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

 

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Shirley Association

The Shirley Association is a worldwide family organization to remember our Shirley ancestors, and to get acquainted with the living descendants. The purpose of the Shirley Association is to preserve the Shirley heritage for future generations, to unite Shirley descendants of each Shirley family branch, and to provide assistance to Shirley Association members as they search for their Shirley roots.

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 This site last updated 2 March 2010
 

Betty Shirley
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Association
1937 - 2009

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Shirley Books and Publications 
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 your copy today! $29.95 + s/h 

Shirley Books and Publications 
Stemmata Shirleiana
or, the Annals of the Shirley Family, Lords of Nether Etindon, in the County of Warwick, and of Shirley in the County of Derby by Evelyn Philip Shirley (hard bound with embossed foil lettering, quality paper)  
 


 

 


 

 

New Research Findings
The following abstracts, transcriptions, photos, lineages and original historical documents have recently been added to the Shirley Association website.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.

March 2, 2010

Research Trip News. I returned over the weekend from my Shirley research trip to London. Since that time, I've been working to get the images scanned and abstracts typed for posting to the website.

I've produced an exclusive Research Report for Shirley Association members outlining the bulk of my findings and including links to scanned original documents and information gathered at the UK National Archives in London during my recent research trip. I'll keep this page live for a short period and then after that, post the items individually to their respective research pages. Please let me know your thoughts on any document or piece of information found in the report.

February 21, 2010

Posted to the Original Land Documents page in the member's section the following 1801 deed image between Thomas Davis and Kelly Shurly of Darlington County SC

Darlington Co

1801 Sept 7; Thomas Davis of Darlington to Kelly Shurly of same; 200 acres part of grant to Thomas Davis of 600 acres on Black Creek; beginning on a corner betw Thomas Davis and Kelly Shurly...Johnson's corner; corner betw land of Thomas Davis and Gibert Hays. wit: David Shurly and Matthew More

Thanks to George, a Shirley Assoc member, for sending the following 1808 Darlington County SC court petition for the administration of the estate of Jacob Kelly by widow Elisabeth Kelly who had subsequently married Kelly Shurly. I've posted the document to the Original Probate Documents page in the member's section

Darlington Co SC

1808 Sept 22; Petition to Court of Ordinary of Benjamin Skinner Sen and Thomas Aldredge to be released as security for Elisabeth Kelly, widow and adminstratrix of the estate of her late husband Jacob Kelly. Elisabeth has since remarried Kelly Shurly "a youth not exceeding nineteen years of age and a person...to be improper to take charge...and several other acts of misconduct..." wit: Jesse DuBose

Posted the typed transcriptions of three Abbeville Co SC wills to the member's section. Elizabeth (nee Hughes) was the widow of Benjamin Shirley (Branch #4) and William Shirley (d. 1827) was the son of John Shirley (m. Eliz Barmore) Branch #2. William Shirley (d 1851) was the unmarried son of Nathaniel Shirley and wife Nancy Grubbs (Nathaniel was the son of Benjamin Shirley and wife Nancy Hughes - again Branch #4). Also posted is the 1846 will transcription for Elisabeth Shurley of York SC. She was the widow of Thaddeus Shirley who settled in Newberry Co SC (Branch #40)

1826 LW&T of Elizabeth Shirley of Abbeville SC (transcription)

1827 LW&T of William Shirley of Abbeville SC (transcription

1846 LW&T of Elisabeth Shurley of York SC (transcription)

1851 LW&T of William Shirley of Abbeville SC (transcription)

Posted to the Original Land Documents page in the member's section the following 1789 deed image between James Shirley (wife Mary) of Abbeville County SC and John Bowie. James Shirley is selling land in Greenville Co SC

1789 Deed James Shirley and wife Mary to John Bowie; Greenville DB-B pg 147. 340 acres on Golden Grove Creek of the Saluda River in Greenville Co 96th District; Surveyed for Francis Grollier and granted to James Shirley on 16 July 1784 by the State of So. Carolina. wit: Mary Jones, John Jones, John Rosamond

editor's note: this person can only be James Shirley who married Mary McMeeken in Fauquier County VA in 1781 - therefore living in SC prior to his move to KY. He is Branch #8

February 17, 2010

A NEW DISCOVERY - My university has subscribed to a new database for obscure English pamphlets and newspapers. I have discovered the mention of the son of Dr. Thomas Sherley, the last known descendant of the Sherley's of Wiston Sussex England. Parish records had shown some children existed, but nothing more was known (if they died an infant etc)


Post Man and the Historical Account (London, England), Tuesday, August 12, 1701; Issue 390.Classified ads .

The late Dr Sherleys Anodine Tincture. Was Physician in Ordinary to King Charles the 2nd. Now prepared and published by his son Tho. Sherley. It cures the stone in the kidneys or bladders also in the gravel or straguary an cholick it will give speedy care and in many other distempers mentioned in the printed bills of directions. Price 2s and 6d. The bottle containing half a pint and are to be had of Mr Madox a cane shop over against the Royal Exchange. Mr Wignell, perfumer at the Cavalier at the lower end of Bedford Street, Covent Garden; and Richard Gray shoemaker at the Crown and Shoes in Fleet Street near St Dunstans church.

 

February 15, 2010

Posted to the London, England page in the member's section

St Martin in Fields - Burials

1608 Feb 17 Jana Sherley
1611 Feb 24 Margar' Shirley
1614 Oct 17 Robert Sherley
1614 Nov 7 Guliel' Sherley
1614 Dec 16 Alicea Sherley
1615 Feb 13 Sara Sherley
1616 Nov 27 Joh'nes Shirley
1618 Sep 17 Alicea Shirley
1619 Sep 6 Margareta Shirley

St Martin in Fields - Marriages

1607 Feb 8 Robertus Shorley and Jane Shortridge
1618 Jul 30 Joh'nes Gerry and Elizabeth Shorley

Posted to the Sussex England page in the member's section

Bolney Parish Register, Sussex England - Burials

1657 Jan. 9 Richard s. of Edward Sherly.
1659 Oct 23 Eliz. Sherly to John bap., & borne 10 dayes before
1661 Feb. 2 Edward Sherly a s. borne Richard.
1681 Mar. 7 Edward Sherley.
1684 Apr. 22 Richard Sherley.
1685 June 26 Mary Sherley.
1686 Oct. 16 Elizabeth d. of Edward Sherly.
1688 July 31 Robert Sherly.
1692 Sep. 29 William Sherly.
1694 June 8 Thomas Sherly.
1711 Feb. 16 Richard Sherley of Ivill
1716 Apr. 20 Widow Sherley.
1726 Feb. 20 Richard s. of William & Susanna Sherley.

February 13, 2010

NEWS - I just booked my trip to London to research at the UK National Archives. I'll spend the entire week there beginning Mon 22 to Sat 27. If you have any specific ideas/suggestions for specific research targets, please let me know. Here is the National Archives online manuscripts catalogue if you want to take a quick look around for ideas.

I found this online biography of James Shirley. He is the son of Ezekiel Shirley (son of Branch #10, Argeland Shirley)

JAMES SHIRLEY, of Perry township, Boone county, Ind., was born in Scott county, Ky., February 23, 1819, a son of Ezekiel and Delia (Shirley) Shirley, both parents having been born in North Carolina, where they were married; thence they migrated to Scott county, Ky., where Ezekiel engaged in farming until 1831, when he brought his family to Hendricks coimty, Ind.. and rented land until 1838; then moved to Perry township, Boone county, where his son James, our subject, had entered land, on which he resided until his death in 1864, his wife surviving him until the next year. They were the parents of six children, viz. : Dickerson, Elias, Benjamin, Maria, Amelia and James, all deceased with the exception of our subject. The remains of Mr. and Mrs. Shirley were interred in Mount Tabor cemetery, both having died in the Baptist faith. James Shirley worked on the home farm in Hendricks county, Ind., from 1831 until 1838, when he launched out on his own account, worked hard and earned the money to buy the forty acres in Perry township on which his parents ended their days. He later sold this farm and bought the eighty acres on which he now lives. The first marriage of Mr. Shirley took place in Boone county, Ind., in 1839, to Elizabeth Poiner, a native of Putnam county Ind., and daughter of -Joseph Poiner, of North Carolina. Three children were born to this union, viz. : Henry and Parnnelia, deceased, and Edward. Mrs. Shirley died in 1866, and the second marriage of Mr. Shirley took place March 25. 1867, to Mrs. Leaner Smith, who was born in Owen county, Ky., January 9, 1830, a daughter of John and Betsey (Roberts) Smith, natives of North Carolina, who both died when Leaner was a child. The first marriage of Leaner was with Daniel Smith, to whom she bore nine children: Louisa (deceased), Albert, Henrietta, Hugh, Willis, George. Charles, Mary and Alice. Daniel Smith died in 1S65, and by her marriage with Mr. Shirley she is the mother of one child, Peter, who was born August 17, 1868, and was married in Perry township, December 29, 1890, to Miss Lydia Stanfield, who was born in Jackson county, Ind., and is a daughter of Samuel and Janie (Smith) Stanfield; one child. Pearly, blesses this union. A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind

 

February 11, 2010

Posted the following church minutes to Scott Co KY in the member's section. Long Lick church was a associate church of the Great Crossing Church and both had connections with the Shirleys of Abbeville Co SC.

Longlick Baptist Church - Scott County KY

March 1805 The Baptish church at Great Crossings, a constituent to the Long Lick church on the 23rd of March 1805. Present - Elders Joseph redding, Joh Rees and Lambert. Those who signed the covenant: Archibald Shearley, Edmond Shearley, thomas Cobb, Isaac Smith, John Johnson, Moses Smith, Lewis Smith, Susanna Shearley, Elizabeth Shearley, Francis Shearley, Priscilla Cobb, Polly Smith, Susanna Johnson, Elizabeth Wilson, Nancy Smith.

March 1805 elected brother Edward Shearley, clerk..appointed Arge Shirley, John Vawton and John Lucas to prepare rules for the church, Brother Arge Shirley chosen deacon.

16 Aug 1806 Brother Eudes Shirley set forward to exercise his gift in public in bounds of in all charges brought before the church

Apr 1810 Brother Shirley proposed to make up money for Brother Finklen [preacher]

Mar 1813 Brother Shirley wants to know if it is right for a member to volunteer to go to war. [Thrown out]

Sep 1816 L. Shirley appointed deacon.

Aug 1819 Brother E. Shirley wants to know if it is right for a member to go to law with his brother; also if it is right to sell liquor on the Sabbath day without license. [Church says no]

Apr 1820 Brother Shirley [appointed] deacon

February 10, 2010

Project Complete: Finally finished scanning and uploading every single census image for the 1810 US census (every Shirley head of household including spelling variations for every state). You will find the links as part of the Census Tracking Project

February 8, 2010

Thanks to Stephanie for sending this very valuable court record finally clarifying the manner of death for Richard Shirley Jr of Barren Co KY (Branch #49)

For years, this website has sourced family lore for the nature of Richard's death - that he committed suicide by jumping in a well. However, the following contemporaneous death inquest says otherwise.

GLASGOW, BARREN Co, KY INVENTORY BOOK-1830 to 1838 Page 155-156 State of Kentucky, Barren Co, Lot [?] An inquisition taken at the house of Richard Shirley Dec, in the Co aforesaid, the 27 day of April, the year 1831 before [.....] of the (commonwealth?) for the Co aforesaid duly commissioned and qualifyed according to Law upon the view of the body of Richard Shirley late of said Co then and there lying and upon the oaths of James Cornnius, TC, good and lawful men of the Co aforesaid who being Sworn and Charged to Enquiser on the part of said commonweath, When, Where, and How and after what manner the said Richard Shirley came to his death, do say upon their Oath that not having the fear of God before his eyes but being Seduced and moved by the Instigation of the Devil at said Shirley's own Farm in the Co aforesaid in a certain Barn standing and being, the said Richard Shirley being then and there alone with a certain hempen Cord of the value of 3 pence, which he then and there had and held in his hand and one end then and there put about his neck and the other end therof tied about a tie pole in said Barn, himself then and there with the Cord aforesaid voluntarily and feloniouly and of his malice afore thought, hanged and suffocated and died. The jurors aforesaid upon their Oaths of (?) say that the said Richard Shirley then and there in manner and form aforesaid as a felon of himself, feloniously, voluntarily, and of his malice afore thought, himself killed, strangled, and murdered himself against the peace and dignity of the commonwealth. In witness whereof as the aforesaid Coroner, as the jurors aforesaid have to the inquisition put there hands and seal on the day in year aforesaid and at the place aforesaid. John H. Boles, C. G. Hitch, John Matthus, John H. Anderson, S. P. Malone, Jos Commins, Thomas Jarnes, Lewis Burten, David Dewese, Caleb Smith, Joseph Nevills, I. C. Hall



I posted another item for Barren Co KY in the member's section. This family is part of Branch #11 Thomas Shirley (m. Mollie Yates). William Shirley apparently died many years earlier in 1836 (although I'm now wondering if this is a typo)

Court Records for the Division of the Estate of William A. Shirley - Records of the Barren County KY Circuit Court, Equity Judgments; Record Group: Document Number 2389

Filing Date: 1856-July-5; William A. Shirley died intestate leaving an estate that consisted of land, personal property, and the following slaves: "Daniel an old man, Barbary a woman about 25 or 26 years old, John, aged about 10 years, Ben aged about 8 years, Elizabeth aged about 6 years, Clay aged about 4 years and an Infant not yet one year old & whose name is not known." Acknowledging that the slaves cannot be equitably divided, the petitioners pray that they be sold and the proceeds from said sale be divided among the heirs.

Petitioners

COCKRILL, Amanda J. (Shirley)petitioner white female
COCKRILL, Benjamin F. petitioner white male
JORDAN, Sarah A. (Shirley) petitioner white female
JORDAN, William petitioner white male
MORRIS, Mary A. (Shirley) petitioner white female
MORRIS, William B. petitioner white male

Defendants

MITCHELL, H. C. defendant white male
MITCHELL, Nancy P. (Shirley) defendant white female
SHIRLEY, Christopher T. defendant white male
SHIRLEY, James A. defendant white male
SHIRLEY, William T. defendant white male
THOMAS, Harriet H. (Shirley) defendant white female
THOMAS, Walter defendant white male

Slaves

Barbary slave black female approx 25 years of age in 1856
Ben slave black male approx 8 years of age in 1856
Clay slave black male approx 4 years of age in 1856
Daniel slave black male old person in 1856
Elizabeth slave black female approx 6 years of age in 1856
John slave black male approx 10 years of age in 1856

Continuing to follow the trail of Shirleys found in early Alabama territory records - this time in Conecuh County, which is next to Monroe County.

1823 Nov 22 - Mr. Oliver laid before the House, the account of Micajah Shirley, gaoler of Conecuh, which was received and referred to the committee on accounts. State of Alabama House Journal 1823

1823 Dec 31 (approved) Sec. 51. Be it further enacted, That the sum of sixty-two dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated for the payment of Micajah Shirley, jailer of Conecuh county, for provisions furnished certain state prisoners confined in the jail of said county. State of Alabama House Acts 1823

He is also found in a Louisiana court case.

1817. James Morgan asserts that his slave named Ryner and her child are in Fergus Duplantier's "illegal possession." .... The murder and Evans's flight from justice triggered a series of events that resulted in Ryner being shunted between Milly Deal and the murdered slave's owner, being transported to the Mississippi Territory, and, after Milly Deal's and John Evans's deaths, being sold and resold a number of times. [list of archived documents related to this case]... Deposition, Micajah Shirley, 2 September 1817 - East Baton Rouge Parish, Clerk of Court Archives, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Records of the Third Judicial District Court

February 6, 2010

These Shirleys are early for this location. I wonder if the Micajah Shirley mentioned below is the Virginia Revolutionary veteran. Monroe Co Alabama is part of Mississippi Territory beginning in 1815 and then Alabama Territory 1817 and in State of Alabama in 1819 

1817 Monroe Co. Court - Page 10 - Feby Term 1817 (Cont.) 11th Feby Court met according to adjourment; Present - As yesterday; Ordered that Tavern License be granted to Richard Bradford & that George Shirley & Jno. M. Flinn be, and they are hereby approved of as his secy. Ordered that Tavern License be granted to George & Micajah Shirley, and the Rich & Jno. M. Flinn be accepted of as their securities. Monroe County Order Book, No. 1, 1816 - 1821

1817 Monroe Co. Court - Page 20 - November Term 1817 Ordered that Tavern License be granted to Shumate & Shirley (having come recommended as the law directs) and that Samuel Davis be accepted of as their securities. Monroe County Order Book, No. 1, 1816 - 1821

 

February 5, 2010

Recreated the information on the Michigan pages in the member's section. Created new pages for Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Gratiot, Kent, and Sanilac Counties

Posted the following original probate document images to the Wales page in the member's section

Wales Probate Records

1727 Probate of Will of Elizabeth Gammon, Widow, alias Elizabeth Sherley Diocese: St David's; Parish: Port Einon; County: Glamorgan; Inventory National Library of Wales, Department of Collection Services: Welsh Probate Records, Diocese of St Davids SD/1727/207

1783 Grant of Administration of estate of Lettice Shirley, Widow Diocese: St David's; Parish: Carmarthen (St Peter) County: Carmarthenshire National Library of Wales, Department of Collection Services: Welsh Probate Records, Diocese of St Davids SD/1783/41

1795 Probate of Will of William Shirley, Farmer Diocese: St Asaph Parish: Denbigh Township: Gwaunynog Bach County: Denbighshire National Library of Wales, Department of Collection Services: Welsh Probate Records, Diocese of St Asaph Reference: SA/1795/27

 

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