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This Lineage Last Reviewed
and Updated April 2021 Is he a member of this family of Stafford, Staffordshire? He is certainly related to this family of Norfolk Note: his occupation as china and glass dealer (marriage record) strongly suggests a connection with the Shirley family of Staffordshire who had numerous branches, all involved in either the manufacturing or the selling of china and glass
 Tombstone of Henry James Shirley, Highgate Cemetery, Middlesex UK Henry James Shirley F.R.C.S. Late of HM Cavalry Staff Canterbury Who died July 25th 1871 Aged 52 Years.
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In 1977, the following taped interview of G.F. Shirley, son of George Shirley chr 1853. My father George Shirley was born in 1853. He was the youngest son of John George Shirley who was a chemist at Queensway, London. George's mother was born 1818, named Ellen, was a daughter of Richard Shilleto, a lecturer of languages at Trinity, Cambridge University. John George Shirley was born in 1818 and was a descendant of the 6th Earl Ferrers at Staunton Harold, at Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire. George Shirley apparently visited Staunton Harold Hall upon a number occasions, and was well liked by his uncle, because his uncle later paid for his education at the elite school of Christ' Hospital, known as the Blue Coat School, after their style of school wool uniform.
Another brother, John, became an assistant manager in Barclays' Bank, whilst Harry followed George to Australia in 1911. George's sister Daisy went to Canada and married a man named Matthias. When my father left Christ's Hospital School in 1868, he received a recommendation from the School council, also a school Bible that was donated to pupils that had attained a high standard as a scholar, and for their behavior. His musical capacity was also mentioned, and the fact that he was a choir-boy soloist. After leaving school, George took a course in book-keeping and was employed by his father in the chemist shop at Queensway. It was here that he obtained his general knowledge of chemistry that was to be of great value to him in the years ahead in his career. When 25 years of age, he decided to seek his fortune in the colonies. And after receiving a princely sum of 20 sovereigns from his father, he sailed for New Zealand on a sailing ship of the famous Black Ball line, which took seven months to make the journey. Upon arriving in Auckland, he still had 5 pounds in his pocket, but found that following a severe drought, the colony was suffering a depression and the opportunities for employment were practically nil. Eventually he joined a road-mending gang who were repairing the new road from Grafton Bridge to Mount Roskill. It was here that an event happened that would influence his future career. After heavy rain, the new road had become almost a bog. Whilst the gang was preparing for lunch, a very smart little pony and sulky appeared. Its driver was apparently "one of the gentry' because he wore a top hat and dark satin suit. Unfortunately the sulky became completely bogged and the horse began to play up to the consternation of the elderly driver, who began to step out into the mud in order to control his pony. My father immediately stepped forward and said, "Sir, I understand horses. Please let me handle this for you". And so he led the horse and sulky onto dry ground, where the elderly gentleman thanked him and offered him a sovereign for his good deed. My father refused the money and in the subsequent conversation the gentleman said, "Young man, you seem to be better educated than the usual road-mender. I could have room for you in my business". The he handed his card and told my father to report to his office on the following Monday. That is how he later became the manager of the Wanganui branch of the big firm of John Chambers, who in those days were stock and station agents. Later he moved to their head office in Auckland. My father was of a very kindly, good-natured disposition and had many friends that admired his ability. He was also a singer who was much in demand in the country, where he was always happy to sing at bazaars and church festivals etc. And as New Zealand was beginning to build its churches in the country towns, his song programmes were much appreciated. When he was moved to the head office in Auckland, his fame as a singer apparently came with him. It was not long before he was invited to sing in the Auckland Town Hall at a concert in aid of St. Sepucres Church in Symonds Street. At first he demurred, but when promised the help of an expert accompanist he eventually agreed, not knowing that the person would be playing the piano for him was a young lady named Anna Elizabeth Sinclair. Incidentally, the concert at the Auckland town Hall was a great success, and it was only a few weeks later that he proposed marriage to Anna and was accepted. Unfortunately the idea of marriage to "this penniless Englishman" was not acceptable to her father, Andrew Sinclair, and many days were lost and many difficulties had to be overcome. After they married they bough a little cottage on the Mt. Roskill Road (near where George used to work on the road). The remained there for about 6 years, and during that time a daughter, Kathleen, was born and a boy named Howard, who was born with a defective hip. Anna's mother became very ill, and Anna had to nurse her as well as keep her own little home and family going. George had recently visited New South Wales and was impressed by the enormous possibilities in Australia. His experience as a stock and station agent would also be of value to him when dealing with the farming community. it was decided that Anna should live at her mother's home whilst George went to Australia with a view to establishing his own business in New South Wales. George Shirley came to Sydney in 1893, and having obtained a number of agencies for farm equipment, he rented an office in the lower Pitt Street, Sydney, where he soon made friends with firms in the neighbourhood. Amongst these were Mr. Knox (who founded the C.S.R.). the two Elliott brothers (who founded the great chemical firm of that name), and Mr. Mort of Goldsbrough Mort and Co. (who were then 'ships Chandlers etc' with an office on the waterfront at circular Quay). I mention these four men because they became firm friends, and each day they had lunch at Pfarlet's Hotel in Bridge Street, and finished by playing a game of dominoes together. One day the elder Elliott brother announced that his firm was expecting the arrival of a clever young chemist from England, and that his ship was even then tying up at the wharf in Circular Quay. Mr. Mort immediately suggested that the young man be brought to his office at Circular Quay so that they could all meet him. This was done, and he was introduced to my father in Mr. Mort's office. During the conversation t Mr. Mort's office, the young man (George Shirley), became interested in a large stone on the floor that was being used as a door stop. He said "where did you get that piece of stone from " and Mr. Mort said "An old Skipper from a Pacific Trading ship brought it here and asked me what I thought of it. As none of us knew about it we decided that it would make a good door stop." He did not know the Skippers name and he only called about once per year. The young chemist (George Shirley) examined the stone and took a small sample of it to analysis. He returned the next day, very excited and stated that his tests showed that it ws pure "Guana" which ad been formed ovre millions of years from the manure droppings of sea birds. It was the best ferilizers that was available. When could we see the Skipper. What did it come from , tc. Unfortunately Mort could not answer these questions and they had to wait for the next annual visit of the old Skipper. When at last he arrived he was not quite certain himelf but later remembered that it was from the Isle of Narau. As my father (George Shirley) was hoping to establish an Artificial Fertilizer business and was already purchasing certain products from C.S.R., he decided to visit the Isle of Narau and obtain further samples and ascertain the size of the deposit. This he did and upon record that the first load from Narau taken off by George Shrley in rowing boat to Ship of a Pacific Island Trader. Now satisfied about the amount of the phosphate Rock available, George Shirley commenced organising his business. Factory premises were rented at Pyrmont and had been let with shipping companies to the precious rockk to Sydney where it would be ground up and mixed to manufacture "Shirleys's Fertilizer", Shirley's Magic Dust, Shirley's supper-phosphate. The task of selling arificial fertilizer to farmers who had never heard of such things was not an easy one and George Shirley traveled many thousand miles amongst the farming community. Long hours of travel (mostly by horse and sulky) to tell the story about the increase of productivity that follow the use of his "Magic Dust" and putting up with the good humoured banter from the farmers and graziers who later admitted that what George Shirley was selling "really worked". In 1903 his company was selling several hubndred tons of feritlizer per month. By 1911 (the year he died), his company sold 70,000 tons per year and sales were increasing. George was proud of his wife and five children and wanted to take his first holiday. He booked his passage for all to England. He developed abdominal pains and the doctors diagnosis was shattering. He only had 3 months to live. The trip was cancelled. I was 13 years old when my father died.
Research report About three years after the above article appeared in our International Shirley NEWS, the family hired some additional research. One of the unsolved problems that is baffling to this branch of the Shirleys is the statement written on the back of an old picture of the Bluecoat School in London, in their possession.... "My father, George Shirley, was educated here through the generosity of his great uncle, Earl Ferrers of Staunton Harold, Leicestershire, from 1861-1867". From the research report comes the following: We looked for references to George Shirley's school record at Christ's Hospital, where he was thought to have been educated from 1861. Records pertaining to the school and in some cases not even fully cataloged and therefore time consuming to research. Nevertheless the results of our efforts were interesting. We began with the Petitions for Entry. Here we found John George Shirley petitioned for his son of the 14th of March 1861 as a Chemist with a wife and six children. The reason for the petition was John's limited means. Birth and Baptism dates were given as 5th September 1853 and the 7th October 1853 respectively. There was also in existence records of the proofs required such as certified statements by the Vicar and Chruchwardens that George was the son of John and Ellen and that the parents were indeed married. We also found the following: 14the March 1861... George Shirley, son of John George Shirley, born the 5th September , admitted from St. Stephen, Paddington, Middlesex, England. 6th June 1861...clothed, The Most Noble The Marquis of Bristol England. 21st July 1868...George Shirley is this day discharged from this Hospital for ever by his father who resides at #2 Westbourne Grove, Bayswater and will provide for him. The name of the Marquis of Bristol ws recorded under the sponsorship section in both the Petition and reference to George's being clothed. A later report from the research company says.... "After due consideration we believe that the Shirley family would be unlikely to have received educational backing from the Marquis of Bristol is they were so closely related to the Earl Ferrers..." We have seen from the census returns that John George Shirley was born St. Brides Parish in Middlesex, England about 1821-2 and from his marriage certificate that he was the son of Henry Shirley, Gentleman. Census of April 7, 1851 shows.... John G. Shirley 39 chemist/druggist London, St. Brides, wife... Ellen 35, Suffolk, Burrow, children: Ellen, 13, scholar, Middlesex, Marylebone, Sarah 9, same, George 7, same, Stephen 5, scholar, Islington, Tollington Park, + 3 adults (nurse, cook, housemaid), living in their household. The report goes on to give Henry Shirley born about 1796 who married Sarah Mortlock in 1818 as the parents of John George Shirley. Henry Shirleys father was given as Nicholas Shirley who married Rebecca Nettleford in 1785 and Nicholas' father as Nicholas Shirley who married Catherine Swain in 1748. From Betty Shirley, your editor When I received this report, I went to my records I have collected thus far for England. I checked in the St. Marylebone Parish records for John George Shirley who had three children born there. I not only found those entries, I also found Nicholas and Rebecca Nettleford Shirley in 1787. Their daughter was christened that year. More Research 1881 London, Middlesex Census Household: Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation
Disability -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cambridgeshire FHS Searchable Databases Baptisms 1801-1837
Burial Index 1801-1837
Mormon IGI Chippenham Parish, Cambridgeshire
The hired genealogist connected this family to Nicholas Shirley, but I'm not sure this is true (need proof). the above Chippenham information suggests another route of research. But here is the info for Nicholas Shirley St Marylebone, London
Leatherhead, Surrey
Old Charlton, Kent - Saint Luke
Note if the above report by the earlier researcher is true, it appears the report is pointing to the Shirley family of Bexley, Kent (???) Both Bexley and Charlton are suburbs of london across the Thames (near Greenwich) Bexley Kent. All born to Nicholas Shirley and Catherine____
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John George
My father had four
brothers and two sisters. The two eldest brothers, Stephen and
James, established a business as manufacturing chemists at Elephant
& Castle. Their headache cure, a small dome of menthol for
rubbing on the forehead, was a great success. Unfortunately this
factory was destroyed by a bomb in the Second World War.
