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Update
September 2019. The unusual Y-chromosome DNA test result obtained
many years ago from a descendant of Berryman Shirley Jr (see
below) has now been confirmed as an exact match with a male Shirley
descendant of Rev Beverly Shirley. Neither DNA result matches
DNA from Branch 61 Moses Shirley, thus calling into question
paternity for Berryman Shirley Sr. Both Berryman Shirley Jr and
Rev Beverly Shirley DNA instead match descendants of the Wright
family. And after genealogical research on the Wright ancestry
of the DNA participants, we find the Wrights (in question) originated
from Laurens Co SC and lived in proximity to the Shirleys there.
Thus, we conclude that descendants of Berryman Shirley Jr and
Rev Beverly Shirley are likely biologically Wrights in the paternal
line, not Shirleys. (But this is not proven, only evidence-based
suggestion)
It
is also interesting that Young Jackson Shirley's date of birth
(see below) is earlier than the marriage date of his supposed
parents Berryman Shirley Sr and wife Susanna Stearns, which opens
up another scenario. The DNA of a descendant of Young Jackson
Shirley would help confirm which of the following 2 scenarios
is more likely correct:
1.
Berryman Shirley Sr IS NOT the biological son of Moses Shirley
Branch 61, he was either adopted or was born illegitimately to
Moses' wife Judah. He was instead biologically a Wright
2.
Berryman Shirley Sr IS the biological son of Moses Shirley, but
he and wife Susanna say could not have children and adopted both
Wright children Berryman Jr and Beverly, or else both were born
illegitimately to wife Susanna (less likely).
The
couple had lots of children as you see below, so Scenario 2 is
not as likely as Scenario 1
Your
thoughts are welcome.
This
Lineage Last Updated in July 2020
Berryman Shirley
Sr. was born March 18, 1795 in Laurens Co
South Carolina; He and Moses Shirley witnessed a sale of land
by John Shirley to Samuel A Shirley in Habersham Co GA in 1826;
He died March 3, 1875 Alto, Georgia. Buried Shirley Cem. Scroges
Farm, Habersham Co. GA.
1875 May Inf. Court Min. Book 6, 1859-1885 p. 275 Young
J. Shirley granted letters of admin. on estate of Berryman Shirley,
dec. May 3, 1875. His oath that Berryman died without any will,
etc.
1875 March 15 Habersham Co GA Inventory Book A, page 77,
105. Inventory and Appraisal of Estate of Berryman Shirley, dec'd,
by Young J Shirley, administrator.
married Susannah Stearns July 13, 1818 Rabun Co., GA. She was
born April 8, 1792 daughter of Ebenezer and Mary Ann Stearns
of Laurens Co SC, she died July 13, 1877 Alto, GA. [Note the year of marriage
and birth of first child???Error?]
children:
1(i). Young Jackson
Shirley born 26 August
1817 SC; Enumerated in Habersham Co GA in 1850, age 32 with wife
Sarah; He appears in various deed records in Habersham Co GA
in the 1850s both with father Berryman Shirley and with brother
Beverly Shirley; Lived Habersham Co GA in 1860 census, age 42
with wife Sarah (no children); Named administrator of the estate
of his father Berryman Shirley in 1875; Lived Habersham Co GA
in 1880 census, age 62 with wife Elizabeth (age 38); He died
12/13 September 1898 Alto, Habersham Co. GA; Buried at Shirley
Family Cemetery in Habersham Co GA, Y-DNA needed from a male descendant (with
Shirley surname)
March 8, 1883 Habersham Co
WB 2, page 38, page 39. Will of Young J. Shirley - Young J. Shirley
bequests to wife, Margaret E. Shirley, 60 acres in l.l. 156,
125 acres in l.l. 165, 165 acres in l.l. 155 all of the 10th
District, furniture, stock, etc. to eight heirs: Martha E. Shirley,
John F. Shirley, William B. Shirley, Bashaba M. Shirley, Vestah
S. Shirley, Margaret J. Shirley, Young J. Shirley and Francis
H. Shirley, to receive estate equally at wife's death (or remarriage
?). Refiled May 9, 1923 due to fire in early 1923 by C. R. Brown,
Ord. Exc. John F. Shirley and Martha E. Shirley Wit. W.C. King,
N.P., J.P. and J.M. Martin, A.P. Grant, T.E. Deavans, T.B. Grant
married 1) Sarah Ann Jordan on 20 October 1842 at Rabun Co. GA.
She died 30 April 1862; Buried Shirley Family Cem. Habersham
Co GA
20 Oct 1842 Rabun Co GA Shirley,
Young J. married Sarah Jourden; bond 06 Oct 1842 by James C.
Jarrard, CM
married 2) Caroline
Loggins on 6 July 1862
at Habersham Co GA; She died 22 November 1862; buried Shirley
Family Cem. Habersham Co GA
married 3) Mary Elizabeth
Morris on 19 March 1863
at Habersham Co. GA, She died 8 August 1875, buried Shirley
Family Cem. Habersham Co GA
married 4) Margaret Elizabeth
Crow on 30 April 1876.
children by
Mary Elizabeth Morris:
2(i). Martha Elizabeth Shirley born 25 June 1864 at Habersham Co GA,
age 5 in 1870 census, age 15 in 1880 census; She married James
Cranston Thompson
2(ii). male infant Shirley born 11 November 1865 at Habersham Co
GA;
2(iii). Young James (Jim)
Shirley born 14 March
1867 at Habersham Co GA; Not enumerated in parent's 1870 or
1880 census households, likely died young
2(iv). John Franklin Shirley born 17 March 1868 at Habersham Co GA,
age 2 in 1870 census, age 9 in 1880 census; He was co executor
of his father's will in 1898; Married with children living at
Mud Creek Habersham Co GA in 1900 census, age 32 and 1910, age
42;
married 1) Rosa Gailey on 23 August 1888 at Habersham Co GA
married 2) Margaretta Etheline
Gailey
children:
3(i). Viola Shirley born about 1889 GA, age 11 in 1900 census,
3(ii). Cansby/Corbee J Shirley
(male) born about 1892
GA, age 8 in 1900 census, age 18 in 1910 census
3(iii). James Andrew Shirley
born 2 September 1894
GA (death cert), age 6 in 1900 census, age 15 in 1910 census;
He died on 29 October 1922 at Alto Banks Co GA, age 28 (death
cert. Married, Parents named)
3(iv). Lillie Shirley born about 1896 GA,age 4 in 1900 census,
age 12 in 1910 census
3(v). Allie Shirley born about 1900 GA, age 0 in 1900 census
(name not given), age 10 in 1910 census, age 19 in 1920 census
3(vi). John Lester Shirley born 23 July 1904 GA (death cert), age
5 in 1910 census, age 15 in 1920 census; He died in San Diego
CA on 4 June 1948 (death cert, mother's last name given)
2(v). William Beverley Shirley born 13 February 1870 at Habersham Co
GA, age 0 in 1870 census, age 8 in 1880 census; Married with
children, living at Mud Creek Habersham Co GA in 1910 census,
age 40 and in 1920, age 49, and in 1930 age 60; He died 29 March
1942 at Habersham Co GA
married Pleasant Holley King on 21 October 1894 at Banks Co GA
children:
3(i). Vera Shirley born about 1896 GA, age 14 in 1910
census; She married Frank Matheson, and they both lived with
her parents in 1920 census
3(ii). Daniel Shirley born about 1898 GA, age 12 in
1910 census
3(iii). Eletha Shirley born about 1899 GA, age 11 in
1910 census
3(iv). Earnest Shirley born about 1903 GA, age 7 in
1910 census, age 17 in 1920 census
3(v). Beulah Shirley born about 1910 GA, age 0 in 1910
census (name not given), age 9 in 1920 census
3(vi). Fletch Shirley born about 1915 GA, age 5 in
1920 census
2(vi). Mary Bashaba Shirley born 27 December 1871 at Habersham Co
GA, age 6 in 1880 census; She married William Thomas Ivie
2(vii). Sara Vesta Shirley born 8 September 1874 at Habersham Co
GA, age 5 in 1880 census;
2(viii). male infant Shirley born 7 August 1875 at Habersham Co GA;
children by Margaret E. Crow:
2(ix). Margaret Jane Shirley born 9 February 1877 at Habersham Co
GA;, age 3 in 1880 census She married Alford Gailey
2(x). Young James Shirley born 28 November 1878 at Habersham
Co GA, age 1 in 1880 census; Married with children, living at
Mud Creek, Habersham Co GA in 1910 census, age 31; Enumerated
at Mann, Morgan Co GA in 1930 census, age 51 (wife Reana); He
died 19 August 1951 at Alto, Habersham Co GA (death cert)
married Samantha ______
children:
3(i). Travis B Shirley (male) born about 1905 GA, age 5 in
1910 census, age 25 in parent's 1930 census
3(ii). Clara V Shirley born about 1906 GA, age 4 in 1910 census
3(iii). James Garnett Shirley born about 1908 GA, age 2 in 1910 census,
age 22 in parent's 1930 census
3(iv). Lois I Shirley born about 1910 GA, age 0 in 1910 census,
age 20 in parent's 1930 census
2(xi). Francis Hettie Ann
Shirley born 3 June 1881
at Alto, Habersham Co. GA; She married Harwell Gailey
1(ii). Rev. Beverley V. Shirley born February 14, 1820, died June 14,
1877. He was buried at Shirley Cemetery in Fayette Co AL
Shirley Cemetery, Fayette Co AL (a few miles north of Fayette)
Rev B. V. Shirley Born Feb 14, 1820
Died June 14, 1877
(source: Findagrave)
married 1) Malinda Jones on June 2, 1839 Rabun Co. GA; She died
June 28, 1854.
married 2) Vesta Nix on Jan 1, 1855
married 3) Nancy Jones Walker
Roberts. (3rd marriage
info provided by Charles Patton).
children by
Malinda:
2(i). Martha Ann Shirley born March 17, 1840 SC, died 1949; She
married James Green Lawrence Mar 14, 1857 Fayette Co. AL.
2(ii). William Beverley Shirley born April 9, 1841; He died Jan
18, 1900
married 1) Sara L. Hendrix; She was born Sept 25, 1842 d. Sept
16, 1879 Fayette Co. AL
married 2): Louisa Luizer; She was born 1840 died Jan 23, 1887
Fayette Co. AL.
children (in 1880 Fayette Co. AL census)
3(i). Sallie M. Shirley born Dec 28, 1868 AL
3(ii). Lidie B. Shirley born Feb 1, 1872 AL
3(iii). Beverly Shirley born Mar 25, 1874 AL (male)
3(iv). Mattie J. Shirley born 1877 AL
2(iii). Lucinda Francis Shirley born Feb 16, 1843, died Mar 21, 1909,
m. George Deavours
2(iv). Leonard Calvin Shirley born November 26, 1844 GA, died April
10, 1896 Fayette Co. AL,
married Martella Ford Jan 19, 1871 in Alabama.
children
3(i). Dellar Shirley born 1877 AL
2(v). Cosby Lee Shirley born 20 January 1847; lived in Clay
Co. Texas in 1900 census; He died 11 November 1924 in Oklahoma
Ancestor of
DNA Kit #896589
married Mary L. Wilbanks on 12 November 1868 in Fayette Co. AL.
She was born 18 December 1852 GA; She died in 1904 in Hastings
OK
children
3(i). Newte Shirley
3(ii). Mattie Bahsie Shirley born June 1869
3(iii). William Leander Shirley born 16 August 1872
in Fayette Co AL; He died 21 September 1949 in California
married Mattie Jane McDonald on 12 November 1893 in
Wise Co Texas; She was born 31 May 1877 and died 12 September
1951 in California
3(iv). Sarah Findora Shirley born Sept 20, 1873 AL
3(v). Beverly V. Shirley born Mar 25, 1874
3(vi). Lizzie F. Shirley born 1883
3(vii). Matilda W. Shirley born Dec 28, 1884 (census
says Minnie M.)
3(viii). Belle Mollie Shirley born Aug 22, 1888 Decatur,
Wise Co. Texas (census says Mary B. 1886)
3(ix). Newton C. Shirley born Aug 1889 TX
3(x). Joshua Edward Shirley born Aug 12, 1895 TX
2(vi). Rev. Josiah Starnes
Shirley born February
1, 1849, died Jan 3, 1936,
married 1) Martha Hollingworth b. Dec 25, 1849 d. Mar 14, 1917 Fayette
Co. AL
married 2) Sarah Olive Campbell about 1917.
children born Fayette Co. AL
3(i). Vesta Malinda Shirley born 1872
3(ii). Martha I. Shirley born Oct 20, 1874
3(iii). Annie Delitha Shirley born Nov 2, 1875
3(iv). Berryman Beverly Shirley born Aug 28, 1878
3(v). Jonah Josiah Shirley born Aug 20, 1886
3(vi). Ethel Shirley born July 21, 1889
3(vii). Roseannah Elizabeth
Shirley born Sept 13,
1893
2(vii). Elizabeth M. Shirley born June 15, 1851 m. Bud Barnett
2(viii). B. J. Shirley (male), born June 15, 1854 died Oct.
21, 1854
children by Vesta Nix:
2(ix). child Shirley born dead Oct 28. 1855
2(x). Sarah Malissa Shirley born December 5, 1856, died
Mar 12, 1939, m. John Ford
2(xi). Young Jackson Shirley born March 14, 1858, died
Aug 26, 1913 Fayette Co. AL,
married Mattie Grovelia Oswalt on April 20. 1885. She was born
Oct 6, 1868 Tusc. Co. AL d. Aug 20, 1900 Fayette Co. AL
children:
3(i). Hester Shirley
born 1886 d. 1954 m. John Thomas Garrison.
My mother did tell me a story that before leaving home
at any time, Hester always threw the broom that stayed next to
the fireplace out the back door to keep sparks from igniting
the broom and setting the house on fire. I guess she's had a
significant emotional event concerning fire sometime in her life.
"Mr" John and "Miss" Hester ran a General
Store on the north side of the town of Fayette, in Fayette County,
selling food, clothing, shoes, gasoline, etc., until they retired
and turned its operation over to my dad. After Hester's death,
John married Maggie Shirley, the widow of Fenton Shirley.
3(ii). Fenton Shirley
3(iii). Fannie Shirley
3(iv). Alice Shirley
3(v). Virgie Shirley
3(vi). Felix Shirley
3(vii). Maggi Shirley
3(viii). Matti Shirley; She died as infant Aug
8, 1900
1(iii). Mary Ann (Polly) Shirley born Oct 23, 1822, died Feb 25, 1909;
She married Christopher Smith who was born ca. 1804 in North
Carolina. No Children.
1(iv). Berryman
Shirley Jr. born December 19, 1825 GA, died Nov 22, 1864
Goldsboro, NC, War Between the States;
married Bashaba Jones July 13, 1848 Rabun County Georgia.
She was born April 5, 1824 SC and died Dec 14, 1884.
1(v). Mary Lydia Shirley born 1824 m. Asberry B. Wadkins Dec
30, 1851
1(vi). Elizabeth Roseanna
Shirley born Nov 18,
1827 m. Joseph E. Beaty Mar 29, 1852
1(vii). Aaron T. Shirley born 1827 SC, age 23 in 1850 Habersham
Co GA census, living with Fuller family at the time. Married
with children, age 35 in 1860 Habersham Co GA census; Moved to
Cross Keys Dekalb Co GA by 1870 census, age 45, Enumerated in
Douglas Co GA in 1880 census (indexed as Shenley), age 52 (Note,
middle initial comes from son Thomas S Shirley's death cert)
He is not Aaron T Shirley of Crawford Co GA untraced after 1880
married Hester Ann Gentry
on 28 December 1854 in
Franklin Co GA. She was enumerated as spouse of Aaron Shirley
in the 1860 census, age 27; A Lucy Gentry, age 50 was living
with the family in the 1870 and 1880 census (age 70), presumably
a relative.
children
2(i). William Berryman Shirley born about 1854 GA, age 6 in 1860 census,
age 16 in 1870 census (as William Y); Married and enumerated
in Douglas Co GA in 1880 census, age 26; Brother Thomas S Shirley
also lived in the household untraced
after 1880
married Martha L._______ Shown as the spouse of William in the
1880 census
2(ii). Clark H. Shirley born November 1855 GA (death cert), age
4 in 1860 census, age 14 in 1870 census; He died on 20 September
1923 at Rome Floyd Co GA, age 68 (death cert, parents named)
untraced
between 1870 and death
married Mary
2(iii). Sarah M. E. Shirley born about 1858 GA, age 2 in 1860 census,
age 12 in 1870 census, age 17 in 1880 census (as Matilda)
2(iv). Thomas Sloan Shirley born 18 May 1859 GA (death cert), age
1 in 1860 census, age 10 in 1870 census; Single, lived with brother
William Shirley in Douglas Co GA in 1880 census, age 21; He died
11 October 1927, widower, age 68 at Cobb Co GA (death cert, parents
named) untraced
between 1880 and death
2(v). Henry Parker Shirley born about 1863 GA, age 7 in 1870 census,
age 6 in 1880 census (as Parker Shirley); Married and enumerated
at Powder Springs, Cobb Co GA in 1900 census; Enumerated as Parker
Shirley in Cobb Co in 1910 census
married Sally A Head on 25 November 1883 at Douglas Co GA
children:
3(i). Maud Lillian Shirley born about 1885 GA, age 15 in 1900 census;
She married ____ Trout; Her 1927 death certificate names her
parents, Parker Shirley and Sally Head
3(ii). Emmett J Shirley born about 1887 GA, age 13 in 1900 census
3(iii). Winnie L Shirley born about 1890 GA, age 10 in 1900 census
3(iv). Willie F Shirley born about 1892 GA, age 8 in 1900 census
; He died in Greenwood SC on 12 October 1924 (death cert, parents
named), buried in Marietta Cobb Co GA
3(v). Addie L Shirley born about 1894 GA, age 6 in 1900 census
3(vi). Mary E Shirley born about 1896 GA, age 4 in 1900 census
3(vii). Maggie B Shirley born about 1899 GA, age 1 in 1900 census
2(vi). Andrew D Shirley born about 1867 GA, age 3 in 1870 census,
age 10 in 1880 census
2(vii). James
C. Shirley
born 3 May 1871 GA (death cert), age 8 in 1880 census; Lived
at Macland Cobb Co GA in 1910 census; He died 27 January 1928
at Marietta Cobb Co GA (death cert as J C Shirley, parents named)
married Edna
Lee Johnson
on 17 April 1898 at Cobb Co GA
children:
3(i). Mamie/Nannie
R Sherley
born about 1899 GA, age 11 in 1910 census
3(ii). Annie
M Sherley
born about 1901 GA, age 9 in 1910 census
3(iii). William
H Sherley
born about 1904 GA, age 6 in 1910 census
3(iv). James
W Sherley
born about 1906 GA, age 4 in 1910 census
3(v). Paul
E Sherley
born about 1910 GA, age 0 in 1910 census
1(viii). Susannah Shirley born ca. 1832 GA, died Jan 1860, m.
Benjamin Calhoun Ellard Feb 20, 1853
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Berryman Shirley