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17(xiv). Rev.
Arthur George Sewallis Shirley - born July 20 1810;
MA of Christ Church Oxford; He was the Vicar of Stinsford, Dorset;
He died 8 October 1891
REV. ARTHUR SHIRLEY,
VICAR 1837-91
"The Shirleys, who claimed to be the country's oldest
family, prided themselves on a tradition of widespread public
service. Their family tree encompassed figures as varied as the
naval officer who killed the native who shot Captain Cook, and
Walter Waddington, the English Prime Minister of France. Just
as there had been a Shirley at Agincourt, and a Shirley at Shrewsbury
who is mentioned by Shakespeare, the new vicar's brothers served
with distinction in the Peninsula, at Waterloo and in the Crimean
campaign.
Rev Shirley had been an undergraduate of Oxford in the
early days of the Oxford or Tractarian movement, which sought
to reform the ideas, beliefs and practical effectiveness of the
church of England in accordance with the High Church ideas. Undeterred
by the fact that Dorset was one of the most Low Church areas
in England, Shirley sought to introduce to Stinsford the newest
High Church practice.
The fabric and music Shirley altered completely. In a sweeping
restoration in the early 1840's, he removed the chancel pews,
and replaced the string choir with a barrel organ. A susbsequent
restoration, in 1868, involved the removal of the church's remaining
box pews. These changes, though in strict conformity with the
best High Church practice at the time, were greatly to the distaste
of the Hardy family, and little though Hardy the writer could
have known of the early alterations first hand, he nonetheless
never forgave Shirley for them." - Taken from a booklet
available in the church parish.
married 1) Georgiana Emily Cookson on 24 August 1841
at Sherborne Minster, Dorset, daughter of Rev William Cookson.
She died on 8 July 1852 and buried at Stinsford Dorset
married 2) Mary Beadon Turner on 3 September 1853 at
Swanage, Dorset, daughter of Edward Turner, esq. of Sherborne,
Dorset. She was the widow of Dr Jackson MD of Dorchester; She
died 3 April 1877.
married 3) Francesca Vincenzia Edith Money in 1878,
daughter of Captain John Ernle Money.
children:
18(i). Sewallis Shirley - born Aug 11 1842 at Stinsford
Dorset; He died 3 days later
18(ii). Sewallis Shirley - born June 18 1843 at Stinsford
Dorset; He died 27 November 1898, age 55
married Christiana Williams on 28 March 1878, daughter
of Rev. Henry Blackstone Williams.
no children
18(iii). Leiut. Robert Shirley - born Nov 12 1844 at
Stinsford Dorset; 2nd Queen's Royal Regiment; He died at Chatham
on 21 April 1869, age about 25; Buried at Stinsford Dorset.
4 February 1881, Administration of the Personal Estate
of Robert Shirley late a Lieutenant in the 2nd Queen's Regiment
of Foot a Bacbelor who died 21 April 1869 at Chatham in the County
of Kent was granted at the Principal Registry to the Reverend
Arthur George Sewallis Shirley of Stinsford in the County of
Dorset Clerk the Father and Next of Kin. L1500
18(iv). Francis John Shirley - born June 23 1847 at
Stinsford Dorset. Age 3 in mother's 1851 census. Unmarried bank
clerk at the Bank of England, living at Kensington MDX in 1871
census. Living with mother-in-law Sarah Saunders in Hove Sussex
in 1891 (widower) and 1901 census. He was enumerated at Hove
Sussex in 1911, widower, Retired Bank Clerk, unpensioned. His
will was probated in 1931, residence Southwick Sussex. (note: another Francis John Shirley was chr
at Dorchester about the same time, so careful tracing)
(see biography of Francis John Shirley at bottom
of page)
married Catherine May Warne Greaves (Her mother was
Sarah, later Saunders)
children:
19(i). Frances Sara May Shirley born 1870 at Brighton
Sussex, age 23 living in grandmother Sarah Saunders household
in 1901 census, living with her widowed father in 1911 census.
She was the executor of her father's estate in 1931, spinster
18(v). Mary Selina Shirley - born Dec 7 1848 at Stinsford
Dorset
18(vi). Capt. Arthur Horatio Shirley - born June 25
1854; Served in the Royal Navy, held the office of Justice of
the Peace for Devon; He died 30 November 1933
married Katherine Shirley on 14 November 1899, daughter
of Evelyn Philip Shirley of Ettington
18(vii). George Shirley - born July 17 1855
18(viii). Rev. William Shirley - born Aug 23 1856;
M.A. Keble College, Oxford University; He was rector of Bursledon
Hampshire between 1908 and 1920; He died 1 March 1949, age 92.
married Alice Louisa Pryor on 22 April 1884, daughter
of Rev Frederick Bell Pryor; She died 8 September 1929.
children:
19(i). Brigadier Sewallis Robert Shirley, esq. born
31 January 1885; Educated at Winchester College and Royal Military
College, Sandhurst. He fought in the Mohmand Expedition in 1908.
Fought in WWI. Decorated with the Military Cross; Colonel, Temporary
Brigadier India Army, Regional Officer for Civil Devence 1940-41,
Royal Navy Minewatching Service in 1951; He died 8 November 1969,
age 84
married 1) Hilda Grace Young in 1917, daugher of Henry
Gavin Young, late India Police (divorced)
married 2) Edna Blodwen Laking on 31 July 1940, daughter
of Albert William Laking
children:
20(i). Eileen Diana Shirley born 11 September 1922
20(ii). Anne Devereux Shirley born 21 August 1943;
She died 1 July 1983.
19(ii). Geoffry Stanhope Shirley, gent. born 19 July
1888; He served as conservator in the Indian Forest Dept. Burma;
He died 12 March 1960, age 71 unmarried.
19(iii). Lieut. Ralph Devereux Shirley, esq. born 19
August 1889 at Fareham Hampshire; late rifle brigade. He was
an architect residing at 6 Fitzroy Sq, London in 1933 (bankrupt).
married Marie Louise Jouve' in 1926, daughter of M.
Jouve' of Calais
This branch of the Shirleys
of Ettington died out in the male line
Grave of Rev. Arthur
Shirley and family members
STINSFORD CHURCH
This biography researched and written by Ian Shirley (2020)
Francis John Shirley was born the youngest son of
Arthur George Sewallis Shirley and Georgiana
Emily Cookson at Stinsford on 23 Jun 1847. The marriage produced
three living siblings: Sewallis
(1843-1898), Robert (1844-1869) and Mary Selinah (1848-1895).
A forth, Sewallis, died aged 3 days
in 1842.
His early years were spent at the Stinsford Vicarage where
in 1851 there resided Arthur GS (40),
Georgiana E (29), Sewallis (7), Robert (6), Francis John (3),
Mary Louise (2), and three servants. Soon
after Francis had turned five, his mother Georgiana, aged but
30 years, died at Stinsford and was
buried on 13 Jul 1852. One year later, in Q3 1853 at Swanage,
his father married Mary Beadon
Turner, the widow of Francis Jackson. They produced six children
at Stinsford: Arthur Horatio (1854-
1934), George (1855-1855), William (1856- ), Charles Henry (1857-1858),
Phyllis (1858-1906), Emily
Gertrude (1861-1913), and Louisa (1863-1949).
Francis began his education in 1856 at the 20 South Street
Grammar School in Dorchester, about
3km from the Vicarage, where the 1861 Census records him as one
of ten scholars. He moved up to
Winchester College in 1863 where he remained for two years, during
which time he played cricket
for the College team [Hampshire Chronicle, 11 Jun 1864, 8 Apr
1865, 27 May 1865]. The headmaster
at the time of his attendance was Henry Beeston. In 1860 “The
Winchester College Rifle Volunteer
Corps” was founded by boys in their top year and remained
autonomous until it was taken over by
the Second Master in 1868 [Wikipedia]. Latin formed a core plank
of the academic curriculum when
Francis was educated.
He is detailed under Winchester Commoners in Britain, School
and Univ Register Books, Winchester
1836-90 as “SHIRLEY, FRANCIS JOHN, born 23rd June, 1847,
son of Rev. Arthur George Sewallis
Shirley, Stinsford Vicarage, Dorset. At one time Clerk in the
Bank of England, Burlington gardens, W.”
Francis John Shirley aged 18 years joined The Bank of England
on 27 July 1865 as a clerk; some
biographical data is documented in the Bank’s Examination
ledgers: -
Was educated for seven years at the Dorchester Grammar
School and for two years at Winchester College which he
has just left. He had produced satisfactory testimonials.
Writing – fair. Dictation – good. Good at accounts
It seems that he was recruited into the Threadneedle Street
City Branch in 1865. In April 1871 he
transferred to the Western Branch (Westn B) in Burlington Gardens
where he worked for some 9
years until he returned to the City in December 1880-February
1881. His salary in 1871 was £132pa
incrementally rising in steps of £8pa and £10pa to
about £240pa in 1884. He rose to being a 1st Class
Clerk at the Western Branch and was a 3rd Class Clerk in Private
Drawing in February 1881. There was
no freeze or reduction in salary on moving from a 1st (Western
Branch) to 3rd (City) class clerk Feb
1881.
The 1871 Census documents Francis, (23, born Stinsford, Clerk
to Bank of England) residing at 5
Selwood Terrace Kensington with George (52, born Fareham, Hants,
Traveller to a Brewery) and
Caroline (44, born Dorchester) White. Selwood Terrace was almost
half way between Burlington
Gardens (c3.5 km) and Threadneedle Street (c5 km)
In or before 1876 Francis began a relationship with Catharine/Katharine
May Warne Greaves. A
daughter Frances May Sara (Greaves) Shirley was born in Brighton
on 16 Nov 1876 [1939 England
and Wales Register; no birth record has been found]. In censuses
her birth dates are given variously
as 1877, 1878 and 1880. Francis subsequently married Katherine
at St Johns Church in Waterloo
Road on 9 April 1877. Her father William Greaves’ occupation
was given as ‘gentleman’.
The year 1877 also saw the death of his step-mother Mary Beadon
Turner. Less than a year later on
17 January 1878 Arthur GS Shirley married Francesca Vincenzie
Edith Simons Tremayne, a marriage
of which the family disapproved [National Archive]. Arthur moved
to 3 Swakley Terrace, Kensington
and Chelsea in 1878.
Sir Horatio Shirley KCB died on 7 Apr 1879. His will was proved
at Blandford by his brother Rev AGS
Shirley and his nephew Francis John Shirley of 2-Moresby-villas
East Moulsey [London Gazette 12
Sep 1879; Eng and Wales National Probate Calendar]. Francis is
recorded as a voter at Park Road in
the Polling District of East Moulsey in 1879 [Western Division
of the County of Surrey 31 Dec 1878 – 1
Jan 1880].
A quantity of jewellery, clothing and cash in all valued at
£50 was stolen from Francis and Katherine
at 2 Moresby Villas in February 1881. Elizabeth Barratt was sentenced
to six months hard labour
[Surrey Comet 19 Mar 1881, 9 Apr 1881]. At the same address,
the 1881 census has Francis (33, born
Dorchester), wife Katherine (24), daughter Frances M (4) and
Catherine’s Cousin Mary Ann
Chegwidden (22, born Probus, daughter of Henry Chegwidden and
Betsy Warne).
At some time between 1881 and 1884 Francis moved to 2 Heath
Villas, Vardens Road, New
Wandsworth, which was about 100m from Clapham Junction Station.
The proximity of the railway
station was convenient for commuting and travel.
In September-October 1884 worlds collide when Francis quits
his job at the Bank of England, his
father Arthur is declared bankrupt, and Katherine Greaves Shirley
dies.
Katherine May Shirley died on 24 Oct 1884 at her mother’s
house, 1 Burlington Gardens in Brighton,
of complications in pregnancy - “Pregnancy Sub-acute gastritis
Asthenia”.
Her will was probated about one month later: SHIRLEY Katherine
May 28 November. Personal estate
£57-2-11. Administration of the Personal Estate of Katherine
May Shirley (Wife of Francis John
Shirley) late of 2 Heath-villas Varden-road New Wandsworth in
the County of Surrey who died 24
October 1884 at 1 Burlington-street Brighton in the County of
Sussex was granted at the Principal
Registry to the said Francis John Shirley of 2 Heath Villas Gentleman
The BoE E41/6 Salary Ledger shows that Francis quitted the
Bank on (Thursday) 11 September 1884,
some six weeks before his wife died. It is not clear why, after
19 years’ service, he should leave such
a well-paid, secure, and respected position likely knowing that
he would soon be supporting another
child, and that he would not receive a pension.
Francis’ resignation was concomitant with his father’s
bankruptcy. Arthur George Sewallis Shirley
instituted bankruptcy proceedings in February 1883. Notices of
the proceedings appeared in the
London Gazette on Feb 23, April 3 and December 14 1883. The case
went to Court in June 1884 and
was heard on 28 Aug 1884, i.e. about 2 weeks before the resignation.
The outcome was published
on 20 September 1884, with the appointment of a Trustee, Peter
Padget. AGSS and his new wife
were resident in Brighton, possibly in 1882. The London Gazette
Feb 23, 1883 lists recent addresses
as: No 9 Ladbroke Square Notting Hill, No 103 Marine Parade Brighton
and No 17 Sillwood Place,
Brighton.
After his wife’s death Francis apparently returned to
Park Road in East Molesey in 1885. He is listed
in Electoral Registers at both the Vardens Road address [Mid
Division of the County of Surrey 31 Dec
1884 -01 Jan 1886] and the Park Road address [Western Division
of the County of Surrey, 31 Dec188 -
01 Jan 1886].
By 1891 (census) Francis and his daughter had moved to Brighton
to live with his mother-in-law
Sarah Saunders at 1 Lillian Villa Clarendon Road [Sarah B Saunders
(53, widow), Francis J Shirley (42,
widow, Wine Merchants Clerk, born Stinsford), Frances M Shirley
(14, born Brighton), Hester Coles
(59, Visitor).
Francis’ sister Mary Selina Shirley died 1 Aug 1895 and
was buried at Brighton. She left an estate of
£172 10s 2½ d to her half-brother William and his
wife Alice Louisa Pryor.
The collected family were at the Clarendon Road address in
1901 [Sarah B Saunders (63, widow),
Francis J Shirley (52, widower, no occupation given, born Lough
Fea County Monaghan,) Frances SM
Shirley (23, born Brighton)].
Sarah Saunders died in Q3 1901 at Brighton, shortly after
the census. At about the same time Francis
filed a Patent Application: 19448 – Mr Francis John Shirley,
of Lillian Villa, Clarendon-road, Hove. “A
bicycle chain protector (for keeping mud from the chain)”
[Sussex Agricultural Express 9 Oct 1901].
Francis and his daughter moved to 31 Albert Road Southwick
where they appear in the 1911 Census:
Francis John Shirley (63, widowed, Retired Bank Clerk, Un-pensioned,
born Ireland, “Lough Fea” had
been struck through and replaced with “Carrickmacross Co
Monaghan), Frances May Shirley (31,
born Brighton).
Francis John and Frances May remained at the 31 Albert Road
address until his death, aged 83 years,
on 15 Mar 1931.
Francis John Shirley was interred on 18 March 1931 in Grave
No FA79 in the Woodvale Cemetery in
Brighton. He was buried in the same grave as his sister, Mary
Selina Shirley who was interred on 5
August 1895.
SHIRLEY Francis John of 31 Albert Road Southwick Sussex died
15 March 1931. Probate Lewes 8 July
to Frances May Sara Shirley spinster. Effects £1693-0-9.
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Shirleys of Stinsford