Descendants of Richard Shirley of Virginia

Shirley

Generation #5

John (4Richard, 3Richard, 2Thomas, 1Thomas) Shirley

John Shirley was born 8/27/1738 in Prince William Co VA. Sometime before 8/1767, John migrated in conjunction with his family to what would become Laurens Co SC. In about 1770, John married Rebecca Shirley b. c. 1748 in South Carolina.

John and Rebecca have been cited migrating west, over the mountains into what is today Tennessee, eventually returning to Old 96 in South Carolina. There is a report of a John Shirley who fought with the Over-the-Mountain Men at King's Mountain NC. Those hearty pioneers gathered in the west of Virginia (now Kentucky) and North Carolina (now Tennessee) and marched east to face Cornwallis' British Army. On 10/7/1780, the Patriot Militia destroyed the 1,000 man Tory Force under Maj Ferguson and then chased Cornwallis' Army up into North Carolina. Thus, ending the War in the West.

After the War, John is found in the many censuses, living in Laurens Co SC. In 1811 John Shirley is cited as witness to a land sale between his brother, who had moved on to Fairfield Co SC, and his oldest son Robert. John died 1816 in Laurens Co SC and son Robert acted as administrator of his estate. Rebecca lived until 1825. The probate letter from her estate provides the names of their children.

John Shirley: On 11 Aug. 1767 a Royal land grant of 500 a. surveyed in Berkley Co. on a branch of Saluda River called Raburn Cr. bounded on all sides by vacant Land. Recorded 15 Feb. 1769 sig. John Caldwell.
The Kings Over the Mountain Men... page 484:
#225 John Shirley, under [Col Benjamin] Cleveland in Revolutionary War.
31 Jan. 1788. Sold to William Mitchell 200 a. in Laurens Co. which was granted to John Shirley, 28 Aug. 1767, on Raburn Cr., wit. Aaron Starnes, William Goodman, sig. John Shirley, Rebecca Shirley.
Males Born
After		 # Shirles Females # Shirles
18+   4 John
Robert
Jonathan
Aaron

All

 12 Rebecca
Rebecca
Edy
Polly
Hulda
Sarah
Lydia
Jane
Elizabeth
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
17- 1778 1 Birey
(Beverly)
Males  Born
After		 # Shirley  Females Born
After		 # Shirley
45+   1 John 45+   1 Rebecca
25-44 1755 0   25-44 1755 1 Rebecca
18-25 1775 1 Birey
(Beverly)		 18-25 1775 3 Edy
Polly
Hulda
10-15 1785 0   10-15 1785 4 Sarah
Lydia
Jane
Elizabeth
to-10 1790 2 Unknown
Unknown		 to-10 1790 3 Easter
Unknown
Unknown
Males  Born
After		 # Shurley  Females Born
After		 # Shurley
45+   1 John, Sr. 45+   1 Rebecca
25-44 1765 0   25-44 1765 0
18-25 1785 0 18-25 1785 3 Jane
Elizabeth
Easter
10-15 1795 0   10-15 1795 0
to-10 1800 4 Probably
grandchildren		 to-10 1800 1 Probably
Grandchild
Robert Shirley of Fairfield Co. SC sold 150 acres to Robert Shirley...son of John Shirley of Laurens Co. SC. land on Raburn Creek. This was witnessed by Elijah and John Shirley.
March 16, 1816 Letters of Adm. for the estate of John Shirley, deceased was given to Robert Shirley. Those listed as purchasers at the sale were: David Anderson, Jacob Niswanger, Birey Shirley, James McPherson, Samuel Freeman, John Shirley, Robert Shirley, Thomas Adkins, Wm. McPherson, Jonathon Forgey, James Watson, George Elmore, George Shirley, Aaron Shirley, Elizabeth Shirley, Ebenezer Starnes. Martin Shaw, Ransom Fuller, John Harvey, Wm. West, Wm. Redden. Appraisal of the estate was by: Jacob Niswanger, James McFerson and William Moore.
Males  Born
After		 # Shirley  Females Born
After		 # Shirley
45+   0   45+   1 Rebecca
25-44 1775 0   25-44 1775 3 Edy (Widow)
Elizabeth
Easter
18-25 1795 0   18-25 1795 0  
16-18 1802 0  
10-15 1805 4 Probably
grandchildren		 10-18 1805 1 Probably
grandchild
to-10 1810 1

"

 to-10 1810 1

"

Writ of Summons in the Case of Shubel Starnes vs. John Shirley:
May 2nd, 1825 ... Laurens Co South Carolina

To John, Aaron, Beverly, Lydia, Jane, Easter, Polly, Sarah, Hulda and Edy -- legal heirs and legal representatives of Rebecca Shirley, who died intestate.

Greetings: You are hereby required to appear at the Court of Ordinary to be holden at Laurens Court House for the said District on the 6th day of June 1825 to show cause, if any of you can, why the real estate of Rebecca Shirley deceased containing ninety-six acres more or less, situate in the District and State aforesaid, being part of four hundred granted to Richard Shirley bounded by land of Jacob Newanger, Beverly Shirley and Shubel Starnes, should not be divided or sold attaining the same in equal porportion to the said John Shirley, Aaron Shirley, Beverly Shirley, Lydia Shirley, Jane Shirley, Elizabeth Shirley, Easter Shirley, Polly married to Graham Elmore, Sarah married to William McPerson, Rebecca married to Elijah Elmore, Hulda married to George Elmore and Edy Wright, widow.

Given under my hand and seal the 2nd day of May 1825.  David Anderson, Ordinary, Laurens District.

    Children

        Note: Two Shirley boys, Jonathon and Beverly, married two Savage girls, Sarah and Elizabeth.

    1. Robert Shirley

Robert Shirley of Fairfield Co. SC sold 150 acres to Robert Shirley...son of John Shirley of Laurens Co. SC. land on Raburn Creek. This was witnessed by Elijah and John Shirley. 
1850 Federal Census: Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
HN  FN  LAST NAME  FIRST NAME     AGE SEX  OCCUP.   BIRTHPLACE
===============================================================
        Shirley    Aaron          40  M             SC
                   Anna           34  F             GA
        Shirley    Robert         75  M             SC

    2. Jonathan Shirley

    4. Aaron Shirley b. c. 1774 Old District 96 (Laurens Co) SC

    5. Edy Shirley

    6. Rebecca Shirley

    7. Polly Shirley

    8. Beverly Shirley

    9. Hulda Shirley

    10. Sarah Shirley b. c. 1784 Laurens Co SC

    11. Lydia Shirley b. 1786 Laurens Co SC

    12. Jane Shirley b. c. 1788 Laurens Co SC

    13. Elizabeth Shirley b. c. 1789 Laurens Co SC

    14. Easter Shirley b. c. 1791 Laurens Co SC

Generation #6

Caveat
This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
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