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Shirley Association

The Shirley Association is a worldwide family organization designed 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. Welcome Message

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 This site last updated 5 Feb 2012
 

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Shirley Families of Jamaica, West Indies
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Betty Shirley
Founder, the Shirley
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1937 - 2009

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The following abstracts, transcriptions, photos, lineages and original historical documents have recently been added to the Shirley Association website.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