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This Lineage Page last
updated November 2022
10(i). Sir Thomas Shirley, the elder
of Wiston Sussex; He died 1612 Buried in the chapel at Wiston.
He changed from Catholic to Protestant.In 1578 he served as sheriff
for Surrey and Sussex CO. He later became Treasurer of War in
the Low Countries (Holland). Having fallen under the displeasure
of Queen Elizabeth, he became indebted to the Crown, his estates
and personal effects, with exception of the manor of Wiston,
settled on his wife, were seized. King James 1st was indebted
to Sir Thomas Sherley for the idea of the creation of the baronetage.
This brought to the Majesties coffers--more than 100 thousand
pounds. He was promised by the late Lord of Salisbury, Lord Treasurer,
a good recompense, and this he never received.
The following lands were sold by Sir Thomas Sherley the elder:
Sussex Co: West Chiltington, Erringham and Slaughters in the
Parish of Billinghurst. Buncton with lands in Blackland and Frenchland
in the Park of Findon, The manor of Barkfold with the ironworks
in parish of Kirdford and the 1/4th part of the manor of Heyghley.
Surrey Co: Burstow near Ryegate Berkshire Co: East Ilsley Leicestershire
Co: Cottsback Northamptonshire Co: Bugbrook. (The last two were
given to Sir Thomas Sherley by Robert, 2nd Earl of Essex).
married Anne Kemp died 1622/23 daughter of Sir Thomas
Kemp of Wye in Kent
Will of Dame Anne Sherley widow of Sir Thomas Sherley late
of Wiston Sussex decd. 19 Feb 1622. To be buried in church of
Wiston, to poor of St Giles in Field Middlesex, poor of Wiston
and steyning Sussex, to daughter Cicely Laware late wife of Thomas
Lord laware, to grandschild son Laware rug at Parham, sheets
at London, to grandchildren daughters of Laware viz Ann West,
Elizabeth West, Cicely West, Jane West, Lucy West, Essex West,
to daughter Ladye Crofte wife of Sir John Crofte, to daughters
of Ladye Crofte, to Anne now wife of Lord Wentworth, to Frances
Crompton now wife of Sir John Crompton, to Jane Mildmay now wife
of Sir Humphrey Mildmay, to Dorothy Benett now wife of Sir John
Benet the younger, to Mary Crofts, to Cicely Crofts, to Alice
Crofts, to my daughter Lady Tracey now wife of Sir John Tracey
the elder, to daughter of Lady Tracey viz Anne Tracey, to daughter
Lady Onslow late wife of Sir Edward Onslow decd, to daughter
Lady Brocas wife of Sir Pexall Brocas, to grandson Thomas Brocas,
to son in law Sir John Shurley, to granddaughter Lady Covert,
to daughter of Sir John Shurley viz Cicily Shurley, Elizabeth
Shurley, Anne Shurley, Charity Shurley and Mara Shurley, to other
grandchildren Frences Molle now wife of ___Molle esq, to Thomas
Shirley my grandchild, to friend Lady Bishipp wife of Sir Thomas
Bishopp of Parham in Sussex, to Lady Gresham wife of Sir John
Gresham, to Frances Alford now wife of John Alford esq…to
my sister in law Mrs Shirley the eldest of Preston, to Anne Harris
once my woman, to servants Lawrence Baskerville, Francis Bromley,
Mary Follyott, Susan Stoniard, to grandchild Henry Shirley wit"
Lawrence Baskerville, R. Peito, Richard Cobby. Codicil to Lady
Delves, to Doctor Lionell Sharpe doctor of divinity.
Children
11(i). Sir Thomas the younger 1565
He died 1633 Isle of Wght (source for death?)
In 1579, at the age of 15, he and his brother was entered
into Hert Hall University in Oxford. Thomas was there for 2 years
or more. It appears he left without a degree. He served in Ireland
where he was knighted by Lord Deputy Sir Wm Fitzwilliam October
26, 1589. In the autumn of 1591 he apparently married Frances
Vavasour without the consent of her father. Queen Elizabeth was
very unhappy about this marriage and had him imprisoned for more
than 3 months perhaps a year or more. By 1593 he was a captain
serving in the Low Countries. In 1601 he was chosen to sit in
Parliament for Steyning (in Sussex CO.). In 1598 he began taking
sea voyages, the first being to Portugal. He returned in 1602
and soon afterwards undertook an expedition against the Turks.
Sir Thomas the younger returned from the levant in the year 1605,
having for several years suffered very severe treatment and imprisonment
under the hands of the Turks. He was confined in the island of
Negropont and afterwards at Constantinople, where he was a prisoner
thirty-three months. He was at last released by the mediation
of his sovereign, King James 1st. By 1607 he was confined to
the Tower, for over busying himself with the traffic of Constantinople.
In 1612 he is in the King's Bench Prison. In January 1615 he
addresses a letter asking to be forgiven his debt etc. He mentions
his fathers idea of the baronetage and estimates the expenses
of his two voyages at 14,000 pounds. In 1624 he requests the
keeping of the Park in the Isle of Wight. [In 1602, Sir John
Shurley of Isfield Village, (married to Jane Sherley, daughter
of Sir Thomas Sherley the elder), Sir Edward Onslow and Anthony
Sherley of Preston (plus 2 other people), were involved in a
sale of Wiston which was not completed because Thomas Sherley
the younger was imprisoned in Constantinople]. The family lost
Wiston because of debts before Anne Kemp Shirley died in 1622.
married 1) Frances Vavasour daughter of Sir Thomas
Vavasour kt; She died prior to 1617
married 2) Judith Taylor, widow on 2 December 1617
at St Nicholas Deptford, Kent. Daughter of William Bennet, of
London.
children of Sir Thomas Sherley and 1st wife Frances
Vavasour
12(i). Catherine Shirley
12(ii). Elizabeth Shirley married Sir Arthur Daking
of Linton York
12(iii). Frances Shirley bapt 31 August 1598 at St
Anne Blackriars London married John Mole, esq. of Culworth Northampton.
She died December 1639
12(iv). Cheyney Shirley buried 5 March 1605 Foot's
Cray, Kent died young,
12(v). Henry Shirley b______d. 1627 murdered . He was
a playwright and was of St. Botolph, Aldergate, London; Author
of the play "The Martyred Soldier" (Printed 1638)
12(vi). Sir Thomas Shirley bapt. 30 June 1597 in parish
of West Clandon, in Surrey. Living as late as 14 June 1664 when
he received a receipt for taxes paid. He was brought up in a
military capacity and was referred to as Captain. His name appears
among Sussex delinquents about 1643. He was with Charles I at
Oxford (residing in Magdalen College) when he was knighted by
His Majesty, February 25, 1645 by the name of Sir Thomas Sherley
of Sussex, a colonel in the garrison at Oxford. He was living
in 1664 as his name appears on a receipt for payment of taxes
in the State paper Office.
married Ann Blundell on 8 June 1629 at St Dunstan's,
Stepney Middlesex, daughter of Sir George Blundell of Cardington
Bedfordshire
8 June 1629 St Dunstans Stepney Parish, Middlesex - Marriage
between Thomas Sherley of St. Brides London Esquier & Anne
Blundell daughter of Sir George Blundell Knight deceased (by
license, Faculty Office)
children
13(i). Sackville Shirley bapt 22 February 1629/30 St.Bride
Fleet Street, London. Sackville was buried 8 September 1634 St
Margarets Westminster. died young
13(ii). Mary Shirley bapt. 22 February 1629/30 St.Bride
Fleet Street, London; twin who died 2 hours after birth;
13(iii). Christobella Shirley bapt. 10 February 1631
St Margarets Westminster, daughter of Thomas Sherley and Anne
Blundell; She married 1) Richard Rogers of the Middle Temple
and 2) Walter Bethell, esq. of Ellerton York
13(iv). Mary Shirley bapt. __ January 1632 St Margarets
Westminster, daughter of Thomas Sherlie and Anne Blundell; She
married George Fielding, esq of Hillfield Solihull, Warwickshire,
likely eldest son of Sir Roger Fielding, knt.
13(v). Anne Shirley bapt. 26 September 1637 St Margarets
Westminster, daughter of Thomas Sherley and Anne Blundell; died
young
13(vi). Jane Shirley died young
13(vii). Thomas Shirley,
M.D. bapt. 15 October 1638 parish
of St.Margarets Westminster. He died 5 August 1678; buried 7
August in the southwest vault of part of St Brides church near
Fleet Street, London (more
information about Thomas Shirley MD)
He lived as a boy in Magdalen college (Oxford) with his
father, during the time that the University was a garrison for
the King. He bred up in grammar learning in the free-school joining
to the said college. He afterwards went into France, studied
physic, and was graduated in that faculty. After he returned
home he became noted for his practice therein, and at length
was made physician in ordinary to his Majesty King Charles II.
married 1) Hannah Harfleet, daughter of John Harfleet
of Fleet (Southfleet?), Kent
married 2) Elizabeth Baskett by license dated 5 June
1667, daughter of Capt. Richard Baskett of Apps, parish
of Newchurch, Isle of Wight
1667 June 5 Thomas Sherley of St. Margarets Westminster
esq widower about age 35 married Elizabeth Baskett of same spinster
age about 23. Her father consents marriage to be at St Mary Savoy,
St Savior Southwark, or St Bartholomew Great or Less London;
children
14(i). Anne Shirley (by wife Hannah)
14(ii). Margaret Shirley (by wife Hannah)
14(iii). Thomas Sherley Alive in 1701. nothing
more known
Post Man and the Historical Account (London, England),
Tuesday, August 12, 1701; Issue 390.Classified ads .The late
Dr Sherleys Anodine Tincture. Was Physician in Ordinary to King
Charles the 2nd. Now prepared and published by his son Tho.
Sherley. It cures the stone in the kidneys or bladders also
in the gravel or straguary an cholick it will give speedy care
and in many other distempers mentioned in the printed bills of
directions. Price 2s and 6d. The bottle containing half a pint
and are to be had of Mr Madox a cane shop over against the Royal
Exchange. Mr Wignell, perfumer at the Cavalier at the lower end
of Bedford Street, Covent Garden; and Richard Gray shoemaker
at the Crown and Shoes in Fleet Street near St Dunstans church.
14(iv). Richard Shirley nothing more known
14(v). Elizabeth Shirley
children of Sir Thomas Sherley and 2nd wife Judith Taylor
(nee Bennett)
12(vii). John Shirley bapt. 1 September 1618 at St.
Margarets, Westminster, son of Thomas Sherley and Judith Bennet
nothing more known
12(viii). Hugh Shirley nothing more known
May be the Hugh Shirley who died 1642 St Mary Whitechapel,
Middlesex Co Mentions bro. Thomas in PCC administration
12(ix). Thomas Shirley, esq of West Clandon Surrey
(yes a 2nd son named Thomas)
He died 1 January 1657/8 in Surrey Co.and left a will; buried
at Purton Church, Oxfordshire
1658 Will of Thomas Shirley, gent of West Clandon Surrey
I, Thomas Sherley , of West Clandon, in the county of Surrey,
Gentleman, being sicke and weak in body, but of good and perfect
memorye, do make this my last will and testament, in manner and
form following: Imprimis, I commit my soule into the hands of
Jesus Christ, my Saviour and Redeemer, and my body to be decently
buried in Purton church in the county of Oxon (Oxford). Item:
it is my will that ten pounds be bestowed and expended for and
towards my ffuneral expenses and charges, and ten pounds in two
pieces of plate to be given unto Sarah, the wife of Doctor Skinner,
and Jane the wife of George Croke, esq. Item: I give and bequeath
unto Dame Judith Sherley, my mother, the sum of twenty pounds.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my brothers, Robert Sherley and
Richard Sherley, five pounds a piece, and also to my two sisters,
Ann and Bridget, five pounds a piece, as also to my two brothers
aforesaid, two suites of apparell, each of them one, my brother
Richard to take his choice. Item: I give unto Thomas Lidger and
John Potter, my two godsonnes, all my bees standing and being
in West Clandon Street, to be equally divided between them. Item:
I give unto Mr. Richard Onslow (son of Arthur Onslow, Esq.) and
Mrs. Mary Onslow his sister all my p'te and share of bees standing
at West Clandon Place, to be divided betweene them. Item: I give
unto Christopher Lidger, of West Clandon aforesaid, all such
moneys as is due unto me from him, and also my buffe suite of
clothes. Item: I give unto Elizabeth Wilkins ten shillings. Item:
I give unto William Underwood, of Alburty, my best hatt. Item:
I give unto Edmond Merryweather, servant unto Geroge Crok, esq,
my old hatt and all bands and cuffes which I have at Purton aforesaid,
my bootes, shores, stockings, and sprrs. Item: I give unto Beatrice
Burnett, servant to my Lady Onslow, 6 handkirchers. Item: I give
unto Richard Stevens, servant to Sir Richard Onlsow, knt. one
paire of gloves, 2 combes, a pair of sizars, my belt, and buffe
hangers. Item: I give unto William Arthur, Keeper of ye comon
gaole for Surrey, my black sattin capp. Item: I give and bequeath
unto John Stevens, my bed fellow, my scarlett ryding coate, my
mare, and my sworde; and I do hereby make ye said John Stevens
my executor, in trust to dispose of and distribute all my money
or goods and chattells to the use and purpose about mentioned.
The said money to be paid within six weeks after my decease,
if within that time the same shall be raised and paid to this
my executor in trust, or otherwise as soon as conveniently it
may. In witness whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand and seale,
the 30th day of December 1657.THOMAS SHERLEY. Sealed and delivered
in the presence of us, Edm. Merywwether. The marke of X Richard
Stevens. Taken from Stemmata Shirleiana
12(x). Robert Shirley christened June 11, 1624 Colborne,
Isle of Wight, son of Thomas Sherley;. Mentioned in brother Thomas
Shirley's 1657 will (age about 33) nothing more known
12(xi). Richard Shirley christened Nov 14, 1625 Colborne,
Isle of Wight, son of Thomas Sherley;. Mentioned in brother Thomas
Shirley's 1657 will (age about 32) nothing more known (See
sister Bridget below)
12(xii). Bridget Shirley, bapt 7 May 1623 in Colbourne,
Isle of Wight, daughter of Thomas Sherley; Mentioned in brother
Thomas Shirley's 1657 will (age about 34)
Is this her? 1668 PCC PROB
6/43 f.157; 3 Nov 1668 Bridgett Races alias Sherley widow St.
Mary, Whitechapel, Middlesex Administration to Richard Shirley.,
brother. Value £10
12(xiii). Judith Shirley died as an infant
12(xiv). Anne Shirley Mentioned in brother Thomas Shirley's
1657 will
12(xv). Judith Shirley bapt. 30 July 1627 at Newport
Isle of Wight, daughter of Thomas Sherley; She appears to have
been the second wife of Sir Thomas Pelham, knt. and married in
1637; she died and was buried at Laughton Sussex 21 Nov 1638
12(xvi). Elizabeth Shirley apparently died
as an infant
12(xvii). Elizabeth Shirley (listed as a dau in the
Harl. MSSS 4023 published in 1638)
11(ii). Sir Anthony Shirley of Wiston Sussex and Granada
Spain born 1563 at Wiston He died 1633 Granada, Spain.
He entered Hert Hall, Oxford in 1579 and received a B.A.
Feb 8, 1581. In November of same year he was elected probationer
of All Soul's College. From the university he removed to the
Inns of Court. In 1596 Sir Anthony Sherley undertook, under Lord
Essex's patronage, an expedition against the Isle of St. Thomas
and the settlements of the Spaniards in the West Indies. On the
eve of his departure he was presented by Essex and the Lord Admiral
to the Queen, "and used with great favor both in privy and
drawing chambers." (Details of his life can be found in
"Elizabethan Errants"). In the winter of 1598-9 Sir
Anthony was asked to go to Persia and prevail upon the King of
Persia to unite with the Christian princes against the Turks.
From Persia Sir Anthony proceeded to Russia, in the quality of
an ambassador from the Persian King to all the princes of Europe.
He received an indifferent treatment from the Czar of Muscovy
and traveled into Germany and was received with honor at Prague
by the Emperor Rudolph. From Prague he came to Nuemburg, Munick,
Trent and arrived in Rome in 1601. He afterwards retired to Venice
where he remained until the spring of 1605. He returned to Prague
and was soon after employed by the Emperor of Germany as ambassador
to the King of Morocco. In the autumn of 1606 Sir Anthony Sherley
is at Lisbon and in the spring of 1607 he is at Madrid. Here
the King of Spain made him "General of the Mediterranean
Seas." In July 1607 he was at Naples and from here he returned
to Prague to give an account of his embassy to the Emperor, by
whom he was created a Count of the Empire. In 1608 he was again
in Italy and returned to Spain. In 1611 Count Anthony Sherley
retired to Granada, Spain. (He lived in Spain 20 years). In 1622
Count Anthony Sherley wrote a book in which he incorporated various
projects which he advanced over the years. His purpose was to
get the attention of the Conde Duique de Oivares, who was then
at the beginning of his power. His projects had been: the establishment
of the cloth trades in the territories of Spain, an embargo on
the importation of manufactured goods. He suggested to Olivares
a number of ways in which his talents might be employed. There
were, for example, shameful frauds in the refining and transportation
of silver and gold from America, by which Sherley estimated,
roughly 30 per cent of the of the gold was being embezzled and
lost to the crown. In 1623 one Juan Nicholas pointed out to Olivares
the numerous occasions on which the government to the detriment
of the country had disregarded the wise counsel of Sherley. Count
Anthony had advised the Dutch should be excluded from the salt
pans at Punta Araya in Venezuela. No notice was taken of him,
with the result the Dutchmen grew rich on Spanish salt. In 1624
Count Anthony summarized a number of his projects in a single
document. He again urged that Spain should obtain control of
the Strait of Gibraltar. "I assert that with closing or
obstructing the passage of the Strait, Your Majesty is placing
his foot on the necks of the princes of Italy and the Turk, for
passage through the Strait is crucial to their commercial life".
He advocated a regular mail service between Spain and the Indies
and offered to establish it. He suggested that a company should
be formed in Mexico to sell spices. He pointed out the wisdom
of establishing a market for dyes, spices, and drugs at Final,
of fortifying the island of Mogador, of basing a merchant fleet
on Cartagena, of making peace with the Turk. But the King's ministers
were jaded and annotated his document with such comments as "No",
"Nothing" and "Nothing in this". Two years
later he put forward his most ambitious proposal, which was that
he and his Spanish descendants, his son Don Diego is mentioned
specifically, should be given proprietary rights to a town on
the island of Fadala and another in Anafa, or Mogador in Barbary,
to hold as vassals of the King of Spain with the title of Senorio
or Lord. He and his descendants would have the right to fortify
these towns and develop the fishery in the vicinity, to buy wheat,
hides, meat, and other products in Barbary, and to sell these
products to Spain. In return for these privileges Sherley agreed
to maintain a fleet of fifty ships which would be at the disposal
of the King four months of the year and for trading operations
the other eight months. He was 61 years old at this time. There
is no record this proposal was carried forward. Doubtless he
was a famous man, full of stories of the wars in Flanders, of
the munificence of the Persian court, of sea fights in the Indies,
of the horrible machinations of the famous English heretics,
Queen Elizabeth, Essex, Cecil, Sir Walter Raleigh, all of whom
he had known. He died in 1633. He is buried in the parochial
church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Granada. Count Anthony
Sherley's death was written about in the Anales de Granada of
Francisco de Jorquera. He notes the death of Count Anthony and
says Anthony left a son of outstanding quality whom His Majesty
will employ in his service for he is capable in many matters.
In another paper, Count Anthony refers to his Spanish descendants,
his son Don Diego is mentioned specifically.
married Frances Vernon. By this marriage there was
no issue according to Stemmata.
11(iii). Sir Robert Shirley of Wiston Sussex and Rome Italy
The youngest of the three brothers, was born at Wiston.
He accompanied his brother Sir Anthony to Persia in 1598, and
remained in that country for several years after his brothers
departure. In the year 1609 Sir Robert was employed by the Persian
monarch as ambassador to several princes of Christendom, for
the purpose of uniting them in a confederacy against the Turks.
He first went to Poland, and to Germany where he received the
title of Earl (Count) palatine and knight of the Roman Empire.
He was given the single power of legitimating all bastards, the
children of great Princes, Earls, and Barons only excepted. The
title of Earl of the sacred palace of Lalteran and Chamberlain
was also conferred upon him by Pope Paul the Fifth. He traveled
to similar places as his brother Anthony.Sir Robert Sherley arrived
in Barcelona in December 1609 and remained in Spain mostly at
Madrid. He sent for his wife who was in Poland. He had married
her in 1607. She was the daughter of a Persian Prince. In 1611
they became the parents of a son, Henry. The Prince of Wales
was his sponsor. Sir Robert remained in England during the year
1612 (the year of his father, Sir Thomas the elders, decease).
He and his wife left England in 1613 leaving little Henry in
England, whom he recommended to the protection of the Queen.
This child died in England although the exact date is not known.
Sir Robert served many years as a Persian Ambassador and died
in 1628 at Cazbyn, Persia. He was entombed under the threshold
of his own house in the city without much ceremony. His wife,
Lady Teresia (the daughter of a Persian Prince), retired after
Sir Roberts death to Rome. About 30 years later, Lady Teresia
had Roberts bones removed to Rome. She died in 1668 and they
are buried in the tomb in the church of Santa Maria della Scala
at Rome.
married Teresia, daughter of a Persian Prince
Children
12(i). Henry Shirley. born 1611. He died young, likely
the Henry Shirley whose estate administered in 1617 by his aunt
Lady Crofts.
1617 Henry Sherlie of St Botolphs Aldersgate London, admin
to lady Mary Croftes wife of Sir John Crofts kt 1617 p 104
11(iv). Mary Shirley. She married Sir John Crofts of
Suffolk *** (see below)
11(v). Elizabeth Shirley. She married Sir Edward Onslow
11(vi). Margery Shirley. She married Sir Pexall Brocas
11(vii). Jane Shirley.
married Sir John Shurley
of Isfield Sussex
11(viii). Anne Shirley. She married Sir John Tracey
of Soddington
11(ix). Cecily Shirley. She married Sir Thomas West,
Lord De la Ware
Did the Wiston Shirleys die out as the
old visitation lineages suggest?
1. Nothing is known about the children of Dr. Thomas Shirley
who fought to retrieve Wiston in court. Certainly, a possiblity
exists that his children named in the Shirley pedigree continued.
2. One item hints at further Wiston descendants:
The well-known dramatist named Thomas Killigrew wrote a letter
to the Duke of Ormond in 1668 complaining about the scandal his
"cousin Shirley" found himself in with
Mary Ware. The Ware incident was famous in the mid-1600s accusing
James Shirley, an employee of the exchequer's office in Dublin
Ireland, of abducting the heiress Mary Ware for the purpose of
forced matrimony in 1666. Shirley at one point fled to London
and then died not long aferward. His brother and heir, John Shirley,
also in Ireland, handled many of the financial matters following
the death of James Shirley.
At first glance, Killigrew's occupation as a dramatist would
lead one to suspect a kinship with the family of James Shirley,
the London dramatist of this same era. However, this Thomas Killigrew
married Cecillia Crofts, d/o Sir John Crofts and Mary Shirley
of Wiston, sister of the 3 famous Shirley brothers. (see above
for generation 11) Killigrew's wife's 1st cousins would be generation
12, and her 2nd cousins would be the unknown children of any
of that generation.
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Shirleys of Wiston