donmowys in Fulborn, late of Harry
Fyllyngley.: Cambridge.
1535 CP40/1084 debt; Dorset;
Tocker, Richard vs. Langford, Edward, of Blanford, draper; Shyrley,
Thomas, of Blanford, yeoman [should be Blandford]
1544 CP40/1120 Surrey; debt;
Pope, Hugh Sadler, Edward, of Wolvershyll, Warw, gent; Sherley,
John, of Taunton, Soms, gent; Atkyn, John, of Tettysworth,
Oxon, innholder; Clyffe, William, of London, skinner
January 2, 2012
Posted the following probate abstracts
to the Tioga
Co NY page in the members' section
1891 Estate of Riley Shirley;
Date of Death 1 Mar 1891; Probate 31 Jul 1891; Letters C pg 96;
WB N pg 229 [186]
1893 Estate of Jonathan Shirley;
Date of Death 27 Dec 1893; Probate 6 Jul 1897; Letters --; WB
Q pg 145; [284]
1895 Estate of Samuel Shirley;
Date of Death 12 Jul 1895; Probate 3 Sep 1895; Letters C pg 230;
WB P pg 469; [253]
1901 Estate of Hannah Shirley;
Date of Death 1 Nov 1901; Probate 23 Apr 1902; Letters D pg 42;
WB T [may be S] pg 273; Inventory filed 5 July 1902; Final Decree
Bk E pg 229 [152]
1925 Estate of John R Shirley;
Date of Death 2 Apr 1925; Probate 8 Apr 1925; Letters G p 90;
WB 42 pg 57; Inventory filed 29 Apr 1925; [353]
I posted the following estate records
to the Oneida Co NY page in the members' section. The lineage
for this family is posted on the Oneida County page and appears
to originate in Great Wolford parish, Warwickshire, England.
1868 Estate of John Shirley,
Utica, Will
Book 22, page 513 (page
514); Letters of Admin Book 6 page 553
In the name of God, I John Shirley
of the town of Western New York of the age of 79....bequeath
to my wife Ann Shirley all my real and personal estate, goods
and chattels...And lastly, I do hearby appoint my wife Ann Shirley
and my son William Shirley to be executors. Dated 8 May 1868.
<s> John Shirley. Wit: H D Bronson, Alfred Waldo.
[After 1900] Estate of William
Shirley, Augusta, Will Book 57 page 498; Letters of Admin Book
20 page 206
I often spend time cleaning up
various Shirley branches which are posted to the Non-Members
section of the website. I'm looking for early branch members
who have yet to have their lineage researched. Today, the opposite
occurred. I found some information on a particular Shirley civil
war veteran, and couldn't find which branch in which he belonged.
Samuel Shirley of Chester Co SC is clearly a member of Branch
#1 Richard Shirley > Robert Shirley but the exact link of
his father, Elijah Shirley (b 1815 SC) is yet unproven - although
I have tentatively placed this large Blackstock, Chester Co SC
family as descended from Elijah
Shirley who moved to Chester County prior to 1820.
4.i Samuel SHIRLEY born 1843; farmer of Chester Co SC;
He died Feb 11 1920 at Fairfield Co SC, age 77; Buried Concord
Cemetery, Woodward SC (death cert)
Confederate Veteran, 1920
Vol 28 p 190 "Samuel
Shirley entered this world on the 22d of February 1842 and having
lived worthily for almost seventy-eight years, he was laid to
rest in Concord Cem at Woodward SC on Feb 12 1920. Responding
to the call of his country, Samuel Shirley entered the Confederate
army on Feb 23 1862 as a member of Co H under Capt J. H. Brooks,
South Carolina Regimetn. He was wounded at Drewry's Bluff and
was in the brigade hospital at the close of the war. Once when
Col U. R. Brooks was badly wounded young Shirley gave him what
assistance he could render. Meeting at a reunion many years afterwards,
Col Brooks gratefully remembered the kindness, and they became
great friends, keeping up correspondence until death intervened.
Returning to his home and devasted State after the surrender,
Mr Shirley took up farming as his life work. A momentous event
in his life occurred on St Valentine's Day of 1867 when he and
Miss Peggie Dunbar united their hearts as one. now their children
and children's [sic] rise up to call them blessed. He was a consistent
member of the Baptist Church. Ever loyal to the cause for which
he fought, he loved the Confederate Veteran, and as long
as he was able to see he read and reread each copy and had said
that he doubted whether any other subscriber came as near reading
every word in it as he did." [submitted by Miss Ella Sterling,
Blackstock, SC]
December 29, 2011
Spent several hours tonight researching
the online databases found at the Canadian state library. I found
numerous items and posted them to the various Canadian
provinces. I also completely restructured the Ontario, Quebec,
and New Brunswick pages in the members' section. Several Shirley
families found in these records originated from Kilkenny Ireland
and from Scotland.
December 23, 2011
I found this very early abstract for
Rhode
Island
[1686] Supreme Court of Rhode
Island Nov 30 1900 - Wilber v. Peckham. Claims that the land
in question has been a part of the common land of the town [Little
Compton RI] from the time of the first allotment of lands to
the original proprietors in 1677 and more than 20 deeds and wills
since that time to the present have been offered for our consideration...
Under the date of May 17, 1693, the record is as follows: "in
reference unto an order made by the proprietors at a meeting
at Saconet, May 18 1686...Also, William Shirley, the 19th
lot was made up out of that lot formerly intended for town use,
and for a meeting house, pound, etc wherefore the two opposite
lots to them, and lying on the east side the highway, must remain
to the minister and ministry.".... Atlantic Reporter,
Vol 47 pg 598
December 22, 2011
Major Branch
Correction: Balser Shirley
Branch 18 Patrick Shirkey of Botetourt
Co VA
has long been included in Shirley surname research despite the
different surname. Researchers initially uncovered instances
when members of this family were known by the Shirley surname
rather than Shirkey. But most importantly one of the (supposed)
main branches of this family, Balser Shirley of Grainger Co TN,
adopted the Shirley name, and it is used by descendents to this
date. In 2011, the Shirley Association continued to research
the Shirkey family including the siblings of Balser Shirley (as
we had identified them). After performing considerable research
in Mississippi and Tennessee where the Shirkey family migrated,
I am now convinced that the Shirley/Shirkey issue has been a
mistake - that mentions of this family in historical records
with the Shirley surname are actually quite rare. And that the
Balser Shirley branch which continued to use the Shirley surname
is actually a branch of an entirely different family, Branch
31 Peter Shirley of Augusta Co VA
December 21, 2011
I was doing some clean-up work
in several Pennsylvania county pages and came across this truly
unique Shirley family - a free black family enumerated in US
census prior to the Civil War. I have traced the lineage and
created a new family branch
95. Charles
Shirley born about
1815 in Pennsylvania. He and his family appear as free mulatto/black
in 1850 Lancaster Co and 1860 Chester Co PA census. Descendants
lived in West Chester Township, Chester Co PA New
December 20, 2011
Posted the following estate document
to the Bourbon
Co KY page in the members' section
Bourbon Co KY
1833 Feb 14 - Bourbon
Co Will Book J p 140 - Estate of John Shirley, Inventory
and Sales, by John Shirly, administrator
1833 Bourbon Co Order Book K
- Administration p 133, Inventory and Sales p 149.
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