MISC INFORMATION FOR PHILEMON SHIRLEY BRANCH #35

FROM SHIRLEY GARVIN...

Many years ago, Betty Shirley sent me some notes on Shirley in various places in New England. Among them was a note that John Shirley was born to Ferrers and Ann 1 January 1755. In the same listing was Ferrers married Elizabeth Marshall 28 March 1761. These were from Suffolk County Massachusetts and most of the names concerned
Boston.

My ancestor was a David Atwood Shirley in Perry, NY. David Atwood had a son Dudley Graves Shirley who was my great grandfather. Dudley lived on Onondaga Hill, near Syracuse, NY. From his letters, it appeared that Dudley had an uncle of some importance in Syracuse, and who had a store where Dudley sometimes worked. When Dudley was in the Civil War from Company D, 122nd Regt. of the N.Y. Volunteers, he often wrote to this uncle for help when he didn't thing he was getting fair treatment. Dudley had only one brother, whose name was Phares, and he died at Andersonville Prison, South Carolina. I later found out that Cornelius had a store in Syracuse, and apparently only had one daughter, so no heirs.

Using these names, I decided that Phares could also be speller Ferrers. I went back to Ferrers and Ann. I found in Gloucester, Massachusetts records that stated that a William Shirley there was also supposed to have been born at sea. More records mention John being born 1 Jan. 1755. William was born 1757.

The records of the John born at sea 1 Jan 1755, seem to indicate that he was a John Henry and called Henry. this family went to Sudbury. Massachusetts and Fryeburg Maine. and later to Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. William married Annis Maley or Haley and they had sons names John and Phares. Phares is carried don in their line, although sometimes spelled Pharos.

I began to tackle Elizabeth Marshall. it turns out that she was a widow Elizabeth Marshall, and that her maiden name was Soper. They married in 1761, so Ann must have died. Through the Soper records, I found that she married Ferrers Shirley second, in a double wedding with her sister in Boston. Warnings were given for Ferrers and Elizabeth to get out of town. He was a brewer according to various notes. We find that in 1765, they had a son Ferrers or Phares. It is sometimes even spelled Perez. On 17 August 1776, Elizabeth Shirley married Henry Snow. Phares was 11 years old. Henry Snow was a cabinet maker and they lived near Concord New Hampshire. Henry only survived 2 years and Elizabeth married again to Luke Howell.

Ferrers and Ann were en route from England, One record says they were returning from England. I tend to believe they were living in England. But about this time, there was a group of Shirleys that came from Ireland to Chester, New Hampshire and lived there before moving west to Canada, and Niagara, NY and a place called Suspension Bridge that I cannot presently locate. [WHEN WE VISITED NIAGARA FALLS THEY POINTED TO SUSPENSION BRIDGE...SO IT IS RIGHT NEAR NIAGARA]. in the same census, there was a William McKinney who married a sister Nancy Shirley of the same family of John, (in Bedford). This Goffstown group is well documents, but most of them stayed in the area. The Shirley Association made a visit there at one time. But John and Margaret went to western NY. And frequently when these migrations were made, families went together. So I feel it is possible that at least back in England or Ireland, these families were related. And in Bedford, we now find Phares Shirley marrying Olive Chubbuck in 1789. They had a number of children, all of whom I cannot name. Phares listed himself as a cabinet maker (an art I imagine he learned from his step-father, Henry Snow). All of his children seemed to be cabinet makers, and some of his grand children, too.

The children that I think belonged to Phares and Olive were a possible John, Isaac, Ebenezer, Cornelious, David Atwood, Ezekiel, and possibly Clarissa born 1811. The new Mormon Church records indicate that Clarissa is the daughter of Phares and Olive--but I cannot substantiate that. She could be the daughter of Isaac, too. Isaac and Phares were living near each other in NY in 1820--Isaac in Madison County, town of Madison and Phares in Madison County, town of Eaton, and these towns are adjacent to each other. They then show up in the town of Homer, NY. Phares and Olive are buried in Glenwood cemetery. Phares Shirley died 20 May 1848 aged 82 years 11 months and Olive died Sept 12, or 17, 1860 aged 96 years 3 months. Plus Catharine ages 11 years, Edward G. who died at 1 year and Fannie A. who died at 2, but their dates are in the 1860s so most belong to William or another family. Ebenezer is also buried there with his wife, Sally K. and second wife Abigail Northup. It appears that Ezekiel and William bough the lot in which Phares and Olive are buried, but Ezekiel is not buried there. William and his wife Mary are buried there. Other Shirleys are buried in Cortland, NY.

In Ithaca, NY I found the estate of William Shirley who died 29th Oct. 1897 signed by Atwood Shirley. It says that Atwood Shirley is a brother aged 52 years and residing at Ithaca, NY. It mentions Sidney Shirley, a half-brother aged about 26 years living in Boston, Massachusetts and Frank Shirley, a half brother aged about 22 years and whose place of residence was unknown to Atwood. We found these Shirleys, but the age difference was so great that we weren't completely sure they were half brothers. Sidney and Frank ended up in Woodhull near where Clarissa lived--and so we think that at least Clarissa is related to Isaac. These children, William, Sydney, Frank and Atwood, are listed as being children of Isaac A. Shirley.

I also found an infant (11 years old?) was left to his aunt Ella Pierce in Ithaca, NY by his mother Nancy Shirley. But Earl also died, and it mentions that he was nephew of Sarah Cotton of Ithaca. She may be a Shirley also.

It appears that we have another migration of Shirley across the US--not just in the south, although they may be related. We have a whole descendency from a Walter Shirley in England who was supposed to have died your in the charts. His brother was a Ferrers Shirley who also died young in the charts. His brother was a Ferrers Shirley who also died young. Betty Shirley indicated that Walter might have committed some crime and was hurried out of the country and declared dead. Perhaps Ferrers went with him! At any rate--we have a line from Ferrers and Ann that moved to New Hampshire and then to NY.

I feel that the Thomas Shirley of Pat and Paul Shirley of Messena, NY may also fit into this family. Their migration from Boston through White River Junction, NY follows the same line and the names are consistent with other research.

There are many other NY names that I think may fit in with this family. Some of John's (born 1 Jan 1755) children and grandchildren ended up in Western NY. And going even further back--there are some Alexanders' that seem to be related to Thomas of Ireland group that went to Phelps, NY. They are probably all related.

I enjoyed the reunion in Syracuse. We were a small group but we talked excitedly for 4 hours. It has spurred me on to do more research. SHIRLEY GARVIN

[Note: Story of our Shirley meeting and trip in 1993 on our web page for Meetings and Conventions].