Shirley Association Genealogical Research Website

Robert Shirley
born in 1735. Lived in Pennsylvania

DNA Haplogroup I - Matches DNA for Shirleys of Derry Northern Ireland

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This family branch lived in Indiana and Armstrong Co. PA in the early 1800's. The family lineage long posted here has recently (2010) been supplemented by the excellent published family history by Carol Hopping found at the BYU Family History Archive

This Lineage Page Last Updated December 2020 (other page updates required)
Robert Shirley born 15 May 1735 either in Northern Ireland or in eastern Pennsylvania;.He first appears in Bucks Co PA records in 1758 when 25 acres of land in Springfield Township was surveyed on his behalf. A total of 17 acres were ultimately returned to Robert in 1769. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Tinicum at Red Hill. He and his family were mentioned as members in 1769 church records. Most church members at the time were Scotch-Irish, recent arrivals from Northern Ireland. Robert Shirley Sr and Jr are both enumerated in Springfield Township when they gave their oath of allegiance in 1778 during the Revolutionary War. Since Robert Shirley, the son of Robert and Susan Baker Shirley was not born until 1777, the above record might hint that an additional elder Robert Shirley "Sr" resided in Springfield Twp Bucks Co PA during this time - possibly a parent. This elder Robert Shirley may have died in the early 1780s when the estate of Robert Shirley was taxed in Durham Township Bucks Co. A 2nd Robert Shirley, likely the person who married Susan Baker, was simultaneously taxed in Springfield Township. In 1784 Robert Shirley of Springfield Township, was taxed with 6 inhabitants in his household. By 1790, Robert had moved West to Cumberland County PA. A Thomas Shirley, likely a brother of Robert Shirley, also appears in Cumberland County records. This Thomas Shirley would later testified he was born in Springfield Township Bucks County in 1735. Thomas had resided in Hamilton Towship Cumberland Co as early as 1776. Robert and Thomas Shirley are both taxed in Hamilton Township in what was then Franklin Co PA (formed from Cumberland in 1784). Research has as yet to indicate whether the Robert Shirley of Franklin Co PA was instead, say a son of the aforementioned Thomas Shirley rather than Rober Shirley who married Susan Baker. Both Thomas and Robert were enumerated in the 1790 census for Franklin Co PA. His Franklin Co household consisted of 1 male over the age of 16, 4 males below 16 and 3 females of all ages; However a Robert Shirley was also enumerated in Cumberland Co PA in 1790 - his household consisted of 1 male over the age of 16, 5 males under 16, and 5 females of all ages. Robert Shirley disappeared from Franklin Co tax records by 1793 when only Thomas Shirley was taxed and enumerated in census in that county thereafter. The precise location of Robert Shirley, husband of Susan Baker, is next fixed in the 1807 tax list of Conemaugh Township, Indiana Co PA - a township where Shirley descendants resided for many generations. According to a publish family history, Robert moved his family from the Conococheague Valley Franklin County to the Black Leggs Creek area of Indiana Co PA about 1792; Robert Shirley was enumerated in Conemaugh Township, Indiana Co in the 1810 census, both he and wife age 45+, 1 son age 26-45, 1 son and 1 daughter each age 16-26; There have been published accounts of Robert Shirley appearing in the federal census in Indiana Co PA in 1820, pg 140 and 1830, p 197; however, after search of those pages, Robert is not found; According to a publshed family history, Robert Shirley died on 1 September 1843 in Conemaugh Township Indiana Co PA

1758, Nov 25 Bucks Co PA Robert Shirley surveyed land warrant; for 25 acres; returned 7 July 1769 for 17.20 acres;Patentee Mathew Kreamer; Recorded Vol AA No. 11 page 100; Survey is copied in Book C197 page 294 "Springfield"

Robert SHIRLEY (born May 15,1735 in eastern Penn.) married Susannah BAKER (born May 11, 1742)about 1773. Robert died Sept. 1, 1834 and Susannah died June 9, 1843 in Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, Penn(lOly). Robert served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, came to Indiana County in 1792 from Conococheague Valley and settled in Conemaugh Township, two miles from Saltsburg. He lived there until age of 99 and his widow survived to age 101. Their oldest son, John lived to 103 years. Dolores Ellis says Susannah's maiden name may be spelled Backer. There is a will listed for a George Bacher of York County published in the Indiana County newspaper who has a daughter Susannah dated 1768 (2 years before possible marriage to Robert). Robert Shirley is in list of in habitants in 1807 in Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, Penn. - Shirley Family compiled by Carol Hopping

See 1871 map of Conemaugh TWP, Indiana County showing the location of grandson Christopher Shirley's land
(son of Thomas) near Black Leggs Creek a few miles from Saltsburg

married Susan Baker She was born 11 May 1742 and of German descent, according to family researchers. According to a published family history, Susan died on 9 June 1843 in Conemaugh Township, Indiana Co PA

children:

1(i). John M. Shirley born 14 December 1771 Bucks Co. PA according to a history of Allegheny Valley; He first appeared in US census records in 1810 when he was enumerated at Conemaugh Township, Indiana Co PA; Enumerated at Allegheny Twp Armstrong Co PA in 1820 census, then again in 1830 census; He had moved to Kiskiminetas Township Armstrong County by the 1840 census, and again in 1850, age 74, and in 1860 census, age 82; He was age 94 (sic), living with son Joseph Shirley in 1870 census household; He died 27 July 1875

1(ii). Jane Shirley born 1774, Bucks County PA. Married Hugh Mullen born 1755 in Ireland. Moved west supposedly to Ohio and died there.

1(iii). Thomas Shirley born 11 November 1776, Bucks County, Penn; died 11 May 1875 at age 99. Married Mary Miller

1(iv). Robert R. Shirley born 1777, Bucks County, PA Married Elizabeth.

1(v). Mary Shirley born about 1780 (only record is from sister Elizabeth Shirley's family tree submission to the LDS church) may have died young?

1(vi). Ephraim Shirley born about 1783 (only record is from sister Elizabeth Shirley's family tree submission to the LDS church) may have died young?

1(vii). Elizabeth Shirley born 11 June 1785.

Elizabeth submitted a family tree to the Church of Latter Day Saints listing her parents as Robert Shirley and Susan Baker. She stated she was born June 11 1785 in Chambersburg Franklin Co PA. She married Peter Wimmer about 1800 in Inidana County PA and died 31 August 1862 in Springville Utah. - "Shirley Family" compiled by Carol Hopping

1(viii). Joseph Shirley born 11 May 1787 in Chambersburg, Franklin County PA. He and wife are buried in Olivet Cemetery near Elder Ridge, PA. Married Catherine [Crawford or Fulmer - 2 sources]

1(ix). Ann Shirley born 1790 in Conemaugh, Indiana County PA. Married William Bash

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		Robert Shirley born in 1735. Lived in Pennsylvania DNA Haplogroup I - Matches DNA for Shirleys of Derry Northern Ireland
		< Back to the USA Lineage Index Page
		This family branch lived in Indiana and Armstrong Co. PA in the early 1800's. The family lineage long posted here has recently (2010) been supplemented by the excellent published family history by Carol Hopping found at the BYU Family History Archive *This Lineage Page Last Updated December 2020* (other page updates required) Robert Shirley born 15 May 1735 either in Northern Ireland or in eastern Pennsylvania;.He first appears in Bucks Co PA records in 1758 when 25 acres of land in Springfield Township was surveyed on his behalf. A total of 17 acres were ultimately returned to Robert in 1769. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Tinicum at Red Hill. He and his family were mentioned as members in 1769 church records. Most church members at the time were Scotch-Irish, recent arrivals from Northern Ireland. Robert Shirley Sr and Jr are both enumerated in Springfield Township when they gave their oath of allegiance in 1778 during the Revolutionary War. Since Robert Shirley, the son of Robert and Susan Baker Shirley was not born until 1777, the above record might hint that an additional elder Robert Shirley "Sr" resided in Springfield Twp Bucks Co PA during this time - possibly a parent. This elder Robert Shirley may have died in the early 1780s when the estate of Robert Shirley was taxed in Durham Township Bucks Co. A 2nd Robert Shirley, likely the person who married Susan Baker, was simultaneously taxed in Springfield Township. In 1784 Robert Shirley of Springfield Township, was taxed with 6 inhabitants in his household. By 1790, Robert had moved West to Cumberland County PA. A Thomas Shirley, likely a brother of Robert Shirley, also appears in Cumberland County records. This Thomas Shirley would later testified he was born in Springfield Township Bucks County in 1735. Thomas had resided in Hamilton Towship Cumberland Co as early as 1776. Robert and Thomas Shirley are both taxed in Hamilton Township in what was then Franklin Co PA (formed from Cumberland in 1784). Research has as yet to indicate whether the Robert Shirley of Franklin Co PA was instead, say a son of the aforementioned Thomas Shirley rather than Rober Shirley who married Susan Baker. Both Thomas and Robert were enumerated in the 1790 census for Franklin Co PA. His Franklin Co household consisted of 1 male over the age of 16, 4 males below 16 and 3 females of all ages; However a Robert Shirley was also enumerated in Cumberland Co PA in 1790 - his household consisted of 1 male over the age of 16, 5 males under 16, and 5 females of all ages. Robert Shirley disappeared from Franklin Co tax records by 1793 when only Thomas Shirley was taxed and enumerated in census in that county thereafter. The precise location of Robert Shirley, husband of Susan Baker, is next fixed in the 1807 tax list of Conemaugh Township, Indiana Co PA - a township where Shirley descendants resided for many generations. According to a publish family history, Robert moved his family from the Conococheague Valley Franklin County to the Black Leggs Creek area of Indiana Co PA about 1792; Robert Shirley was enumerated in Conemaugh Township, Indiana Co in the 1810 census, both he and wife age 45+, 1 son age 26-45, 1 son and 1 daughter each age 16-26; There have been published accounts of Robert Shirley appearing in the federal census in Indiana Co PA in 1820, pg 140 and 1830, p 197; however, after search of those pages, Robert is not found; According to a publshed family history, Robert Shirley died on 1 September 1843 in Conemaugh Township Indiana Co PA 1758, Nov 25 Bucks Co PA Robert Shirley surveyed land warrant; for 25 acres; returned 7 July 1769 for 17.20 acres;Patentee Mathew Kreamer; Recorded Vol AA No. 11 page 100; Survey is copied in Book C197 page 294 "Springfield" Robert SHIRLEY (born May 15,1735 in eastern Penn.) married Susannah BAKER (born May 11, 1742)about 1773. Robert died Sept. 1, 1834 and Susannah died June 9, 1843 in Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, Penn(lOly). Robert served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, came to Indiana County in 1792 from Conococheague Valley and settled in Conemaugh Township, two miles from Saltsburg. He lived there until age of 99 and his widow survived to age 101. Their oldest son, John lived to 103 years. Dolores Ellis says Susannah's maiden name may be spelled Backer. There is a will listed for a George Bacher of York County published in the Indiana County newspaper who has a daughter Susannah dated 1768 (2 years before possible marriage to Robert). Robert Shirley is in list of in habitants in 1807 in Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, Penn. - Shirley Family compiled by Carol Hopping See 1871 map of Conemaugh TWP, Indiana County showing the location of grandson Christopher Shirley's land (son of Thomas) near Black Leggs Creek a few miles from Saltsburg married Susan Baker She was born 11 May 1742 and of German descent, according to family researchers. According to a published family history, Susan died on 9 June 1843 in Conemaugh Township, Indiana Co PA children: 1(i). John M. Shirley born 14 December 1771 Bucks Co. PA according to a history of Allegheny Valley; He first appeared in US census records in 1810 when he was enumerated at Conemaugh Township, Indiana Co PA; Enumerated at Allegheny Twp Armstrong Co PA in 1820 census, then again in 1830 census; He had moved to Kiskiminetas Township Armstrong County by the 1840 census, and again in 1850, age 74, and in 1860 census, age 82; He was age 94 (sic), living with son Joseph Shirley in 1870 census household; He died 27 July 1875 1(ii). Jane Shirley born 1774, Bucks County PA. Married Hugh Mullen born 1755 in Ireland. Moved west supposedly to Ohio and died there. 1(iii). Thomas Shirley born 11 November 1776, Bucks County, Penn; died 11 May 1875 at age 99. Married Mary Miller 1(iv). Robert R. Shirley born 1777, Bucks County, PA Married Elizabeth. 1(v). Mary Shirley born about 1780 (only record is from sister Elizabeth Shirley's family tree submission to the LDS church) may have died young? 1(vi). Ephraim Shirley born about 1783 (only record is from sister Elizabeth Shirley's family tree submission to the LDS church) may have died young? 1(vii). Elizabeth Shirley born 11 June 1785. Elizabeth submitted a family tree to the Church of Latter Day Saints listing her parents as Robert Shirley and Susan Baker. She stated she was born June 11 1785 in Chambersburg Franklin Co PA. She married Peter Wimmer about 1800 in Inidana County PA and died 31 August 1862 in Springville Utah. - "Shirley Family" compiled by Carol Hopping 1(viii). Joseph Shirley born 11 May 1787 in Chambersburg, Franklin County PA. He and wife are buried in Olivet Cemetery near Elder Ridge, PA. Married Catherine [Crawford or Fulmer - 2 sources] 1(ix). Ann Shirley born 1790 in Conemaugh, Indiana County PA. Married William Bash
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