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Research on this family was performed by the Shirley Association
in July 2010 at the Morman Library in Salt Lake City. The genealogical
findings from that trip are presented below and have been found
to be consistent with some of the family story told by Arizona
(Zonie) Capps of Greenfield Illinois, grandaughter of John Shirley
(Branch #26) who in turn died
in 1855 in Morgan Co WV.
Also see this research
report (pdf) written by a descendant Joyce Nagley Unger,
Martinsburg,
West Virginia (age: in her 90s in 2011), who referenced Zonie
Capp's narrative but who also performed genealogical research
in the area courthouses etc. (caution: there are significant
unfounded claims in the early lineages, mostly explained below)
 Linked
orginal documents are available for viewing to members of the
Shirley Association.
The Shirley Family of Morgan County, West Virginia
Arizona Capps (nee Shirley), a grandaughter of John Shirley
of Morgan County WV has provided a very intriguing family history
of the Shirley family of Morgan West Virginia. She was born to
Henry Shirley on January 12, 1879 in Morgan County WV. It is
highly likely that the information she provides that is closer
to her lifetime is true, while the information she remembers
further back in time may be more prone to error and mis-information
transferred down through generations. But then again, the earlier
information may be true as well.
The grandaughter, Arizona Capps, writes from her recollection
that the family originated in England and immigrated to Massachussets
in 1731:
About the year 1731, there came three brothers from England;
William, John and Peter. William settled in Boston, Peter also
settled in Massachusetts. His descendants became the Shirley
"Suspender" kings.
At this time there is no documentary evidence to support this
part of Mrs Capps' story. Unfortunately, some family members
have subsequently taken this information to suggest that brother
William Shirley was indeed the famous William Shirley who was
the colonial governor of Massachusets in the 1750s. This is untrue.
The Governor's family is well documented in numerous books and
Phd theses. But there is no reason to doubt that another William
Shirley existed in early colonial Boston. In fact, there are
several William Shirleys living in that area in the late1700s.
Next, current research has yet to uncover any information about
any Shirleys as "suspender kings", but this may be
an interesting avenue for future research to pursue in helping
to provide additional confirmation of Mrs. Capps' story. If such
a Shirley family is found, then information on that distant Shirley
branch may provide a tremendous clue as to the origin of the
Morgan County, West Virginia Shirleys.(Update:
"Shirley Suspenders" it seems were named after the
town of Shirley in Massachussets, not after a person, so this
too is untrue)
Mrs Capps further traces her ancestry through one of the above
three brothers, namely John Shirley
John settled in Pennsylvania, afterwards came to Virginia,
where they became large land owners and planters. Someway in
PA. we became mixed up with the Dutch and traces of German blood
still flows in our veins.
She then adds:
Several generations passed and finally came to my great
grandfather who married a Miss Youngblood. That had three children---Peter,
John and Mary. Mary married Adam Stinebaude. Peter--I have forgotten.
Mrs Capps is clearly suggesting that several generations of
Shirleys lived in Virginia beginning with one of the three original
brothers, John Shirley. She suggests the migration occured prior
to the birth of her great-grandfather who she does not name,
but who apparently married a Miss Youngblood. There is no current
evidence to suggest that the Shirleys were in Virginia for that
length of time. In fact, Mrs Capps later writes that her grandfather
"migrated from York Pennsylvania about 1822 to 1826".
This assertion seems to contradict the idea the family moved
to Virginia generations earlier. Present day researchers claim
that Mrs Capps' great-grandfather is also named John Shirley,
but Mrs Capps is not asserting that name in her story, only that
he married a Miss Youngblood. It seems the problem lies in Mrs
Capps' statement "Several generations passed..." If
this statement is removed then the story becomes clearer and
potentially substantiated by historical records. Then we are
left with: John Shirley who married a Miss Youngblood, possibly
in York County Pennsylvania, moved his family consisting of children
Peter, John and Mary to Virginia.
Shirley family in York Pennsylvania
Confirming Mrs Capps' story, a Shirley family is indeed briefly
found in York County PA historical records. A Charles Shirley
is found in the Newberry Township tax records in 1783 owning
100 acres of land. His household included 7 inhabitants. He is
possibly the same Charles Shirley who is found immediately prior
to his appearance in York PA in nearby Northumberland County
records. Between 1778 and 1783, Charles is listed in Northumberland
County as a "Ranger on the Frontier" in the company
of John Fosters (PA Archives Ser 3, vol 23 pg 351). These rangers
protected the Pennsylvania frontier during the American Revolution
against attacks by the Iroquois Nation. A check of tax, land
and probate records of Northumberland County fails to find any
additional information on any Shirleys in that county. The connection
of this Charles Shirley with the Shirleys who later lived in
Morgan West Virginia is not known, but he may be a close relative
or indeed a parent.
The York County historical record skips to 1792 when a Sarah
Shirley is brought before the court on charges of fornication
(See
Quarter Session, Bk 15 page 150 and (Quarter
Session Bk 15 page 161) .
A John Shirley - who may either be Mrs Capps' great-grandfather
(who she says married Miss Youngblood), or her grandfather of
the same name - is called into the York County Quarter Sessions
court in the same year as Sarah Shirley to give evidence for
or against a man named Abraham Ward. Ward is accused of stealing
a linen shirt and gun from George and Ludowick Keister (See
Quarter Sessions, Bk 15, page).
York County tax records yields some very interesting findings.
Charles Shirley once again appears in Newberry Township tax records
during this period in 1793. He is the only Shirley in that year's
record. Charles is listed as having an occupation in "trade"
and is taxed on this un-named trade as well as on his 2 cows.
He is not taxed for any land owned, a fact likely explained by
his occupation as a merchant. John Shirley appears with Charles
Shirley in two separate Newberry tax lists the following year
(See
York Tax Records, Newberry Twp 1795). The second tax list
for 1795 again says that Charles is engaged in "trade"
and is not taxed owning any land. John Shirley is listed in the
record but is not taxed for owning anything (land, horses, cattle
etc). The record provides a very important clue here - John is
listed as "single" (See
York Tax Records, Newberry Twp 1795, person #284). In the
same year, York County Quarter Sessions charges John Shirley
a fee to operate his tavern (Quarter Sessions, June 1795, pg
48). So apparently, John is a merchant as well.
Neither John nor Charles Shirley are enumerated in the next
available tax list in 1797. Nor do any Shirleys appear in subsequent
tax lists through 1804. Apparently, the family either has nothing
to tax after 1795 or they have moved. However, Charles Shirley
re-appears in Newberry Township tax lists beginning in 1805,
taxed only for his 1 cow. He "removed out of the county"
according to the next years' tax list and no longer appears in
the record after that. It is clear that the absence of Shirleys
in the York County land records is explained by their apparent
occupation in the "trade". In those days, the "trade"
did not indicate a person being a traveling peddler but someone
who operated out of a fixed location, such as a tavern or general
store. Shirleys were not farmers so they did not buy or sell
any land and don't appear in deed records.
During this era, John Shirley (Mrs Capps' grandfather) and
his brother Peter Shirley are born. These are the children Mrs
Capps claims to be the sons of her great-grandfather and her
grandmother, Mrs Youngblood. According to Mrs Capps, John was
born in York County PA. Later census records for this John Shirley
suggests he was born about 1778. John's brother Peter Shirley
(Branch #27) appears in later
census and these records suggest he was born about 1794. A marriage
record for this Peter Shirley in Morgan County WV in 1868 lists
his place of birth also as York County, Pennsylvania (See
Morgan WV Register of Marriages, Entry #157, page 8).
To keep things straight, we might suggest a family tree at
this point combining Mrs Capps recollection with the emerging
documentary evidence.
Mrs Capps states that John's sister Mary Shirley married an
Adam "Steinbaud" (Mary would have been Mrs Capps' great-aunt).
As possible confirmation of Mrs Capps' memory, we find an 1829
Morgan County record (Minute Book 1829, pg 381, 416) for John
Shirley being ordered to act as guardian to the children of Jacob
Steinbaugh, dec'd. According to some online Steinbaugh sources,
this Jacob Steinbaugh (or Steinbaud) was the son of an Adam Steinbaud
of York County PA. If true, John Shirley would have been acting
as guardian to the children of his nephew Jacob.
It is clear through confirmation from several independent
sources that the Shirley family of Morgan County WV did indeed
originate from York County Pennsylvania.
Migration to Virginia
Mrs Capps describes the Shirley family migration from Pennsylvania
to Virginia as follows.
Grandfather [John] Shirley and his wife came I believe,
from the vicinity of York PA. about 1822-26. He bought a large
amount of land near Siler VA known as Timber Ridge district about
14 miles south of Berkeley Springs Morgan Co., then Virginia.
John Shirley did indeed buy land from Lewis McCool in Morgan
County, Virginia in the Timber Ridge district on the North Fork
of Sleepy Creek in 1822. This area was still in Virginia since
West Virginia was not formed until 1861. (See
Morgan WV DB1 pg224 and
pg225).
Contrary
to Mrs Capps' story, the family apparently moved to Virginia
earlier than 1822. The first sighting of members of this family
is in nearby Frederick County VA. John Shirely appears on the
1814 Frederick Co "B" tax list with 1 white male and
3 horses (See
Frederick VA Personal Prop. Tax List for 1814). John is again listed
in 1815, but spelled as "Shively". He appears again
on the next "B" tax list in 1816 as "Shirely".
It may be important to mention at this point that throughout
the years, either in early York PA records, or in Frederick VA,
or Berkeley and Morgan Counties WV, the family consistently appeared
in early public records using the spelling of their surname as
"Shirely" and not "Shirley".
John Shirley (or Shirely) next appears in the Berkeley Virginia
(later West Virginia) tax records in 1816 - in other words, he
appears in both Frederick and Berkeley tax records in 1816. Since
John fails to appear in Frederick tax records after 1816, it
is believed that we are not dealing with two separate persons,
just an issue of timing. He does not appear on any Berkeley tax
record prior to 1816 either. John Shirely is taxed on the "B"
tax list again with 1 white male and 3 horses. But more interesting
is the appearance of a Daniel Shirely in the same Berkeley County
list taxed only with 1 white male (over the age of 16) and no
horses, cattle or land (See
Berkeley WV Personal Property Tax List for 1816). John appears in subsequent
tax lists through 1819 living in a district "West of the
North Mountains". However, Daniel only appears in the 1819
list with 1 white male and no other taxable possessions. After
that date, they are both gone from most Berkeley records.
Who is this Daniel Shirley? In short, he is very likely another
brother to John and Peter Shirley. His absence from Mrs Capps
recollection can easily be explained. Daniel Shirley (Branch
#28) and his family moved from Morgan County West Virginia
to Ohio about 1835, well before Mrs Capps was born in 1879. Daniel's
relationship to Peter Shirley (and then to John Shirley) can
be confirmed by the matched DNA results for descendants of these
two families (See E1b1b1
DNA haplotype)
The Shirley family settles in Morgan County WV
John Shirley (and Daniel Shirley) are not found in subsequent
Berkeley County tax records after 1819 undoubtedly because Morgan
County was formed from Berkeley County in 1820. The new county
including the lands settled by the Shirleys. The boundary moved,
not the Shirleys.
John Shirely is immediately taxed for his personal property
in Sam Robinson's district in 1820 Morgan County. Again, 1 white
male and 3 horses. (See
1820 Morgan County WV Personal Property Tax List, 1st leaf and list
naming John Shirely).
In 1821 he and Daniel appear in the tax record through 1825 when
in that year their brother Peter "Shirely" joins them.
Peter would have been about 31 years old at the time and just
married to Elizabeth Zeilor, daughter of Peter Zeiler. The marriage
occured on Apr 21 1823 in next door Frederick County. It is not
known where Peter was living prior to this time. John and Peter
"Shirely" continue to appear on Morgan Co tax lists
each year for the next two decades. However, Daniel Shirley's
last appearance on the lists is in 1835 presumably when he moved
his family to Ohio and then on to Iowa.
Daniel Shirley does not appear to have ever owned land in
Morgan County between 1820 and his departure for Ohio in 1835.
He is only found in various public court (and tax) records during
that period. There is a curious record found in the 1819, Berkeley
County court records. The "Overseers of the Poor" filed
a suit in ordinary court against Daniel (Berkeley Co Minute Book
for 12 July 1819 p 282) but it only states that Daniel did not
appear in court and that his recognizance was discharged. Typically
the only reason the Overseers of the Poor filed suit against
someone was for fathering a child out of wedlock. Overseers were
charged with protecting the county from the costs associated
with a child that would likely in their opinion be a financial
burden on the county. Records prior to and after this 1819 minute
book entry unfortunately do not provide any further details.
Mrs Capps does not provide any information about brother Peter
Shirley "Peter--I have forgotten", but in addition
to his appearance on annual Morgan County tax lists, he may be
the Peter Shirley who appeared in several Morgan County deed
records beginning in 1849. However, John Shirley's own son Peter
was born about 1823 and would be old enough to purchase land
in 1849 - so at this point, It's not known which Peter appears
in those deed records. Peter Shirley "Senr" who accepts
items for collateral for a debt from a John Shirley "Junior"
in 1852 is clearly the elder Peter. (See
Morgan WV DB6 p310).
The identity of John Shirley "Junior" in this record
is uncertain but intriguing. Peter Shirley Sr's own son John
is not born until 1841, so maybe this record is referring to
John Shirley (who married Christiana Yost) as "Junior"!
Naming someone as junior in public records usually means another
person of the same name, but older, is also living in the area.
The only elder John Shirley in the area is indeed the person
who married Christiana Yost and who died in Morgan County in
1855.
John Shirley raised a large family in Morgan County. Mrs Capps
provides the following information that includes the maiden name
of her grandmother and the names of her father's brothers and
sisters:
John Shirley married Christiana Youst. Five sons and two
daughters were born to my grandparents. Peter, Henry, John, Daniel,
Elijah (Aley), Lydia and Bettie. They all married into VA families
and settled close to grandfather Shirley.
John Shirley did indeed marry Chistiana Yost although the
actual marriage record has not been found. The marriage however
is proven by a Morgan County deed granted by John and Christina
Shirley and Peter and Ann Yost. The heirs sold land on Sleepy
Creek that they inherited from their father Charles Yost. The
deed was recorded in 1852 (See
Morgan WV DB6 pg143)
John Shirley appears in several Morgan County deeds and court
records over his lifetime including the order of guardianship
for the children of Jacob Steinbaugh mentioned earlier. John
Shirley died in Morgan County in 1855. Mrs Capps states:
He died in 1855, leaving a large estate for those days,
and along with his wife, who died shortly afterward, are buried
in the Shirley cemetery on the homeplace. I think all my aunts
and uncles were married by 1845.
On the 14th of June 1856, the children and heirs of John Shirley,
dec'd sold 208 acres of land to William Young (See
Morgan WV DB7 pg243 and
pg244). The
land was purchased by their father from Lewis McCool, executor
of John McCool's estate in 1822. Mrs Capps' list of her aunts
and uncles is the same as the following list of children identified
in the deed as follows:
Heirs of John Shirley, dec'd, selling land to William Young
Daniel and Mary (Hovermale) Shirley
John and Mary (Catlett) Shirley
Peter and Elizabeth (Webber) Shirley
Henry and Lydia (Shirley) Hovermale
Henry and Hester Ann (Finch) Shirley
Elijah and Christina (Shade) Shirley
Elizabeth (Shirley) Young, wife of William Young was also
identified as an heir and "devisee" of John Shirley,
dec'd.
A revised Shirley family tree of Morgan County, West Virginia
might look like this:
The accounts of the estate of John Shirley, dec'd were recorded
in Morgan County in 1857 (See
Morgan WV Wills and Estates, 1857, pg 46 and pg
154).
A James McIntyre was appointed administrator of the estate. Items
in the published accounts include $6.50 paid to Geo. Rizer for
making a coffin and $7.50 paid to Dr Bohres for medical bills.
Arizona Capps further outlines the history of her family,
beginning with the story of her father Henry Shirley, son of
John Shirley,dec'd.
A family by the name of Finch lived about ten miles away
from grandfather Shirley. The way we children figured it was
that grandfather Finch was looking for a wealthy man for his
daughter. I do not think my father (Henry) knew of their scheme.
One day, John Finch and his daughter, Hester Ann, later to be
my fathers wife, called and paid grandfather Shirley a visit.
They stayed all night. When they arrived, my father was out hunting.
He came home with rabbit hairs all over his clothes. After he
had cleaned up, he and my mother (after the old folks had gone
to bed), stayed up and had a talk. They called it sparking. He
said that as soon as he saw Miss Finch, he knew that he wanted
her for his wife. When they left it was agreed between them that
he would call on her in two weeks.
The courtship ran smoothly. My father thought that all
was fair in love and war and he was determined to have her at
any cost. My grandfather was anxious for the wedding but, as
time drew near (it was set for May 1844), he was in New York.
You had to be twenty-one years old to get married without the
consent of your father. since that was impossible, they decided
to go over to PA.
In the evening before the wedding, my father sent three
riding horses for my mother, her sister and brother to fetch
them to grandfather Shirley's to join the rest of the wedding
party for the trip over to Yeridetown, PA where there was no
marriage license required.
They left Grandfather Shirley's in the evening; riding
horseback. There were eight men and two women. Grandfather Shirley
and my mother rode in front, Uncle Jesse and Aunt Nancy Finch
came next and the Shirley men and in-laws brought up the rear.
The rode all night and upon arrival, went to the hotel to change
into their wedding clothes. My mother's gown was white goods
made very long with ruffles from the bottom of the skirt up to
the neck. The veil was green; draped over her head and it hung
down her shoulders and fastened with the comb. My father was
dressed in a black suit, low cut with one or two buttons at the
bottom, (velvet or plush), along with a Prince Albert coat and
a tall stove pipe hat. They sent for the minister and were married
at the hotel, then started on the long rip back home to VA.
For the "infair" at Grandfather Shirley's, the
guests came from far and near. Two long tables were set up in
the dining room. My aunts and grandmother Shirley did the honors.
The guests stayed all night, departing the next day. It was considered
a very brilliant affair for those days. They had decided before
the wedding to make their home with Grandfather Shirley.
My father was what is known today as grandfather's private
secretary. After Grandfather Shirley died in 1855, my aunts and
uncles divided the large estate among themselves, selling what
they did not want. My father, Henry, inherited the homeplace.
Grandfather did very suddenly but, two days before he died
he had a gallon bucket filled with silver and gold coins. This
was never found, but we children always suspected that he had
buried it.
In the year 1859, father was called to help capture John
Brown. Father was not at the capture when John Brown was taken
at Harpers Ferry but was stationed at Sir John's Run, several
miles in distance. (This is very near Berkeley Springs West Virginia).
Rumors of war were being circulated and the South was making
great preparations to break away from the Union. Grandfather
Shirley, before his death, had set all his slaves free and my
mother made my father promise that he would never own a slave
or play a violin before she married him.
From 1855 to 1861 they followed their usual vocations.
Early in 1861 the South began to call for volunteers.Father went
to Winchester Virginia and enlisted in the 89th regiment of the
Confederate State Militia. The breast works and trances which
he helped to throw up can be viewed today in Winchester. He hired
a substitute for two months in later 1861 so he could come home
and look after mother and the children. He sold off all the livestock
except my mother's riding horse and one cow which. he kept in
the cellar of our home.
One day he went over to a place about a mile from our house
called Phillip Boarden's and the Yankee soldiers took him prisoner
to Camp Chase, Sandusky Ohio. His grandson, Gerald, had the distinction
of camping on the same site during World War I. I don't know
how long he was a prisoner at Camp Chase but he was transferred
to Johnson's Island in Lake Erie, near the Canadian border.
Mother sent a man to Sandusky Ohio but, father had already
been transferred before he got there. He, being over the age
of forty-five, mother thought he would be released. In the meantime,
General Stonewall Jackson was camped within a mile of our house
with an army of over one thousand men. General Jackson boarded
at a neighbor's house--Mr. Squire Unger. Squires in those days
were under the impression that they were just about as high as
the president, so-- one morning at breakfast Squire Unger asked
General Stonewall Jackson, "General, I understand you are
soon breaking camp". "yes" replied the General.
"May I inquire where you are going?" "Can you
keep a secret?" asked the General. "Yes" said
the Squire. "then so can I" replied Gen. Jackson.
Mother obtained an interview with General Jackson through
the Squire. this talk concerned the release of my father and
the General told her that General Robert E.Lee was in a better
position to help her than he was and he gave her the necessary
papers to take her to his headquarters in the Shenandoah Valley.
She and father's brother, Aley (Elijah), arrived there and were
conducted to General Lee's. Uncle Aley was not allowed to pass
the outer sentry. She delivered a sealed document to General
Lee and he asked her name along with other questions pertaining
to her family and where she lived. She ate breakfast with General
Lee and he promised to do all he could to obtain father's release.
My mother often spoke of General Lee with the greatest respect
as to his being such a mild, kind southern gentleman. He gave
her passes to take them back through the sentry lines to travel
the long way back to their home. On arrival home, she settled
down to watchful waiting.
She had to go to PA to buy coffee at $1.00 per pound, calico
yardage at $1.00 per yard and everything else in proportion.
The south raising nothing, suffered more than history has ever
told. No crop planted or nothing raised. Soldiers of both armies
took whatever they found and the residents were left with nothing.
Time went by and mother went to visit my grandmother Finch
at Fredericktown VA, about ten miles away. During the time father
was imprisoned, mother kept a housekeeper and her four children.
She took two of them with her and left two with the housekeeper.
She and these two children contracted scarlet fever on this trip.
No doctors or medical treatment within miles, the youngest, a
boy, died. His father never saw him.
Father traveled by foot, train, and boat to Vicksburg,
Mississippi where he was to be exchanged for five northern prisoners.
He then traveled to General Jackson's headquarters where he was
given an honorable discharge written on parchment pager with
a goose quill pen. When he went before the General, he was asked
his age, where lived and other questions to ascertain he had
the right man. The General said, "soldier, I was camped
within a mile of your house. You are free to go home now".
Give me a pass and I will do so" said father. Along with
this the General handed him a five dollar bill. "How will
I return this to you"? General Jackson replied, "If
you ever see me again, you can pay me back and if you don't"--he
waved his hand.
Father then started on the long journey home. While he
was on the boat to Vicksburg, a soldier pointed to a house saying,
"See that house over there? My family lives there".
When the guard was at the other end of the boat, the soldier
slipped over the side. Father could just see his head above the
water. Another incident occurred while father was on picket (guard)
duty. He had sat down by a tree and fallen asleep with his gun
resting between his knees. He awoke to find a Yankee soldier
taking his gun. He was badly scared and cried "Oh, Oh, whet
do you want/". Give me a plug of tobacco, soldier".
Father handed him a plug and said "keep it all". The
Yankee broke off a piece and handed it back to him along with
his gun and disappeared.
After father returned home from the camp where he was discharged,
the old south disappeared and things were changed. He was very
discouraged and then decided to go to Illinois, where the money
would be on the trees. This was in 1872. He rented out his land
in VA and he, mother and six children ended up in Greenfield
Illinois about Sept 1, 1872. He went to farming immediately but,
all to soon got homesick for Virginia.
After two years, he decided to return home. Father had
some nice horses which he wanted to keep and he decided to return
by wagon train. All thought this would be great sport, which
it was. They had two covered wagons, a spring wagon and a lumber
wagon. They traveled slowly and visited many places of interest
on the way. When they stopped in or near a town, father would
go to the authorities and explain so that we would not be taken
for gypsies or horse thieves. The journey was happy with nothing
happening to mar the pleasure. They encountered several aqueducts,
toll gates and canals.The arrived home sagely in VA Sept 1874.
They found the south in about the same condition so, in 1880
father sold his land and the family returned to Greenfield Illinois
where he took up farming along with school teaching.
In 1884, he moved to the city of Carrollton Illinois. He
then went to the Dave Wright farm north of the city and resumed
farming until 1893, when he retired and moved back to Carrollton.
Between 1855 and 1877 there were ten children born to mother
and father. All were born in Virginia. Two died, girls 4 and
a boy 1. They were buried in Virginia. The other eight lived
to maturity.
William never married.
Henry Alexander Wise m. Clara Garner (Kane, Ill).
Lydia m. Ananias Spiker (Virginia)
Catherine m. John Dawson (Virginia)
Betty m. William H. Cross (Virginia)
Jesse m. Wade Purcell of St. Louis MO
Zonie m. Charles C. Capps of Greenfield Ill. (She is
the writer of the Shirley family history)
Virginia, never married.
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Research: Shirley Family of
