MISC INFORMATION FOR BENJAMIN SHIRLEY BRANCH

A descendant of Benjamin Shirley, Conrad Shirley, wrote a book about Benjamin. Some of the info below is from the book.

Benjamin fought in the Rev. War. He enlisted on the 27th of January 1777 for a three year duration in Capt. John Campe Carter's Company of Artillery, (Virginia line on Continental Establishment), and was discharged on the 10th of January. Benjamin Shirley fought valiantly for his country's freedom in that period of time. He was at Valley Forge by the 3rd of June 1778, at White Plains, New York by the 22nd of July 1778 and at West Point, New York by Sept 6th. Later he was stationed at Camp Chester, Virginia near Yorktown where he is listed as a guard to General Knox.

Benjamin was listed in the Army as a "Matross", a soldier next in rank below the gunner in a train of Artillery who acted as a kind of assistant mate. In today's army he would be a Private. On Benjamin's Army monthly pay vouchers, the amount of payment was 8 2/3 dollars. Three years after he was discharged from the army, he was awarded a sum of seventy-six pounds on one voucher dated March the 7th, 1783 and a sum of eighty-one pounds, fourteen shillings, ten pence on another pay voucher dated June 23, 1783.

After the Rev. War was over, Benjamin moved to the Ninety-Six District of South Carolina territory sometime in 1784. The Ninety-Six was later broken up into many counties.

On July 25, 1784, Benjamin purchased 200 acres below the ancient boundry line on Turkey Creek, a branch of Saluda River, adjoining William Robinson, deceased, and James Smith, recorded Jan 3, 1785.

On Sept 4th 1784 for the consideration of four hundred pounds, thirteen shillings and four sterling each, Benjamin was granted two separate 200 acre plots on Turkey Creek, a branch of the Saluda River in the Ninety-Six District of SC.

On April 22, 1785 he obtained 200 acres on Turkey Creek, a branch of Saluda River, Northwest adjoining James Shirley and vacant land.

On March 5, 1792, he obtained 841 acres on the Hogskin River and Corners Creek. These lands were between Honea Path and Donald's South Carolina not far from the present Branyon Cemetery where his son, Nathaniel Shirley is buried.

Benjamin farmed this land until he died at the age of about 64. Benjamin died without leaving a will, therefore, two of his sons-in-law, James Richey and Weldon Pearman were named as Administrators of his goods and chattels.

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Conrad Shirley paid for a Memorial Marker for Benjamin Shirley at the Florida National Cemetery.

If only we had known it was a memorial marker it would have saved some anxious moments thinking Benjamin's remains had been removed from his grave and moved to a Florida Cemetery. Marie found the following on ancestry.com and she shared it with us.

Name:	Benjamin Shirley
Birth Date:	3 Mar 1762
Death Date:	3 Mar 1824
Service Start Date:	27 Jan 1777
Service End Date:	23 Jun 1783
Interment Date:	16 Feb 1994
Cemetery:	Florida National Cemetery
Cemetery Address:	6502 SW. 102nd Ave. Bushnell, FL 33513
Buried At:	Section Mb Site 109

We were upset at the thought of his possible removal. The following day, Ken encouraged Marie to contact the cemetery in FL. to see if this was true, who did this, etc. She placed the call and a gentleman said he would have to pull the file and call her back. In a short time he did and said Benjamin had not been reburied there, it was a marker placed there by Conrad Shirley to honor him. What a relief.

Interment and buried usually means the person is there and that mislead us to think he was actually buried there.

Benjamin Shirley remains buried at the Greenville Presbyterian Church Cemetery in South Carolina with his wife Elizabeth. __________________________________________________________________________________________

Benjamin did not leave a will. His two son-in-laws, James Richey and Weldon Pearmon, were named as administrators of his goods and chattels.

His goods were inventoried and sold on October 11, 1824. Some of the many items listed were plows, tools, barrels, saddles, cow, horses, (one blind horse sold for $16), sheep, geese, bushels of wheat and corn, bales of cotton, household items and last but not least, slaves. The slaves were listed as follows: One Negro man named Jay purchased by James Richey, $500; one Negro boy named Noah purchased by Robert Kay, $400; one Negro woman and her youngster purchased by Weldon Pearmon $600, one Negro girl purchased by Elizabeth Shirley, $300, one Negro boy named Jackson purchased by Nathaniel Shirley, $200, One Negro boy named George purchased by John Shirley, $175.

Benjamin's wife Elizabeth and their children along with neighboring farmers were the buyers of his goods and chattels. The house and 1241 acres of land were not mentioned in the estate sale papers that Conrad Shirley had in his possession before his death.

Elizabeth, his wife, died two years later in April 1826. She had a will and it reads as follows:

In the name of God Amen, I Elizabeth Shirley being weake (sic) of body but of sound and perfect mind and memory doth make and publish this my last will and testament as to what worldly goods I possess. After all my true debts and funeral expenses is paid, I do hereby will and bequeath that all my property which I possess shall be made sale of directly after my decease and the proceeds thereof together with all moneys in hand or in notes to be equally divided between the different legatees as follows: that is to say my sons Nathaniel Shirley, Mastin Shirley and John Shirley, and my daughters Lety Pearman, Armond Kay, Julaney Richey and Rapady Cullins. I also bequeath to my daughter Lettice Wilson, five dollars. I also bequeath the balance of one eighth part of all my effects be and the same is hereby directed to be appropriated to the redemption of a certain tract of land, situated on the waters of Little River, whereon John and Lettice Wilson, my son-in-law and daughter now live. Said land being conveyed __ my son-in-law James Richey and that the said James Richey on receipt of the money he has advanced to give a bond to secure the right title and interest in the said premises to the bodily heirs of my daughter Lettice Wilson and to them , their assignees forever and do hereby appoint my son Nathaniel Shirley and my son-in-law James Richey to be my lawful Executors of this my last will and testament. In witness where I have hereunto sent my and and seal this 27th day of March in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Six. (Signed X)

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A sale was held on May 12, 1826 for possessions of Elizabeth Shirley. Some of the items sold on the date and to whom sold is listed below....

John Shirley, 1 teapot and sugar dish .50 cents, bed and bed clothes $18.75, 1 shovel and tongs $1.18 3/4.

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Birth:		Mar. 3, 1841
Death:		Jul. 27, 1906
Co. I, 3rd Georgia State Troops & Co. G, 56th Georgia Infantry; Confederate States of America. Enlisted as a private in Co. I, 3rd Regiment GA State Troops October 8, 1861. Roll dated April 7, 1862, last on file, shows him present. Mustered out April 1862. Enlisted as a private in Co. G, 56th Regiment GA Infantry May 3, 1862. Received pay January 29, 1863. No later record.

Burial: Union Hill Forsyth County Georgia, USA