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This Lineage Page Last
Updated June 2026
William Shirley baptised
March 28 1824 at Stowe Buckinghamshire, son of Jonathan and Edith
Shirley of Dadford, Labourer. He migrated from England first
to New York by 1848 when he married Manerva Lambertson in Owego,
Tioga Co NY; The family soon moved to Tennessee, appearing as
Wm Shearly in US census records in 1850 in Davidson Co TN, age
25 b England, occupation: blacksmith, wife listed was M Shearly;
Mistakenly enumerated with the surname
"Jennings" in the 1860 census for Davidson Co TN,
William, age 34 b England; occupation: stonecutter, wife Minerva
and children; Newspaper advertisements between 1866 and
1868 show William was in the stone monuments businss in Nashville,
Davidson County on Sumner Street with a partner named J. L. Shane.
An announcement that the partnership had been dissovled was
printed in the newspaper in March 1869. He was next enumerated
at Columbia, Maury Co TN in the 1870 census, age 45, born England,
with wife and numerous children: He was enumerated in Maury Co
TN census in 1880, age 56, occupation: marble worker; He died
Feb 2, 1903 Columbia, Maury Co. TN.
William Shirley brought over two brothers, Jonathon
Shirley born Nov 10, 1810 in England and a Riley Shirley,
both sons of Jonathan and Edith Shirley of Stowe Buckinghamshire.
William also identified a sister by
the name of Hannah Nelson in a Davidson Co TN deed
in which he granted his sister rights to a dwelling room attached
to his house in Nashville (Scroll down to see deed info).
The 1880 Davidson Co TN census identifies Hannah as a widow.
She is buried in Maury Co TN named on the same tombstone as William's
wife Minerva Shirley
1824 Mar 28 Stowe Parish Buckinghamshire - bap of William
Shirley son of Jonathan & Edith Shirley of Dadford, Labourer
16 Sept 1851Nauralization Records 1803-1906 Davidson Co
TN - Shirley, William - a native of England, aged twenty six;
renounces allegiance to Queen Victoria. [signature] , Declaration
of Intention, Circuit Ct of Davidson Co; p 39.
1860 Census - Davidson Co TN (corrected)
William Jennings (sic, Shirley) age 34 stonecutter $1500, b England
Minerva Jennings age 36 b Mass
Edith Jennings age 10 b TN
Elizabeth Jennings age 7 b TN
Alfred Jennings age 4 b TN
Rebecca Akins age 45 b TN Servant
The Herald and Mail (Columbia TN) - Feb 13, 1903 pg 5 -
William Shirley's Will - The will of Wm. Shirley was probated
in the county court. will is dated October 22, 1894. The testator
leaves all his estate personal and real and mixed (except an
interest in Indian Camp Spring property and tools and models)
to his wife and four children, John Andrew, Sarah Ann, Riley
Pillow, and Alexander. To his son, William N Shirley he leaves
his interest in the Indian Camp Spring property and tools and
models
(Columbia Herald, 6 Feb 1903) William Shirley - Mr William
Shirley, aged 77 years, one of Columbia's
oldest citizens died at his hom in West End Monday morning. He
had been suffering for some time with dropsy and jaundice. Mr
Shirley had long been a member of the Episcopalian church. He
had been twice married and was living with his second wife. He
leaves several children. The funeral services were conducted
at the residence Tuesday afternoon by Rev W B Capers after which
interment took place at Rose Hill Cemetery.
(Columbia Herald and Mail, 22 Jan 1875 pg 3) Miscellaneous
Items [A person handed the newspaper a copy of the Western Chronicle
published in Columbia in 1814, the paper discusses Napoleon and
Waterloo] "Wm. Shirley of this place says his father
was under Wellington in that battle." [discussion of
1814 newspaper content continue]
(Maury Democrat 24 May 1894) William Shirley has often
told me that he cut the eagle which adorns the finished structure
(i.e. the State Capitol in Nashville). .
Bottom Left: William Shirley - Branch # 60 from
Buckinghamshire England
Bottom Right: Melvin Shirley (Charles' son)
Top Left: Alfred Shirley (William's son)
Top Right: Charles S. Shirley (Alfred's son)
According to Christopher Shirley, Melvin's great-grandson,
who submitted this photo in 2010,
it originates in the possession of Martha Powell (Shirley), Melvin's
daughter. It dates to the 1890's.
Note: a Hannah Nelson shares the tombstone
marker with Manerva Lambertson Shirley (as M E Shirley). She
was born about 1808, died 27 June 1885. Ransacking both US and
UK censuses, plus Nashville and Columbia TN newspapers, finds
the following
1880 census: Davidson Co TN: Hannah
Nelson widow, born 1809 (age 71) England, living at #230, the
Alley Between Summer & High Streets"
Sumner is the same street where William
Shirley operated his first monument business in Tennessee before
moving to Columbia TN. At one point prior to the 1880 census,
Wm granted his wife personal ownership for her natural life of
the house in Nashville in which they lived "fronting 30'
on High Street' in July 1864, he purchased Oct 24 1856
And here is the proof:
Davidson Co DB Vol 29 page 480 - Lease
- Whereas my sister
Hannah Nelson has built with
my permission a brick one story room on my [ ] which I now live
on High Street in the City of Nashville Tennessee. Now in consideration
of the love and affection I have for my said sister as to the
said Hannah Nelson Said brick one story room for and during her
natural [ ] from it , or any charge whatever and after her death
said one story brick room is to revert to part of my said lot
But the said Hannah Nelson is not to sell at public Said room
to and whatever , without my written consent so to do And the
said leave no said improvements subject in my way to the debts
or liabilities of the said Hannah Nelson. I further in consideration
of the premises grant to the said Hannah Nelson free ingress
and egress and from back across the parch of my said dwelling
house this 23d March 1860 Witness James Sloan , George S. McIntyre
<s> William Shirley
William and Minerva sold this house
in 1871, acknowledging the sale from Maury Co TN. The life estate
granted to Hannah Nelson in 1860 was excluded from the sale.
----------------------------------
married 1) Manerva E. Lambertson on 1 August 1848 at
Owego, Tioga Co NY; They had six children. Enumerated
as the wife of William Shirley in the 1870 census (age 46) and
1880 census (age 55); She was born Jan 7, 1825 MA and died Feb
22, 1888 of Heart disease, buried Rose Hill Cemetery in
Columbia, TN.
Shirley, Mrs Manervie, 63, died 22 Feb 1888 of heart disease,
wife of William Shirley, buried Rose Hill in Columbia (Maury
Democrat, 1 March 1888)
married 2), Anna Eliz. Morrow on 1 April 1889 at Maury
Co. Tennessee. They were the parents of 5 children. She married
her stepson William Shirley following the death of her husband.
children: (by 1st wife)
1(i). Edith Clymenia Shirley born 13 October 1851 at
Nashville TN, age 10 in parent's 1860 census (as Edith Jennings);
age 20 in parent's 1870 census household; She died 8 Jul 1924
at Chicago, Cook Co IL at age 73; She married Alexander S. Roberts;
According to her death record, she was the dau of William Shirley
who was born in Lankenshire England (sic) and Minerva Lamberson
who was born in Bedford MA
1(ii). Elizabeth Shirley born 4 June 1853 TN, age 7
in parent's 1860 census (as Elizabeth Jennings); age 17 in parent's
1870 census household; She died 13 Sep 1949 at Nashville, Davidson
Co TN, age 96. Married ____Alexander
1(iii). Alfred Melvin Shirley born 17 November 1855
Columbia TN, age 4 in parent's 1860 census (as Alfred Jennings);
age 15 in parent's 1870 census household; He died 1902 (Appendicitis),
buried Rose Hill Cemetery, Maury Co TN
The Herald and Mail (Columbia TN) Dec 3, 1875, pg 2 - SET
FREE - I have this day set my dutiful son, Alfred M. Shirley,
free to act for himself as though he was twenty-one years old.
He is authorized to contract for himself, and I will not claim
any of the proceeds of his labor; nor will I be responsible for
any of his contracts - Wm. Shirley
married Mary G. Young Sept 6, 1876, Maury Co. TN. She
was born Feb 10, 1854 and died April 3, 1918.
children:
2(i). Charles S. Shirley born 1878 (see photo)
3(i). Melvin Shirley (see photo)
Ancestor of DNA Kit #1034188
2(ii). Dasey Shirley born 1879
1(iv). Samuel T. Shirley born 18 September 1861 TN,
age 10 in 1870 census and age 19 in parent's 1880 census household;
He died in 1947 at Logan Co Kentucky
1(v). William Nelson Shirley born 3 July 1864 Nashville
TN, age 6 in 1870 census and age 15 in parent's 1880 census household;
He died 22 Dec 1937 Columbia, Maury Co, TN buried Rose Hill in
Columbia.
Shirley, William, Discoverer of phospahte in Maury buried.
Funeral services were held at Rose Hill Cemetery this afternoon
for William Nelson Shirley, 73 years old stone carver and prospector
and th efirst discoverer of phosphate rock in Maury County. Mr.
Shirley died late yesterday at the King's Daughters Hospital,
where he was taken after he broke his leg in a fall on the icy
streets here the second week of this month. It was in 1878 when
a lad of 14 that Mr. Shirley, who was then learning his father's
trade of stonecutter, did his first prospecting here, seeking
onyx, zinc and other ores. However, nothing came of this discovery
at the time, it being in the last few years of the nineteeth
century before mining was started here and that on new discoveries
of much more valuable deposits near Mt Pleasant. Mr Shirley was
a stone carver for 57 years but was never "in the money"
in his phosphate deals. A man of visionary mind, he was often
planning for new ventures but few of his activities netted him
much profit although until his heath failed he was a hard worker.
He had been aided for years by friends here, including H. Allison
Webster, Sr who had been associated with him in prospecting years
ago. Two years agi he did his last active prospecting for pay,
this being the cutting of the stone on the W. P. Morgan farm
near here, when a veteran's hospital was being sought. Mr. Shirley
was born in Nashville, but came here early in life with his parents.
(Daily Herald, Columbia TN 23 Dec 1937)
married Anna Elizabeth Morrow Shirley, his step-mother,
who was born Sept 26, 1864 and died June 7, 1940.
children:
2(i). Marion Shirley (twin) born 28 Apr 1904 at
Athens AL; He died at Central State Hospital at Nasville TN on
9 Nov 1932, age 28. (note: his death certificate implies that
his father William Shirley was his grandfather, stone mason b
England)
2(ii). Meredith Shirley (twin)
2(iii). Milton Shirley born about 1908
1(vi). Emily Rose Shirley born 12 October 1867 TN,
age 4 in 1870 census and age 13 in parent's 1880 census household;
She married Robert Lee Manor Aug 8, 1887
children: by 2nd wife Anna Morrow
1(vii). John Andrew Shirley born 1890; age 10 in his
parents' 1900 census household; Lived with his mother and new
husband, their step-brother in 1910 census; He died 1954
1(viii). Sarah Ann (Sally) Shirley born 1891, age 9
in his parents' 1900 census household; Lived with his mother
and new husband, their step-brother in 1910 census;
1(ix). Riley Pillow Shirley born 1893, age 7 in his
parents' 1900 census household; Lived with his mother and new
husband, their step-brother in 1910 census;
Ancestor of DNA Kit #20492
1(x). Alexander Shirley born 1896; age 4 in his parents'
1900 census household; Lived with his mother and new husband,
their step-brother in 1910 census;
1(xi). Eva May Shirley born 1900, age 0 in her parents'
1900 census household; Lived with his mother and new husband,
their step-brother in 1910 census;
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William Shirley