James Sherley
born about 1822 in Tennessee, lived Perry Co Arkansas in 1850 census


DNA Haplogroup E1b1b1 (M-35)

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James Sherley born about 1822 in Tennessee (1850 census), age 28 in 1850 Perry County Arkansas census, occupation: Ferryman. He was apparently deceased by about 1855, and certainly by 1860 when his wife and children are enumerated without him in the Pulaski Co Arkansas census.

married Jane ______. She was born about 1829 in Arkansas (1850 census), age 21 in 1850 census. Apparently married about 1846 (she would have been age 17). She married 2) A. V. Callahan January 1861. Note this family w/Sherley children are difficult to trace; however a V. A Callahan served in Colquitt's 1st Ark infantry and died of disease as of Dec 1861. Nothing more known.

children:

1(i). Nancy Elizabeth Sherley born about 1846 in Arkansas, age 4 in 1850 census (twin?) not traced

1(ii). Sarah F Sherley born about 1846 in Arkansas, age 4 in 1850 census (twin?) not traced

1(iii). Luzetta (Rosetta) G Sherley born about 1849 in Arkansas, age 1 in 1850 census not traced

1(iv). Mary Sherley born about 1850 (not shown in 1850 household) age 11 in 1860 census not traced

1(v). James William Sherley born November 1855 in Arkansas, age 6 in 1860 census (first name found in child death record). He was enumerated with the Baldwin family in the 1870 Pulaski Co Arkansas census, age 16. Is the following Texas family confirmed as part of above family? Married and living in Colorado Co TX in 1900 and 1910 census. Living in Harris Co TX in son Boyd Sherley's household in the 1920 census, age 64; Died 7 March 1931, age 75; Death certificate says only born Arkansas, does not provide the name of an informant, but says father was born Ireland, mother in France (both likely untrue). Buried at Rosewood Park Cem, Humble, Harris Co Texas

My dad told me that the story that my GGF Bill was separated from the rest of his family with possibly one of his sisters during a flood. The family's evidently hollered across the river that they would be back for him after the river stop flooding. Well evidently the family is never united again.

married Elvira Wooliver on October 15 1882 in Colorado County, Texas

Sheely, J. W. (groom), was married to Ella Wooliver (bride) on October 15, 1882, by J. T. Warner, minister of the gospel (Marriage Book F, page 267)


James William Sherley and wife Elvira Wooliver Sherley
(source: findagrave)

children:

2(i). Annie Della Shirley born 1885

2(ii). Willie Mae Shirley born 1888

2(iii). Leo Boyd Sherley born 25 Aug 1891 at Cheatham Texas; He was living in Harris Co TX in 1920 census, age 28; His parents and sisters are enumerated in his household; He was an oilfield worker for 20 years until his death; Died 22 Jul 1937 in Houston Texas, age 45 (death cert)

Ancestor of DNA Kit #774064

married Buleah Mae Brister

children:

3(i). Leo Foy Sherley born 8 November 1917 in Texas, age 2 in 1920 census; He was the informant for the death certificate of his father Leo Boyd Sherley; He died 23 December 2002, age 85, buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Jefferson Co TX. He married Jettie Myrteil Smith

2(iv). Minnie Beatrice Shirley born about 1894

2(v). Myra Lee Shirley born about 1898, age 20 in 1920 census


Research for a family appearing in 1860 and 1870 Pulaski Co AR census.

Going back in time

Leo Boyd Sherley died in Houston Harris Co TX on 22 Jul 1937. Born 25 Aug 1891 to James Wm Sherley and Elvira Woolaver.

The death record for Elvira says she was born in Burnett Texas on 26 Nov 1857. She died in Humble, Harris Co TX on 25 Sept 1934, age 76. Buried at Rosewood Park Cem. She is a widow of "James Sherley" at that time.

"William" and Ella Shirley are living with daughter Minnie Slater in 1930 census in Houston.

In 1900 Colorado Co TX census, I find William Sherley (i.e James) and family. James is born about 1855 in Arkansas. All of the children are born in TX, so he's in TX at least by 1885. Census indicates both his father and mother were also born in Arkansas.

I find a marriage for James W. Sherley to a Mary E. Hutto in Barnett co TX in 1880, and a marriage to Elvira Woolaver 15 Oct 1882 in Colorado Co TX. Not sure if he married twice, tho.

Apparently, there is an exact birthdate running around on the internet for James William Sherley, as 17 Sept 1855 in Little Rock, but I don't know the accuracy of the sources.

In 1860, a William Shirley is living with Mrs Jane Shirley, apparently a widow in Pulaski Co. I see that Jane remarried to A V Callahan in 1861 in Pulaski Co AR. William Shurley in 1870 census, living with Elizabeth Baldwin (nee Fletcher). maybe a relative.

Here is Jane's husband in Perry Co Arkansas in 1850 census. It's a bit convoluted, but several items point to it being the correct family.

James Sherley M 28 Tennessee
Jane Sherley F 21 Arkansas
Nancy E Sherley F 4 Arkansas
Sarah F Sherley F 4 Arkansas
Luzetta G Sherley F 1 Arkansas

 

An earlier query related to this same family

Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 8:11 AM
Subject: help please

Hi my name is Robert Frederick and I am looking for any information on a Myra L Shirley. She was born about 1898 and died in 1987. She was married to Roy Clinton Dunn and lived in Humble Texas at the time of her death. I can't find any info on her father or mother and any help would be greatly appreciated. Asked her son-in-law now 89 but he says he is not sure he ever knew it.

Thanks

Robert

Another Researcher in 2017

My immediate Sherley family lives in Texas and has been here since around 1883. My GGF Jame William (Called Bill) Sherley was born in 1855 in Little Roock, Pulaski, Arkansas. I believe Bill's parents are named James(Possible middle name of Thomas) Shirley from Tenneesse born 1821, Jane (Owen or Thomas). The 1860 and 1850 Census indicates he has three sisters, Nancy Elizabeth, Luzetta C, and Sarah Francis. His father, my GGGF is a ferryman. James my GGGF appears to disappear from the scene before 1860 census, Jane remarries to a AV Callahan. Bill appears again in an 1880 Census living with another family and his name is spelled Shurley. My dad told me that the story that my GGF Bill was separated from the rest of his family with possibly one of his sisters during a flood. The family's evidently hollered across the river that they would be back for him after the river stop flooding. Well evidently the family is never united again. My dad also said that when he was a kid that the older folks in the family would make remarks that Bill was related to Belle Starr.

I had a Sherley Association membership a couple of years ago but I stopped searching for awhile. I continued to research on Ancestry, and My Heritage sites but I am still at a dead end. I signed up for the DNA testing through this site in hopes to figure out where we fit in with the Sherley families. One last thing that I found odd, on my GGF Bill's DC it list his father from Ireland. I also recall a man with the last name of Sherley from Tennessee contacted my parents about 30 years ago and said he thought we were related. He had done a lot of genealogy work, he mailed it to us and i have a copy but I cant make the connection, sadly the man passed away from cancer a few years after his initial contact with my parents.
I hope with the DNA test and maybe a little I can link up the other Sherley famlies.

 


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