Edmund Shirley and daughter Jane Shirley

[Lynne Pugh]

Hi.  I am researching the Habington (Abington) and Barneby families from Herefordshire and their connection to the Shirley family.

Around 1552 Richard Barneby of Acton, Worcestershire married Mary Habington, daughter and co-heiress with her two sisters of the estates of her father Richard Habington (Abington),which included Brockhampton in Herefordshire. According to all the family histories and trees I have seen Richard Habington was married to Joyce Shirley, daughter of Thomas Shirley of Enfield.  Richard died in 1545 at the age of 27 and his wife Joyce re-married Thomas Blount of Sodington, Worcestershire.

However there is in Bockleton church in Worcestershire, a tomb and effigies of the above Richard Barneby and his wife Mary who died in 1597 and 1574 respectively.  The inscription above the effigies records that Mary was the daughter of Richard Abington and his wife Joanne or Joan, daughter of Edmund Shirley.  

However I have not been able to find any references to an Edmund Shirley or his daughter Joanne so this is a bit of a conundrum.  Who were they?   Is the information on the tomb incorrect?  What is the evidence that Richard Abington was married to Joyce Shirley daughter of Thomas?

Any help would be appreciated.