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Pedigree Theory
Shirley Migration to East
Tennessee.
It is clear that at least two of the children of Richard Shirley
of Laurens Co SC, Robert Shirley and John Shirley migrated to
eastern Tennessee around the time of the Revolutionary War, then
moved back to SC afterward. Moreover, their mother Mary Shirley,
identified as 'Widow Shirley" in Washington Co TN documents,
was also part of the migration. The following Pinson family research
parallels the trek made by the Shirleys
"In May 1767 a 250 ac
tract was surveyed [for Aaron Pinson] on the NE side of the Saluda
River in the area that became Laurens Co SC. Raeburns Creek meeting
house was built nearby in 1767. Aaron Pinson preached there and
had charge fo the Little River off Saluda church in 1771-2. Religous
harassment, lawlessness and a massive Indian raid in 1773 caused
settlers to flee the area. Many members of the old mother church
at Sandy Creek had gone west by 1771 over the mountains into
what is now eastern Tennessee. by late summer of 1775 Pinson
and various other members of the SC churches had settled there
also. They refused to move back east of the mountains, built
forts acquired ammunition, formed their own government and took
their stand against the British and Indians on 20 and 21 July
1776. He was named justice of peach in 1776 for Washington Co
NC and served Cherokee Creek (a branch of the Nolichucky) Baptist
Church after removing to Wilkes Co NC by 1782 (see item for Thomas
Shirley, his son in law, in Wilkes Co). He and his family had
returned by 1784 to Laurens Co SC where he resumed his pastorate
of Raeburn Creek Church and served until his death by 1800."
We find the Shirleys enumerated
in Washington Co TN, along with members of the Aaron Pinson family,
during the war:
4 Feb 1777 Womack's Fort (now
Sullivan Co TN) Capt Womack Co Militia Fincastle Co VA. Payroll
"Washington County"
Robert Shirley 90 days on
duty enlisted 15 July dismissed Oct 12
Edward Shirley 90 days on duty enlisted 15 July Sept 30
John Shirley 90 days on duty enlisted 15 July Oct 12
Thomas Shirley 90 days on duty enlisted 15 July Oct 12
William Shirley 90 days on duty enlisted 15 July [ ?]
We can formally confirm their
identity with the following land transaction by John Shirley,
son of Richard Shirley of Laurens Co SC, who after much litigation
was finally granted 639 acres of land in Washington Co TN (an
area then claimed by NC) in 1791, after John and his family had
returned to Laurens Co SC.
9/11/1808 Washington Co TN
DB 12 pg 62-4 John McKinney attorney in fact for John Shirley,
Laurance District SC to William Leach next ot his other land,
part of Sherley's 639 ac NC grant in 1791, on Cherokee Cr
We also find several Washington
Co TN documents confirming the Shirley's connection to the Aaron
Pinson family
1778 Joseph Pinson (deed)
Cherokee Creek on Widow Sherley's line.
1780 John Layman 100 ac Washington
Co border John Shurleys line where he lives adj Jos. Pension,
John Hollaway
1786 (deed)..."where
Aron Pinson and Robert Shurley formerly lived".
Children of Richard Shirley
of Laurens Co SC (Theory)
1. John Shirley of Laurens
Co SC (known)
2. Robert Shirley of Laurens
Co SC (known)
But what about the other Shirleys
named in the above 1777 militia list, Thomas, William and Edward,
Shirley?
3. Thomas
Shirley - I theorize
that Thomas Shirley of Spartenburg Co SC, born about 1750, is
another son of Richard Shirley of Laurens Co SC, and brother
of John and Robert Shirley.
4. William
Shirley - I theorize
that William Shirley of Spartanburg Co SC is another son of Richard
Shirley of Laurens Co SC.
5. Edward Shirley (coming)
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Theory of Other Children of