Irish Shirleys in Worcester County, MA

[Shelley]

My Shirley's left Ireland in 1853, sailing to Boston on the Ship Frank Pierce.  They settled in Worcester Co, MA along with many weavers and Irish Protestants.  Through vital records I have connected the children of George & Jane Shirley: Elizabeth, Nancy, James, John and Joseph.  Unfortunately, all but Elizabeth, James and John had passed away by 1860.  
They others were buried in Wilkinsville Cemetery in Sutton, MA.

Interested in learning about this Irish community in Worcester as well as anyone who might be connected to my Shirley's or the other ones living there.  Mine left Grafton for Philadelphia by about 1865, then moving to Illinois where they settled by 1870.

[Shelley]

I just re-read my first post and realized I didn't say where my Irish Shirley's lived. They lived in County Londonderry in 1663 where one lived in "Ruskie" and paid the hearth tax. There is mention of Shirley/Shirlia/Sherlow in the parishes of Aghadowey and Agivey in 1700, 1723, 1823, 1831, 1836 and beyond.
George, who left Ireland with his family in 1853, is found in 1831 census living in Glenkeen, Aghadowey Parish.
I am interested in corresponding with others who have ancestors in this area.

[rymadi2328]

HI
My name is Matthew Shirley my side of the James Shirley family came from this area and moved to Mason County, Il

[rymadi2328]

2(iv). James Shirley born 9 May 1838 Londonderry, Ireland (corrected DoB); He worked as a weaver in Grafton MA in 1855 census, age 17; He moved to Philadelphia PA in the late 1860s; Enumerated in Mason Co IL in 1870 census; He died 15 May 1906 (corrected DoD) and was buried at Fairview Cemetery Lynchburg Township Mason Co., IL

married Jane Pattison on 6 December 1865 at Grafton Worcester Co MA (corrected place). (The family Bible says they were married 26 November 1865); She was born 24 October 1839 (changed from 4 January 1834 Ireland) daughter of Robert and Mary Patterson; She lived with daughter Martha Williams in 1910 Mason IL census; She died on 15 December 1914 in Mason Co., IL (DoD corrected)

6 Dec 1865 Worcester Co MA - James Shirley age 26 of Sutton [Worc] born Ireland ; weaver; son of George and Jane Shirley married Jane Patterson age 24 of Grafton, born Ireladn; dau of Robert and Mary Patterson; at Grafton

children:

3(i). George Shirley born 4 October 1866 at Sutton Worcester Co MA; He died 5 September 1867 at Philadelphia PA died young

3(ii). Mary Ann Shirley (corrected name) born 29 August 1867 at Philadelphia PA; She died 23 August 1868 at Philadelphia PA died young

3(iii). James (Jim) Shirley born 6 January 1870 at Lynchburg, Mason Co IL; He died 20 August 1952 at Bath Mason Co IL

married Lillie Belle Lippert on 5 February 1905; She was born 17 October 1883 at Mason Co IL daughter of John Emil Lippert and wife Luella Mae Allen. She died 28 November 1969.

children

4(i). Robena Shirley born 13 October 1905 at Mason Co IL; She married Archie Ackridge on 5 October 1925; She died 19 Jan 1998 at Woodford Co IL

4(ii). Nora Marie Shirley born 2 January 1907 at Mason Co IL; She died 23 January 1907 died young

4(iii). Nina Belle Shirley born 19 June 1908 at Mason Co IL; She died 19 April 1909 died young

4(iv). Jennie Louella Shirley born 4 August 1909 at Mason Co IL; She married Wayne Sherer on 21 October 1956, She died 10 March 1979

4(v). Roy Lippert Shirley born 22 September 1911 at Mason Co IL; He died 20 November 1995 at Shelby Co IL

married Faraba Anderson on 27 April 1971

4(vi). Merrit Paul Shirley born 7 October 1913 at Mason Co IL; He died 8 February 1998 at Mason Co IL

4(vii). Bertha Evelyn Shirley born 6 December 1915 at Mason Co IL; She married Aurel Lacey on 3 August 1940 at Cass Co IL; She died 2 November 1998 at Mason Co IL

MANITO [Mason Co IL] - Bertha E. Lacey, 82, of 201 N. Jefferson died at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 1998, at Hopedale Nursing Home. Born Dec. 6, 1915, in Snicarte to James and Lillie Belle Lippert Shirley, she married Aurel Lacey on Aug. 3, 1940, in Virginia, Ill. He died Dec. 20, 1995, in Hopedale. Four sisters and two brothers also preceded her in death. Surviving are three sons, Lee, Earl and Kenny, all of Manito; one brother, James Shirley of Browning; one sister Ferne Jones of Metamora; six grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. She was a member of Manito United Methodist Church. She worked at Lee's Bakery from 1974 to 1976. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at her church. The Rev. Deb Cain will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Maas Funeral Home. Burial will be in Meadow Lawn Cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church.

4(viii). Ferne Corlena Shirley born 3 June 1918 at Mason Co IL; She married Richard Jones on 5 July 1936 in IL; She died 1 October 2005 at Woodford Co IL

METAMORA [Woodford Co IL] - Ferne Corlena Jones, 87, of 203 E. Madison, Metamora, died at 1:30 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 1, 2005) at her residence. She was born May 3, 1918, in Easton, to James and Lillie Belle Lippert Shirley. She married John R. "Dick" Jones July 5, 1936, in Southern Illinois. He died Dec. 13, 1970. Surviving are three sons, Larry (Coleen) Jones of Bloomington; Terry Jones of Congerville; and John (Gina) Jones of Edgewater, Fla.; three daughters, Shirley (Roger) Mueser of Roanoke; Janice (Ron) Alig of Morton; and Lori (Brad Weinstein) Jones of Metamora; 19 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and one brother, James (Rosemary) Shirley of Astoria. She was preceded in death by one son, James; two brothers; and three sisters. She was a cook at Metamora Grade School and then Hallmark Metamora Fixtures Operations before retiring. She was a member of Metamora Christian Union Church and its Women's Guild, and the American Legion AuxiliaryHer service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at her church, the Rev. Jeremy Heller officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Mason Funeral Home, Metamora Chapel, and also one hour before the service at the church. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Metamora. Memorials may be made to her church. (Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL, October 4, 2005)

4(ix). James Emil Shirley born 5 April 1921 at Mason Co IL; He died 19 June 2009 at Fulton Co IL

married Rosemary Hamblin on 6 December 1946 at Mason Co IL; She died 28 March 2008 Astoria, Fulton Co IL (contacted by daughter Peggy (Shirley) Spencer in 2010)