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 This Lineage Page Last Reviewed and
Updated November 2020
John Ambrose Shirley was born 10 September
1770. John was a farmer and a carpenter. The traditional family
story is that after a family problem of some sort, John left
the home of his parents and took off on his own. His parents
are unknown to us at this time. By 1797 John Shirley (and
a man named Philemon Shirley) were listed on the tax records
of Mason Co. Kentucky They apparently settled in that part of
Mason Co. which in 1807 was to become Lewis Co. John Shirley
was enumerated in Lewis Co KY in the 1810 census, age 16-26 (sic)
In 1811 John was listed as a Justice of the peace in Lewis Co..
On June 28, 1813 John granted Power of Attorney to one Reuben
Pollard of Ohio to assist in acquiring John's share of his father's
estate. This document is recorded in the deed book of Lewis Co.
Kentucky. John Shirley and family were last taxed in Lewis Co
KY in 1817. The family moved to Indiana between that time and
1820 when he was enumerated in Fayette Co IN in the 1820 census,
age 45+, married with 7 male children and 1 female child in the
household; In 1827 the Shirley family settled on virgin land
about 13 miles from Indianapolis which then was nothing more
than a village. John took land in Madison Co. which in 1828 was
to become Hancock Co. Indiana. He was enumerated in the 1830
census residing at Sugar Creek Township, Hancock Co IN along
with sons George and Ambrose Shirley; One history of Hancock
Co. states that amongst the first settlers was John Shirley of
Kentucky. He died
9 October 1843 Marshall Co. Indiana. Buried McElrath Cemetery,
Marshall Co IN
1797 Mason Co
KY Tax List
John Shearley [no land taxed] white males +21: 1; wm +
16: 0
Philemon Shearly [no land taxed] white males +21: 1; wm + 16:
0 (is this John's father, brother?)
1810 Lewis
Co KY Census - John Shirley 21100 - 10100 - 00 (age 16-26, b
1784-94, sic)
1820 Fayette
Co IN Census - John Shirley 411101-01010 (age 45+ b bef 1775,
also adult son Ambrose in census)
1830 Hancock
Co IN Census - John Shirley 0121000100000 - 0000001000000 (age
50-60, b 1770-80)
married Elizabeth
Danner (or
Braxton? or John may have been married twice, both named Elizabeth)
in Marietta, Washington County Ohio Territory in 1797 according
to tradition. She was born in PA She died May 1846, buried McElrath
Cemetery, Marshall Co IN.
Family Lore:
Elizabeth Danner was born about the year 1783 in Pennsylvania.
She died in Marshall county IN. Elizabeth was the daughter of
George Danner who is thought to be the immigrant ancestor of
this branch of the family. George was reportedly born in the
Rhineland in time to participate in the French and Indian War.
It is said the family came from Pennsylvania to Marietta Ohio
area around 1789 about a year after the original settlement
of the town. John Ambrose Shirley was about 13 years older than
Elizabeth who was about 15 when she married John Ambrose. They
eloped since the parents objected to the marriage.
children:
1(i). Ambrose
Sheppard Shirley
born
12 December 1798 KY; Enumerated in Columbia Twp Fayette Co IN
in 1820 along with father John Shirley, age 16-26, married with
1 young daughter in the household; Ambrose was a carpenter, a
farmer and later became a Justice of the Peace for almost 50
years. He died 5 November 1877 at Le Claire, Iowa. Shirleys of Le Claire
and Scott Iowa
married 1)
Philena Perrin
on 24 June 1819 in Fayette Co. Indiana. She was born 23 July
1801 Cedar Co. and was the daughter of John Perrin
and his wife, Hephzibah Williams. John Perrin was a native of
Rehoboth MA. and the 7th generation to have lived there. He and
his family moved to Scott Co. Iowa about 1840. She died 19 Jan
1848
married 2)
Elizabeth Lamer
on 9 May 1849 Scott Co. Iowa.
1(ii). Philemon
William Shirley born 29 April
1803. He was living in Marion Co IN in 1828 when he was granted
110 acres in that county. He lived in Warren Township in Marion
Co IN in 1840 census. He lived in Marshall Co IN in 1850 census
and Green Township,. Marshall Co IN in 1860. He died 31 December
1866 Marshall Co. IN.
married 1) Mary Callen in 1828 in Fayette Co. IN (name
identified in son Clark's marriage record)
married 2) Hannah Silvey on 2 April 1854. She was widowed and living alone with
all of the Shirley minor children in 1870 census for Green Township,
Marshall Co IN
1(iii). George
Benjamin Shirley born about 1807 (census).
Married in Hancock Co IN in 1829; He was enumerated along with
father Ambrose Shirley and brother John Shirley at Sugar Creek
Twp Hancock Co IN in 1830 census, age 20-30, married with 2 young
daughters age 0-5; Not found in 1840 census as yet; He
lived in Hancock Co. IN in 1850 census age 43 born Ohio with
only his youngest children in the household. He died about 1858.
married 1)
Fanny Crump
on 8 July 1829 in Hancock Co IN. They were married by his father
Ambrose Shirley J.P. Theirs was supposedly the first marriage
in Buck Creek Township.
married 2)
Matilda Ruby/Ruley
on 18 May 1847 in Hancock Co IN. She was age 25 in husband's
1850 census household; She remarried to Samuel Bolander on 14
April 1860 in Hancock Co IN. They were enumerated in Marion Co
IN along with her youngest Shirley children later that same year
in 1860
children: (source for these elder
children?)
2(i). Nancy Shirley
born about 1829 Hancock Co. IN She married George W. Burch on
17 October 1848 in Marshall Co. IN. (thus she is independent
and not surnamed Shirley in 1850 census)
2(ii). Louisa Shirley
She married James J. Corbaley on 2 April 1857 in Marshall Co.
IN
She is likely
the Louisa Shirley, age 17 (b 1833) who is enumerated with Reuben
F Shirley and wife, he then age 30 (would be her uncle) in Marshall
Co IN in 1850 census
2(iii). Tabitha Shirley not
found as yet in 1850 census
2(iv). Mary Shirley not
found as yet in 1850 census
2(v). Susan Shirley not
found as yet in 1850 census
Same? A Susan Shirley, dau of Geo
Shirley was born in Indiana on 29 November 1843, died 25 February
1920 at Orland, Glenn Co California, wife of Wm F Nelson
Note: A researcher of Mary Elizabeth
Rolfe (b IN, d CA) has hints that MER's mother is a Shirley,
"cousins" linked to the above Susan Shirley and to
the above Nancy Shirley Burch. Contact the Shirley Association
if you have information to help
2(vi). John Shirley not
found as yet in 1850 census
2(vii). Catherine
Elizabeth Shirley born
about 1848 IN, age 2 in family's 1850 census household, age 13
in the 1860 Bolander household
2(viii). George Washington Shirley
born 10 May 1849 IN, age 0 in family's 1850 census household,
age 10 in widowed mother's 1860 Bolander household; Enumerated
in Adams Twp, Hamilton Co IN in 1910 census, with wife Sarah
and daughter Goldie; George and Sarah Jane Sherley lived
most of their lives in or about Sheridan, Hamilton County, IN.
He died 23 July 1917 in IN; They
are buried in Sheridan, head to head using a common headstone.
Obituary snippet: "...When George
was about 7 years old his father called him to his bedside and
putting his hand on his head and said to him "George be
a good boy, I must leave you" and died soon..."
(source for photo: Findagrave)
married Sarah Jane Place in Clinton County, IN in 1871.
(b. Sept. 5, 1853 in OH, d. Dec. 13, 1928 in IN)
children: (10, of which 6 lived)
3(i). Noah Shirley born 26 February 1874 IN (source
WWI draft) He lived at Pleasant Grant Co IN in 1910 census; Moved
to Jay Co IN in 1920 census; He died 1941, buried at Marion Grant
Co IN at Fletcher Chapel Cemetery, age 67 see photo above
married Mary Tharp (widow); She had several Tharp children
who lived with Noah and Mary see photo above
children: (Shirley)
4(i). Versie Shirley born about 1903 IN, age 7 in 1910
census see photo above
4(ii). Lola Neva Shirley born about 1905 IN, age 5
in 1910 census see photo above
4(iii). Wiley Shirley born about 1906 IN, age 4 in
1910 census see photo above
4(iv). Oscar Shirley born about 1909 IN, age 1 in 1910
census see photo above
4(v). Eadeth Shirley born about 1912 IN, age 8 in 1920
census
3(ii). Walter C Shirley
3(iii). Charles Edman Shirley born 21 July 1885 at
Boone Co IN (source: marriage, parents named)
married Cellia Myrtle Mann on 9 June 1905 at Hamilton
Co IN
3(iv). Bertha C. Shirley born 13 September 1888 in
Missouri (source: marriage, parents named); She married
Lewis A Clark on 1 August 1908 at Boxley Hamilton Co IN see
photo above
3(v). William Frank Shirley born 10 August 1891 in
Missouri (source: marriage, his parents named)
married Zella Applegate on 19 April 1911 at Hamilton
Co IN
3(vi). Goldie Shirley born 20 July 1895 (supposedly
in Missouri). She married Mitchell Summitt on 14 May 1912 at
Sheridan Hamilton Co IN (parents named) See photo above
2(ix). Phoebe
Shirley born
about 1858, age 2 in widowed mother's 1860 Bolander household
1(iv). Tabitha Shirley,
May 19, 1808 Lewis Co. KY. She married Jacob Laurence Payne in
1828 in Marion Co. IN. Children born in Monroe Co IN.
1(v). John
Alexander Shirley
born 24 June 1812 in Lewis Co. KY. He died 28 August 1864
of erysipelas. Buried Ganshorn Cem, Bourbon Marshall Co IN.
married 1)
Lydia Blakely
married 2)
Martha Cormican
in 1849 in Marshall Co. IN.
1(vi). Samuel
Newton Shirley
born 1814 Lewis Co. KY. They lived in Johnson Co. MO. Samuel
spent his early boyhood in and around the territory now known
as Columbia Township in Fayette Co. Indiana. In 1827 the family
moved on west, settling in the area surrounding the future town
of Cumberland Indiana, on the county line between Hancock and
Marion Counties of Indiana. John Shirley located on the
Hancock County side. Samuel Newton Shirley was married by 1850
census, but was absent from his family in that year's enumeration;
Lived in Johnson Co. MO in 1860 census, age 45, occupation: farmer;
Enumerated in Jackson Co MO in 1870 census, age 55
Samuel Newton Shirley
married Elizabeth
White
on 24 December 1845 in Marshall Co. Indiana. She is probably
the daughter of Isaac White who was a neighbor of the Shirley
family. Elizabeth was born in Ohio. Her father was a native of
Pennsylvania and her mother of Massachusetts. Hannah White, wife
of Isaac White in 1850, was a native of New Jersey.
1(vii). William
Braxton Shirley born 10 March 1816 Lewis
Co. KY. William died April 1887 from smoke and fire inhalation,
and burns suffered during a fire that swept the prairie near
Norcatur Kansas. He lived only 6 miles away. His profession was
that of a minister. He lived several places. ..Marshall Co. IN,
Maclean Co. and Richland Co. Illinois, then to Decatur Co. Kansas
in 1881. He also was called upon for doctoring such things as
arthritis, setting bones, coughs and fevers.
married 1)
Eleanor Blakely
in 1837 in Marshall Co. IN
married 2)
Rose Ann Gray
on 14 December 1847.
1(viii). Reuben
Franklin "Frank" Shirley born
21 August 1820 Fayette Co. IN, died 1906 Rockfalls, Whiteside
Co. Illinois, In 1864 Reuben and Jane moved to Lee Co. Illinois
where they purchased a 240 acre farm. IN 1867 they moved into
Whiteside Co. where they purchased an 80 acre farm on the Dixon
Road east of Rock Falls. they sold this in 1876 to their son,
Samuel, and purchased a half block in Arey's Addition on Rock
Falls, erecting a home in which they were still living in 1885.
married Jane
Thompson on
2 June 1842 Marshall Co. IN
1(ix). Levi Shirley died about age 2 years
1(x). Levin Shirley
died about age 2 years.
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John Ambrose Shirley