In 1770, John Shirley Jr (thus John Shirley the elder still
living) first appeared independently in legal documents as a
witness to a pre-nuptual agreement bettween Chichester Curtis
and Lettice Thorton in Prince William County. On 11 July 1773,
John Shirley (i.e. Junior) was baptised at the Broad Run Baptist
Church in neighboring Fauquier County VA. He would have been
approximately 24 to 29 years old in that year and likely married.
His wife Elizabeth Shirley, the daughter of George Barmore, was
baptised at Broad Run Church a month later on 13 August 1773.
John and Elizabeth's precise date of marriage is unknown, however,
their first child John Shirley Jr was born about 1767. The couple
would ultimately have 12 children, with the last child Polly
being born in South Carolina on 14 August 1789.
John Shirley (the younger) moved to neighboring Fauquier County
in the early 1770s. On 3 May 1771, John Shirley "of Fauquier
County" purchased 160 acres [sic] of land in that county
from the executors of the estate of Charles Carter, esq. The
land was located in the Kettle Run tract in Hamilton Parish,
"near the road at the end of Neavils old meadow in George
Steels line" (Fau. Co DB 4 pg 36). This property was located
near the Prince William Co line and just south of the line separating
Leeds Parish from Hamilton Parish. John Shirley next appeared
on the county's rent roll as well as a list of tithables in 1777.
He was taxed owning 150 acres of land in that county. The 1778
rent roll for Fauquier County showed that John Shirley was employed
as an overseer on a plantation owned by John Green. John Green's
property was also taxed for 9 slaves. John Shirley was once again
taxed in 1780 for 150 acres. The 'tax after quit rent' was 0/14/3.
In the Fauquier County Tax List for 1782, he was tithable for
himself alone, owning 4 horses, 13 cattle and 1 slave. In the
1783 tax list, he owned one more horse and one more cow than
the year before. In 1784, he was still only tithable for 1 free
white male (thus his eldest son John Jr was not yet age 16),
6 horses, 18 cattle and 1 slave. His quit rent tax for his 150
acres that year was 0/19/3. In 1784, John Shirley and his wife
Elizabeth sold their 150 acres of land in Fauquier County Virginia
to their neighbor, Samuel Steel. Several members of the extended
Shirley family were noted in the Broad Run Baptist Church minutes
as having "moved South" in October 1783. Although no
similar notation is made next to John Shirley's name in the members'
roll, it is likely he and his wife Elizabeth departed for South
Carolina at about the same time. The 1785 Fauquier Co VA tax
list does not show John Shirley tithable or taxable, thus the
family likely immediately departed for South Carolina.
The many related Shirley families began arriving in Northwest
South Carolina about 1783-1784 when numerous land patents and
land surveys were issued for them in that year. John Shirley
entered 200 acres of land on Chickasaw Creek as well as another
200 acres on Long Cane Creek in Ninety-Six District. This land
would later become part of Abbeville County. Many members of
the newly arrived Shirley family were founding members of the
nearby Turkey Creek Baptist Church, headed by the notable preacher
Rev. Joseph Redding. On 12 February 1785 John and his wife Elizabeth
Shirley and Luke Hanks and wife Nancy - the latter family also
former members of Broad Run church in Fauquier County Virginia
- were each received into the church by letter. John Shirley
frequently appeared in church minutes throughout the 1790s being
appointed for various tasks and for making reports to the congregation.
On 11 January 1793 John Shirley and others were appointed to
meet with a woman named Anne Delp to find out why she was not
attending church. On 1 February 1797, John Shirley and Nimrod
Smith were appointed to "cut the pulpit lower" as part
of renovations being carried out to the Turkey Creek Church meeting
house.
John Shirley Sr. and John Shirley Jr. his son were each listed
in the 1787 tax rolls for the Ninety-Six District. Three years
later John Shirley Sr was enumerated in the 1790 US Federal Census
for Ninety-Six District South Carolina. His very large household
contained 6 males over the age of 16 (including the father John),
4 males under age 16, and 6 females of all ages (including wife
Elizabeth). The census did not enumerate any owned slaves in
the household.
In 1795, Pendleton District, land that would later become
Anderson County South Carolina, was removed from the Ninety-Six
District. After that date, John Shirley appeared regularly in
Pendleton District records. Thus John Shirley's land was very
likely orignally located in that portion of the Ninety-Six District.
Although on 25 December 1797, John Shirley 'of Abbeville County'
purchased 589 acres as well as an additional 88 acres and 15
acres on the waters of the Litte River of the Savannah River
from John Grissom Sr of Pendleton District (Pendleton Dist DB
C page 399).
John Shirley was next enumerated in the 1800 US Federal Census
for Pendleton District South Carolina in Colonel Moore's Regiment,
District #626. Later on 18 March 1808, John Shirley Sr 'of Pendleton
District', then about age 60, sold 221 acres of land on the North
Side of Camp Creek to his son John Shirley Jr (Pendleton Dist
DB M page 212). The deed noted that this land was part of the
parcel of land John Shirley Sr earlier purchased from John Grisham
Sr [sic] in 1797. Elizabeth Shirley renounced her right of dower
6 years later on 22 January 1814 at the time the deed was finally
recorded at the Pendleton District courthouse. John Shirley signed
the deed, while his wife Elizabeth made her mark 'X'. John Shirley
made his last will and testament only several weeks after the
sale of land to his son John Jr. John Shirley Sr's will (Pendleton
Dist WB A, page 94) was dated 11 April 1808 and was probated
6 June 1808, thus he likely died in late April, early May of
1808.
On 6 August 1808, the estate of John Shirley, Sr dec'd: Nipper
Shirley, William Shirley, William Grubbs, husband of Rhoda Shirley,
Joshua Shirley, James Shirley, John Shirley Jun., Hezekiah Wakefield,
husband of Elizabeth Shirley, Robert Shirley and John Wakefield
Jun., husband of Sarah Shirley, all of Abbeville District and
all heirs of John Shirley Sr, dec'd sold to Samuel McKinney of
Abbeville District property formerly owned by John Shirley Sr.
dec'd viz a certain mill and appertenances situated on Little
River in Pendleton District, the mill dam as far as the water
mark on the west of said river together with a certain tract
of land containing 150 acres lying part in Pendlton District
and part in Abbeville District on the Litte River, beginning
on Barkers Creek, on Gowdy's, Hacklemans, Nathaniel Aldridge
Sr's land. The land being sold was originally part of a tract
granted to Aldridge. McKinney paid $684 for the mill and property.
All heirs signed the document. The sale was recorded in county
court on Jan 24, 1810, (Pendleton Co DB K page 51-52)
The place of burial for John Shirley Sr is unknown, but no
doubt in a cemetery near his home possibly at Turkey Creek Baptist
Church, or somewhere on his land located on the boundary between
present day Anderson County and Abbeville County South Carolina.
John Shirley's widow Elizabeth supposedly lived only five
years after the death of her husband. She supposedly died Aug
1, 1813. However, she appeared in court and made her mark on
a land sale, relinquishing her right of dower to that land on
22 January 1814. (The deed makes clear the seller is John Shirley
Sr who originally purchased the lot from John Grissom/Grisham
and that was done in the late 1790s by the John Shirley the elder
of this webpage. The deed was dated March 1808, thus before John
Shirley made out his will in April of that same year)
married Elizabeth Barmore born about 1743, died Aug 1, 1813, daughter of
George Barmore who was the father of one son, and three daughters.
Editor: John Shirley's widow Elizabeth
apparently lived only five years after the death of her husband.
Tradition states she died Aug 1, 1813. However, Elizabeth Shirley
appeared in court and made her mark on her husband's land sale
to their son John Shirley Jr on 22 January 1814. She made her
mark relinquishing her right of dower to that land. But note:
while the deed is clearly dated 1808, dower released by Eliz
Shirley wife of John Shirley (alive) in 22 Jan 1814, similar
deeds recorded adjacent has Elizabeth wife of John releasing
her dower again on Jan 1814, but the deeds are dated say Dec
1813, not 1808 - indicating the couple might be John Shirley
Jr and wife Elizabeth, not John Shirley Sr and wife Elizabeth?
Very confusing. What seems to have happened, Elizabeth wife of
John Shirley Jr simply signed dower release forms for every deed
being recorded by the clerk that day (several deeds recorded
at once). And the clerk mistakenly had her also release dower
for the 1808 deed. (John Jr cannot be John Sr since Jr did not
have a son named John)
Update Dec 2021 - The following
children were confirmed as brothers and sisters of Robert Shirley
in his 1854 estate record in Fayette Co AL
children:
1(i). John
Shirley, Jr. 1767 lived Anderson Co. S.C.,
died April 30, 1837. John Shirley was named brother of
Robert Shirley dec'd in his 1854 estate records in Fayette Co
AL; John and his 2nd wife are buried in the Little River Baptist
church cemetery.
married 1) Elizabeth______
married 2) Elizabeth Mitchell Grubbs. She was the widow
of Richard Grubbs.
1(ii). James Shirley
Sr born about 1769 VA. James
Shirley was named brother of Robert Shirley dec'd in his 1854
estate records in Fayette Co AL (residence no provided); In the
1850 census he is living with his son James and family in Anderson
Co. SC.
married ?Elizabeth [possibly
Smith] (updated January 2020)
1(iii). Rhoda Shirley born about 1771; Rhody Grubbs
was named sister of Robert Shirley dec'd in his 1854 estate records
in Fayette Co AL; She married William Grubbs
1(iv). Nipper
Shirley born say between 1765 and 1770 (census profiles),
likely in Prince William County Virginia where his father John
Shirley resided at the time; Identified as a son of John
Shirley Sr in his 1808 will probated in Pendleton District SC;
Nipper was married with children residing in Abbeville Co SC
at the time of the 1800 census, likely along the Anderson Co
border where his father owned land; he is again enumerated in
the same place in 1810 census an in the 1820 census; Nipper was
enumerated in adjacent Anderson Co SC in the 1830 census, age
60-70 with only his wife Jane and 2 other females in the household;
Named in the estate appraisal record of J. J. Robinson, dec'd
in September 1847; Nipper Shirley was named brother of Robert
Shirley dec'd in his 1854 estate records in Fayette Co AL; Nipper
predeceased his brother, dying in Anderson Co SC before 25 May
1848, when the sale bill for his estate was probated in Anderson
Co SC.
married Jane Cheeves, daughter of Thomas Cheeves
who in turn was born 1747 VA d. 1837 Abbeville, SC. and Margaret
Agnew.
1(v). William
Shirley born about 1774 likely in South Carolina. His
will was probated in 1827 in Abbeville Co South Carolina. William
Shirley was named brother of Robert Shirley dec'd in his 1854
estate records in Fayette Co AL;
married Jemima Gant
1(vi). Joshua
Shirley born about 1775. Joshua
Shirley was named brother of Robert Shirley dec'd in his 1854
estate records in Fayette Co AL; Family moved to Fayette Co.
Alabama
married 1) Elizabeth Long, daughter of John
Read and Sarah Long. His brother was Capt. Rueben Long of Sumpter
Co. SC and he was born in St. Marys Co. Maryland, and served
in the Revolution from Culpepper Co. VA,
married 2) Mary ________
1(vii). Sarah Shirley born about 1779; Sarah Wakefield
was named sister of Robert Shirley dec'd in his 1854 estate records
in Fayette Co AL; She married John Wakefield, Jr. son
of Abel Wakefield and Ann Branson
1(viii). Elizabeth Shirley born about 1781 Abbeville
Co. SC; Elizabeth Wakefield was named sister of Robert Shirley
dec'd in his 1854 estate records in Fayette Co AL; She married
Hezekiah Wakefield born 1782 Fairfax Co. VA d. Nov
3, 1843 son of Abel Wakefield and Ann Branson. Hezekiah m.2nd
Cynthia Ann Gant daughter of Frederick and Eliz. Gant.
1(ix). Leanah Shirley born about 1785?; She married
Thomas Loller. Thomas Loller and wife (if same) were enumerated
in Pendleton District SC in 1800, both age 26-45; Thomas Loller
purchased 150 ac of land in Pendleton District (on Abbeville
line) from the heirs of his father-in-law in 1808; Leannah Loller
was named sister of Robert Shirley dec'd in his 1854 estate records
in Fayette Co AL (They may be the Thomas Loller family of
1820 Franklin Co Indiana - following the Abel Wakefield family
to Indiana)
1(x). Robert
Shirley born about 1788 Abbeville, SC; They lived
in Fayette Co. AL; His estate was probated in Fayette Co AL in
1854 by his wife Sylvesta A Shirley
married 1) Mary ______ Mentioned as deceased in 1849
deed record
married 2) Sylvesta A_____ enumerated in his 1850 census
household, named widow in her husband's 1854 estate settlement
1(xi). Polly Shirley born Aug 14, 1789 d. Feb
6, 1872 Appanoose Co. Iowa; Polly Wakefield was named sister
of Robert Shirley dec'd in his 1854 estate records in Fayette
Co AL; She married William Wakefield born Aug 29,
1790 d. Feb 2, 1870 Appanoose Co. Iowa son of Abel Wakefield
and Ann Branson. They first went to Franklin Co. IN with his
brother, John Wakefield and then to Appanoosa Co. Iowa.
Timeline of the life of John Shirley of
VA and SC Update Nov 2024
PRINCE WILLIAM Co VA
1763-1764 Prince William Co VA Shirley, John Junior; John
Glassford and Company Ledger folio 162
1765 Prince William Tithables - Peyton's List (see Transcript)
William Shirley, George Shirley 2 tithes [Note: George likely
born between 1744 (age 21 to have a separate listing) and 1749,
age 16 (to be named in household)]
John Shirley, John Shirley Jr., Thomas Shirley 3 tithes [Note:
John Jr and Thomas likely born between 1744, (age 21 to have
a separate listing) and 1749, age 16 (to be named in household)]
1765 Prince William Co VA Shirley, John Junior; John Glassford
and Company Ledger folio 111
1765-1766 Prince William Co VA Shirley, John Junior; John
Glassford and Company Ledger folio 88
1767 Prince William Co VA Shirley, John Junior; John Glassford
and Company Ledger folio 142
1767-1768 Prince William Co VA Shirley, John Junior; John
Glassford and Company Ledger folio 158
1770 Prince William Co VA JOHN Shirley, JR. witnessed agreement
between Chichester Curtis of Pr. Wm and Lettice Thorton relic
of Thomas Thornton (pre-nupt agreement). Also wit: Charles Thornton,
Thomas Thornton, and James Cullins. (note: The fact that John
Shirley is addressed as "junior" suggests (?) that
his father is still alive)
Not found in Prince William Co VA records after this
date
FAUQUIER Co VA
1771 May 3 - Fauquier Co Deed Book 4 pg 336 - Landon Carter
and Charles Carter, exc. of Charles Carter, Esq., deceased, to
John Shirley of Fauquier County, 160 acres called Kettle Run,
Parish of Hamilton near road at the end of Neavils old meadow
in George Steeles line.
1773 July 11 Broad Run Baptist Church Minutes (Fauquier Co)
- Added by baptism: John Shurley
1774 Feb to June. Fauquier Co VA - Will of George Neavill.
Wit: Richard chichester, Sarah Chichester, Samuel Pharis, John
Shurley, James (his mark) Shurley. Exor: wife Mary and sons-in
-law John Rosser, Solomon Jones, Jas Hathaway and Ambrose Barnett.
Proved 27 June 1774 by oath of Richard Chichester, Samuel Pharis
and John Shurley.
1777 Fauquier Co VA Tithable List - John Shirley 150 acres,
Ar 6, Lot --, Section --, District -- (next to George Steele
in list)
1777 Fauquier Co VA Rent Roll
Archibald Shirley
James Shirley
Richard Shirley
John Shirley
1778 Fauquier Co VA May Court 1778 page 319 For reasons appearing
to the court, it is ordered that the church wardens of Hamilton
Parish do not comply with former order of court directing them
to bind John Deale to John Shirley until said Shirley give sufficient
security to learn the said Deale the trade of wheel wright.
1778 Fauquier Co VA Rent Roll - Hamilton Parish
James Moshett and Archibald Shurly and 8 slaves
John Green and John Shurley (overseer) and 9 slaves
1780 Fauquier Co VA Tax- John Shirley 150 acres, value/acre
12, Total 90/0/0, Tax after Quit Rent 0/14/3
1782 Fauquier Co VA Personal Property Tax Lists
John Shirley 1 free males +21; 1 negro; 4 horses; 13 cattle
1783 Fauquier Co VA Personal Property Tax Lists
John Shirley 1 free males +21; 1 negro tithes; 0 negro -16;
14 cattle; 5 horses
Benjamin Shirley 1 free males +21; 0 negro tithes; 0 negro -16;
2 cattle; 1 horses
1784 Fauquier Co VA Personal Property Tax Lists
John Shirley 1 free males +21; 1 negro tithes; 0 negro -16;
6 horses; 18 cattle
1784 Fauquier Co VA Tax-
John Shirley 150 acres, value/acre 8/7, Total 64/7/6, Tax
after Quit Rent 0/19/3
1784 October 25 Fauquier Co Deed Book 8 pg 183 - John Shirley
and Elizabeth his wife to Samuel Steel, 150 acres part of land
John Shirley purchased of executors of Charles Carter.
1784 October Minute Book. An indenture of bargain and sale
between John Shirley and Elizabeth, his wife and Samuel Short
[shouldn't this be Steele?] of the other part was acknowledged
by JOHN and ELIZABETH SHIRLEY (she being first privily examined
as the law directs) to be then act and deed.
Not found in Fauquier Co records after this date
NINETY-SIX DISTRICT (Abbeville Co) SC
12/11/1784 Ninety-Six District - Description: Shirley, John,
Plat For 200 Acres On Long Cain Creek (Savannah River), Ninety
Six District, Surveyed By John Martin. Names Mentioned: Martin,
John; Shirley, John; Wright, Lee - SC Archives Online Index
1785 C. Ninety-Six District - Description: Anderson, William,
Plat For 240 Acres On Raburns Creek, Ninety Six District, Surveyed
By Jonathan Downs. Names Mentioned: Anderson, William; Downs,
Jonathan; Ritchy, John; Shirley, John; Shirley, Richard; Williams,
Daniel - SC Archives Online Index
1787 Ninety-Six District Tax List -
Benjamin Shirley
James Shirley
John Shirley, Jr.
John Shirley, Sr.
Richard Shirley
Thomas Shirley
8/23/1788 Ninety-Six District - Description: Maxwell, James,
Plat For 200 Acres On Chikesaw Creek (Savannah River), Ninety
Six District, Surveyed By John Martin For John Shirley On January
3, 1785. - SC Archives Online Index
1790 Ninety-Six District Census - Abbeville Co
males over 16 & under 16 and # of females in the household
Argey Shirley 1 1 6 0 0
Benjamin Shirley 1 1 2 0 0
James Shirley 1 3 3 0 0
John Shirley 6 4 6 0 0
John Shirley 1 1 2 0 0
Richard Shirley 2 5 3 0 0
June 9, 1792 Ninety-Six District - Church resolved dispute
between John Shirley and Robert Ritchey. John Shirley said that
Ritchey killed a mare by riding. Church ruled in favor of Ritchey
-Turkey Creek Baptist Church Minutes
Oct 11, 1793 Ninety-Six District - John Shirley and others
appointed to meet with Anne Delp to find out why she was not
attending -Turkey Creek Baptist Church Minutes
Aug 9, 1794 Ninety-Six District - John Shurly, Richard Shurly,
and Thomas Shurly to attend meeting at Little River Church to
try to gain fellowship with Nancy Hanks who was previously excommunicated
-Turkey Creek Baptist Church Minutes
Nov 8, 1794 Ninety-Six District - John Shirley and others
to meet with individual to see if they had joined the Methodist
Society -Turkey Creek Baptist Church Minutes
1795 Pendleton District removed from 96 District and
placed in Washington District
Apr 10, 1795 Ninety-Six District - John Shirley to settle
difficulty -Turkey Creek Baptist Church Minutes
May 9, 1795 Ninety-Six District - John Shirley made a report
to the church -Turkey Creek Baptist Church Minutes
Feb 12, 1796 Ninety-Six District - John Shirley to cite Brother
Yarbor at next meeting for drinking -Turkey Creek Baptist Church
Minutes
Feb 1, 1797 Ninety-Six District - Appointed John Shirley and
Nimrod Smith to cut the pulpit lower -Turkey Creek Baptist Church
Minutes
PENDLETON DISTRICT (Anderson Co) SC
25 Dec 1797. Pendleton Dist DB C-D p 399. John Grissom to
John Shirley - John Grissom Sr of Pendleton Co to John Shurley
of Abbeville Co for $1,366 for 594 ac on Little River fo the
Savannnah River; 589 ac part of tract of 640 ac granted by Benj
Guerard 21 Jan 1785 bounded SE by widow Stevenson; also 88 ac
bounded SW on above tract, granted marg Stevenson by Wm Moultrie
6 Nov 1786; also 15 ac on NE side part of tract granted Benj
Aldridge by Moultrie 1785; Recorded Bk GGGG, p 471. including
mill and mill pond, bounded Philip Saler, John Grissom. Signed
John (IG) Grissom Sr John Grissom Jr Wit: John Robinson, Joshua
Shirley, Phillip (S) Sallor. John Robinson made oath to G.W.
Earle DCC, 16 Apr 1798. Rec 16 Apr 1798.
2 Feb 1799. Pendleton Dist DB C-D p 470.Wm Bennison of Abbeville
Co to John Grissom Jr 248 ac on Keowee R and Deep Creek part
of tract granted Benj Guerard 10 Jul 1784 to Geo Bennison bounded
Edw McClure. Wit John Shirley, John (IG) Grissom Sr; John Grissom
Sr made oath to John Vernor JP 22 Feb 1799. Rec 8 Mar 1799.
1800 Pendleton District Census
Col. Moore's Regt. #626 pp. 115
John Shearly HH 626: 0 1 2 0 1 - 2 2 0 1 1 - 0 1
18 March 1808 Pendleton Dist DB M p 212 John Shirley Sr to
John Shirley Jr 221 ac on N side of Camp Creek John Shirley Sr
of Pendleton Dist to John Shirley Jr of same for $400 sold 221
ac on N side of Camp Creek part of land sold by John Grisham
(editor: Grissom) Sr to said John Shirley Sr <signed>
John Shirley Wit: Wm Lord and Nipper Shirley ; dower renounced
Jan 22 1814 by Elizabeth Shirley, wife of John Sr before Hezekiah
Rice JQ <signed> Elizabeth Shirley's mark "X"
Feb 5 1814 recorded
6 June 1808 Pendleton Dist Will of John Shirley: children:
Betsey, Nipper, William, Rhody, Joshua, James, John, Robert,
Sara, Polly and Leanah. Dated Apr 11, 1808. Proven June 6, 1808,
page 94, Will Book A, Pendleton District, S.C. Pendleton District
and Anderson Co SC Wills, Estates, Inventories, Tax Records,
Compiled by: Virginia Alexander, Colleen Morse Elliott and Betty
Willie.
6 August 1808. Pendleton Dist DB K p 51 Jno, Nipper, William,
James, Joshua, Robert Shirley to Samuel McKinney Abbeville and
Pendleton Districts: Nipper Shirley, William Shirley, William
Grubbs, Joshua Shirley, James Shirley, John Shirley, Hezekiah
Wakefield, Robert Shirley, John Wakefield of Pendleton Dist to
Samuel McKinney of Abbeville Dist for $684 sold 150 ac part in
Pendleton Dist and part in Abbeville Dist includes a mill and
appurtenances on Little River and mill dam as far as the water
mark on West side of the river; border: begins at a red oak on
Barkers Cr joins Gowdy, Hackleman, a mill pond, joined on NE
by Vanderhorst and Gowdy, on SE by Hackleman, on SW by Nathaniel
Aldridge Sr, and on NW by said pond; formerly owned by John Shirley
Sr deceased part of grant to said Aldridge <signed> Nipper
Shirley, Wm Shirley, William Grubbs, Joshua Shirley, James Shirley,
John Shirley Jr Hezekiah Wakefield, Robert Shirley and John Wakefield
Jr Wit: Abel Wakefield and David Green Jan 24 1810 recorded
John Shirley
