Ferrers Shirley (cont)
b. ca1720-30's England. Lived in MA and New York 

 

MISC INFORMATION FOR THIS BRANCH

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This Lineage Page Last Updated February 2020
2(ii). John Shirley
, Rev. War Soldier. born 1 January 1755, in Boston MA (born on shipboard enroute from England). He died 23 November 1848, age 94 at Fitzwilliam Cheshire Co New Hampshire ; He is buried at the Fitzwilliam Village Cemetery, Fitzwilliam, Cheshire Co NH Shirleys of Fitzwilliam, Cheshire Co New Hampshire

"John Shirley was entirely ignored by his grandfather Gov. Shirley [ed: this lineage is false], and at a suitable age was bound out to a shoemaker in Boston named Frazier. He lived with this family until he entered the army. Toward the close of his term of service Daniel Frazier son of his employer was drafted in the Revolutionary War and John Shirley went in his place. He served some time in the field; was captured by the British; was sick of yellow fever in the hospital prison. He refused to take the medicine administered, as he saw that every one that tasted it died, and bribed his nurse to cook a rat he had seen killed shortly before and feed him the broth. He began to recover slowly from this time and when able to be about the house he surprised and pleased all whom he met by his inexhaustible fund of social attainments. At last he escaped by stratagem. He feigned considerable skill as a pugilist – and several times demonstrated his skill to the great amusement of friends and foes. He finally proposed to the commander-in-charge that he should fight for his liberty against any person they should select. This pleased the garrison and a large burly Negro was selected, who was a terror to all. If he could vanquish him he was told he might return to his regiment. A day was appointed for the combat and just before the hour arrived one of his newly made friends took him aside and told him the secret of the negro’s success was in crushing his adversary with his head in a certain headlong rush which would dash him backward against the stonewall of the prison and kill him instantly. The combatants took their places. The signal was given. After a few cuffs and blows were exchanged, the Negro quickly backed off and started forward at a tremendous force, with his head down. Shirley was prepared for this and when the Negro was almost upon him, he quickly stepped aside and the Negro was thrown by his own tremendous force against the ragged stone wall and fell back dead. John Shirley was given his liberty. He returned to his regiment and served until the close of the war. After he returned from the war, he determined to educate himself. At his father’s death, he had been left in charge of his grandfather with property which belonged to him but the Gov. needing the money fled with and seemed entirely forget this boy to whom it belonged [Ed: this lineage is not true]. So now the young man stood alone in the world without money and without friends; ready to begin life for himself. He first mastered the elements of primary education supporting himself meanwhile by shoemaking. He persevered in this undertaking and became a fine scholar and an excellent musician. He married Submit Bogle about 1780." (source: an old family account)

1760 May 10 Almshouse. Children bound out: John Shirley bound to John Fraser. He was freed Jan 1 1776. - 18th C Records of the Boston Overseers of the Poor (note: the record further says Fraser was a Cordwainer of Eastham, Barnstable)

Jan 1 1776 John Shirley freed from his indenture to John Fraser - 18th C Records of the Boston Overseers of the Poor

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While residing at Sudbury MA, John Shirley was a Minute-Man in the fall of 1774 in Captain John Nixon's Company and on April 19, 1775 marched on the alarm and served in Captain John Nixon and Captain David Moore's Companies. He was in the battle of Concord and served until May 1775 when he enlisted in Captain Edward Craft's Company and was in the battle of Bunker Hill. He served until March 1776.

January 1, 1777 he went on board the sloop "Elizabeth", Captain Uriah Atkins, and in March was captured by the British and put on the British ship "Phoenix" afterwards transferred to the prison ship "Withy" in New York Harbor and there were 370 people detained on this ship. Several weeks later he with 70 other prisoners was taken off and placed on the British Frigate "Flora", then to the prison whip in Newport Harbor. He was held until Aug 1777 when a cartel arrived and he was exchanged.

John Shirley returned to Sudbury MA where he remained until 1795 when he moved to Fitzwilliam New Hampshire.

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JOHN SHIRLEY, a soldier of the Revolution, was born on board ship coming from England and was brought up in Boston. He came to Fitzwilliam about 1780, Settling in the village, and married Submit Bogle of Sudbury, Mass. He reared a family of nine children, and died at the age of ninety-three, in the house where his grandson, William H. now lives. His son Henry, was born in the town, held the office of selectman several years, and died at the same place his father did, at the age of seventy-two. William H., son of Henry, was born in the house where he now lives, road 46, and is first selectman of the town. - HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM, CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE

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married Submit Mary Bogle on 19 May 1780 at Sudbury MA. She was born 15 February 1761 She died 23 November 1833 at Fitzwilliam New Hampshire (parents were Roand and Eliz. Bogle); She died 20 July 1833 and is buried at Fitzwilliam Village Cemeter, Cheshire Co NH

Children of John Shirley and Submit Bogle

3(i). Hannah Shirley born 13 July 1781 Watertown, Sudbury MA; She died 20 May 1823 m. Mr. Matthews of Stoneboro, MA

3(ii). William Shirley born 22 March 1783 MA Watertown, MA; He died 2 October 1809 Fitzwilliam, NH, age about 26.

married Rebecca Moore on 10 February 1806 in Sudbury MA; She was the daughter of John Moore and Anna Maynard. Rebecca was born 28 Apr 1780 in Sudbury and died 24 Apr 1867 in Meadville, Crawford Co., PA and buried at Greenville Cemetery (2014: thanks to David for info about this family)

children:

4(i). Eliza Shirley born 27 October 1806 in Sudbury MA; She married Willard Cutter on 30 July 1830 and moved to Meadville Crawford Co PA. She died 27 June 1876

3(iii). Elizabeth "Betsy" Shirley born 16 February 1786 Watertown, MA; She died 8 December 1869 Harmony New York, She married Benjamin Thompson Holbrook Mar 5, 1806  (descendants lived Chautauqua Co. NY) (ancestor of Ruth Hedden)

3(iv). Nancy Shirley born 29 May 1788 MA; She died 20 September 1874, She married Wm. Shove/Shore of Boston MA in 1806. They has a daughter Georgiana who married Mr. Dudley of Winchendon, MA

3(v). Mary B. Shirley born 30 November 1790 MA d. Dec 28, 1836  m. Peter Brigham of Roxbury, MA Oct 26, 1808 Boston MA

3(vi). Sophia "Selma" Shirley born 31 October 1793; She died 15 November 1829 Boston MA, She married Ebenezer Fobes

3(vii). Henry Shirley born 22 March 1796; He died 21 April 1869 Fitzwilliam NH; Buried Fitzwilliam Village Cemetery, Cheshire Co NH

married Betsey Bent on 20 February 1823

children: 

4(i). Mary Submit Shirley born 20 August 1824 Fitzwilliam NH; She died in Manchester, Vt., on 19 September 1876; She married first, George Bissell, who d. Dec. 28, 1852, age 36; She married second, Levi Phillips (1814-1865). 

4(ii). John Warren Shirley born 2 December 1825 Fitzwilliam NH; He was a trunk maker; Age 35 in 1860 Cheshire NH census Enumerated at Worcester, Worcester Co MA in 1880 census, age 52. He died 25 December 1899 in Worcester Co MA at age 74.

married Ellen Maria Allen on 3 November 1850, dau. of John J. Allen;

children:

5(i). George E. Shirley born about 1858, age 2 in 1860 census; He died 11 June 1870 at Worcester MA, age 15, son of John W and Ellen M Shirley (Death record)

4(iii). William Henry Shirley born 1 October 1827 at Fitzwilliam NH lived on the old homestead at Fitzwilliam NH. He died in Winchendon, Mass., 3 February 1892; Buried in the Fitzwilliam Village Cemetery, Cheshire Co NH

married Caroline C. Williams on 15 December 1853 of Keeseville, N. Y. at Rockingham Vermont. She lived with son Harry Shirley in Salem North Carolina in 1900 census, no doubt to help take care of his infant child. She was 63 years old at the time. Age 82 in 1920 census, living with son Harry Shirley

children:

5(i). Florence F. Shirley born about 1855; She died 1856.

5(ii). Flora A. Shirley born 31 January 1858; She died 12 March 1876 at Fitzwilliam, Cheshire Co NH, age 18

5(iii). Harry A. Shirley born 15 September 1865; moved immediately after marriage to Salem, N. C.. Enumerated in the 1900 census for Salem Forsyth Co NC. He was widowed. Age 44 in 1910 Forsyth Co NC census. He was a music professor at "Saloon Academy". Age 54 in 1920 Forsyth Co NC census

married Anna Robinson of Worcestery NY on 30 July 1896; She was born 3 February 1863 and died 14 November 1899. Buried at Salem Moravian God's Acre Cemetery/

children:

6(i). William R Shirley born about 1898 in Salem Forsyth Co NC, age 2 in 1900 census, age 12 in 1910, age 22 in 1920 census household of his father.

6(ii). Caroline Shirley born 14 April 1899. She died 28 April 1899 infant. Buried Salem Moravian God's Acre Cemetery

6(iii). Lucy Shirley born 14 April 899. She died 10 August 1899 infant. Buried Salem Moravian God's Acre Cemetery

4(iv). Betsey Ann Shirley born 11 October 1829 Fitzwilliam NH. She married J.M. Gregory

4(v). Nancy Shirley born about 1832 NH d. 1837 died young

4(vi). Catherine Shirley born about 1835 NH d. 1837 died young

4(vii). Sarah J. Shirley born about 1837 NH d. 1837 died young


3"x 5" silver plaque with inscription:
Henry Shirley, Died April 21, 1869, Aged 73 Yrs 1 Mth
(In possession of Tom McCrary of Dallas TX, antiques collector, Aug 2011)

3(viii). Benjamin Franklin Shirley born 18 August 1798 said to have run away.

3(ix). Warren Shirley born 14 August 1801 Fitzwilliam NH, said to have died on his way to California.

Email from Richard, a historian, in January 2020 - On April 25, 1849, William Z. Walker was traveling overland while en route to California. That day he was in or near Independence, Missouri and wrote in his diary "Shirley taken with the Cholera." On April 26 he noted "Mr. Shirley died in the afternoon at 4 oclk. appointed a committee to look after his effects." April 27– "Went to Kansas [City] & attended the funeral of Mr. Shirley."

The May 1, 1910 issue of the Boston Sunday Globe, p. 76, c. 1-5 has an autobiography of Brigadier General Nathan A. M. Dudley. In 1849, he also was en route overland to California and was in the Independence/Kansas City, Missouri area and wrote that "Shirley is dead. Cholera had taken him... conduct his funeral... coffin of rough black walnut... bier for carrying the body to the grave... pallbearers... deep grave... chaplain reading the 25th chapter of Corinthians..."

On May 21, 1849, the Boston Courier published an article by Robert C. Nichols which states that "Warren Shirley of Boston died on the 26th, after 15 hours illness."

One other 1849 newspaper account from Louisiana agrees with the forgoing facts.

From the above material and information from numerous other sources about deaths in that area in 1849, Shirley probably died near what is now Westport, Missouri (presently located in Kansas City, Missouri). Walker's words "Went to Kansas [City] & attended the funeral" are not clear if he went to Kansas City and *also* went to the funeral or the funeral was *in* KC.

   


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