By Rev. Lawrence Shirley - My great grandfather, James
Shirley was married in County Carlow, Ireland and died there
early in life. His wife apparently accompanied my grandfather
and his wife, Catherine McDonald, and their young son, Herman,
early in 1858 to Canada. They settled in the Township of Bathurst
on a homestead about 9 miles from Perth. My great grandmother
soon met and married a Mr. Anderson who was running a sawmill.
He pre-deceased her. She was commonly known as "Granny Anderson".
From first hand information, she is buried near Fallbrooke, Ontario,
about 12 miles from Perth, Ontario, Canada. My grandfather, James
Shirley, was born in 1835 and died in 1884. His tombstone is
in the 3rd last row (north), almost central in the old section
of the Catholic cemetery about 1/2 mile north of Perth. His wife,
Catherine McDonald, was born in Ireland in 1831 and died in 1917.
She was buried in Perth, Ontario. During the 1870's, some of
this family moved to Bay City, Michigan USA.
St John the Baptist Catholic Church - Interment - On this
13th day of March 1884 I the designated parish priest have interred
in the new Catholic Cemetery of Perth the body of James Shirley
late of the 6th Line of Bathurst and a native of the County of
Carlow Ireland, deceased the 11th instant aged about 49 years.
The witnesses to interment were James Pennett, James Freeman,
James Furlong, his three sons, Herman,
James and Patrick Shirley, Bernard McGowan and many others -
John S O'Connor pp (Note an unidentified John Shirley of Ireland,
migrated to Ontario late 1850s, later lived Lake Co Ohio and
Murray Minnesota married a Furlong woman in Canada; James Furlong
is a neighbor of above James, age 46 b Ireland in 1881 census)
married Catherine McDonald in county Carlow Ireland.
She was born 1831 in Ireland and died 1917 in Perth, Lanark Co,
Ontario Canada. Buried St John Parish RC, Perth, Drummond Twp;
She lived with son John Herman Shirley in 1891 census household
Children:
2(i). John Herman Shirley born and baptised 12 January
1856 at Leighlinbridge Catholic Church, County Carlow Ireland
(parish record, death cert and 1901 census). He was 2 years old
when his parents went to Canada. Age 6 in parent's 1861 census
household; age 15 in 1871 census; Enumerated at Bathurst in 1891
census, age 35 with family (as Herman); His mother Catherine
Shirley lived in the household; He was age 45 in 1901 Bathurst
Twp Lanark Co census; He died 11 February 1924 Perth, Lanark
Co, Canada, age 68. His death cert says his father's name was
"Jno Shirley" (sic). Buried at St John's Parish cemetery,
Perth Lanark County
12 Jan 1856 Leighlinbridge Catholic Parish Register, Co
Carlow Ireland, page 53 - John Harmon Shirley baptised to James
Shirley and Catherine McDonald; Sponsors Patrick McDonald, Mary
Cavanagh - of Knocka[ ]
married 1) Mary Ann Nagle on 29 April 1884 at Perth,
Lanark County. She was born at Bathurst, Ont. about 12 miles
S.W. of Perth in 1854. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jos.
Nagel who farmed at Bathhurst; Age 36 in 1891 census household
(as Muriel?) She died in Perth 20 July 1896. Buried at St John's
Parish cemetery, Perth Lanark County
29 Apr 1884 Herman Shirley birth: 1856 married Mary Ann
Nagle at Perth, Lanark, Ontario, Canada - Parents: James Shirley,
Catherine Shirley
married 2) Jane Nagle on 9 January 1899 at Perth, Lanark
County, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Nagle. She was age 45
in 1901 census household; She died 23 September 1919. Buried
at St John's Parish cemetery, Perth Lanark County
09 Jan 1899 Jnos Parinon Shirley birth: 1857 married Jane
Nagle at Perth, Lanark, Ontario, Canada - Parents: James Shirley,
Catherin Mchouse
married 3) Mrs. Catherine Sheridan nee O'Donnell on
16 September 1922 at Lanark, Lanark Co Ontario (both parents
named) She was dauther of Aron O'Donnell and Anna Shortt; She
died in 1948 Kingston, Canada.
Children:
3(i). Rose Marie Shirley born 28 May 1886 in Ontario
(1901 census), age 4 in 1891 census, age 14 in 1901 census (as
Mary)
3(ii). Catherine E Shirley born 5 January 1888 in Ontario
(1901 census), age 3 in 1891 census, age 13 in 1901 census
3(iii). Lorette A Shirley born 14 September 1889 in
Ontario (1901 census), age 1 in 1891 census, age 11 in 1901 census
(as Anna L)
3(iv). William J Shirley born 31 July 1891 in Ontario
(1901 census), age 10 in 1901 census
2(ii). Mary Shirley baptised 19 April 1857 at Leighlinbridge
Catholic Church in County Carlow Ireland, age 13 in parent's
1871 census household, age 27 in 1881 census (single); She married
Mr. James Tovey in Perth, Ontario and later moved to Bay City
Michigan USA
1857 Apr 19 Leighlinbridge Catholic Parish Register County
Carlow Ireland - Mary Shirley baptised d/o James Shirley and
Catherine McDonald; Sponsors: Patt Cahill, Ann Dolan; Residence:
Knockabrana
07 Nov 1881 Mary Shirley birth: 1857 married James Tovey
at Perth, Lanark, Ontario, Canada - Parents: James Shirley, Catherine
Shirley
2(iii). Paul Shirley baptised 26 September 1858 at
Leighlinbridge Catholic Parish, County Carlow Ireland; age 12
in 1871 census, age 22 in 1881 census: He died single in 1883,
age 24. He was killed in an accident in a shanty in upper Michigan,
by a tree falling on him. His father brought his body back to
Perth for burial. No children
1858 Sept 26 Leighlinbridge Catholic Parish Register, Carlow
Ireland - Paul Shirley baptised s/o Jas Shirley and Cath McDonald;
Sponsors: Jas Sions, Judeth [illeg] Residence: [illeg]
2(iv). Michael Joseph Shirley born 24 March 1861 in
Canada; age 10 in 1871 census, age 21 in 1881 census; After the
birth of their two children, they moved to Eldoro, Iowa USA.
Lived Eldora, Hardin Co Iowa in 1900 census. age 40; Two years
later they moved back to Michigan USA. In 1909 the family moved
to Spokane, Washington USA, age 48 in 1910 Spokane Co Washington
census. He died on 6 December 1920 at Colfax, Whitman Co Washington;
Buried Fairmount Memorial Park, Spokane Washington .Shirleys of Spokane Washington USA
married 1) Annie Waite 29 May 1883 at Kingston, Frontenac,
Ontario; She was born 1865 and died Mar 7, 1903
29 May 1883 Michael Shirley birth: 1861 married Annie Weite
at Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada - Parents: James Shirley,
Catherine Mcdonald
married 2) Clara Theresa Shandonay in Michigan in 1904.
She was age 25 in 1910 census
Children:
3(i). Katherine Isabel Shirley born about 1887 at Oscodo,
Michigan. age 13 in 1900 census; She died in the 1960's in Spokane
WA
3(ii). Annie May Shirley born about 1890 in Michigan,
age 10 in 1900 census (as Miriam). She married Edward Leo Brushey
on 17 February 1909 at Sault Ste Marie, Chippewa Co Michigan
3(iii). Gerald Leslie Shirley born 1 July 1905 in Michigan
(tombstone), age 4 in 1910 census; He died in 1986 in Spokane
Washington
married Rita Cecilia Hall 1930. They had two children
3(iv). Estelle Marie Shirley born 1 June 1907, age
3 in 1910 census, She died 1998; She married Severn Francis Sprague
1927 & had 6 children
3(v). Eva Mae Shirley born about 1909 in Michigan,
age 1 in 1910 census
3(vi). Robert M Shirley born 4 August 1910 at Spokane
Washington; He died 1978 in Washington
2(v). James Joseph Shirley born 18 April 1862 in Ontario
(1901 census), age 8 in 1871 census, age 18 in parent's 1881
census household, age 38 in 1910 Bathurst Lanark Co census; He
died Dec 21, 1931. James is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon
Saskatchewan; Wife Elizabeth is buried in the Catholic cemetery
of Perth beside their son Earl as requested. There were 10 children
born to this marriage but 4 died in infancy.
married Elizabeth Jane Kearns at Perth, Ontario on
Sept 26, 1888 at Perth, Lanark Co Ontario. She was born May 24,
1860 and died Nov 26, 1953. Buried at St John's Parish cemetery
at Perth, Lanark Co Ontario
26 Sep 1888 James Shirley birth: 1862 married Elizabeth
Kearnes at Perth, Lanark, Ontario, Canada - Parents: James Shirley,
Catherine Shirley
Children:
3(i). John Patrick Shirley born 3 July 1891 in Ontario
(1901 census), age 9 in 1901 census
3(ii). Vincent James Shirley born 30 August 1891 (1901
census), age 9 in 1901 census (sic)
3(iii). Thomas Charles Earl Shirley born 13 December
1898 at Perth Lanark Co Ontario, age 7 in 1901 census (b 1893,
1901 census); he died 10 November 1918, age 19
Obituary - Mr James Shirley of War Time Sask, arrived in
Perth on Saturday last, with the body of his son Earl for burial.
Earl Shirley had enlisted with the 1st Depot Battalion last summer
and was stationed at Regina. he took ill and was sent home when
pnemonia developed and he died on the 10th day of November in
his 23rd year. Deceased was born in Bathurst and removed West
with his parents five years ago. Besides his parents four brothers
and one sister survive, Herman Shirley, Perth is his uncle.
3(iv). Mary Veronica Shirley born 1894 in Ontario (1901
censu), age 6 in 1901 census
3(v). Rev. Lawrence Herbert Shirley born 23 August
1900, age 0 in 1901 census; He was ordained a Diocisan priest
on 14 June 1930. He worked in many parishes throughout Saskatchewan.
He is the original source for much of this genealogy.
3(vi). William Leo Shirley born after the 1901 census;
He died 1 March 1981 at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Ancestor of DNA Kit #IN89244
2(vi). Patrick Shirley - born 8 Jul 1864; age 7 in
1871 census, age 16 in 1881 census; He lived in Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada and died 21 Jan 1940
married 1) Bridget Nagel on 2 May 1887 at Perth Ontario
02 May 1887 Patrick Shirley birth: 1865 married Bridget
Nagle at Perth, Lanark, Ontario, Canada - Parents: James Shirley,
Catherine Shirley
married 2) Mary Morrison 10 Jul 1896 at British Columbia
2(vii). Annie Shirley born about 1866 in Ontario, age
5 in 1871 census, age 15 in 1881 census; She married a
Mr. Cuyler of Harrisville. Annie died April 13, 1949 and is buried
in Michigan. Their son Hazen Cuyler was a famous ball player
nick-named Ki-Ki Cuyler who is listed in the Sport 's Hall of
Fame. He died Feb 11, 1950.
2(viii). Martha Lina Shirley born about 1868 in Ontario,
age 3 in 1871 census, age 13 in 1881 census; She died about 1947
at East Tawas, Michigan USA. She married Pat O'Brien 24 Apr 1894
at Au Sable, Alcona, Michigan
2(ix). Thomas Shirley born about 1871 in Ontario, age
0 in 1871 census, age 10 in 1881 census; He married and
went to Winnipeg, Canada, to become proprietor of the Oriental
Hotel there until his death. He is buried in Winnipeg. He has
at least 2 sons. One of his sons, Albert, became famous in the
early 1950's as Inspector Hearthstone of the death squad. This
was sponsored by the Aspirin Tablet Company.
2(x). Richard Wilber Shirley born 24 November 1873;
age 7 in 1881 census; He lived in Chilliwack, British Columbia,
Canada and died 29 Dec 1938 at British Columbia
married Jennette ______
2(xi). Catherine (Kate) Shirley born 6 February 1878,
age 5 in 1881 census; She died April 7, 1950; She married Joseph
A.Poliquin on 11 September 1901 at Sault Ste Marie, Algonma County
Ontario (parents named). She married next a Mr. Gill.
James
Shirley of Carlow Ireland