Pedigrees
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Info sent by Ian Shirley

William James Shirley of Meriden, Warwickshire, born about 1875 at Foleshill Warwickshire, age 36 in 1911 census of Meriden Warwickshire

My grandfather, James Shirley, originated as far as I can ascertain from the London area. He moved to a village called Meriden which is on the A45 aprox. in the middle between Birmingham and Coventry. He started a bicycle shop near the center of the village in the late 1880's. It occupied the corner of the Pub called "Bulls Head". With the popularity of the motor car, he sold petrol from the shop (in cans in those days), and then installed the first petrol pump to exist between Birmingham and Coventry. He wished to expand the business to incorporate car maintenance and bough a large farmhouse and small field next to it virtually opposite to the origninal location. He built a garage, large for those days, in the field. I believe this move took place in the early 1920's. His eldest son, Frank, (Thomas Francis), who is still alive and living in Meriden today, took over the family business and ran the business and ran it for a number of years. My father ran the business jointly with Frank and built it up into a garage and coaching business which at its peak, had approximately 8 coaches doing local and continental work and 2 filling stations on the Meriden bypass. After the untimely death of my father at age 40, the buisness gradually declined and was eventually sold. Bill, (William James), worked as foreman in the grage until it was sold and still lives in Meriden. The garage still exists as "Shirley's Garage Irco Ltd.", but there is no family involment. - Ian Shirley

1891 Foleshill Warwickshire Census - 5 Ct 5 Gosford St.,

John Shirley,Head,M,38,,Silk Ribbon Weaver,Employed,Foleshill Warwickshire,,
Ellen Shirley,Wife,,,38,,,Foleshill Warwickshire,,
William James Shirley,Son,S,16,,Works At Bicycling,Employed,Foleshill Warwickshire,,
Ellen Shirley,Dau,S,,15,Silk Ribbon Weaving,Employed,Foleshill Warwickshire,,
Sarah Ann Shirley,Dau,,,6,Scholar,,Foleshill Warwickshire,,
Phoebe Shirley,Sister,S,,25,Silk Winder,Employed,Foleshill Warwickshire,,

married Annie Turrall on 24 March 1901 at Ryton on Dunsmore Warwickshire

children:

1(i). Thomas Francis Shirley born 7 April 1904, christened 17 June 1904 at Berkswell, Warwickshire. He died May 1989 at Solihull South, Warwickshire

... His eldest son, Frank, (Thomas Francis), who is still alive and living in Meriden today, took over the family business and ran the business and ran it for a number of years.

married Phyllis Terry on 20 April 1924 at Meriden Warwickshire

children:

2(i). Alan Shirley

2(ii). Molly Shirley

1(ii). Nel Shirley born about 1895

1(iii). John Shirley died in action in RAF WWII

1(iv). William James Shirley born 25 September 1906. He died December 1987.

...After the untimely death of my father at age 40, the buisness gradually declined and was eventually sold. Bill, (William James), worked as foreman in the grage until it was sold and still lives in Meriden. The garage still exists as "Shirley's Garage Irco Ltd.", but there is no family involment.


John Shirley born about 1829 at Foleshill Warwickshire; He was of Tinsley Lane Foleshill Warwickshire at the time of his marriage in 1849. He was buried 21 March 1869 at Foleshill Warwickshire, age 40. His wife was enumerated in the 1871 census as widowed.

married Sarah Ann Priest on 16 September 1849 at St Lawrence parish Foleshill Warwickshire; She was born about 1829 in Foleshill Warwickshire, daughter of Thomas Priest.

children:

John Shirley christened 10 November 1852 at St Paul's parish Foleshill Warwickshire, silk ribbon weaver, age 19 in 1871 census

married Ellen ______ She was born about 1853 in Foleshill Warwickshire

children:

1(i). William James Shirley born about 1875 in Foleshill Warwickshire (see above)

1(ii). Ellen Shirley born about 1876 in Foleshill Warwickshire; She died 1903. She married William Henry Heath

1(iii). Sarah Ann Shirley born about 1885 in Foleshill Warwickshire

Thomas Shirley christened 15 March 1863 at St Paul's parish Foleshill Warwickshire, age 15 in 1871

Sarah Ann Shirley christened 1 November 1863 at St Paul's parish Foleshill Warwickshire, age 6 in 1871

Phoebe Shirley born about 1866 at Foleshill Warwickshire; christened 9 January 1870 at St Paul's parish Foleshill Warwickshire; Age 5 in 1871 census; Living in the household of her brother John Shirley in 1891 census, age 25. She married William David Wakefield on 7 June 1900 at St Paul's parish Foleshill Warwickshire

 

1891 Foleshill Warwickshire Census - 5 Ct 5 Gosford St.,

John Shirley,Head,M,38,,Silk Ribbon Weaver,Employed,Foleshill Warwickshire,,
Ellen Shirley,Wife,,,38,,,Foleshill Warwickshire,,
William James Shirley,Son,S,16,,Works At Bicycling,Employed,Foleshill Warwickshire,,
Ellen Shirley,Dau,S,,15,Silk Ribbon Weaving,Employed,Foleshill Warwickshire,,
Sarah Ann Shirley,Dau,,,6,Scholar,,Foleshill Warwickshire,,
Phoebe Shirley,Sister,S,,25,Silk Winder,Employed,Foleshill Warwickshire,,

1871 Foleshill Warwickshire Census

Sarah Ann Shirley Head F 42 Foleshill, Warwickshire
John Shirley Son M 19 Foleshill, Warwickshire
Thomas Shirley Son M 15 Foleshill, Warwickshire
Sarah Ann Shirley Daughter F 6 Foleshill, Warwickshire
Phebe Shirley Daughter F 5 Foleshill, Warwickshire


   


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