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      William Randolph Shirley
b. ca1818. Lived South Carolina and Georgia

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William Randolph Shirley born about 1818 in South Carolina. He appears in Franklin Co GA tax lists just after his marriage in 1833 and then 1837 along with a Riley Shirley, who no doubt is a relative. This Riley Shirley is likely the same person who is the son of Moses Shirley of nearby counties. William was living in Dist 211 in Franklin Co GA in 1840; He was living in the Sandy Creek District of Clarke Co GA in 1850; He was the town Marshall of Athens, Clarke County Georgia for 30 years, a Farmer and a Night Watchman. He died at the age of 66 in Athens Georgia.

married Adeline Evans on 17 April 1833 at Franklin Co. GA.

children:

1(i). Clark Alexander Shirley born Aug 31, 1833 Clarke Co. GA. Worked for the Athens Manufacturing Co in Athens in the 1889 City Directory (living at 141 GA R R); He died Sept 1900. Both are buried Oakwood Cemetery Montgomery Alabama.

married Harriette Reynolds on 1 Jan 1860 at Clarke Co GA; She was born Aug 15, 1851 SC, and died Sept 1906. (her maiden name is listed as Evans in the death cert of son Walter M. Shirley)

children:

2(i). Frances Leuellen Shirley born about 1876 GA. She married Alfred Hicks (no children)

2(ii). Mary Gertrude Shirley born about 1879 GA. She married Shep Gardner (2 children)

2(iii). Alexander Henry "Alec" Shirley born about 1862 GA. He worked at the Athens Manufacturing Company in the 1889 Athens Clarke Co GA directory (living at 53 Poplar St). Lived at Pulaski Co Arkansas in 1910 census, age 47

The town of Shirley, Arkansas is named for him.

"Alexander Henry worked for the railroad in Montgomery, AL for a short while. He left his family when Clark was a baby and married a Fannie Davis. They went to Arkansas to live. Edward remembers working in the textile mill by the time he was 8 years old. He had to stand on a box to reach the work. Alexander and his second family lived in and around Little Rock. He worked for the railroad. In 1924, Alexander returned to Montgomery to see his first children. It was then he told them of his life in Arkansas. Uncle Clark, the youngest of the first family, recalls some of the stories today. He is 84 years old and in fairly good health. He was told about a town named for his father, Alexander Shirley."

Alexander Henry Shirley

married 1) Katherine McCarron,

married 2) Mary Fannie Davis she was enumerated as the wife of Alexander H Shirley in 1910 census

children:

3(i). Inis Shirley

3(ii). Clifton Shirley born 7 September 1887 Athens Clark Co GA (WWI draft)

3(iii). Birdie Shirley

Birdie Shirley

3(iv). Edward Shirley

3(v). Clark Linden Shirley born 4 March 1898 GA (WWI draft)

children by wife Mary Fannie Davis

3(vi). Kathleen M. Shirley born about 1900 AR, age 10 in 1910 census; She married a man named Scarbrough

Katherine S. Scarbrough and Clark Linden Shirley
(half brother and sister)

3(vii). Eileen Shirley born about 1902 AR, age 8 in 1910 census;

3(viii). Walter Shirley born about 1906 AR, age 4 in 1910 census;

3(ix). Hal Shirley born about 1908 AR, age 10 in 1908 census;

2(iv). Walter M. Shirley born about 1883; he died Aug 18, 1939 at Montgomery Co Alabama

married Valley Mason (4 children)

2(v). Elizabeth Shirley born 10 Oct 1874; She died 28 May 1935 in Montgomery Co Alabama; She married John Gannon (They had 1 adopted son)

1(ii). Henry L. Shirley born about 1837 GA; found in the family's 1850 household. Living Clark Co GA in 1880 census. Occupation: laborer.

married 1) Mary Jane Hinton Oct 25, 1866 Fulton Co. GA.

married 2) Malinda ______

children:

2(i). William Henry Shirley born about 1867

married Ollie Belle Newcomb on 25 Sep 1889 at Lynchburg County, Virginia

2(ii). Sallie Shirley born about 1873 (apparently adopted)

1(iii). Harriett E. Shirley born about 1841 GA; found in the family's 1850 household. She married Henry C. Pollard on 9 Jan 1867 in Clarke Co GA

1(iv). Nancy E. Shirley born about 1844 GA; found in the family's 1850 household. She married James F. Wilson; Her father William was living with them in the 1880 Athens, Clarke Co GA census

1(v). Mary J. Shirley born about 1846 GA; found in the family's 1850 household.

posted Aug 21, 2001

Info from a letter written by Mildred, wife of Clyde Shirley and published in the Jan. 1985 Shirley NEWS.

Alexander Henry worked for the railroad in Montgomery, AL for a short while. He left his family when Clark was a baby and married a Fannie Davis. They went to Arkansas to live.

Edward remembers working in the textile mill by the time he was 8 years old. He had to stand on a box to reach the work.

Alexander and his second family lived in and around Little Rock. He worked for the railroad.

In 1924, Alexander returned to Montgomery to see his first children. It was then he told them of his life in Arkansas.

Uncle Clark, the youngest of the first family, recalls some of the stories today. He is 84 years old and in fairly good health. He was told about a town named for his father, Alexander Shirley.

We made a trip to Oklahoma in 1980 and on our way back to Alabama, we decided to go through Shirley Arkansas and look around. The population was 336. There was no Shirley's in town and none buried there.

We met Mr. and Mrs. Otto McKinney who were the proprietors of the food store and the variety store. They had been there for 50 years. Mrs. McKinney told us there was a railroad there and the depot and a saw mill just as our Uncle Clark had told us. He had never seen the place but just recalled what his father had told him in 1924.

There had been no contact between the two sets of children of Alexander Henry Shirley. We knew they had lived in Little Rock, so, after leaving Shirley AR we went on home through Little Rock.

We copied the Shirley's listed in the telephone book in Little Rock. We went over the names with Uncle Clark. We decided to write a letter to Hal Shirley in Little Rock. We told him who Uncle Clark was. We wondered if we could make contact with the younger family. When Hal received the letter, he picked up the telephone and called Uncle Clark and talked with him. We determined he was the son of Hal, the half brother of Uncle Clark. We learned Hal Shirley, Sr. and Walter were deceased. Kathleen and Eileen were living in nursing homes.

Kathleen wanted to talk to Uncle Clark when she learned from Hal that he could call uncle Clark for her. She was so thrilled as was Uncle Clark. They had never seen each other or spoken over the telephone before. She was 80 and Uncle Clark was 82.

We immediately set up a meeting and took Uncle Clark out to see her. We met Hal's mother, who invited us to dinner with Hal and his family. We also met Walter's daughter. They were all so nice to us and we will always be thankful for having the privilege of meeting these relatives.

Kathleen was a blind for 22 years as the result of a mastoid operation. She died in 1982 , two years after we were there. Hal's mother died from a heart attack. We are so glad we made contact when we did.

Eileen is in a nursing home in San Antonio. We wrote her but received no response. We do not know her physical condition. She was a musician and her baby grand piano was taken to the nursing home we understand. Perhaps yet.... if we get out that way. Life is full of surprises and this was a delightful story we were glad we had a little part in...making a dream come true.

We brought Uncle Clark with us to the SHIRLEY CONVENTION IN ANDERSON SOUTH CAROLINA IN 1983. We came back through Athens Georgia to look into our history. We truly enjoyed the Shirley Convention and felt very privileged to be among so many SHIRLEY'S from some 26 states. I feel it will be through the Shirley Association that we will finally connect with the South Carolina people.

Uncle Clark had throat surgery before the Shirley Convention in Anderson. Four weeks ago he had heart failure and in a matter of an hour was in the hospital and received a pace maker and is now doing great!

=================================

The following was written by a granddaughter of William and Adeline Shirley.

My maternal grandparents were William Randolf Shurley, born of staunch southern parents. I am not sure where he was born, but know he was of English descent. He lived in Athens from manhood till he died at age 66. He was Marshall of Athens for 30 years and is buried there.

My grandmother, Adeline Moore Shurley, was a very refined aristocratic lady.   Traced her ancestors back through the Moore's, Evans, and Longworth's. She was of Northern parents and during the Civil war was placed in a very uncomfortable position. Her father and two brothers fought on the Union side and her husband and sons for the Confederate side. When things got to bad during battle, a Confederate guard was sent to their home to protect them from the Yankees. They had two sons and three daughters.

My grandfather freed 30 slaves at surrender.

My mother, Mary Jane Shurley, was the very youngest child. She had her own waiting maid. She went to private school and then to Lucy Cobb Institute, a private female college. She married quite young and was left a widow with two children. She continued her studies and became a doctor's technician. She worked for a Dr. Lallestedt who's mother kept and helped to raise her two small children. They worked in several small towns in Georgia including Augusta and Milledgeville. Came to DeKalb Co. where he established a practice. She married Francis Marion Dobbs in about 1870. She continued her work with Dr. Lallestedt. She was very active in church and community. She also wrote many articles for publication. She died at age 60 of cancer.

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		William Randolph Shirley b. ca1818. Lived South Carolina and Georgia
		< Back to the USA Lineage Index Page
		William Randolph Shirley born about 1818 in South Carolina. He appears in Franklin Co GA tax lists just after his marriage in 1833 and then 1837 along with a Riley Shirley, who no doubt is a relative. This Riley Shirley is likely the same person who is the son of Moses Shirley of nearby counties. William was living in Dist 211 in Franklin Co GA in 1840; He was living in the Sandy Creek District of Clarke Co GA in 1850; He was the town Marshall of Athens, Clarke County Georgia for 30 years, a Farmer and a Night Watchman. He died at the age of 66 in Athens Georgia. married Adeline Evans on 17 April 1833 at Franklin Co. GA. children: 1(i). Clark Alexander Shirley born Aug 31, 1833 Clarke Co. GA. Worked for the Athens Manufacturing Co in Athens in the 1889 City Directory (living at 141 GA R R); He died Sept 1900. Both are buried Oakwood Cemetery Montgomery Alabama. married Harriette Reynolds on 1 Jan 1860 at Clarke Co GA; She was born Aug 15, 1851 SC, and died Sept 1906. (her maiden name is listed as Evans in the death cert of son Walter M. Shirley) children: 2(i). Frances Leuellen Shirley born about 1876 GA. She married Alfred Hicks (no children) 2(ii). Mary Gertrude Shirley born about 1879 GA. She married Shep Gardner (2 children) 2(iii). Alexander Henry "Alec" Shirley born about 1862 GA. He worked at the Athens Manufacturing Company in the 1889 Athens Clarke Co GA directory (living at 53 Poplar St). Lived at Pulaski Co Arkansas in 1910 census, age 47 The town of Shirley, Arkansas is named for him. "Alexander Henry worked for the railroad in Montgomery, AL for a short while. He left his family when Clark was a baby and married a Fannie Davis. They went to Arkansas to live. Edward remembers working in the textile mill by the time he was 8 years old. He had to stand on a box to reach the work. Alexander and his second family lived in and around Little Rock. He worked for the railroad. In 1924, Alexander returned to Montgomery to see his first children. It was then he told them of his life in Arkansas. Uncle Clark, the youngest of the first family, recalls some of the stories today. He is 84 years old and in fairly good health. He was told about a town named for his father, Alexander Shirley." Alexander Henry Shirley married 1) Katherine McCarron, married 2) Mary Fannie Davis she was enumerated as the wife of Alexander H Shirley in 1910 census children: 3(i). Inis Shirley 3(ii). Clifton Shirley born 7 September 1887 Athens Clark Co GA (WWI draft) 3(iii). Birdie Shirley Birdie Shirley 3(iv). Edward Shirley 3(v). Clark Linden Shirley born 4 March 1898 GA (WWI draft) children by wife Mary Fannie Davis 3(vi). Kathleen M. Shirley born about 1900 AR, age 10 in 1910 census; She married a man named Scarbrough Katherine S. Scarbrough and Clark Linden Shirley (half brother and sister) 3(vii). Eileen Shirley born about 1902 AR, age 8 in 1910 census; 3(viii). Walter Shirley born about 1906 AR, age 4 in 1910 census; 3(ix). Hal Shirley born about 1908 AR, age 10 in 1908 census; 2(iv). Walter M. Shirley born about 1883; he died Aug 18, 1939 at Montgomery Co Alabama married Valley Mason (4 children) 2(v). Elizabeth Shirley born 10 Oct 1874; She died 28 May 1935 in Montgomery Co Alabama; She married John Gannon (They had 1 adopted son) 1(ii). Henry L. Shirley born about 1837 GA; found in the family's 1850 household. Living Clark Co GA in 1880 census. Occupation: laborer. married 1) Mary Jane Hinton Oct 25, 1866 Fulton Co. GA. married 2) Malinda ______ children: 2(i). William Henry Shirley born about 1867 married Ollie Belle Newcomb on 25 Sep 1889 at Lynchburg County, Virginia 2(ii). Sallie Shirley born about 1873 (apparently adopted) 1(iii). Harriett E. Shirley born about 1841 GA; found in the family's 1850 household. She married Henry C. Pollard on 9 Jan 1867 in Clarke Co GA 1(iv). Nancy E. Shirley born about 1844 GA; found in the family's 1850 household. She married James F. Wilson; Her father William was living with them in the 1880 Athens, Clarke Co GA census 1(v). Mary J. Shirley born about 1846 GA; found in the family's 1850 household. posted Aug 21, 2001 *Info from a letter written by Mildred, wife of Clyde Shirley and published in the Jan. 1985 Shirley NEWS.* Alexander Henry worked for the railroad in Montgomery, AL for a short while. He left his family when Clark was a baby and married a Fannie Davis. They went to Arkansas to live. Edward remembers working in the textile mill by the time he was 8 years old. He had to stand on a box to reach the work. Alexander and his second family lived in and around Little Rock. He worked for the railroad. In 1924, Alexander returned to Montgomery to see his first children. It was then he told them of his life in Arkansas. Uncle Clark, the youngest of the first family, recalls some of the stories today. He is 84 years old and in fairly good health. He was told about a town named for his father, Alexander Shirley. We made a trip to Oklahoma in 1980 and on our way back to Alabama, we decided to go through Shirley Arkansas and look around. The population was 336. There was no Shirley's in town and none buried there. We met Mr. and Mrs. Otto McKinney who were the proprietors of the food store and the variety store. They had been there for 50 years. Mrs. McKinney told us there was a railroad there and the depot and a saw mill just as our Uncle Clark had told us. He had never seen the place but just recalled what his father had told him in 1924. There had been no contact between the two sets of children of Alexander Henry Shirley. We knew they had lived in Little Rock, so, after leaving Shirley AR we went on home through Little Rock. We copied the Shirley's listed in the telephone book in Little Rock. We went over the names with Uncle Clark. We decided to write a letter to Hal Shirley in Little Rock. We told him who Uncle Clark was. We wondered if we could make contact with the younger family. When Hal received the letter, he picked up the telephone and called Uncle Clark and talked with him. We determined he was the son of Hal, the half brother of Uncle Clark. We learned Hal Shirley, Sr. and Walter were deceased. Kathleen and Eileen were living in nursing homes. Kathleen wanted to talk to Uncle Clark when she learned from Hal that he could call uncle Clark for her. She was so thrilled as was Uncle Clark. They had never seen each other or spoken over the telephone before. She was 80 and Uncle Clark was 82. We immediately set up a meeting and took Uncle Clark out to see her. We met Hal's mother, who invited us to dinner with Hal and his family. We also met Walter's daughter. They were all so nice to us and we will always be thankful for having the privilege of meeting these relatives. Kathleen was a blind for 22 years as the result of a mastoid operation. She died in 1982 , two years after we were there. Hal's mother died from a heart attack. We are so glad we made contact when we did. Eileen is in a nursing home in San Antonio. We wrote her but received no response. We do not know her physical condition. She was a musician and her baby grand piano was taken to the nursing home we understand. Perhaps yet.... if we get out that way. Life is full of surprises and this was a delightful story we were glad we had a little part in...making a dream come true. We brought Uncle Clark with us to the SHIRLEY CONVENTION IN ANDERSON SOUTH CAROLINA IN 1983. We came back through Athens Georgia to look into our history. We truly enjoyed the Shirley Convention and felt very privileged to be among so many SHIRLEY'S from some 26 states. I feel it will be through the Shirley Association that we will finally connect with the South Carolina people. Uncle Clark had throat surgery before the Shirley Convention in Anderson. Four weeks ago he had heart failure and in a matter of an hour was in the hospital and received a pace maker and is now doing great! ================================= The following was written by a granddaughter of William and Adeline Shirley. My maternal grandparents were William Randolf Shurley, born of staunch southern parents. I am not sure where he was born, but know he was of English descent. He lived in Athens from manhood till he died at age 66. He was Marshall of Athens for 30 years and is buried there. My grandmother, Adeline Moore Shurley, was a very refined aristocratic lady. Traced her ancestors back through the Moore's, Evans, and Longworth's. She was of Northern parents and during the Civil war was placed in a very uncomfortable position. Her father and two brothers fought on the Union side and her husband and sons for the Confederate side. When things got to bad during battle, a Confederate guard was sent to their home to protect them from the Yankees. They had two sons and three daughters. My grandfather freed 30 slaves at surrender. My mother, Mary Jane Shurley, was the very youngest child. She had her own waiting maid. She went to private school and then to Lucy Cobb Institute, a private female college. She married quite young and was left a widow with two children. She continued her studies and became a doctor's technician. She worked for a Dr. Lallestedt who's mother kept and helped to raise her two small children. They worked in several small towns in Georgia including Augusta and Milledgeville. Came to DeKalb Co. where he established a practice. She married Francis Marion Dobbs in about 1870. She continued her work with Dr. Lallestedt. She was very active in church and community. She also wrote many articles for publication. She died at age 60 of cancer.
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