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UPDATE:
THIS BRANCH SIGNIFICANTLY REVISED JUNE 2025
This
Entire Lineage Last Reviewed and Updated June 2025
Moses Shirley was born about 1760 near Liberty, Laurens
Co. South Carolina, legatee of John and Rebecca Shirley of Laurens
County South Carolina. Moses appeared in 1800 census for Laurens
Co SC with wife and 4 children (2 boys and 2 girls). It is now
apparent that Moses moved his family to Northeastern Georgia
about 1803, appearing in an "Old Walton" county census
in that year with 7 in the household; (Old Walton is not the
same as the county of the same name currently. It was disputed
territory between Georgia and NC). He next appeared in the tax
list for Franklin Co Georgia for 1818. His 100 acres of land
taxed in that year is land that fell into Habersham County GA
when that county was formed from parts of Franklin Co later that
same year; Georgia 1810 census is lost, but Moses lived in Habersham
Co GA in 1820, 1830, and 1840 census; He died likely in Habersham
Co GA prior to 1850, but exact date of death and place of burial
not known.
1800 Laurens Co SC Census
Moses Shirley 20010 - 20010
1802 Laurens Co SC DB G: 465
4/24/1802 - 8/25/1802. John Hunter esq atty for John Rutledge
Jr of Charleston to James Simmons for $87, 135 ac on Reedy River
borderson on John Pirngle, Moses Shirley, Richard Gaines, Joseph
Thompson, part of 3000 ac granted to Thomas Shubrick conveyed
to sd J.R. Jr. Wit: Wm Dunlap, Wm Simmons. Reuben Pyles J.P.
1803 Census 'Old Walton' -
A census of the inhabitants within the western district commanded
by Capt Fane in the terretory ceded by the United States to the
State of Georgia
Moses Shirley 7 (number of
whites)
1818 Franklin Co GA Tax List
Moses Shearly 100 acres, granted
to Gaiher and others; adj Cleveland; located Panther Creek, county:
Franklin
1820 Habersham Co GA Census
Moses Shirley 311301 - 01020
(born before 1775)
1820 Habersham Co GA Minute
Book A; Page 5, Moses Shirley served on Jury. Judgement entered
Feb 27, 1820 (Note: Moses Shirley served on juries throughout
the 1820s)
1826 Mar 23 - Laurens Co SC
Real Esate Receipt Book 1826 - 1836, page 2; Joint Receipt from
all the legatees [list of legatees] John Shearly dec'd real estate;
Shubel Starnes, petitioner v. Aaron Shearly, Moses Shearly, Eady
Wright, Easter Shearly, John Shearly, Gray Elmore, George Elmore,
Beverly Shearly, Elizabeth Shearly, Lydia Shearly, Jean Shearly,
William McPhearson, Elijah Elmore
1830 Habersham County Census
Moses Shirley 0022100010000
- 0101000100000
1840 Habersham County Census
- Capt. Ray's District
Moses Shirley Sen 0000000010000
- 0010000010000 (age 60-70, born 1770-1780)
Analysis of Moses
Shirley's Census Households
| |
1800 Laurens |
1820 Habsham |
1830 Habsham |
1840 Habsham |
1850 Habsham |
ANALYSIS |
| Male |
Moses 26-45 |
Moses 45+ |
Moses 60-70 |
Moses 60-70 |
|
Moses b abt 1760 |
| Female |
wife 26-45 |
wife 26-45 |
wife 50-60 |
wife 60-70 |
Judah age 86 |
Judah b 1764 |
| Male |
0-10 |
16-26 |
20-30 sic |
gone |
S. A. age 49 |
Samuel A b 1800 |
| Male |
0-10 |
10-16 |
15-20 sic |
gone |
|
?Moses Jr b 1807 |
| Female |
0-10 |
gone |
|
|
|
|
| Female |
0-10 |
10-16 |
15-20 sic |
gone |
|
|
| Male |
|
0-10 |
15-20 |
gone |
|
?Charles S b 1813 |
| Male |
|
0-10 |
10-15 |
gone |
|
?Hardy b 1815 |
| Male |
|
0-10 |
10-15 |
gone (where?) |
Beverly age 35 |
Beverly b 1815 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Different family? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Female |
|
26-45 |
gone |
|
|
relative? |
| Male |
|
16-26 |
gone |
|
|
|
| Male |
|
16-26 |
gone |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Female |
|
|
|
10-15 |
gone |
grandchild? |
** In 1850, Beverly Shirley
was head of household with wife and children. In his household
was presumably his mother Judah and elder brother Samuel A Shirley
(who married in 1854)
** Judy Melissa Shirley who
married in 1825 should be "gone" from the above household
in 1830 census, but none of the above female children matches
that marriage date
** Moses and Judah seem to
be having children later than normal age, Judah beginning in
her 30s? (was she a widow)
** We can speculate that Moses
Jr, Charles S, and Hardy Shirley are likely sons of Moses Shirley
Sr because they each newly appear in the 1840 census, of the
correct age as shown in the census analysis. But so does Aaron
P Shirley born about 1806. If Aaron Shirley Sr is the father
of Aaron Shirley Jr, then surely Moses is the father of Aaron
P Shirley? Where does Aaron P Shirley fit into the census households
shown above?
married Judah _____. born about 1764 in SC; She was living in the household of Beverly
Shirley in the 1850 census of Habersham Co GA, age 86
(Editor:
there is no evidence for the names of Moses Shirley's children,
contrary to what has long been claimed)
children
1(i). Presumed
Samuel A. Shirley born
about 1800 SC; He is presumed to be a son of Moses Shirley only
because he lived with his widowed mother Judah Shirley (also
presumed) in the household of his presumed younger brother, Beverly
Shirley in the 1850 Habersham Co GA census; He and his mother
are both identified as 'inmates' which in those days simply meant
they occupied the house or part of the house with another family;
Samuel married late in life in his 50s and fathered 4 children;
He lived at Clarksville PO in Habersham Co in 1860 census, and
in 1870 (age 75); He died in 1870 in Habersham Co. GA,
married Rachel Alinda Wheeler
(nee Dyer) on 12 July
1854 at Habersham Co GA; She was the widow of James Wheeler and
they had 3 daughters who lived with their mother and husband
Samuel Shirley; viz, Louisa Wheeler, Mary Jane and Mary June
(twins) Wheeler (shown as Shirley in 1860 census household);
Rachel was age 45 in 1870 census
children
2(i). Rachel A. Shirley born about 1855 GA, age 5 in 1860 census,
age 15 in 1870 census
2(ii). Juda Lucinda
Shirley born about 1856
GA, age 4 in 1860 census, age 13 in 1870 census
2(iii). Solomon/Samuel Davis/David
Shirley born 5 March
1858 GA, age 2 in 1860 census, age 11 in 1870 census (as
Solomon D); Enumerated in the HH of A J West in 1880 Haberham
Co GA census, age 21 (as Solomon D); Enumerated at Habersham
Co in 1900 census, age 42 He died at Deep Creek Habersham Co
GA on 20 April 1923 (death certificate, as Davis Soloman Shirley)
married Louisa A _______ age 48 in 1900 census
children:
3(i). Virgil M Shirley born about 1882 GA, age 18 in 1900 census
3(ii). Lavonia Shirley born about 1885 GA, age 15 in 1900 census
3(iii). Mitchell Shirley born about 1887 GA, age 13 in 1900 census;
He lived in Coffee Co GA and then moved to Barbour Co AL. He
was an operator of a saw mill
3(iv). Julius Shirley born about 1889 GA, age 11 in 1900 census
3(v). Louvenia Shirley born about 1892 GA, age 8 in 1900 census
2(iv). Dial R. Shirley born about 1861 GA, age 9 in 1870 census
1(ii). Presumed
Beverly Shirley born
about 1817 in Georgia, age 35 in the 1850 Habersham Co GA census.
Presumed to be a son of Moses Shirley only because Judah Shirley
age 86, the widow of Moses Shirley of Habersham Co GA, was enumerated
in Beverly's household in 1850 as well as Samuel A Shirley age
49, presumably Beverly's mother and brother respectively. Beverly
was enumerated next door to Moses Shirley Jr in that census.
Beverly was age 44 in the 1860 census of Habersham Co GA, age
53 in 1870 census living in Habersham Co GA (Note: he is not
Beverly V Shirley who was living in Fayette Co AL in 1870) Age
60 in 1880 census for Habersham Co Ga. He died in September 1891
according to a probate court bond ordering the appraisal of his
estate.
1893 April 14 - Habersham
Co GA Probate bond page 50 - The petition of Malinda Shirley
respectfully showeth that Beverly Shirley late of said County,
departed this life on the day of September 1881, leaving your
petitioner, his widow, and minor
children surviving him....(??)
... which the said widow has selected to take as follows : One
hundred acres of land more or less it being part of Lot 94 in
the 13th District of said County the appraisers Value said Land
at one hundred and fifty Dollars, also one milk cow & calf
worth fifteen dollars and one yearling worth five Dollars...
married Melinda Shirley on 24 October 1844 in Habersham Co GA;
She was born about 1820 in SC, age 30 in husband's 1850 census
household; She was the daughter of _______Shirley (Is
she the daughter of Aaron Shirley, who lived in Habersham Co
GA and whose children are as yet proven?)
1893 Habersham Co GA - May
Inferior and Ord. Court Min. Vol 7, 1885-1894 (Gen. Index) p.
346 The years support for Melinda Shirley having been set apart
out of the estate of her husband Beverly Shirley, deceased, by
commissioners appointed for that purpose and filed in this office...
having been published... and no objection, it is ordered and
adjudged that the same be allowed and admitted to record this
1st day of May 1893. W. D. Hill, Ordinary.
children:
2(i). Talitha A. Shirley (E A in 1850) born about 1845
GA, age 5 in 1850 census, age 15 in 1860, age 25 in 1870. She
married Fry and was widowed, living with her brother Charles
Shirley in 1910 census of Habersham Co GA
2(ii). Charles S. Shirley born about 1848 GA. age 2
in 1850 census, age 13 in 1860, age 21 in 1870, age 30 in parent's
1880 census household. He is age 51, single and living in Habersham
Co GA with his 3 spinster sisters in 1900 census.
2(iii). Piety Shirley born about 1849 GA, age 1 in
1850 census, age 11 in 1860, age 20 in 1870, She married George
Ivester and they are living adjacent to Beverly and Melinda Shilrey
in 1880 census for Habersham Co GA
2(iv). Darinda Shirley born about 1851 GA, age 9 in
1860, age 18 in 1870, age 25 in parent's 1880 census household.
She lived with her brother Charlie Shirley and 2 sisters in 1900
Habersham Co GA census, age 48
2(v). Eliza Jane Shirley born about 1853 GA, age 7
in 1860, age 16 in 1870, age 24 in parent's 1880 census household
(as Liza), She lived with her brother Charlie Shirley and 2 sisters
in 1900 Habersham Co GA census, age 46
2(vi). Rebecca Shirley born about 1855 GA age 5 in
1860, age 15 in 1870, age 22 in parent's 1880 census household
(as Becky), She lived with her brother Charlie Shirley and 2
sisters in 1900 Habersham Co GA census, age 42
2(vii). Cordelia Shirley born about 1859 GA, age 11/12
in 1860, not enumerated in family's 1870 census household died
young?
Other Candidates
for Children of Moses Shirley (biological or not) or Possibly
Children of Aaron Shirley Sr Instead (See Branch 1 here)
Likely Children
of Moses (Solely due
to pre-1830 appearance in Habersham Co GA records)
1. Judy Malissa Shirley born say 1794 Laurens Co. SC; She married
Edward Weeks on 19 November 1825 in Habersham Co. GA This
family untraced as yet Corrected
Comment: Long claimed as a daughter of Moses
- but there is no evidence other than her early marriage in Habersham
Co GA. However, her marriage date does not fit the census analysis
shown above. She should be "gone" from the family household
in the 1830 census due to her marriage date, not before or after.
Aaron Shirley Sr arrived in Habersham Co about 1830, so
2. Berryman Shirley Sr was
born March 18, 1795 in Laurens Co South Carolina and died March
3, 1875 Alto, Georgia. Buried Shirley Cem. Scroges Farm, Habersham
Co. GA.
Comment: Update April 2019. DNA analysis and
comparisons have POTENTIALLY excluded Berryman Shirley Sr as
the biological son of Moses Shirley. (click on link to learn
more). He appears in 1820 Habersham Co Census along with Moses
Shirley
3. John L. Shirley born about
1802 SC, age 48 in Gilmer Co GA 1850 census; Lived at Deep Creek,
Habersham Co GA in 1860 census (age 59) and in 1870 (age 69)
and in 1880 (age 79); He died 14 February 1884; He was buried
Shirley Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, Habersham Co, Georgia,
Comment: He appeared with Samuel A Shirley
in an 1826 deed record in Habersham Co GA. He lived in the Shirley
cluster at Deep Creek, Habersham Co GA, but there is no hard
evidence he is Moses' son
Appearance After
Arrival of Aaron Shirley Sr
1 Riley Shirley born ca. 1799 Laurens Co. SC (maybe
this Riley Shirley Branch #45)
Comment: Riley Shirley has
long been claimed as a son of Moses, but there is zero evidence.
Riley Shirley (Branch 45) lived in Habersham Co GA in 1830 census,
but then moved away. He is more likely the son of Aaron Shirley
Sr instead?
2. Aaron P. Shirley born about
1806 SC; Married and enumerated in the 1840 Habersham Co GA census
(age 20-30, age 44 in 1850 Habersham Co GA census; He died in
1856 Habersham Co. GA,
Comment: He lived in the Shirley cluster
at Deep Creek, Habersham Co GA, but there is no hard evidence
he is Moses' son. Problem: If Aaron Shirley "Jr" is
the son of Aaron Shirley Sr, then Aaron P Shirley should be the
son of Moses Shirley Sr instead, but he seems to be competing
for the last "slot" in the above census analsysis
3. Moses Shirley Jr. born
ca. 1807 SC; He was married and enumerated in Capt Ray's District
as head of household in the 1840 census for Habersham Co Georgia,
age 30-40, with wife, 1 daughter and 3 young sons; Lived at Habersham
Co GA in 1850 census, age 44 (b 1806) with wife and 8 children.
Their residence in 1850 was adjacent to where his mother Judah
Shirley lived, presumably as a widow (in the Beverly Shirley
household); Moses was involved in several land transactions in
the early 1850s in Habersham County; Once again enumerated in
Habersham Co GA in the 1860 census, age 51
Comment: He lived in the Shirley cluster
at Deep Creek, Habersham Co GA, and he lived adjacent to Beverly
Shirley (Judah and Samuel) in the 1850 census. And the name "Junior"
is certainly suggestive of a father/son relationship - but not
always (He could simply be the younger male in the region named
Moses Shirley) His age and marriage date/1840 census appearance
does fit the census analysis for Moses Shirley's census household.
And again there is no hard evidence he is Moses' son
4. Hardy Shirley born say 1815 GA. He was living in Rays
District Habersham Co GA in 1840 and Warren County GA in 1850
(b 1814, age 36), Not found as yet in 1860 census; Lived
in Richmond Co GA in 1870 (as Harry, b 1819, age 51), and Columbia
Co GA in 1880 (b 1816, age 64). His wife Amanda filed a claim
as widow in 1894 for his military service in the Indian Wars.
Comment: Long claimed, but there is no evidence
he is the son of Moses Shirley. His age and marriage date/1840
census appearance does fit the census analysis for Moses Shirley's
census household. Like others, he
could be the son of Aaron Shirley Sr instead, or son of yet another
migrating relative from Laurens Co SC
married Amanda Blakely Anderson sometime prior to 1841 likely in Georgia
(named in daughter's death cert). On 4 December 1894, she filed
a claim as the widow of Hardy Shirley for his service in the
Indian Wars.
children:
2(i). James Shirley born about 1840 in GA, age 10 in 1850
census
2(ii). Mary A Shirley born 8 Novmeber 1841 in Habersham Co
GA (death cert, parents named); She is not enumerated in parent's
1850 census household. She was age 9 and living with Mary
Anderson household, age 57 in 1850 Richmond Co GA census. She
died 10 October 1922 at Blythe, Burke Co GA, age 81y 1m 15d.
She married Joseph Gaines who died prior to her death.
2(iii). Thomas Shirley born about 1844, age 6 in 1850 census;
2(iv). Sarah Elizabeth Shirley born 17 February 1848 at Richmond Co
GA (death cert, parents named). She was age 4 in 1850 census
She died 6 March 1930 at Grovetown, Richmond Co GA, age 82 .
She married Emanuel Isiah King who died prior to her death.
2(v). Amanda Shirley born about 1848, age 2 in 1850 census,
age 27 (b 1853) in 1880 census
2(vi). Elizabeth (Lizzie)
Shirley born about 1856
GA, age 14 in 1870 census, age 21 (b 1859) in 1880 census
2(vii). Floyd T Shirley born about 1858 GA, age 12 in 1870 census,
age 20 (b 1860) in 1880 census; He was married and lived at Jefferson
Co GA in 1900 census
married Mary J Whittaker on 27 August 1882 at Columbia Co GA
children:
3(i). Eston T Shirley born about 1883 GA, age 17 in 1900 census
3(ii). Maimy Shirley born about 1885 GA, age 15 in 1900 census
3(iii). Roana Shirley born about 1888 GA, age 12 in 1900 census
3(iv). Bennie Shirley born about 1889 GA, age 11 in 1900 census
3(v). Pearly Shirley born about 1893 GA, age 7 in 1900 census
3(vi). Joseph B Shirley born about 1895 GA, age 5 in 1900 census
3(vii). Amos Shirley born about 1897 GA, age 3 in 1900 census
5. Charles S. Shirley born
1813 Habersham Co. GA; He was enmuerated as C.S. Shirley in 1850
Habersham Co GA census; age 37; Lived in Habersham Co GA in 1860
1870 and 1880 census; He died on 4 May 1894 at Turnerville, Habersham
Co. GA,
Comment: He lived in the Shirley cluster
at Deep Creek, Habersham Co GA, but there is no hard evidence
he is Moses' son. His age and marriage date/1840 census appearance
does fit the census analysis for Moses Shirley's census household.
Again, maybe he was Aaron Shirley Sr's son instead?
6. Elizabeth Shirley She married Robert Alexander on
13 August 1829 in Habersham Co GA.
Comment: Is she Moses' daughter or is she
Aaron's daughter? Or neither?
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Moses Shirley