 Shirley News
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SEE FOR YOURSELF HERE!!
8 October 2021
Thanks to Dann for sending - I posted
the following abstract of a loose court record to the Mason
County Virginia/West Virginia page in the members' section.
Ephraim Shirley is a part of USA Branch #19
Mason County West Virginia
1848 July 5 Loose Court Records
of Mason Co VA (WV) [LDS film page 27] - Be it remembered that
on the 4th day of July AD 1848 Ephraim Shirley of the county
of Mason labourer and Zachehariah Rollings of the County
of Mason laborer personally came before me Robert Mitchell on
of the commonwealth justices of the peace in and for the county
of Mason and acknowledged themselves to owe and be indebted to
the commonwealth of Virginia that is to say the said Ephraim
Shirley in the sum of $50 and the said Zachariah Rollings
in the sum of $50 of lawful money of the United Statest to be
levied and made of their respective goods and chattles land and
tenements and to the use of the commonnwealth if default to be
made in the convention herunder contain....the above bound Ephraim
Shirley shall make his personal appearance at the court house
of Mason county before the commonwealth justices of the peace
on the first day of the next August term of Mason County court......signed
Ephraim Shirley, Zachariah Rollings
4 October 2021
I have been spending last few days researching
the stray Shirleys of Ontario and New Brunswick Canada and their
ancestors in Kilkenny/Carlow Ireland. I cobbled together a "census"
of all stray Shirleys (with unknown parentage) in these families.
Linked atop the Kilkenny
page in the members' section.
23 September 2021
I posted the following transcript to
the Spotsylvania
VA page in the members' section
Spotsylvania Co VA
1777 November 8 - Virginia Legislative
Petition - By inhabitants of Spotsylvania County - Ask for an
act empowering them to hold their court at some place near the
center of the county.[list of names, with miles from courthouse
next to each signature'
146. John Shearley [25 miles]
207. John Shearley Jnr [miles oblit]
208. Jno Shearley Senr [miles oblit]
209. Thomas Shearley [miles oblit]
I posted the will transcript
of Mathew Shirley of Wyndham New Zealand to his lineage
page in the non-member's section
New Zealand
This is the last
will and testament of me Matthew Shirley of Wyndham in the county
of Southland hereby revoke all wills and testamentary instrument
heretofore by me made. I appoint Thomas Shirley of Hawkes Bay
Napier and William Shirley of Wyndham to be the executors of
this my Will. I direct my executors to pay my just debts and
funeral and testamentary expenses I give and bequeath unto my
wife Jane Shirley all my real and personal estate whatsoever
or wheresoever situate. Signed by the above named Matthew Shirley
this second day of January one thousand eight hundred and eightysix
as his last will in the presence of us both being present at
the same time who in his presence and in the presence of each
other have herein subscribed our names as witnesses <s>
Matthew Shirley; James M Lauchlan, Storeman Wyndham, Thomas Dougherty,
contractor Wyndham
22 September 2021
I posted the following vital record transcription
to the Kent
page in the members' section
Chatham Kent
Burials - St Mary the Virgin
Chatham Kent
1730 Oct 18 Mary dau of Edward
and Mary Shirley
1736 May 6 George Sherly an infant
1750 Aug 3 Richard son of William and Mary Shurley
1752 Dec 16 Richard son of William and Mary Shurley
1756 Oct 16 Sarah dau of William and Mary Shurley
1757 Aug 2 Isaiah son of William and Mary Shurley
1765 Apr 13 Thomas Shurley a soldier
1785 Jul 6 Charlotte dau of George and Mary Shurley
1785 Dec 28 William son of William and Ann Shirley
1789 Dec 20 Fanny dau of George and Mary Shirley
1793 Dec 24 John Shirley Coll. Deburgh's Company
1810 Oct 26 George Shirley age 59
1817 Dec 10 Henry Shirley age 37
1818 Jun 5 William Shirley age 70 abode: Chatham
1827 Apr 28 Mrs May Shirley (Unitarian Church record)
1830 May 8 Richard Shirley age 80 abode: Chatham
1831 Jul 3 Richard Shirley age 7 abode: Chatham
1834 Jan 1 Mary Shirley age 16 abode: Chatham
1841 Oct 7 Mary Shirley age 3 mos abode: Chatham
1842 Jan 30 Ann Shirley age 30 abode: Chatham
1844 May 18 Mary Ann Shirley age 40 abode: Chatham
1845 Aug 18 Joseph Sharley age 36 abode: Chatham
1854 Jan 7 Richard Shirley age 76 abode: Chatham
1865 Jan 25 Sarah Shirley age 91 abode: Chatham
Marriages - St Mary the Virgin
Chatham Kent
1760 Dec 31 William Shurley married
Frances Dadd; Wit: Henry Hollister, Mary Olive, by banns
1773 Aug 2 William Shirley married Ann Brown; Wit John Gurr,
Mary Farmer, by banns
1780 Jul 7 Mary Shirley married William Tresse/Tracy; Wit George
Shirley, Kitty Everall, by license
1781 Aug 23 George Shirley married Mary Ankcorn; Wit Stephen
Ankcorn, martha Oben, by license
1788 Apr 22 Mary Shirley married Robert Flower; Wit: George Shirley,
Martha Hammond, by banns
1804 May 29 Elizabeth Shirley, spinster married John Jennings;
bach Wit: Timothy Jennings, Francis Hind Shirley, by banns
1806 Jun 22 Frances Shirley married William Hodges; Wit: Joseph
Gilbert, Charlotte Muddell, by banns
1808 Jan 1 George Shirley, bach, married Mary Stokes, spinster;
Wit: Eliz Shirley, Ann Barton, by license
1824 Jun 9 Elizabeth Shirley spinster married George Mullinger,
minister in Isle of Sheppy co Kent, bach, Wit: W Higgins, Mary
Ann ____, by license
1847 Dec 6 Susannah Shirley, minor spinster of High Street dau
of George Shirley labourer married John Reeves minor back labourer
of High Street, son of William Reeves Labourer; Wit: Thomas Hinkley,
J T D Whiffen, by banns
1850 Apr 14 George Ebenezer Shirley full age bach gentleman of
St Margarets Rochester, son of George Shirley schoolmaster married
Grace Glover full age spinster of Chatham, son of John Glover
farmer, Wit: Edward Lintott, Hariet Wilson, by license
Baptism - St Mary the Virgin,
Chatham Kent
grouped by parents
1731 Jul 25 George Sherley chr
to Edward and Mary Sherley
1735 Jul 11 Mary Shurly chr to Edward and Mary Shurly
1745 Mar 23 Mary Shirly chr to
William and Mary Shirly
1748 Jun 12 William Shurley chr to William and Mary Shurley
1750 Jun 24 Richard Shurley chr to William and Mary Shurley
1751 Aug 4 George Shurley chr to William and Mary Shurley
1752 Oct 13 Richard Shurley chr to William and Mary Shurley
1754 Dec 28 Richard Shurley chr to William and Mary Shurley
1756 Feb 20 Sarah Shurley chr to William and Mary Shurley
1757 May 15 Isaiah Shurley chr to William and Mary Shurley
1758 Nov 10 Fanny Shurley chr to William and Mary Shurley
1774 Jul 15 William Shirley chr
to William and Ann Shirley, born 29 June
1776 Feb 4 George Brown Shirley chr to William and Ann Shirley
1778 Aug 16 Richard Shirley chr to William and Ann Shirley
1781 Jan 14 Harry Shirley chr to William and Ann Shirley
1782 Oct 20 Elizabeth Shirley
chr to George and Mary Shirley
1784 Aug 6 George Shirley chr to George and Mary Shirley
1784 Aug 6 Charlotte Shirley chr to George and Mary Shirley
1786 Jun 19 Fanny Shirley chr to George and Mary Shirley, born
1 June
1802 Mar 31 Elizabeth Shirley
chr to Richard and Sarah Shirley, born 5 March
1804 May 16 Mary Ann Shirley chr to Richard and Sarah Shirley,
born 8 Feb in Chatham (Ind. Ebenezer Chapel)
1808 Nov 18 Mary Joanna Shirley
chr to George and Mary Shirley, born 17 Oct at St Mary Rochester
(Ind. Ebenezer Chapel)
1810 Apr 22 Rebecca Stokes Shirley chr to George and Mary Shirley,
born 23 Jan at St Mary Rochester (Ind. Ebenezer Chapel)
1811 Jul 14 Mary Joanna Shirley chr to George and Mary Shirley,
born 7 May at St Mary Rochester (Ind. Ebenezer Chapel)
1814 May 8 Mary Phoebe Roberts Shirley chr to George and Mary
Shirley, born 7 Feb at St Mary Rochester (Ind. Ebenezer Chapel)
1815 Aug 26 William Edward Shirley chr to George and Mary Shirley,
born 10 August at St Mary Rochester (Ind. Ebenezer Chapel)
1821 Apr 15 Elizabeth Shirley chr to George and Mary Shirley,
born 26 Nov 1820 at St Mary Rochester (Ind. Ebenezer Chapel)
7 September 2021
New Deed Project - 3rd batch of deeds posted to the Tuscaloosa
AL page in the members' section
Tuscaloosa AL
1837 November 9 (Recorded 29
December 1837) Tuscaloosa
Co DB N pg 267 John Beard of Tuscaloosa Co. bound unto Moses
and Beverly Shirly $6000 9 Nov 1836. Sold to Moses and
Beverly Shirley NW fraction W of river of Sec 14 Twp 21 R10W
170 acres and part of E 1/2 of SW 1/4 Sec 11 Twp 21 R 10W which
Moses and Beverley paid Beard $1000
1836 October 22 (Recorded 8 March
1838) Tuscaloosa
Co DB N pg 375. Indenture 22 Oct 1836 B. Shirley to
George Stewart $150. E 1/2 of __1/2 of NW 1/4 of Sec 32 Twp20
R10W <signed> Beverly Shirley and Elizabeth Shirley
1837 June 8 (Recorded 8 June
1837) Tuscaloosa
Co DB N pg 74. (page
76) Indenture 8 June 1837 Thomas Glaze of N. Tuscaloosa,
Moses McGuire to Joel Shirley of N. Tuscaloosa. Firm of
Glaze and Haynes $997. Land in Kentuck on main street. [note:
appears that Joel Shirley was only a co-signer on a bill of sale]
1837 June 5 (Recorded 9 June
1837) Tuscaloosa
DB N pg 76 (page
77) Sherriff's Sale. SE 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec 33 Twp20 R10W, SW
1/4 NW 1/4 Sec 34 Twp20 R10W. Lands of AD Carraway and WC Lyons
to James Shirley $190 highest bidder.
3 August 2021
New Deed Project - 2nd batch of deeds posted to the Tuscaloosa
AL page in the members' section
Tuscaloosa AL
1833 November 25 (Reg 25 Nov
1833) Tuscaloosa
Co DB J p 248. Indenture Joel Shirley to Robert Shirley.
SE qtr of SE qtr Sec 3 Twp 20 R12. 40 acres
1834 February 8 (Reg 8 July 1834)
Tuscaloosa
Co DB J p 308. Indenture Joel Shirley to James Shirley
$165 N. half of parcel in Kentuck or N. Tuscaloosa known as lot
23
1834 March 18 (Reg 18 March 1834)
Tuscaloosa
Co DB K p 1 (page
3) Indenture Wm Tierce of Tuscaloosa to Joel Shirley
of same in consideration of natural love and affection for
his daughters Elizabeth and Rebecca. E 1/2 of SW 1/4 Sec
26 T24 R5E 80acres. W 1/2 of SE 1/4 Sec 26, T24 R5E. 80acres.
A negro girl Harriet about age 12, 2 bay horses, household and
kitchen furniture when they turn 21. [note: this conveyance revoked
6 Apr 1835]
1834 June 28 (Reg 28 June 1834)
Tuscaloosa
Co DB K p 80. Indenture Larkin White to Thomas Shirley
$115. SE 1/4 of NW 1/4 Sec 22 Twp20 R11W, NW 1/4 of NW 1/4 of
Sec 22 Twp20 R11W all total 40 acres.
1834 August 15 (Reg 12 Feb 1835)
Tuscaloosa
Co DB K p 242 Indenture William Davis to Eli Shirley
$150 E 1/2 of NE 1/4 Sec 4 Twp21 R10W
1835 January 28 (Reg 1 August
1835) Tuscaloosa
Co DB L p60. Payment H.G.K. Shannon secure payment of 1st
$100 delivered to James Shirley one ox wagon, yoke upon
failure to pay $100.
1835 October 7 (Reg 9 November
1835) Tuscaloosa
Co DB L p117. Survey. George T Washington certify survey
for Aaron Shirley SE corner of the W 1/2 fo the SE 1/4
Sec 10 Twp 20 R12. 80 acres. Chaincarriers: H.T Reece, Lewis
Shirley
1835 October 14 (Reg 9 November
1835) Tuscaloosa
Co DB L p118. Survey. George T. Washington certify for Aaron
Shirley and W.L. Reece. NE corner of Sec 15 T20 R12W 66 acres
part of which belongs to Aaron Shirley and the other part
Wm T Reece. Chaincarriers: H.P Reece, Lewis Shirley
1836 December 7 (Sworn 8 March
1837) Tuscaloosa
Co DB M p 361. Indenture James Shirley to Green H
Strong $1200. Land in North Tuscaloosa N 1/2 of Lot 23 wit: G.W.
Mitchell, Wm E. Self
July 30, 2021
New Deed Project - I started a new project to scan Tuscaloosa
AL deeds involving Shirleys, say up to 1900. The following is
the first batch, posted to the Tuscaloosa
AL page in the members' section
Tuscaloosa AL
Deeds
1838 Tuscaloosa
Co DB O pg 340 Joel Sutton to James Shirley
1838 Tuscaloosa
Co DB O pg 517 John Beard to Moses Shirley
1839 Tuscaloosa
Co DB P pg 170 Beverly Shirley to Jacob Sartain
1839 Tuscaloosa
Co DB P pg 215 J South to James Shirley
1839 Tuscaloosa
Co DB P pg 223 Alex McCown to James Shirley
1839 Tuscaloosa
Co DB P pg 328 W Savage to Beverly Shirley
1839 Tuscaloosa
Co DB P pg 329 A Glover to Beverly Shirley
1839 Tuscaloosa
Co DB P pg 409 Peter Lolley to James Shirley
July 19, 2021
The following are examples of the miscellaneous
items I tend to find and post on a periodic basis, but do not
mention here. The following items posted to the London
England page and to Kerry
Ireland page in the members' section
1648 Jan. 24 - Committee For
Compounding [G 116, p. 829.] - Petition of Mary, widow of Sir
George Shirley, Chief Justice of the King's Court of Chief Pleas
(sic) in Ireland, to the Committee for Compounding. She and her
husband lost a great estate by the barbarous rebellion in Ireland,
and were forced to sell all they had, and run into debt for the
maintenance of herself and family, having a younger son Thos.
Shirley, who is weak and sickly, and has a wife and 4 children,
and no other relations to help him. Parliament, sensible of her
sad condition, have ordered her 100l.; entreats payment forthwith,
to keep her family from perishing. Noted as referred [G 116,
p. 827]. Annexing,I. Parliament order alluded to, for payment
of 100l. from Goldsmiths' Hall to the wife of Sir George Shirley,
lately deceased, and earnestly desiring its speedy advance. 6
January 1648;
1651 Jan 31 - Committee For Compounding
[Vol. G 221 p.58] James Shirley, St. Bride's, London - .Begs
to compound, not being sequestered, for adhering to the King.
Noted as referred to Reading. 4 Feb. [Vol G 12 p 111] Fine at
1/6 1l.
1762 July 7 - Calendar of Home
Office Papers - Dom. Geo. III., pcl. 74, No. 65. #614. Forfeited
Estates of Lawrence Earl Ferrers.
Report of the Attorney and Solicitor General on the petition
of Washington Earl Ferrers, brother of the late Lawrence Earl
Ferrers, who was convicted of felony and murder; praying the
grant of the estates, real and personal, of the late Earl forfeited
on account of his attainder and conviction, subject to the payment
of his debts, the petitioner's income being very scanty, and
not sufficient to support the dignity devolved upon him. An inquisition
was taken at Towcester, Northamptonshire, to inquire into His
Majesty's title to the escheat on the 19th of October 1761. The
results of the inquisition here recited. The principal real properties
are the manors of Astwell and Falcot. They (the Attorney and
Solicitor General) are of opinion that His Majesty is entitled,
in consequence of the attainder, to the late Earl Ferrers' personal
estate and the lands of which he was seized in fee simple subject
to such charges as affect the same in point of law. The charges
which deserve consideration are the following:—
1. The deed poll of Feb. 16. 1760, by which he granted East India
bonds, notes, and effects, to the value of 4,496l. 13s. 8½d.,
for the benefit of his four natural children by Mrs. Margaret
Clifford.
2. The indenture of March 12, 1760, by which he assigned his
interest (amounting to 6,000l.) in a charge of 10,000l. secured
by a trust term of 500 years upon several estates in Leicestershire
and other counties, upon trust to secure 1,200l. to the four
children of John Johnson, being the unhappy man for whose murder
the said Earl was attainted, and likewise for other purposes
of paying his debts by bond and simple contract, and making some
provision for his brother, Mr. Walter Shirley.
3. A deed poll of March 12th, 1760, made in execution of a supposed
power to charge 2,000l. as an additional provision for Mrs. Clifford's
children, upon some entailed estates reserved to the said Earl
by an indenture therein referred to, dated April 16th, 1762.
With respect to the first and second charges, being made before
his conviction, for just and reasonable considerations, though
their validity may possibly be questioned in law, as being made
in immediate contemplation of his attainder, yet it will be agreeable
to His Majesty's equity and clemency to suffer them to prevail.
The agents and counsel who attended in support of the third charge
are candid enough to admit that they are satisfied that the late
Earl had no such power as therein recited, and consequently that
deed is void. In conclusion, there is no objuction in law to
the grant prayed by the petitioner, if His Majesty shall condescend
to his request, subject to all charges legally affecting the
estate. 11½ pp
1278 Petitions in Parliament
- Edward I [12 (8)]. To your highness, lord king, James of Shirley
shows you that, whereas he handed over his manor of Eatingdon
to his son Ralph to acquit the aforesaid James of debt against
all men, so that the aforesaid Ralph was to hold the manor for
fifteen days to gain full seisin and, after the fifteen days,
was to surrender this manor to him to hold for the term of his
life, he keeps the aforesaid manor and has kept it for two years
and more to his great damage of sixty pounds and has cut down
and sold his grove and still keeps the chattels, both movable
and immovable, which the aforesaid Ralph found in the aforesaid
manor, against the wishes of the aforesaid James, and has had
the animals driven into another county and and has had them sold
as he wishes, so that his father James is deprived of these chattels.
And where the writings made between them on their agreement were
delivered into escrow he has had them removed by fraud and deceit,
although the aforesaid James knows in whose hands they are, and
asks you, sir king, for God's sake, that they be ... by your
order. Moreover, whereas James has presented to a vicarage that
is appurtenant to this same manor, this same Ralph has come and
obstructed this, so that because of this obstruction the bishop
has collated to the church. And thus he wrongfully retains the
manor and is unwilling to surrender the manor to him or acquit
him of the debt or keep any of the other terms, and so the same
James prays your highness that this wrong be amended for him
by your power. ANSWER: Let him seek a remedy by writ of covenant
or debt or trespass.
1694 Oct 25 Dublin Castle - Calendar
of State Papers, William and Mary [Regarding the Scottish Pretender's
ally Walter Crosby] Copy of the information of Major John Steer,
co. Kerry, dated Oct. 24, 1694. John Shirley, clerk, of Carignafeels,
co. Kerry, told me at Bat. Crosby's house at Taberrit, the 16th
and 17th instant, that he saw and read several letters from Walter
Crosby dated at Lourain in Flanders and directed to Sir Thomas
Crosby, and the said Shirley told me he perfectly well knew his
hand; that the said letters did import several matters of treason
against this present government, and if the government forced
him he would declare the truth of the matter on oath.
July 16, 2021
This is interesting. I found a source that extends what we
had earlier posted about the Rent Rolls of St Mary's Co Maryland.
All the following are now posted to the St
Mary's Maryland page in the members' section (the items
after 1758 are new)
St Mary's Co Maryland
1753 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Richard Shirly "Shirly's Adventure"
150 Acres
Neighbors in 1753:Burch Swann
(part of Hopewell)....[several later] James Thompson (part of
St John's Herberts' Swamp), Ignatius Greenwell (St Ignatius Addition),
Phillip Fenwick (part of Fenwick Manor), Daniel Watts (Watts
Lodge) John Plummer (part of Elizabeth Manor) Richard Shirly
(Shirley's Adventure) Thomas Keen (Keen's Rest) Thomas Mathyes
(part of Friend's Conjunction)
1754 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Richard Shirly "Shirly's Adventure"
150 Acres
1755 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Richard Shirly "Shirly's Adventure"
150 Acres
1756 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Richard Shirly "Shirly's Adventure"
150 Acres
1757 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Richard Shirly "Shirly's Adventure"
150 Acres
1758 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Richard Shirly "Shirly's Adventure"
150 Acres
1760 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 40/1760/31 Richard Shurley "Shurley's
Adventure" 150 Acres
1761 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 40/1761/34 Richard Shurley "Shurley's
Adventure" 150 Acres
Death of
Richard Shirley?
1762 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 40/1762/26 Heirs of Richard Shirly; pt
"Shirly's Adventure" 50 Acres
1763 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 40/1763/28 Heirs of Richard Shurley; pt
"Shurley's Adventure" 50 Acres
1764 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 40/1764/27 Heirs of Richard Shercliff (sic);
pt "Shurley's Adventure" 50 Acres
1765 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 40/1765/27 Heirs of Richard Shirley; pt
"Shirley's Adventure" 50 Acres
1765 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 40/1765/18 James Gough Jr; pt "Shirley's
Adventure" 100 Acres (same as in 1764)
1766 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 40/1766/27 Heirs of Richard Shurley; pt
"Shurley's Adventure" 50 Acres
1767 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 41/1767/27 Heirs of Richard Shirley; pt
"Shirley's Adventure" 50 Acres
1768 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 41/1768/20 Heirs of Richard Shirley; pt
"Shirley's Adventure" 50 Acres
1769 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 41/1769/20 Heirs of Richard Shirley; pt
"Sirley's Adventure" (sic) 50 Acres
1770 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 41/1770/29 Heirs of Richard Shirley; pt
"Surley's Adventure" (sic) 50 Acres
1771 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 41/1771/25 Heirs of Richard Shirley; pt
"Sirley's Adventure" (sic) 50 Acres
1773 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 41/1773/30 Heirs of Richard Shirley; pt
"Shirley's Adventure" 50 Acres
1774 St Mary's Co MD Debt Books
(Rent Rolls) Liber 41/1774/32 Heirs of Richard Sherley; pt
"Sherley's Adventure" 50 Acres
July 8, 2021
RESEARCH STATEMENT - Here is a summary of where the
Shirley Association stands with respect to finding trans-atlantic
links between Shirley families in North America and those in
England etc.
1. The vast majority of American
Shirley branches have no proven link across the Atlantic to England
or to ireland. Only a scarce few American families can be traced
to Londonderry Northern Ireland, a few Canadian Shirley families
can be traced to co Kilkenny and one American family to co Wexford
Ireland. A few Englishmen who migrated to America in the 1800s
can be traced back to their English Shirley families. But that's
really it.
2. There is no known, provable
connection to the aristocratic and ancient Shirley family of
Ettington Warwickshire by any Shirley branch in the world - that
we know of to date (nor is there likely to ever be). Documented
research on the Ettington Shirley family proves it, and more
importantly DNA proves it - at least so far.
3. We are beginning to run out
of opportunities for good luck - to uncover that long lost Last
Will and Testament buried in an English archive that says something
like "And I give 5 pounds sterling to my son Thomas currently
living in Northumberland Virginia" The Shirley Association
has ransacked almost all English probate sources, both at the
national level and at the county record office level. We currently
only lack gathering wills in a couple of counties - and none
that we have (thusfar) provide any clue of any trans-atlantic
connection. Again, only a few counties remain (with a smattering
of needle-in-haystack ecclesiastical "peculiars" not
checked as yet). It's getting desperation time.
4. 90% of the low-hanging research
fruit has been picked. The rest is needle-in-haystack level of
difficulty. But thanks to the Mormons and companies like Ancestry
and FindMyPast, who are slowly indexing a few of these odd research
sources every month. But it's slow. There are sources that I
have targeted, e.g. Records of London trade guilds (who were
large landowners, thus tenant lists), also English Manoral court
records, only a smattering survive, almost none indexed, thus
search page by page of blurry handwriting, looking for a Eureka
event. Also the archives of landed aristocrats, not held by county
record offices (the latter I've already searched for the most
part)
5. Some places are easier to
research than others. Example, research in Scotland is difficult
(I've done it). The Scottish government disgracefully acts like
a for-profit corporation, selling access to the history of their
citizens only to paying customers, in direct competition with
the private sector firms, Ancestry.com, FindMyPast and also with
the Mormon's efforts. Worse, the Scots guard their treasure zealously.
But thankfully, Shirley is not traditionally a Scottish surname.
6. You may not know, but the
Irish burned down their entire state archive in the 1920s, during
one of their many violent "troubles". Virtually nothing
survived of a 1000 years of Irish history. Worse, prior to the
arson, the Irish government demanded all documents scattered
about the country in county record offices be sent to Dublin
for "safe keeping". Pooof! All gone. (Irish family
history research is a disaster. I've researched in Dublin - there's
simply not much there)
June 12 2021
I just finished a major
project. Transcribing
all mentions of Shirleys in the Irish Exchequer Court Docket
books. The actual bills were destroyed in the 1920s fire at the
Irish Archives. The docket books are rare windows into Shirleys
who lived between the late 1600s and mid 1800s. There are clues
in these docket mentions. Will need to study at some length.
Posted to the main Ireland
index page in the members' section.
Ireland Exchequer Docket Books:
1674 - 1850
June 6 2021
New Ireland
Lineage - I constructed
a new lineage for the Shirley family of Camolin Parish Wexford
2. Thomas
Shirley bricklayer of Camolin Parish Wexford. Moved to Dublin,
Family raised in Dublin
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