Shirley Association Genealogical Research Website

Edward Shirley
b. 1720 England. Son lived in Fryeburg, Maine

MISC INFORMATION FOR THIS BRANCH
Male Shirley DNA Participant Wanted!!!!

2(v). Arthur Shirley born Sept 9, 1782 Fryeburg Maine, died Jan 20, 1864 Portland Cumberland Co, Maine... (He was blind). Buried Eastern Cemetery, Portland, Cumberland Co ME Shirleys of Cumberland Co ME

Three years after his purchase, Mr. Adams admitted to partnership Arthur Shirley, who had been an apprentice, and who now took sole charge of the printing office. (Mr. Shirleys connection with the paper lasted till 1822). After 1811 it was wholly in his hands, except that a part of the time his brother, J. Shirley, was associated with him. It was during the administration of Adams and Shirley that the old Gazette was illuminated by the brilliant essays of a cluster of young men, whose articles, over the signatures Pilgrim, Prowler, Night Hawk, and Torpedo, kept the town in good humor. William B. Sewell, coming here to read law, found his college classmates, Savage, and Payson (then preceptor of the new academy, afterwards the distinguished preacher) already engaged upon these weekly essays of wit and merriment. Two sons of Samuel Freeman - Samuel Deane and William - were Harvard contemporaires of Sewall, Savage, and Payson, and were also contributors to the gazette. A little later came the Contributions of the Torpedo club, of which Charles S. Davies, Nathaniel Deering, N. Carter, and N. Wright were the brightest ornaments.

Arthur Shirley was a native of Fryeburg Maine, and commenced his apprenticeship in 1798 in the office of E. Russell, the proprietor of the first printing establishment in that town. "He was a man (says a correspondent) very decided in his views, deliberate, square, firm, - shown characteristically in his hand writing, which you will remember was remarkably open, - plainer than type script. He was blind the last few years of his life; yet even during this period he was much at his office, and would often work at the case; setting type by feeling the l nick." - Ed.

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"Mr. Shirley from the age of 16 was connected with the public press; and, as a printer, publisher, and writer, was successively identified, during his long life, with many newspapers; among which were the Portland Gazette (since merged into the Advertiser), and the Christian Mirror, which, under its original title, still maintains its place among the the principal religious weekly publications of the State.

The first 'Directory of Portland' issued from his press. The first book of sacred music printed in the State had the same origin. The Daily Courier, the Family Reader, the Portland Magazine, and the Maine Washingtonian Journal all have his imprint, "and were to no inconsiderable extent the product of his industry." - Extract from the Christian Mirror, Feb 9, 1864 [article submitted by Danell Aukerman]

married Ruth Foster; She died 25 Nov 1851, age 62 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME

children:

3(i). Eliza Shirley born Nov 26, 1812 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME

3(ii). George Henry Shirley born Sept 13, 1816 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; Deputy surveyor of the Port of New York. He died 14 March 1904 in Brooklyn New York.

New York Evening Post. Wednesday, March 16, 1904. Obituary. George H. Shirley, a resident of the Bedford district in Brooklyn, died on Monday at his home at No 375 Greene Avenue in his 87th year. He was the son of Alfred (sic) Shirley, the founder and editor of the Daily Courier of Portland Me. and for several years was associated in business with his father. He was appointed a United States weigher in New York Custom House in 1861 and subsequently became deputy surveyor. He retired from the government service 15 years ago. He was a lifelong temperance advocate.

His 1904 probate documents list his heirs at the time of death: Isabel Shirley, daughter, residing 375 Greene Ave, Brooklyn, Mary E. Shirley, daughter, residing at same place; Helen E. Russell, daughter, residing at same place; Arthur Shirley, son, residing at Stratford, CT.

married Mary Mayo Colcord on 29 May 1841 at Portland, daughter of Josiah and Mary (Griffith) Colcord.

children:

4(i). Helen Augusta Shirley born Mar 8, 1842 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; She married ___Russell and was living with her father in Brooklyn Kings Co NY at the time of his death in 1904.

4(ii). Martha Elizabeth Shirley born Jan 8, 1844 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; She married Jesse B. Allen on 27 November 1873 at Portland; Not mentioned as an heir of her father at the time of his death in 1904

4(iii). Rev. Arthur F. Shirley born Mar 19, 1845 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; (birth may be November) Portland High School and graduate of Yale College; Congregationalist Minister. lived at Conway, Franklin Co Mass in 1880 and Fairfield CT in 1900. He died 5 February 1927 in Stratford Fairfield Co CT. Death due to heart failure Buried in Union Cemetery, Stratford. Only sibling Isabell alive at the time of his death.

BA 1869. B D. 1872; ordained to Congregational ministry July 3, 1872, at Conway, Mass., where pastor until 1881; engaged in study and teaching in Boston 1881-82; pastor of Congregational churches in Upton, Mass., 1882-85 and New Gloucester, Maine, 1885-88; in 1888 went abroad as a private tutor and spent a year in England and France, pastor of Old Lyme (Conn ) Congregational Church 1890-97; had since been engaged in private tutoring in Stratford, preaching occasionally, member Stratford Congregational Church

married 1) Mary A. Davis on 3 June 1872 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME, daughter of Frederick and Ellen (Gould) Davis. She died 23 June 1910

married 2) Amey Talbot on 1 December 1911 at Stratford, Fairfield Co CT; She was age 58 in 1920 census; daughter of George Augustus and Sarah Abigail (Dorchester) Talbot No children by second marriage

children:

5(i). Lottie R Shirley born about 1875, age 5 in 1880 census

(she may be dau Charlotte age 26 in family's 1900 census. Charlotte was adopted according to official obituary; Married Henry P. Camp)

4(iv). Clara Collins Shirley born July 31, 1849 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; She died August 1849 (mortality schedule)

4(v). Isabella Shirley born Sept 19, 1849 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; She was unmarried and living with her father in Brooklyn Kings Co NY at the time of his death in 1904; She was alive and mentioned in the 1927 obituary of brother Arthur.

4(vi). Mary Elizabeth Shirley born Dec 14, 1850 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; She was unmarried and living with her father in Brooklyn Kings Co NY at the time of his death in 1904

4(vii). George Henry Shirley Jr. born Nov 19, 1854 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; Not mentioned as an heir to his father at the time of his death in 1904.

This family likely died out in the male Shirley line

3(iii). Mary Shirley born April 2, 1820 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME, age 21 (sic) in family's 1850 census household.

3(iv). Arthur Shirley Jr. born Dec 30, 1822 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; He died 5 March 1844 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME, age about 21.

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		Edward Shirley b. 1720 England. Son lived in Fryeburg, Maine MISC INFORMATION FOR THIS BRANCH Male Shirley DNA Participant Wanted!!!!

		2(v). Arthur Shirley born Sept 9, 1782 Fryeburg Maine, died Jan 20, 1864 Portland Cumberland Co, Maine... (He was blind). Buried Eastern Cemetery, Portland, Cumberland Co ME *Shirleys of Cumberland Co ME* Three years after his purchase, Mr. Adams admitted to partnership Arthur Shirley, who had been an apprentice, and who now took sole charge of the printing office. (Mr. Shirleys connection with the paper lasted till 1822). After 1811 it was wholly in his hands, except that a part of the time his brother, J. Shirley, was associated with him. It was during the administration of Adams and Shirley that the old Gazette was illuminated by the brilliant essays of a cluster of young men, whose articles, over the signatures Pilgrim, Prowler, Night Hawk, and Torpedo, kept the town in good humor. William B. Sewell, coming here to read law, found his college classmates, Savage, and Payson (then preceptor of the new academy, afterwards the distinguished preacher) already engaged upon these weekly essays of wit and merriment. Two sons of Samuel Freeman - Samuel Deane and William - were Harvard contemporaires of Sewall, Savage, and Payson, and were also contributors to the gazette. A little later came the Contributions of the Torpedo club, of which Charles S. Davies, Nathaniel Deering, N. Carter, and N. Wright were the brightest ornaments. Arthur Shirley was a native of Fryeburg Maine, and commenced his apprenticeship in 1798 in the office of E. Russell, the proprietor of the first printing establishment in that town. "He was a man (says a correspondent) very decided in his views, deliberate, square, firm, - shown characteristically in his hand writing, which you will remember was remarkably open, - plainer than type script. He was blind the last few years of his life; yet even during this period he was much at his office, and would often work at the case; setting type by feeling the l nick." - Ed. _______________________________________ "Mr. Shirley from the age of 16 was connected with the public press; and, as a printer, publisher, and writer, was successively identified, during his long life, with many newspapers; among which were the Portland Gazette (since merged into the Advertiser), and the Christian Mirror, which, under its original title, still maintains its place among the the principal religious weekly publications of the State. The first 'Directory of Portland' issued from his press. The first book of sacred music printed in the State had the same origin. The Daily Courier, the Family Reader, the Portland Magazine, and the Maine Washingtonian Journal all have his imprint, "and were to no inconsiderable extent the product of his industry." - Extract from the Christian Mirror, Feb 9, 1864 [article submitted by Danell Aukerman] married Ruth Foster; She died 25 Nov 1851, age 62 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME children: 3(i). Eliza Shirley born Nov 26, 1812 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME 3(ii). George Henry Shirley born Sept 13, 1816 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; Deputy surveyor of the Port of New York. He died 14 March 1904 in Brooklyn New York. New York Evening Post. Wednesday, March 16, 1904. Obituary. George H. Shirley, a resident of the Bedford district in Brooklyn, died on Monday at his home at No 375 Greene Avenue in his 87th year. He was the son of Alfred (sic) Shirley, the founder and editor of the Daily Courier of Portland Me. and for several years was associated in business with his father. He was appointed a United States weigher in New York Custom House in 1861 and subsequently became deputy surveyor. He retired from the government service 15 years ago. He was a lifelong temperance advocate. His 1904 probate documents list his heirs at the time of death: Isabel Shirley, daughter, residing 375 Greene Ave, Brooklyn, Mary E. Shirley, daughter, residing at same place; Helen E. Russell, daughter, residing at same place; Arthur Shirley, son, residing at Stratford, CT. married Mary Mayo Colcord on 29 May 1841 at Portland, daughter of Josiah and Mary (Griffith) Colcord. children: 4(i). Helen Augusta Shirley born Mar 8, 1842 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; She married ___Russell and was living with her father in Brooklyn Kings Co NY at the time of his death in 1904. 4(ii). Martha Elizabeth Shirley born Jan 8, 1844 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; She married Jesse B. Allen on 27 November 1873 at Portland; Not mentioned as an heir of her father at the time of his death in 1904 4(iii). Rev. Arthur F. Shirley born Mar 19, 1845 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; (birth may be November) Portland High School and graduate of Yale College; Congregationalist Minister. lived at Conway, Franklin Co Mass in 1880 and Fairfield CT in 1900. He died 5 February 1927 in Stratford Fairfield Co CT. Death due to heart failure Buried in Union Cemetery, Stratford. Only sibling Isabell alive at the time of his death. BA 1869. B D. 1872; ordained to Congregational ministry July 3, 1872, at Conway, Mass., where pastor until 1881; engaged in study and teaching in Boston 1881-82; pastor of Congregational churches in Upton, Mass., 1882-85 and New Gloucester, Maine, 1885-88; in 1888 went abroad as a private tutor and spent a year in England and France, pastor of Old Lyme (Conn ) Congregational Church 1890-97; had since been engaged in private tutoring in Stratford, preaching occasionally, member Stratford Congregational Church married 1) Mary A. Davis on 3 June 1872 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME, daughter of Frederick and Ellen (Gould) Davis. She died 23 June 1910 married 2) Amey Talbot on 1 December 1911 at Stratford, Fairfield Co CT; She was age 58 in 1920 census; daughter of George Augustus and Sarah Abigail (Dorchester) Talbot No children by second marriage children: 5(i). Lottie R Shirley born about 1875, age 5 in 1880 census (she may be dau Charlotte age 26 in family's 1900 census. Charlotte was adopted according to official obituary; Married Henry P. Camp) 4(iv). Clara Collins Shirley born July 31, 1849 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; She died August 1849 (mortality schedule) 4(v). Isabella Shirley born Sept 19, 1849 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; She was unmarried and living with her father in Brooklyn Kings Co NY at the time of his death in 1904; She was alive and mentioned in the 1927 obituary of brother Arthur. 4(vi). Mary Elizabeth Shirley born Dec 14, 1850 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; She was unmarried and living with her father in Brooklyn Kings Co NY at the time of his death in 1904 4(vii). George Henry Shirley Jr. born Nov 19, 1854 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; Not mentioned as an heir to his father at the time of his death in 1904. *This family likely died out in the male Shirley line* 3(iii). Mary Shirley born April 2, 1820 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME, age 21 (sic) in family's 1850 census household. 3(iv). Arthur Shirley Jr. born Dec 30, 1822 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME; He died 5 March 1844 at Portland, Cumberland Co ME, age about 21.
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