Study by Jo Rheta Shirley Helms

In an old Bible dated 1816: "Walter Shirley landed in America from England about 1726" 

He is said to have landed in the colony of New Jersey. He and his wife migrated to Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia prior to 1745. They settled on a tract of land consisting of 800 acres lying on "the great waggon road" near Keyes Ferry in Frederick  County Virginia.

No records had been found for Walter Shirley before the Court Orders and Petitions of Frederick County VA 1743-1745. In this case, Vol. 1 page 294, Walter Shirley won a judgment against William Jay. On Oct 13, 1750, Walter received a grant of 404 acres of land from Lord Fairfax (NN Book G page 438 VA Land Office Records). Guy Broadwater was the surveyor. There being an error in the grant, Guy Broadwater was called upon to resurvey the tract and this resulted in some thirty acres being added to his estate. 

In 1991, I discovered new info about Walter from Jack Williams who had learned his info from Frances Brown. Frances had discovered a bookstore in Maryland that had copies of an out of print book... A History of Calvert Co. Maryland published by the author, Charles F. Stein and the Calvert County Historical Society. Included in the book is a list of taxable persons and they are not listed in the index of the book. On page 377-378 is a list of all persons inhabiting or residing in St. Leonards Creek Hundred in the year 1733. Walter Shirley is on that list. Also on the list is: Robert Avis, Jarvis Avis, Robert Avis, Jr.

From the IGI file: Robert and Ann Avis were the parents of:  Jane Avis born April 18, 1706,  Dorcus born Nov 21, 1708, Jarvis born Feb 18, 1711.

Traditional family stories and genealogists of this branch believe this Walter is a son of the First Earl Ferrer. It is true there was a son Walter. He was born about 1690 and Stemmata says he died young. A book  written about the HERMIT of  OTTER ROCK tells about someone being in trouble in England and came to America. They believe that person to be Walter Shirley.

________________________________________________________________________

The following is a letter written by Robert Vinson Shirley

Summit Point,

Jefferson County,

West Va.
January 10, 1912

Mr. R.B.Shirley

Dear Sir,

Your letter received. I am always glad to hear anything about the Shirley
family. Wish I could give you full particulars about my ancestors, but my
father died when I was a mere boy. Thinking then, more about my dog and gun,
than family history. Such few facts, as have been impressed on me by some
venerable relative, I will gladly tell you.

We read in history, in the reign of Edward the Confessor, the Shirleys bore
the Christian name of Senallus, which is still borne today by the Earl of
Ferrers, the head of the house. The Ferrers peerage came into the Shirley
family through the marriage of Sir Henry Shirley, of Chartley Park, to Lady
Dorothy Dereres, younger daughter of Robert Derereux, Earl of Essex, who was
likewise Lord Ferrers. On the death of Lord Essex, his barony of Ferrers,
fell into abeyance, whence it was called by Charles II, in favor of Sir
Robert Shirley of Chartley Hall, grandson of the Lady Dorothy Derereux,
mentioned above. Subsequently King Charles advanced his him to the dignities
of Viscount Tamvoorth and Earl Ferrers. The widow of the fourth Earl of
Ferrers, married Lord Frederick Campbell, brother of the Duke of Argefle.
Now, while I am not related to the Campbell family, I remember, some of the
old Campbell portraits used to hang in my father's home. I have been told
the first Shirley, who came to America, was Sir Walter Shirley, who came
with a hunting party and settled in the region of the James River. Now here
my record is dim. As far as I know, my grandfather, James Shirley, had the
following children: James, Robert, Timothy, and Mary Patience. Mary Patience
must have married a Mr. Howard, as my father's niece, Mary Howard lived with
him. (Editor: The family's connection with the Earl Ferrers is not true. This story
is a fantasy. And no Sir Walter Shirley existed)

Following the tide of emigration ever westward, the three Shirley brothers
journeyed from the tide water region to the Shenandoah Valley and settled
near a little village named Smithfield, afterward nicknamed Wizard Cliff.

Timothy joined the army during the War of 1812. He afterward emigrated to
Mo. Little has been heard from him, as in those days, correspondence was a
laborious and expensive task.

Robert, for whom I am named, moved to Kentucky. My father, named James, was
born in 1768, he married twice. By his first wife, Ruth, he had two
children, James and Mary. James married Miss Mary Grantham and their
children were Walter, John James, Ruth and Margaret, all are dead but John,
who lives in Smithfield, now Middleway.

Mary Shirley married William Hurst, their children were John, James, Ruth,
Stephen and Elizabeth. John and his children still live in Jefferson County.
My father's second wife was Matilda Vinson., of Montgomery County, Indiana.
They had four children, Robert Vinson, George William, Thomas Lee and
Elizabeth. Thomas and Elizabeth are dead.

I was born in 1825, my brother, George, was born a year and a half later, he
lives in Charles Town, W. Va. Although we are both well advanced in years,
all our faculties are spared to us, and we enjoy good health and happiness.
If you should ever happen in this pary (sic) of the world, I would be glad
to have you come to see me and we will talk over all we know about the
Shirleys. I understand the Shirley Ferrers coat of arms, and history of the
Shirley family from its origin in 1779, can be obtained from Martin
&Allardyce, Cor. Frankford Avenue and Orthodop Street - Philadelphia, Pa.
Wishing you much happiness and prosperity during the coming year.

Very Truly yours,

R.B.Shirley (should be R.V.)

IS WALTER SHIRLEY OF AMERICA THE SON OF THE 1ST EARL FERRERS?

By Ken  posted March 15th, 2003

According to the foldout Shirley pedigree opposite page 180 in Stemmata, the following children of Robert the first Earl died as infants or young children (excluding Walter for the moment). The following is an analyis of the parish records regarding their births and deaths.

DIED AS INFANTS:
1. Elizabeth - birth and death listed in parish records - age 3
2. Katherine - birth and death listed in parish records - age 3
3. Charles - birth and death listed in parish records - age 1 month
4. Charles - birth and death listed in parish records - age 1
5. George (son of 2nd wife) - birth and death listed in parish records - age 4 months

DIED AS YOUNG CHILD OR YOUNG ADULT:
1. Lewis - only birth recorded in parish records - age 25
2. Ferrers - birth and death listed in parish records - age 18

No other child of the Earl who lived to full adulthood had their death dates recorded in the parish record.

Walter Shirley, like Lewis Shirley (and the children who lived to full adult)  had only his birth recorded in the parish record. No death date recorded. Note: supposedly Lewis Shirley died at sea on his way to the Orient. This might explain the absence of a record for the death of Lewis. Ferrers Shirley, based on his age, was not likely independent of his family at the time of death and was therefore recorded in the parish log. This circumstantial evidence might point to the possibility that Walter lived to be an adult and is simply untraced by Shirley research.

However....

The source of Stemmata's claim that Walter "died young" is not likely due to some written evidence pointing to that claim, but simply due to inheritance law. If Walter had lived to be an adult, he would have inherited the Earldom from his elder brother Washington, the 2nd Earl before his younger brother Henry, who actually became the 3rd Earl Ferrers in 1717.

Stemmata claims that Walter Shirley was alive in 1694 (age 4) when a family estate settlement occured. Since Walter's eldest brother Robert died in 1698, the second son, Washington, inherited the title in 1717 after the death of their father, the 1st Earl. After Washington's death in 1729, Walter would have been next in line since elder brothers Lewis had died in 1710 and George in 1694. Instead, younger brother Henry became the 3rd Earl in 1729. This is likely the "fact" which convinced Stemmata that Walter had "died young". If this is the case, Walter would have died sometime prior to 1729 before he was 35 years old (certainly an age which would have him absent from Staunton parish records)  

If Walter Shirley, the son of the 1st Earl did in fact die before 1729 as the inheritance suggests, then he cannot be the person who immigrated to America.

Was he disinherited?

It would seem to me that the "disinheriting" of a son (if alive) of such a huge fortune in those days would be well documented and publicized - In other words, there would need to be some legal basis for Henry and his heirs to have claimed the estate. Otherwise, the issue of their ownership would have been in constant peril. Some correspondence or county court record would undoubtedly have delt with the issue. No mention of the possibility of this was mentioned in Stemmata nor has any court record been found in this regard.                  __________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted June 18th, 2000  from Donald Locke  LOCKEroots@aol.com

and Betty Shirley's response to the email.

 I am needing a look up from this book : A History of Calvert Co. Maryland  published by the author, Charles F. Stein and the Calvert County Historical   Society, on my Richard Lock . I am told that there was a Will for a Richard  Lock of Calvert County MD in 1745 . I would like to see if Richard Lock or  any other Lock(e) is listed in the book :) 

I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM JACK WILLIAMS IN SEVERAL YEARS. I DO NOT KNOW FRANCES BROWN...AT LEAST I DON'T THINK I DO.

I DO HAVE THE BOOK SO I WILL LOOK FOR YOU...HERE  IS THE ONLY REFERENCE TO THE NAME IN THE BOOK.... IT IS ON PAGE 159.

The wars between England and Scotland in the early eighteenth century caused many Scots to take refuge in America, including three Weems children, James, David and Williamina, brought to America by their uncle, Dr. William LOCKE, about 1715. Dr. Locke settled near Herring Bay in lower Anne Arundel County, later moving to Prince George's County. Dr. James Weems  and his brother, David Weems, in later life resided in Calvert Co. David Weems twice married, and Mason Locke Weems was a son of the second marriage.

There is more on the Weems... but, I won't go into this since you have not asked for Weems info.  It does say that Mason Locke Weems was born about 1759..... so you have a handle on the time period. It was he who wrote the first book that gave us insight about George Washington..."Life and Memorable Actions of George Washington". He published that book in 1800. The book was revised several times later. It was in the edition in 1806 that the story of George Washington chopping down the cherry tree appeared.

 Now on to the very interesting part ! lol .

 Family # 19 of the Virginia Shirley clan . It appears my Richard Lock b. ca 1733 is related to Walter Shirley in some way.
  
  History reports that Richard Lock was from Hanover County Virginia , but if  this report is correct I have never found any  document proving he ever lived  in Hanover County Va . I do know for fact that my Richard Lock did live in  Frederick / Berkeley County Virginia ( now West Virginia ).

 Walter Shirley's Will was witnessed by Richard Lock in Frederick County Virginia. "Frederick County Va. Will Book Vol 2 p. 174 Will of Walter Shirley July 10,  1755.  Wits. was Richard Lock."

 Richard Lock's Estate Index after his death in Berkeley County Va.  You can view the Estate Index of Richard Lock here :
  http://members.aol.com/Suprwife2/RichardLock.html  Beware , the web page has 4 scanned images of the actual records and takes a  few minutes to down load , but worth the effort ! :) Thomas Rutherford and James Shirley and Francis Avis are mentioned in the Estate Index to name a few.

I have been in close contact with another Lock(e) researcher , Frances Austin. It is Frances who has steered me to linking the Shirley family with our Lock  family.   Frances is the one who found Walter Shirley listed in the 1733 Calvert County MD Tax List along with some Avis's . Frances also found a Will reference to a Richard Lock of Calvert County MD :

 Richard Lock, Calvert Co. probate 2 Oct, 1745, 19 Nov, 1745 
To dau. Mary Peary, money, Son Richard Lock, ex. Wit. Mary Trouton, Benj. Dixon.
( Don notes: it is this Richard Jr. Lock whom I believe to be my Richard Lock  b. ca 1733 of Berkeley County Virginia )

 This Richard Lock found in the following records in Maryland.

CD-ROM 206 Maryland Probate Records;  p. 63 John Brabron  CA  July 16, 1740
 Payments to Richard Lock, Benjamin Dixon, John Smith
 Adm: Mary Dixon, wife of Benjamin Dixon

 p. 27 Elisabeth Currant  CA  Aug 17, 1732  Payments to William Perry, ( a Perry married Richard's dau.), Richard Lock 
 p. 95 Alexander Mckenney CA Aug 1, 1728  Received from Richard Lock, Christopher Currant, James Currant, Payments to
Bennet Dixon, Ri. Lock ( Richard Lock ) Adm; Luke Smith

 Other Maryland refernces to Lock's 

 John Rells AA May 21, 1701  Servants mentioned Henry Nicholson, Richard Locke, Katherine Cullins. 

 Dr. William Lock was noted in the Anne Arundell Land records by 1710
 Seth Biggs  AA  Nov 10, 1710  Adm; Mary Lock (widow), now wife of Dr. William Lock

Capt William Webb AA Jan 24, 1711  Received from Dr. William Loch  Payments to Mr.. Anthony Smith ( this Anthony mentions Alexander and Dr. Wm  Lock in his probate records.)  Dist. to Sarah Webb (widow) of Bristol

 It is significant that Richard Lock SR. is found in Calvert since that is where a John Locke is a Delegate to the House of Burgess 1700-1704.

 Richard Lock b. ca 1733 is thought to have a brother named John Lock , whom was listed in the Estate Index for Richard Lock in Berkeley County Va. This maybe the same John Lock mentioned as a Delegate to the House of Burgess.

 This Deed refernce links the Lock's , Shirley's , Rutherford's as being in  the exact same place and time :

 Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants v.II 1742-1775, Compiled by Gertrude E. Gray  p. 45 G-438, Walter Shirley of Frederick Co. Va. 404 A in said Co. Surv. r. Guy  Broadwater. Adj.. Nathaniel Thomas, Capt. Thomas Rutherford. 13 Oct. 1750

(Index-Shirly)

 Northern Neck Warrants & Surveys Frederick County 1747-1780 v II , Compiled  by Peggy Shomo Joyner

 p. 156, Nathaniel, Thomas war't n.d. (partial) 20 July 1753; 240 a adj.. his  pat. land, Walter Shurly, Teague, Hite's pat. conveyed to Gresham Keys,  Pendal's pat.  Chain Carriers John Keler (Keser?) & Richd Lock. Surv. Robert
 Rutherford.  The Chain Carriers were always people living in the area.

 LDS 829879 Berkeley Co. Va.  Deeds 1772-1774
 Vol. 2 p. 287 Aug 28, `1773 Robert Rutherford & Mary his wife of Berkeley  Co. & Presson Bowdoin of Borough of Norfolk Merchant. Witnesses to deed Thos Rutherford, Wm. Little, Richard X lock JR (his mark), John McCarty, Howard Rutherford,  Reaben Rutherford.

 p. 332 Aug 25 1773  Presson Bowdoin Borough of Norfolk & Robert Rutherford  of Berkeley
 Wit.
 Richard X Lock Jun (his mark)
 Other wit same.
 ( Don's note : this is the first time I have seen refernce to Richard Jr.
 Lock whom I believe to be Richard Lock b. ca 1733 )

 Military refernce to James & Walter Shirley
 James Shirley, soldier in 1758 and 1759 in Capt Robt Rutherford's Co. of  Rangers till it was reduced.  Berkeley Co. Va.  March 1780  ( Don's note: I think this is the same James Shirley listed in the Estate  Index for Richard Lock b. ca 1733 of Berkeley County Va . )

 Walter Shirley, soldier in 1758 and 1759 in Capt. Robt. Rutherford's Co. of  Rangers, till same was reduced.  Berkeley Co. Va . Mar 1780

 A List of Soldiers under the Command of Captain Robert Sollers, This 1st day  of October 1748 at St. Leonard Town, (St. Mary's Co. MD)
 p. 21 Lower Hundred of the Clifts
 #12 Benjamin Dixon (witness to Richard SR. probate) also Garrot, Ellis,
 Joshua and Hugh Dixon,
 p. 21,22 Sergeant Richard Day
 #16 William Perrey ( is he husband of Mary Lock ??),
 #17 Richard Lock. ( This must be Richard Lock Jr. as Sr. had passed away by
 this date )

 Shirley / Lock marriage record
 List of Marriages in Jefferson Co. WV
 July 22, 1827 Walter Shirley to Maria Lock by Seely Bunn
 ( I am not sure if this is Walter Shirley Sr. or Walter Shirley Jr. ? )

 I think Maria Lock is a daughter of John Lock Jr. of Berkeley County Va .

Anyway , I just wanted to touch bases with you on Walter Shirley and my Richard Lock . It seems clear that the Lock's , Shirley's , Rutherford's,  French's and Avis's are in some way related and appear to have traveled from  Maryland to Virginia together.

 Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions
 Donald Locke
  http://members.aol.com/LOCKEroots/index.html

Posted by Joni Collopy on March 10, 1999 at 19:36:32:

My 4th great grandmother is Mary "Polly" Shirley who married Dr. Hugh Barton. Mary is said to be the daughter of Walter Shirley who died in 1755 in Frederick Co., VA. I have seen another website that does not mention her as a daughter of this Walter Shirley. I read in a family report that Polly was reared on her aunt's (Mrs. Snapp) plantation in Virginia. Does anyone know anything about this line? Thanks!         
        ________________________________________________________________________________________

Posed by  Denise Fox  alpha@laker.net  

I am mainly researching the descendants of Robert SHIRLEY who was born in 1770 in Frederick County, Va. He married Rachel GILBERT and was the son of  James SHIRLEY, born in 1735 in Charles Town, Va., who was the son of Walter SHIRLEY.  I have a lot on Robert's descendants who settled in Williams, Defiance and Paulding Counties.  

________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted July 1999,   Tony Leach  CLeach@wcom.net

Hello Betty,

My brother in law's parents have asked me to look into the Shirley family history.   They say they are descendants of Ephram Shirley.  On your web page I see an Ephram Shirley son of Jarvis Shirley.  This is where it gets confusing.  They tell me that Samuel Shirley had a brother named Ephram Shirley but as far as I can tell from your info is that Ephram Shirley was the son of Jarvis Shirley who was the uncle of Samuel Shirley which would make Ephram and Samuel cousins.  Are there any other Ephram Shirleys' down the Walter Jr. side? 

Also have you heard of a Joseph Lockhart Shirley?  He was supposed to be from the Ephram Shirley branch.  If you could help me out I would really appreciate it!   Thanx,

David Boylan  Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 1999  boylande@cafes.net

Texas family tree for Shirley family starting from B.C Shirley, son of S.P. Shirley of KY.... (Samuel Perry Shirley)


Benjamin Cecil Shirley
b. Dec. 7, 1875 location unknown but probably Jack Co. Texas or Indian Terr. OK.

Benjamin Cecil Shirley married Ellen Josephine Martin in 1897 (age 22) in Indian Terr. Ellen
was b. in 1881 in Montague Texas and d. on 12/19/1950 in Pampa Texas.


Children of Ben and Ellen are as follows:

Turner Shirley, b April 10, 1902 d. April 28, 1995, one daughter (adopted)

Ruby Shirley McWhorter, b April 21, 1905, d. May 30, 1992, Pampa Texas, no
children.

Cecil Gardner Shirley, b Jan 15, 1912, Wellington, Texas, d Dec. 6, 1973,
Pampa Tx.

Harold Lewis Shirley, b 1921 one son named Edwin - present location unknown
________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted January 18th, 2001

Info from Jack V. Williams  willjv1@juno.com

Dear Mr. Leach:

I just logged on the The Shirley Family Association web site for the first time, and was surprised to discover myself mentioned there.  I subscribed to Betty Shirley's publication for several years, several years ago, and have only recently again taken up my genealogical pursuits, and so logged on to her site to check it out.  In so doing I noticed your question to Betty about Ephriam Shirley.

The two Ephriam Shirleys have confused many Shirley researchers, and I believe what follows may help clear up that confusion.

Ephriam Shirley (son of Jarvis Shirley, son of Walter) was born about 1786, and died abt. 1822.  He married Margaret N. Tomlinson August 18, 1807, in Jefferson County, West Virginia.  She died January 11, 1850. Ephriam Shirley was an ensign in the 2nd Battalion, 55the Regiment of Virginia Militia in 1812, and resigned April 1813 (from unclassified documents in Virginia State Historical Library).

Ephriam Shirley, the son of Jarvis, is often confused with the Ephriam Benson Riley, son of Mary Riley, who took the name of his reputed father.  This fact is clearly established by a deed found in Jefferson County, West Virginia Deed Book 21, page 260, dated September 10, 1836.  This Deed is between "Ephriam Shirley, alias Riley, and Leodocea his wife of Ohio," and Andrew Hunter of Jefferson County.  The land they were selling was town "lot No. 51, being the same lot which was sold and conveyed by deed bearing date of the 13th day of August 1791 and duly recorded in the Clerk's Office in the County of Berkeley, from Charles Washington, and Mildred his wife, to Mary Riley, daughter of Margaret and Richard Riley, the above named Ephriam being the only child and heir of said Mary Riley, who died intestate, and the said Ephriam having assumed the name of his reputed father (Shirley)."  Ephriam is named "Ephriam Shirley alias Riley" some 9 times in this deed and its associated certifications.

Ephriam Shirley, son of Jarvis Shirley, is often confused with the Ephriam Benson Shirley.  Ephriam Shirley, son of Jarvis married Margaret Tomlinson, and Ephriam Benson "Shirley," son of Mary Riley, married Leodocea Steenrod.

It may be clearly established that there are two different Ephriam Shirleys, and not one individual who married twice, by a reading of the Will of Ann Butcher, the Aunt of Margaret Tomlinson.  In her Will dated March 1, 1826, she bequeaths certain items and property "to my Niece Margaret N. Tomlinson, widow of the late Ephriam Shirley of Charles Town, West Virginia."  The Ephriam Shirley that married Leodocea Steenrod did not die until March 18, 1883, at age 87, some 57 years after Ann Butcher describes her niece as a widow of the Ephriam of Charles Town.  Ann Butcher's Will may be found in the records of Orphan's Court for the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1821-31, Book No. 3, Pages 224-7.  It is believed that Ephriam, son of Jarvis died ca. 1822.

It has been a matter of speculation who the father of Ephriam Benson Shirley, alias Riley, may have been.  It seems certain that Samuel Shirley fathered Mary's son Ephriam in view of a letter written September 9, 1912, by Ephriam's son Benjamin F. Shirley to Richard Riley, In this letter he writes "Ephriam Shirley, my father, told me his father and my grandfather was Samuel Shirley, and that his grandfather [was] Walter Shirley."  He further writes that "Samuel, Ephriam's father, moved to a place called French, Broad Creek Tennessee."  Samuel Shirley departed for Tennessee with his Brother-in-law Dr, Hugh Barton about the time of Ephriam's birth and Mary's death (she died in childbirth).

As an aside, Samuel's father, Walter Shirley, married 2nd to Mary's mother, widow Margaret Riley.

I hope you have found the above helpful.

Jack V. Williams

________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted January 18th, 2001

Hi Betty
I think I contacted you once before about Walter Shirley of Frederick County Virginia. ?   Anyway, I am getting closer to finding some answers to my Lock family and there is without a doubt that my Lock's were directly related to Walter Shirley Sr. and family.

I was wondering if you could put me in touch with some other researchers who are working on Walter's line? I'd love to trade info with anyone who is interested.
Thanks
Donald Locke
http://members.aol.com/LOCKEroots/index.html
_________________________________________________________________________________________

 Posted May 22, 2001

A grouping of emails from: Linda Austin West SteveLindaW@aol.com

Oct  26, 1999

Hi Betty,

I am descended from Walter Shirley of Jefferson Co. WV. I have a problem in that I cannot fit my line into the available information on the web site. This land deed dated - 19 Feb 1823 gives my line: 

"Thomas Austin and MARY his wife sell to James Lock for $1,200.00 the land which Mary was entitled to on the death of her father JOHN SHIRLEY and being one part of the land which ROBERT SHIRLEY SR. late decended to his grand children, Mary Shirley and PATIENCE SHIRLEY and John Combs to the same JOHN Shirley by 2 deeds of bargin also 3 acres of land which were conveyed to John Shirley by HIS FATHER JERVIS SHIRLEY, late, and then divided by the Austins and Combs."

Mary Shirley Austin is my 3rd great-grand mother. She was born 7 Feb 1772 in Jefferson Co/Berkeley Co. she died in Sharpsburg MD on 7 Oct 1839. 

In the Walter Shirley book, Jervis does not have a son John. My Robert and John seems more in the family of James Shirley, but this is not correct.

You can see my problem. There does not seem to be any one else working on this line. Can you help me?

Thanks so much. 

Linda Austin West

Oct 27, 1999

As for my problem with the Walter Shirley descent, the only way that it works is that Mary's parents are both Shirleys by birth. Mary has two Shirley grand fathers: Robert Shirley Sr. and Jarvis. I have a number of land records on the sale and transfer of this land that Mary Shirley Austin inherited , and the relationships are always stated the same in every land record. I don't know the names of any of the wifes as they are not named.,

I can't find any marriage records that match up.

Linda 

Oct 28, 1999

"Washington County , Maryland Marriages An Index: 1799-1860" by Dale Morrow

12/13/16 Mary Shirley and Thomas Austin

7/3/20 Patience Shirley and John Combs

9/27/26 Jenny Shirley and Henry Davis

6/3/34 Mary Ann Shirley and John A. Davis

1/27/34 Charlotte I. Shirley and Joseph Starry

5 Oct 1826 Miss Frances Shirley to Henry Davis ( from "The Torchlinght and Public Advertiser" in Hagerstown, MD.)

"Distribution of Estate Accounts , Washington Co., MD 17778-1835" by Dale Morrow

Sherley, Joseph. Adm. Levin Mills 2/24/24; widow, 5 heirs T $1,693.83.

"Wills of Washington County Maryland"--1776-1890" by Dale Morrow

Shirley, Geo. f1828

Shirley, Jos. f1822

"Roster of Civil Was Soldiers from Washington County, MD " by Roger Keller

Sherley, C.S. (Pvt.) Co. G, 1st Maryland Potomac Home Brigade. "Cole's  Cavalry." (US) Clear Spring. Buried in Union Bethel Cemetery, Blair's Valley.

From "Western Maryland Genealogy" Vol 12 No.2

9Jan 1821 Elizabeth Shirley and John Dabelstein ----St John's Church, Frederick Co., MD

"Citizen and Political Prisoners, Allegany Co. 1863-1864"

Robert D. Shirley of near Charlestown, 29 1864, brought in by a scout for 21st N.Y. Cavalry, took oath and rel.

info from Linda Austin West 

Jan 28, 2000

Hi Betty,

I have another bit of information for the MD, Washington Co. page.

Revolutionary Patriots of Washington Co., MD 1776-1783 by Henry Peden Jr. 

SHIRLEY, John. Enrolled in the first militia company organized for the Revolutionary War in the Elizabeth Town District of Frederick County (now the Hargerstown area of Washington County) on January 6, 1776.

Linda Austin West

May 13, 2001  from Linda Austin West

22, April 1799  Deed Book 15 p. 338

Thomas Austin buys from David and Sarah Cowan - in Charles Town VA one house on a half acre lot #8 for 70  pounds, next to John Locke.

8, June 1799  Deed Book 15 p. 447

Thomas Austin sells the same lot #8 that he bought in April 1799, to John English. Price was 100 pounds, witness was Samuel O. Offutt. No wife was listed for Thomas Austin. Charlestown, Berkeley Co. VA.

Jefferson Co. VA  

30, May 1803  Book 1 p. 479

Thomas Austin buys a lot next to lot #1 for $255.62 from Mattaw Frame in Charlestown, also 5 acres lot #2.

13, Dec 1803  Book 2 p. 100

Thomas Austin buys for $20 from John Beahan, lot #1 in Charlestown.

2, June 1804  Book 2 p. 151

Thomas Austin  buys from Thomas Rutherford for 60 pounds, 5 acres next to Robert Shirley.

1813  Jarvis Shirley Will, Book 3 p. 177-178

Probate 28, June 1819, land next to Robert Shirley's farm. Children mentioned are William, Ephram, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Jarvis and Mary. Witness John Shirley Jr., Walter Shirley

1816, Thomas Austin marries Mary Shirley, aged 44

15, Oct 1813 Will Book 2 p. 331-332

Appraisal of estate of Robert Shirley Sr.

15, Oct 1817 Book 10 p. 339

Patience Shirley grants her right of dower to the land of her late husband, Robert Shirley Sr., to John Shirley Jr., who was security at the sale of Robert Shirley's land, for $157.

19, Nov 1817 Book 10  p. 339

Thomas Austin and Mary his wife sell to John Shirley Sr. for$335.00, 

"part of tract of land formerly the property of Robert Shirley Sr. one undivided half of a lot which was assigned to the said Mary and Patience Shirley in the division of the estate of the said Robert Shirley Sr. and designated by lot #4, 32 acre parcel of land being a part of the original tract of land of said Robert Shirley which was allotted in the division of said land to the said Mary and Patience containing six acres and three quarters of an acre and designated in the division a part aforesaid by lot #10 the boundaries where of are particulars set forth in said report and divisions and hereby referred to the interest and  claim of the said Thomas and Mary being one undivided half or moriety of said lots belonging unto the said John Shirley Sr. Having descended to her the said Mary the heirs of the said Robert Shirley Sr. "

7, March 1820  Patience Shirley marries John Combs in Washington Co. Maryland

31, Oct 1822 p. 354

Elizabeth Hibben, wife of Cyrus Hibben, sells for $5.00 to James Lock her dower rights to 46 acres which descended to her by the decease of her father, Robert Shirley.

1823, John Shirley dies

19, Feb 1823  Book 12 p. 1822-24

Thomas Austin and Mary his wife sell to James Lock for $1,200 the land which Mary was entitled to on the death of her father, John Shirley, and being one part of the land which Robert Shirley Sr. late, descended  to his grand children, Mary Shirley and Patience Shirley, and John Combs to the same John Shirley by 2 deeds of bargain, also three acres of land which were conveyed to John Shirley by his father, Jervis Shirley, late, and then divided by the Austin's and Combs.

from Linda Austin West

Patience Shirley is the wife of Robert Shirley Sr. After the death of Robert Shirley Sr. Patience marries John Combs

Mary Shirley Austin and Patience Shirley are the grandchildren of Robert Shirley Sr.

Elizabeth Shirley Hibben's father is Robert Shirley.

Mary Shirley Austin's father is John Shirley   (NOTE: her mother must be a dau. of Robert Shirley?)

John Shirley's father is Jervis Shirley.

Photo's of graves from Anna Gray

Sent July 2005

 

                                  James A. Shirley beloved Husband of Edith  b. 1856 d.1897

                                              James Shirley 1768 - 1840

                             Thomas L. Shirley July 22, 1855 age 24

Here is the info copied by Anna from the headstones .