John "Judge" Shirley

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2(i). John "Judge" Shirley born about 1794 VA died in 1876 Syrene, Texas. On Jan 26, 1835 John and 2nd wife Fannie sold a 1/2 section in Clark Co. IN that John had bought from David Worth Oct 7, 1829 (Floyd Co. Books D page 234 and G page 604). An abandoned cemetery at the Knobs has a tombstone for Clarissa, daughter of J. and F. Shirley d. Mar 30, 1836 in her 8th year. (Her birth date would be before the marriage of John and Fannie, but must be their daughter). On June 30, 1848 John Shirley was granted a patent on 800 acres south east of Medoc. In the 1850 census of Jasper Co. MO we find John and Eliza with Charlotte A. 12 years (born 1838 Indiana), John A.M. 8 years (born 1842 Missouri), Myra 2 years (born 1848 Missouri), Benton 9 months (born 1849 Missouri) living in the household. In the 1850 census slave schedule, John Shirley is shown as the owner of 8 slaves. On Mar 16, 1850 he sold 160 acres to David Martin for $700. In June 1851 John Shirley bought two quarter-acre lots from John and Matilda Richardson located in the town of Carthage. In 1856 John Shirley sold this farm to George W. Broome. On Mar 29, 1861 George W. Broome advertised this same farm in the Carthage Southwest News..."600 acres of spring River bottom land situated in Jasper Co. about three miles northwest of Sherwood, and on one of the most beautiful streams in the west. There is 100 acres in cultivation, has on it a small apple orchard, dwelling house, kitchen, stable and c., has a good well. The larger portion of it is heavily timbered; stone coal is abundant in the vicinity, and a more desirable stock farm could not be found in the Southwest." John Shirley's real estate holdings increased from $600 in 1850 to $4000 real estate and $6000 personal property in 1860. John Shirley kept a hotel and tavern in Carthage which included a livery stable and blacksmith shop. In the 1860 census John is recorded as a hotel keeper in Jasper Co. MO with property worth $10,000. In the settlement of his father Christian Shirley's estate in 1865 John received 6 20/100 acres. In 1873 the court recorded that John Shirley of Jasper Co. MO did not pay taxes on the land for a number of years, and the land and debt was assumed by Denton Shirley, brother of John. The Floyd Co. IN records further show that John Shirley died by 1877 and that on April 17, 1877, a quit-claim was signed by Eliza Shirley, John Shirley and Myra Walker, all of Jasper Co. MO. (John's widow, his son and daughter).

married 1st Nancy Fowler April 6, 1818 in Clark Co. IN. They divorced in 1829.

married 2nd Fannie Minnich May 15, 1829 Knobs, Floyd IN. He divorced his second wife in 1836

On the fourth Monday of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven and whereas the said cause being called for trial at the said town of the said court and the said Frances Shirley, by Henry P. Thorton, her counsel and the said John Shirley, by Hugh L. Livingston his counsel appeared. And the issue of the fact being joined a jury was empowered and sworn to try one of said issues of fact incharged in said bill to wit: that of adultry do say and fine other mature deliberation that the said John Shirley is guilty of adultry in manner and form as charged in said complaintants bill and other allegations in said bill being sufficiently by proof the said court did on this 27th day of April at the terms aforsaid of said court in the year aforsaid amongst other things order and judge and decree that the bands of matrimony therefore existing between John Shirley and Frances Shirley be dissolved

married 3rd Eliza Pennington May 11, 1837 in Green Co. IN. She died Jan 6, 1894 near Dallas Texas. In her death notice in the local newspaper it mentions Eliza for several years lived upon the charity of the Methodist Church of which she was a member. She was regarded as a pattern of piety.