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 Michael Alfred Barnett Shirley of Jamaica and Panama |
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Leicester Colville Shirley (continued) Custos of Trelawny Jamaica; Owner of Hyde Hall and Ettington plantations in Jamaica; son of Henry Barnet Shirley
My name is Miguel Hugo Osborne Shirley. I have retired in the Republic of Panama and have been working on my own during the past few months to create a dossier on my maternal grandfather, Michael Alfred Barnett Shirley, and his father, the Custos of Trelawny (Jamaica), Leicester Coleville Shirley. My grandfather was born in Duncan, Trelawny, 30 November 1877. I have not been able to find a birth certificate or a baptismal record, but the stories he told me as a child tie together with what I have read in Shirley genealogy, both in Jamaica and England. My grandfather’s brother was Gerald and his sister was Leila, but their mother was Portuguese (?) and my grandfather’s mother is unknown, unfortunately. Leila is reputed to have said that “all Shirley’s are related.” Probably true, as I have been finding out. I noticed in some of your early correspondence that a certain Gerald Shirley had apparently gone from Panama to the USA on a banana boat. My family does not know what happened to Michael’s half brother, Gerald. But my mother Ditta mentioned knowing a daughter of his named “Cici” and those names appeared in your emails. More than a coincidence I suppose! Gerald would be my great uncle! I have no idea if he was younger or older than Michael. My brother Alfred and my wife Hannah were recently in London for the Olympics and visited the Ettington Park Hotel, near Statford-on-Avon. That was a remarkable experience, just to see the beauty of the place, and reflect upon the fact that according to the pedigree of my great grandfather, Leicester Coleville Shirley, my family is apparently descended from the 1st Earl Ferrers, Sir Robert, and his first wife Elizabeth Washington, through his second son Henry. There is a missing link in that lineage, but we have insight into who he is from the letters in the British National Archives, on loan from the papers of the Earls Ferrers. Specifically, letters from Maria Josepha de Vleger, (Mrs. Henry Shirley) writing about her grandsons Henry and Bernard and her daughter, Maria Theresa Antonetta, also Mrs. Shirley, who I assume is the wife of the mysterious missing link. But it is clear that Henry (Maria Josepha’s grandson) gives rise to the estates in Jamaica and his brother Bernard is right there with him. My observation concurs with the synopsis of the book , The Shirley Families of Jamaica, that all the biologically related Shirley’s of Jamaica must come from this lineage. My wife and I also visited Upper Wimpole Street right there in London. This is the street address given by Bernard (died there 1813) and Leicester (born there 1836). Not a very big street, but, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, of Sherlock Holmes fame, worked on that street. - Miguel Hugo Osborne Shirley (Sept 2012 |
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"My
grandfather, Michael, was born in Duncans, Trelawny, Jamaica,
on 30 November 1877. His father was an Englishman, the Hon. Leicester
Colville Shirley. He never spoke of his mother. He was raised
in proximity of his father and with his half brother Gerald Moulton
Shirley and half sister, Leila Moulton Shirley. He grew up in
a rural setting, gaining knowledge of animal husbandry and sugar
and rum production. His father saw to it that he was educated
and wanted him to go to Canada to study architecture. Instead,
he and Gerald went to Panama around the time of the building
of the Panama Canal. Leila stayed in Jamaica. He worked as a
mason on important historical buildings in Panama City (Presidential
Palace, Cecilia Theater) and the Canal. He courted Leanna Bricilla
Perry of Spanish Town, Jamaica (born 24 October 1877 and died
5 May 1956), before she became a nun and while he was recovering
from malaria contracted in Panama during a previous stay. Her
brother was Charles Perry. They went to Panama, where my grandfather
married Leanna in Christ Church by the Sea, in Colon in 1911.
Their union produced three children, Owen Barnett Shirley (1912-1959),
my mother Ditta Barnett Shirley (1914-2000), and Lemuel Barnett
Shirley (1916-1999). My grandfather maintained the tradition
of his father by giving his children the Barnett middle name,
a family name derived from his father's father, Henry Barnett
Shirley. Michael worked for many years for the Panama Canal where
he retired in 1955 as foreman for the Gatun Locks, and lived
in our home in San Francisco, Panama, until his passing on 23
December 1968. My grandfather was affectionately known as Uncle
Mike or Massa Mike to those who knew him from the Jamaican community
in Panama. I remember him as a proud man with an indomitable
spirit, accustomed to command attention, with erect posture and
noble features on his strong six foot one inch frame. He had
a very high instep but said his father's was even higher, so
that your hand could pass under it. In his youth he was very
handsome, with brown eyes surrounded by blue grey, brown hair
and fair complexion. In his old age he commented often, "once
a man, twice a child; when you're young, you're young and handsome,
when you're old, you're old and ugly". His comment to me
was that I "was born under a noisy planet" as he would
say to me laughing and lighting his pipe. He died at home in
his sleep, at the ripe old age of 91 and is buried in Jardín
de Paz Cemetery in Panama City next to his beloved wife, Leanna.
(photo above: Michael Alfred Barnet Shirley and wife Leanna about
1935) " - A Story of Michael Alfred Barnett Shirley as
told to his grandson and Editor of this dossier, Miguel Hugo
Osborne Shirley.