MISC INFORMATION FOR BERRYMAN SHIRLEY BRANCH

MISC INFORMATION FOR BERRYMAN SHIRLEY BRANCH #38

Bashaba Jones, wife of Berryman Shirley Jr. and Malinda Jones, wife of Beverley Shirley, were daughters of William Jones one of the earliest settlers of Rabun Co. GA. William Jones married Bashaba Coffee who was a sister to General Ed Coffee, the buyer of land in Rabun Co. He had married Sarah Neville. There were five Coffee brothers who came to this County with him.

Berryman Shirley born Dec. 19, 1825, died Nov 22, 1864 ...is on an early carved tombstone at Bethel Church cemetery at Tiger (Rabun Co) Georgia. He was in Company E 16 GA Infantry C.S.A. and was severely wounded in the Keenesaw Mt. area. He wanted to see his wife just one more time. He was carried first to his father's house in Habersham County and was moved by his father's slaves to his home at Bethel (in Rabun County) where he died.

In a book written about the history of Rabun County by Dickerson, it says Berryman Shirley Sr. came to Habersham County Georgia from South Carolina. He married a Starnes and her father was a preacher.

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THE FOLLOWING WAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE PAST AS REMEMBERED BY FLETCHER SHIRLEY, at 76 YEARS OF AGE. (Died in 2003)

Fletcher remembers going to Elizabeth Crow's house after she died. Fletcher's mother asked his father why didn't he get some things of Y.J. Shirleys as everyone else had got something and he hadn't gotten anything yet. Fletcher's father hitched up a two horse wagon and he and Fletcher went over.

In the attic there were old beds, chests and one old bed William Shirley wouldn't take because it had ropes for springs and he wasn't going to sleep on it as it was too uncomfortable and he had springs to sleep on. He had slept on that bed when he was a boy. {The bed had probably belonged to Berryman Sr.}.

These are some of the things Fletcher remembers they did get. A box of shoe makers forming lasts, froe, old tools, spinning wheel, two or three malls, chest made from wide poplar lumber boards, couple of meat chests, old churns, jugs (for syrup) barrels, gum barrel about 2 ft. in diameter made from hollowed gum tree, gears, cradle, mowing blades, Berryman Shirley's old quilt frames, cooking utensils, sheep shears, gimlets.

Fletcher has a hatchet from his father who said it was "paps" (Y.J. Shirley), also he has the spinning wheel, quilt frames, shoe lasts, a froe, sheep shears, gimlets, chisels, tools and maybe a cooking utensil that was among the things that W.B. Shirley took from Elizabeth Crow Shirleys house belonging to Y.J. Shirley. They put some of the stuff in the barn and it stayed there for a long time. They used the jugs and churns and stored grain in the gum barrels and meat in the meat chests.

Fletcher has Y.J. Shirleys' long Kentucky muzzle loader rifle originally a flint lock. Y.J. Shirley being a mechanic (wood and iron) modernized the flint lock to a cap and ball. Reason it was so battered up he had it out in a hollow tree to keep Yankees from finding it after the Civil War. Fletcher personally purchased the rifle from John Shirley eldest son of Y.J. Shirley for $5.00 about the year 1943.

Fletcher also remembers a side saddle being in the attic. He thought it had a funny horn on it. There were other saddles up there, but Fletcher had never seen one like it and asked his Father about it. His Dad said it was Aunt Polly's side saddle.
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WILL OF YOUNG JACKSON SHIRLEY

Habersham County Georgia {1883}

In the name of God Amen. I, Young J. Shirley of said state and county being advanced in age and knowing that I must depart this life deem it right and proper to both respects my family and
myself that I should make a disposition of the property which a kind Providence has blessed me. I do therefore make this my last will and testament.

1st Item; I desire and direct that my body be buried in a decent Christian like manner, my soul I trust shall return to rest with God who gave it, as I hope for Eternal Salvation through the merits and atonements of the blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, whose Religion I have professed, and as I humbly trust enjoyed forty five years.

2nd Item; I desire and direct that all my just debts be paid without delay by my executors herein after named and appointed.

3rd Item; I give and bequeath and devise to my beloved wife Margaret E. Shirley for and during her natural life or widowhood parts of lots of land first number one hundred and fifty six in the Tenth District of said County containing sixty acres more or less. 2nd lot number one hundred and sixty five, one hundred and twenty five acres more or less in the Tenth District of said County. 3rd lot number 155, 10 District being 165 acres more or less, having debts to each of these numbers which gives a full description of each lot and number, to live and to be enjoyed by her, equally with my eight heirs to wit, Martha E. Shirley, John F. Shirley, Wm. B. Shirley, Bashaba M. Shirley, Vestah S. Shirley, Margaret J. Shirley, Young J. Shirley Jr., Francis H. Shirley. It is my will and desire that my wife and children remain together and cultivate the lands doing the best you all can for your support and education and live in peace and serve God in the best manner you can.

Item 4; I give and bequeath to my beloved wife for and during her natural life all my household and kitchen furniture, farming utensils, smith tools, mechanical tools, wagons and what I possess, one horse Bruit Stock hogs cattle and sheep to be used and enjoyed by her self and my eight heirs as long as they stay together, if any of the boys or girls marries, do the best you can to fit them up for house keeping according to your needs, let them build on the land imbraced in this will and clear for themselves and make their own support without rent provided my wife can, with help from the rest support herself and then, if Elisabeth, in declining age should become weakly and sickly, I want you children to take care of her as a mother. I want her to care for you children as a mother.

Item 5; It is my will and desire at the death of my wife Margaret E. Shirley that the lands and property described in the foregoing items that is left at her death to be equally divided
between my eight heirs named in this will in the following manner. 1st that my executors have the power to choose or select three disinterested men to divide the lands equally between my eight heirs as near as they can and all the rest of the property that remains of my estate equally to each heir. 2nd It is my will that my executor or my executrix have the power to execute or make a deed to each heir the part that is allotted to them by the trustees or men appointed for that purpose. If any of the heirs is not satisfied to live on their part given to them they can sell to some of the rest of the heirs or somebody else.

Item 5; I hereby constitute and appoint my son John F. Shirley my executor and my daughter Martha E. Shirley my executrix of this my last will and testament this March 8th 1883.

Signed sealed declared and published by Young J. Shirley.......

THE BERRYMAN SHIRLEY MATERIAL SUPPLIED BY MR. AND MRS FLETCHER
SHIRLEY.
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The following info received from Charles Patten in 1992:

Transcripts of Docuaments in the settlement of Berryman Shirleys Sr.'s estate:

Received of as a gift, formy own use of Young J.Shirley Adminstrator ofthe Estate of Berryman shirley deeased Tobaaco belonging to the estate of Berryman deceased. This May 17, 1875 Susannah X Shirley (her mark). ====================================================================

Received of Young J. Shirley, Admr. of the Estate of Berryman Shirley, deceased, that portion of the household funiture cook utensils and etc. that the appraisors give to Susannah Shirley, the wife of Berryman Shirley deceased for her support and comfort amounty to fifty nine dollars and forty cents. July 29, 1875. Susannah X Shirley (her mark). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Received of Christopher Smith, 26 1/2 bushels of corn loaned to him year 1875 to support him while making his crop of the farm of Berryman Shirley deceased. This Nov 20, 1875. Young J. Shirley, Administrator. ===================================================================

Received of Young J. Shirley, Administator of the Estate of Berryman Shirley, deceased: ten barrels of corn and five hundred bundles of fadder, the rent made upon the farm of Berryman Shirley deceased and attending to matters and things of hers, him and his wife in the year 1875 this Dec 28th 1875. C. Smith, Mary Smith. ====================================================================

Received of Young J. Shirley, Admr. of the Estate of Berryman deceased, eleven dollars and twenty five cents for labor done on the farm of Berryman Shirley, deceased. December 28, 1875. C. Smith. ====================================================================

The annual return for the estate of Berryman Shirley, Sr. deceased for the year ending July 30, 1877, shows the children of Berryman, Jr. as legatees receiving $200. ====================================================================

After Beverly Shirley died in Sept of 1891, Malinda Shirley applied for and received twelve months support. The petition was signed by Malinda Shirley and C.S. Shirley. ====================================================================

The old cemetery .. a small graveyard, is on the Marvin Scrogg place... formerly Berryman Shirley Sr.'s homeplace, near Alto, Georgia.

Directions: Leave Conelia by old Hiway #23, go south to Alto Post Office, turn right on B.C.Grant road, go .9 of a mile to first black top road, turn left across expressway # 365. Go about 150 feet to a paved blacktoproad and turn left.Go downthis road .5 of a mile and the drive to the Scroggs home is on the right. You will hve to inquire here because the graves are in a pasture.

The three graves have a lovely iron fence around them. The graves are those of:

1. In Memory of an infant son of B.V.and V. Shirley, born Oct 28, 1855.

2. In Memory of B.J. son of B.V. and M. Shirley born, June 15, 1854 died Oct 21, 1854.

3. In Memory of Malinda wife of B.V. Shirley, born Jan 20, 1818, died June 28, 1854 age 36Y 5M 9D.

Others buried in this cemetery are the 3 wives of Young Jackson, possibly the 4th one too and, Young Jackson born Aug 26, 1817,died Sept 13,1898.

Plus a few others....

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Old letters....

January 31, 1897, Newport (or Nugent) Alabama

from Josiah Starnes Shirley (born Feb 1, 1849, d. Jan 3, 1936,buried Shirley cemetery Fayette Co. Alabama.

Mr. Y. J. Shirley

My Dear Uncle it has been some time since Iheard from you. all are well atthis time. Hopethe same blessings of God are resting on all of you. I made a grood crop last year and wen to texas last summer. Spent three weeks on an excursion. I saw on J.W. Tary (sp?) and son there and there familys going to Texas the sametime I went on the train. I saw several of my old acquantences. Was at brother Cosbys. Ny was wa agood help to me, my health has improved, my mind mutch better reconciled. I am now about to do hard work.Am cleaning up my heavy timbered. Have about ten acres cleared. Am to clean about 4 more.

My oldest daughter is married, has 3children. My secon daughter is now in school. I aim to send my oldest son next year. I aim to give my children an education if possible. They are all grown in size but 2. The youngest is past seven years of age. Oldest: Vesta Malinda, Annie Delitha, Berryman Beverly, Elizabeth Allen, Sarah Frances, Josiah Jonah, Ethel.

You see that all have double names except the last. They will all soon be grown. I cannot tell what will become of them. All of them belong tothe church except the three youngest. You can see if I give them an education it will keep me busy. I would have moved to Texas last fall if I could of sold out but the time has come when it is impossible to sell land hear for anything like it value. We made near nine bales of cotton last year, plenty of corn and oats and meet to do us. Sold cotton at a fraction over 7 cents per pound which brought about $280.00. I am making all I can and buying little as little as I possibly can so as to get through without having to go indebt. I have just made 2 sadles that would have cost $20.00, was offered $4.50. My holm made saddle pockets. I have enough holm tan leather to make our shoes. Well uncle, church is cold and religion is at a low ebb. I have not got the call of any church this year. I aim to visit the churches this and spend the sabbath in God's service. Pray for me that I may do duty. I am fully determined God being my helper to live nearer up to duty. I would have wrote sooner and oftener but I have so many (cares) on me I find my self neglecting mutch I would do. When you get this let me hear from you soon. If we shall not be permitted to see each other hear, I hope we will soon meet where parting will be no mor.

Your affectionate nephew.

J.S. Shirley

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In Reply to an inquery re: Susannah Starnes m. Berryman Shirley, posted by June
Thompson Mize on March 08, 1999 at 13:08:16: jmize@mail.scovill.com

Reply "Posted by Virginia Weeks Warbington on June 07, 1999 at 09:04:07:

Susannah Starnes parents were Aaron and Mary Ann ( ? ) Starnes. I don't know about
her father being a preacher. Aaron's parents were Ebenezer Stearns/Starnes (b. 23 Apr 1722-d. 1790) and Anna Fields who came from Watertown, Connecticut in the family group following their brother (and missionary minister), Rev. Shubael Stearns, to Sandy Creek, NC where they were the charter members.

Your Ebenezer Stearns/Starnes is a brother to Peter Stearns/Starnes who died in Fairfield Co., SC. I am a descendant of Peter's son, Ebenezer Starnes (b. 1738) and his first wife Elizabeth Callahan.

One of your Ebenezer's and my Peter's sisters, Martha Stearns, was the second wife of Rev. Daniel Marshall, the Separate Baptist minister who settled near Augusta, GA, founding a church there at Kiowee Creek. After Daniel's death, his son Abraham became pastor of his church."

Thank you Virginia and June....