John Shirley, Esq.

• John Shirley, Esq.1,2,3,4,5
• M, #85278, b. circa 1426, d. 18 May 1485
• Father Ralph Shirley, Esq., Constable of Melbourne Castle1,6,7 b. c 1410, d. 26 Dec 1466
• Mother Margaret Staunton1,6,7 b. c 1410, d. b 1435
• John Shirley, Esq. was born circa 1426 at of Staunton Harald in Breedon, Leicestershire, England; Age 40 in 1466.1,3,5 He married Eleanor Willoughby, daughter of Sir Hugh Willoughby, Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, & Lincolnshire and Margaret Freville, circa 1457 at of Staunton Harold, Leicestershire, England; They had 8 sons (Sir Ralph; Thomas; Robert; Hugh; Richard; Henry, a cleric; Baldwin; & Nicholas) and 5 daughters (Anne, wife of John Danvers; Alice, wife of Robert Brokesby, Esq; Margaret; Jane, wife of Richard Kniveton; & Eleanor, wife of Robert Haselrigge).1,2,3,4,5 John Shirley, Esq. died on 18 May 1485 at Staunton-Harrold, Leicestershire, England; Buried at Gerondon Abbey, Leicestershire.1,3,5
• Family Eleanor Willoughby b. c 1433, d. a 1487
• Children
  • Alice Shirley+8,9,3,10,5 b. c 1459, d. c 1500
  • Hugh Shirley+8 b. c 1468
• Citations
• 1.[S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 652.
• 2.[S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 232.
• 3.[S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. IV, p. 28.
• 4.[S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 40.
• 5.[S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. IV, p. 627.
• 6.[S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. IV, p. 27.
• 7.[S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. IV, p. 626.
• 8.[S61] Unknown author, Family Group Sheets, Family History Archives, SLC.
• 9.[S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. I, p. 329.
• 10.[S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. I, p. 565.
• From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2838.htm#...

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• Anne VERNON
• Born: ABT 1476, Haddon, Derbyshire, England
• Died: 1497
• Father: Henry VERNON of Tong (Sir Knight)
• Mother: Anne TALBOT
• Married: Ralph SHIRLEY of Staunton Harold (b. ABT 1458 - d. 6 Jan 1517) (son of John Shirley and Eleanor Willoughby) (w.1 of Elizabeth Walsh - m.3 Anne Warner - m.4 Jane Sheffield) 23 Jul 1496, Haddon, Derbyshire, England
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/VERNON.htm#Anne VERNON1

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• Eleanor WILLOUGHBY
• Born: ABT 1426, Middleton, Warwick, England
• Died: AFT 1486
• Father: Hugh WILLOUGHBY (Sir)
• Mother: Margaret FREVILLE
• Married: John SHIRLEY (son of Ralph Shirley and Margaret Staunton) ABT 1457, Staunton Harold, Leicestershire, England
• Children:
  • 1. Ralph SHIRLEY of Staunton Harold (b. ABT 1458 - d. 6 Jan 1517) (m.1 Elizabeth Walsh - m.2 Anne Vernon - m.3 Anne Warner - m.4 Jane Sheffield)
  • 2. Thomas SHIRLEY (b. ABT 1460)
  • 3. Robert SHIRLEY (b. ABT 1462 - d. AFT 1513) (m. ¿?)
  • 4. Margaret SHIRLEY (b. ABT 1464)
  • 5. Alice SHIRLEY (b. ABT 1466)
  • 6. Hugh SHIRLEY (b. ABT 1467) (m. Anne Hevyn)
  • 7. Jane SHIRLEY (b. ABT 1470)
  • 8. Nicholas SHIRLEY (b. ABT 1472)
  • 9. Henry SHIRLEY (b. ABT 1476)
  • 10. Richard SHIRLEY (b. ABT 1478)
  • 11. Baldwin SHIRLEY (b. ABT 1480)
  • 12. Eleanor SHIRLEY (b. ABT 1482)
  • 13. Anne SHIRLEY (b. ABT 1482)
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/WILLOUGHBY1.htm#Eleanor WILLOUGHBY1

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• ACCORDING TO OTHER SOURCES JOHN SHIRLEY IS THE SON OF RALPH AND MARGARET STAUNTON
• John Shirley1
• M, #283149, d. 1485
• Last Edited=10 May 2008
• John Shirley was the son of Ralph Shirley and Elizabeth Blount.2 He married Eleanor Willoughby, daughter of Sir Hugh Willoughby.1 He died in 1485.1
• Child of John Shirley and Eleanor Willoughby
  • 1.Sir Ralph Shirley+2 d. 1517
• Citations
• 1.[S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1416. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
• 2.[S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
• From: http://thepeerage.com/p28315.htm#i283149

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• The visitation of the county of Leicester in the year 1619 (1870)
• https://archive.org/details/visitationofcoun02camd
• https://archive.org/stream/visitationofcoun02camd#page/25/mode/1up
  • Shirley. - Pg.25-27
• Sewall son of Fulcher originall auncest'r of this family of Shirley. = ; ch: Henry, Fulcher
  • Fulcher 2 son of Sewall.
  • Henry son of Sewall held 5 knights fees in Darbish. of Rob't Ferrers Lord of Titburye. ; ch: Sewall
    • Sewall son of Henry held 9 knights fees of Wm. Erle Ferrers in the dayes of K. H. 2. = ch: Henry
      • Henry son of Sewall surnamed of Etingdon wher he first founded a Chauntrye in K. Johns tyme. ; ch: Sewall, Henry
        • Henry 2 sonne of Henry.
        • Sewall son of Henry of Etingdo' confirmed the Donation of his father made to the Chauntry of Etingdon' 27 H. 3. ; ch: Jeames (m. Agnes of Walton) Shirley
          • Jeames sonne of Sewall surnamed Shirley, lived Ao. 15. E. 1. = Agnes Da. of Symon of Walton after Bishop of Norwich. ; ch: Sr Raphe (m. Margt. Waldeshef) Shirley.
            • Sr Raphe Shirley Kt. Lo. of the manner of Shirley. = Margt. Da. & coh. of Will'm Waldeshef of Boyleston. ; ch: Sr Tho. (m. Isabel Basset) Shirley
              • Sr Tho. Shirley Kt. son of Sir Raphe. = Isabell sisster to Rafe Lo. Basset of Drayton. ; ch: Sr Hugh (m. Beatrix Brewes) Shirley.
              • Sr Hugh Shirley of Shirley Kt. he was M'r of the Falcons to K. H. 4 & was slayne in his parte at ye battell of Shrewberie Ao 4 H. 4. = Beatrix sister & sole hey. to Sir John Brewes Kt. ; ch: Isabella (m. John Cockaine), Elizab., Nicholas, Sr Raphe (m. Johanna Basset & Alice _ ) Shirley
                • Sr Raphe Shirley kt. high Shreife of the County of Nott' & Derby Ao 9 H. 5 ob. ultra mare. = Johanna first wife Da. & sole hey. of Tho. Basset of Brailesford. ; ch: Beatrix (m. John Brome), Raphe (m. Margt. Staunton & Elizab. Blount) Shirley; = Alice uxor 2.
                  • Raphe Shirley Esq. whose 3 wife was Lucy Da. of John Ashton & wydow of Sir Ric. Birom. = Margt. first wife sist'r & hey. to Tho. Staunton of Stanton Harald in Lesto'sh.; ch: (Pg.26 John (m. Elinor Willoughby) Shirley.) ; = Elizab. 2 wife Da. of Sir Tho. Blount and sister to Walter Lord Montioy. ; ch: (Pg.26 Raphe (m. Jane Bellingham), Elizab., Alice, Sanche, Anne, Marg't Shirley)
                  • https://archive.org/stream/visitationofcoun02camd#page/26/mode/1up
                    • John Shirley of Shirley & Staunto' in Com. Leycest'. = Elinor, Da. of Sr Hugh Willoughby of Woollerton in Com. Nott. ; ch: Sr Raphe (m. Jane Sheffeild) Shirley
                      • Sr Raphe Shirley of Sherley & Stanton in Leicest' had 4 wives. = Jane Da. of Sr Rob't Sheffeild Kt. 4 wife after maried to Wm Hastings. ; ch: Francis (m. Dorothy Gifford) Shirley
                        • Francis Shirley of Shirley & Stanton Harold Com' Leicest'. = Dorothy Da. of John Gifford of Chillingto' in Staffordsh. wydow of John Congrave. ; ch: John (m. Jane Lovet) Shirley
                          • John Shirley of Shirley Leyc. = Jane Da. & sole hey. of Tho. Lovet of Astwell in Com. Northamp. ; ch: George (m. Fran. Berkley & Dorothie of Wroughton) Shirley
                            • George Shirley of Shirley & Stanton in Com' Ley. Living 1585 ob. 27 April 1622. = Fran. Da. of Hen. Lord Berkley. ; ch: Henricus (m. Dorothia Devereux), Tho. (m. Maria Harper), Georgius, Johannes, Maria Shirley.
                              • Henricus Shirley mil. Baronettus fil. et haer. sup'stes 1622. = Dorothia filia 2 Rob'ti Devereux Comitis Essexiae. ; ch: Leticia (filia unica aetatis circa quinq' annor' 1622)
                              • Tho. Shirley 2 fil. miles duxit Maria' filiam Tho. Harper de Rushall in Com. Staff. Ar.
                    • Raphe Shirley of Wistenston in Sussex Esq. for ye body to K. H. 7. = Jane Da. of Tho. Bellengham of Lemister in Sussex. ; ch: Isabell (m. John Dawney of Hampton), Beatrix (m. Edw. Eldrington of Hogsto'.), Sr Richard (m. Anne Shelley & Elizab. Guilford), Tho. (m. Eliz. da. of Marmaduke of Gloucester), Jane (m. John Dauney of Petworth in Sussex), Eliz. (m. John Lee of Fitleworthie in Sussex) Shirley.
                      • Sr Richard Shirley was Lo. of ye mannor of Wistneston in Sussex ob. 34. H. 8. = Anne Da. of John Shelley of Michelgrove in Sussex first wife. ; ch: Will'm (m. Mary Isley), John, Edward, Cicely (m. John Ledes), Anne (m. Ric. Fernwold), Elizab. (m. John Michell), Alice (m. Tho. Chanceler) Shirley.
                      • Tho. Shirley of West Grinsted in Sussex 2 son mar. Eliz. Da. & coh. of Marmaduke of Gloucestersh.
                        • Will'm Shirley of Wisteneston in Com' Sussex. = Mary Da. of Tho. Isley of Sundridge in Kt. Esq. ; ch: (Pg.27 Sr Thomas (m. Anne Kempe) Shirley)

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• Peerage of England, genealogical, biographical, and historical (1812) Vol. IV.
• https://archive.org/details/peerageofengland04colluoft
• https://archive.org/stream/peerageofengland04colluoft#page/87/mode/1up
• .... They derive their descent from SASUALLO or SEWALLUS de Etingdon, whose name (says Dugdale, in his Antiquities of Warwickshire), argues him to be of the old English stock ; which Se-
• https://archive.org/stream/peerageofengland04colluoft#page/88/mode/1up
• wallis resided at Nether-Etingdon, in com. Warwick, about the reign of king Edward the Confessor : which place had been the seat of his ancestors, as there is reason to believe, for many generations before. After the Conquest, the lordship of Etingdon was given to Henry Earl of Ferrars, in Normandy, who was one of the principal adventurers with the Norman Duke William, and was held under him by this Sewallus ; to whose posterity, .... etc. He died about 1085. It appears by Kenilworth Register, that he built and endowed the church of Etingdon.
• FULCHER, his only child, succeeded him; and died about 1105, leaving issue, 1. Sewallus. 2. Henry, from whom the Shirleys of Ireton, Co. Derby, who took the name of Ireton. 3. Fulcher, twice married, but died S. P. 4. Nicholas. 5. Robert.
• SEWALLUS died about 1129 ; leaving by his first wife, Matilda, daughter of Ridel, of Halaughton, Co. Derb. 1. Henry. 2. Ful-
• https://archive.org/stream/peerageofengland04colluoft#page/89/mode/1up
• cher,(d) who held four Knights fees ; but died S. P. 3. Hugh, a priest. 4. Ralph. 5. Richard. Having translated his seat from Etingdon to Shirley, in Derbyshire, he was the first of that family that called himself de Shirley.
• HENRY, eldest son, held five Knights fees in Derbyshire, of Robert de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, and died about 1165. He gave the lordship of Ivanbrook to the Monks of Bildewas ; and was a witness to the foundation Charter of Merevalle Abbey. He left issue by Joanna, daughter and heir of John de Clinton,(e) of Effex,
• SEWALLIS, his son and heir, who, in 1167, acknowledged himself to hold of William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, those nine Knights fees which Henry, his father, and his uncle, some time held of Earl Robert, grandfather to the said Earl. (f)He married Isabel, daughter and coheir of Robert Meynell, of Langley Meynell, Co. Derb. by whom he had a daughter, Elizabeth, wife of John de Walton, son of Simon Bishop of Norwich : and a son and heir,
• Sir JAMES DE SHIRLEY, who was a Knight, and had freewarren granted to him in all his demesnes at Shirley in 1247, and at Etingdon in 1255. He married Agnes de Walton, daughter of Simon de Walton, Bishop of Norwich, and had issue by her Sir Ralph, his successor.(g) He died about 1278.
• Which Sir RALPH de Shirley, in 7 Edw. I. held the manor of Eatendon(h) aforesaid, in com. Warwick, of Edmund Earl of Lancaster, the King's brother, by the service of two Knights fees. In 9 Edw. I. he was of full age. In 28 Edw. I he had the custody of the counties of Salop and Stafford, with the castle of Shrewsbury, committed to his charge ; and was Sheriff of the counties of Derby and Nottingham, in the 27th, 28th, and 30th of Edw. I. In 1301, he was summoned to attend the King at Berwick upon Tweed, on Midsummer-day, well-appointed with horse and arms, to march against the Scots. In 3 Edward II. he was constituted
  • (d) Of Ednesour, co. Derb.
  • (c) Ever since the marriage with the heiress of Clinton, the family have taken her arms ; viz. Paly of six, Or, and Arg. a quarter of Bretaigny ; the family of Clinton, being allied to the Dukes of Bretaigny.
  • (f) See Lib. Nig. Scacc. under Derbyshire,
  • (g) Nichols gives also three younger sons ; James, Simon, and Henry, a priest, parson of St. George, co. Norf.
  • (h) He held also the manor of Barnham, co. Suff. near Thetford, by gift of his grandfather, Bishop Simon Walton.
• https://archive.org/stream/peerageofengland04colluoft#page/90/mode/1up
• one of the Justices in the county of Warwick for the gaol-delivery ; .... etc.
• He married (i)Margaret, daughter, and one of the coheirs of Walter de Waldeshief, of Fairfield, co. Derby, cupbearer to Edward II. and dying in 1327, 20 Edward II. left issue
• THOMAS,(k) his son and heir, said to be "the great founder of the family of the Shirleys, famous in his time for his valour, and for the many services, &c. rendered to the Kings of England against the French." A Commissioner for assessing and collecting a fifteenth and tenth, granted in 11 Edw. III. and in the 12th, appointed to collect the scutage due to the king for the Scotch expedition. In 14 Edw. III. he served as one of the Knights in parliament for the county of Warwick. This Sir Thomas Shirley died(l) in 36 Edw. II. 1362.
• He married Isabel, daughter of Ralph, son and heir of Ralph Lord Basset, of Drayton, and sister and sole heir to her brother Ralph, the last Lord Basset of that line, who died 13 Richard II. without issue ; having by deed, dated Jan. 26th, 13 Richard II. named Sir Hugh Shirley, son of this Sir Thomas, by his sister Isabel, to be his nephew and right heir: thereby leaving him heir to his whole inheritance, on condition that he assumed his surname of Basset, and his arms, leaving his own ; but should he refuse to comply with that condition, then the whole estate to go to the earl of Stafford, on the same terms, who was descended from Margaret Basset, great aunt to the said Lord Basset ; and should that Earl refuse to comply with the above condition, then the estates to go to the other relations mentioned in the will ; but expressly on condition that they assumed the name and arms of
  • (i) Dugdale's Antiq. of Warwicksh. p. 466.
  • (k) Nichols mentions an elder brother, Ralph de Shirley, by a former wife, who died S. P.
  • (l) He was noted also for the liberal donations of lands and rents by himself and his wife, to the College of St. Mary, at the Newark, in Leicester, &c.
  • (m) He and his Lady were interred in the Chapel of the Duke of Lancaster's College, called Newark. See Nichols, I, 399. III. 708.
• https://archive.org/stream/peerageofengland04colluoft#page/91/mode/1up
• Basset.(n) But neither Sir Hugh Shirley, nor the Earl of Stafford, complied with the conditions of the will, but contended for the estate ; which dispute was not finally settled till the reign of Henry VI. when the estates of the Barons Basset of Drayton, were divided between them. Colston Basset, in com. Nott. &c.
  • (n) This marriage with the heiress of Lord Basset, of Drayton, deserves some remarks. The Lady's legitimacy has latterly been doubted, in defiance of what seems decisive proof, for reasons which appear extremely weak, or rather no reasons at all. .... etc.
• https://archive.org/stream/peerageofengland04colluoft#page/92/mode/1up
• being allotted to Shirley ; and Drayton Basset, com. Staff. &c. to Stafford. His widow remarried Sir Gerard Braybroke, Knt.
• But to return : HUGH Shirley, son and heir of Sir Thomas, by Isabel Basset, succeeded his father ; and was, as before mentioned, by the will of the late Lord Basset his uncle, acknowledged by him to be his nephew and right heir ; in 7 Rich II. he confirmed the manors of Shirley and Hoone, in com. Derby, and that of Etingdon, in com. Warwick, to his mother Isabel, then the wife of Sir Gerard Braybroke, Knt. these manors having been assigned to be for her dower by Sir Thomas Shirley, his father. This Sir Hugh was made Chief Warden of Higham Ferrers Park, by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster ; and in 22 Rich. II. constituted Constable of Donnington-Castle, by Henry of Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, afterward King Henry IV. On March 27th, 1400, being then a Knight, he was made Grand Falconer to King Henry IV. for the Kingdom of Ireland. He was killed at the battle of Shrewsbury,(o) on the part of King Henry IV. being one of those who was habited as the King, and taken for him by the opposite party. By Beatrix his wife, sister and heir to John de Braose, or de Breus, of West-Neston (now called Wiston), in Sussex, heir male of the ancient family of that name, Barons of Brember, in Sussex, and of Brecknock, Abergavenny, and Gower, in Wales, he had issue three daughters ; Isabel, wife of Sir John Cokayne, of Ashbourne ; Elizabeth ; and Nichola ; also
• RALPH, his son and heir, then twelve years of age ; who, in 5 Henry V. was retained to serve that King in person in his army in Guyen, with six men at arms, and eighteen archers ; and the next year, with eight men at arms, and sixteen archers, and was about that time knighted ; for in 8 Henry V. being then Sheriff of the counties of Nottingham and Derby, he was then styled a Knight. He was one of the chief Commanders under King Henry V. at the battle of Agincourt, as appears by an ancient Roll in the office of Arms ; and was often a great actor in the subsequent Wars of the said King Henry V. in France ; as is evidently proved by diverse instruments of accord made between the said King and Sir Ralph Shirley ; in one of which, dated 1416, after agreement had for the number and pay of his soldiers, &c. the King granted to him all the prisoners that he or his soldiers should take, only reserving to himself, the French King, his
  • (o) The Spirits of valiant Shirley, Stafford, Blount, are in my arms." Prince of Wales's Speech in Shakespeare's Henry IV.
• https://archive.org/stream/peerageofengland04colluoft#page/93/mode/1up
• adversary; the Dauphin, his son ; and all other Kings, his adversary's assistants, giving to him only the third part of the ransom of the captive Kings, by him or his soldiers taken. To this Sir Ralph, the feoffees of Ralph Lord Basset, released all their right to the estates he claimed as heir to that Barony. In 1432, he resided at Radcliffe upon Soar ; and died at his government and charge in France, about 1443. His body was brought to England, and buried in the Collegiate Church of the Newark, at Leicester. His second wife was Alice, daughter of Sir John Cokayne, Knt. who died 1466, without issue.
• By his first wife, Joan, daughter and heir of Thomas Basset, of Brailsford, co. Derb. he had a daughter, Beatrix, wife of John Brome, of Badesley Clinton, co. Warw. and
• RALPH, who was Constable of Melbourn Castle, and of the castle in the Peak of Derbyshire : and died in 1466, "seised of many goodly manors, fair possessions, and large territories in the several counties of Leicester, Derby, Warwick, and Nottingham." He was buried in the church of Brailesford, where his tomb still remains.
• His first wife was Margaret, daughter and sole heir of John de Staunton, of Staunton Harald, in Leicestershire (whereby he obtained that estate, still the chief seat of the family), by Joan, daughter and coheir of Sir Ralph Meynell, of Langley Meynell (with which family a former match of Shirley has been already, mentioned). By this marriage he had issue John, his son and heir, hereafter mentioned.
• His second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Blount, Knt. and sister to Walter Blount, Lord Montjoy ; by whom he had Ralph Shirley, Esquire of the Body to King Henry VII. ancestor to the Shirleys of Wiston, of Sussex ; of whom an account will be given in an accompanying note, this branch having been of considerable eminence.(p)
• His third wife was Lucia, daughter of Sir John Aston, of
  • (p) Ralph Shirley, by his second wife, Elizabeth Blount, sister to Walter Lord Mountjoy, had issue Sir Ralph Shirley, of Wiston, who, by Jane, daughter of Thomas Bellingham, of Lymster, in Sussex, Esq. had four daughters ; Jane, wife of John Dawtrey, of Petworth, in Sussex ; Elizabeth, wife of John Lee, of Fitleworth, co. Sussex ; Beatrix, wife of Edward Eldrington, of Hoggeston, and afterwards of Sir Edward Bray, of Vachery, Surrey, died 1582 ; and Isabel, wife of John Dawtrey, of Hampton ; also, 1. Sir Richard, 2. Thomas Shirley, of West Grinsted, who died 1606; leaving by Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Marmaduke Gorges, of Gloucestershire, Cecilie, daughter and coheir, aet. 19, 1606, wife of Sir George Snelling, of Postlade, Sussex.
• https://archive.org/stream/peerageofengland04colluoft#page/94/mode/1up
• Atherton, Knt, widow, first, of Sir John Byron, of Clayton and Colwich ; and, secondly, of Sir Barton Entwissel, Knt. Viscount of Brykbeke, in Normandy. She died in Feb. 1481 ; and lies buried at Braylesford.
• John, son and heir, married Eleanor, daughter of Sir Hugh Willoughby of Wollaton, co. Notts, and dying 1485, left issue,
• RALPH, twenty-six years old, who, for his valour in the battle of Stoke, in com. Nott. June 16th, 1487, was made a Banneret ; to which battle (q)he brought forces to the King's aid, when the Earl of Lincoln was slain. In 7 Henry VII. he was retained to serve the King in his wars beyond sea for one year ; and died on Jan. 6th, 1516-7, at his manor house of Staunton-Harold ; and was interred in Geronden Abbey. By his last will and testament,(r) which bears date four days before his death, writing himself Sir Rauf Shirley, of Staunton-Harold, in com. Leic. Knt. he orders his body to be buried at the discretion of his executors. He bequeaths to Jane his wife, his manors of Shirley and Brailesford, with the lands, rents, and services, as also other lands, in full of her jointure and dower, for term of her life ; and his manor of Barnham, to the monastery of Geronden, for the term of fifty years.
  • Sir Ralph, the eldest son by his second wife, daughter of Sir Richard Guildeforde, had four daughters ; but by his first wife, Anne, daughter of John Shelley, of Michelgrove, he had Elizabeth, wife of John Michell, of Staunton ; Anne, wife of Richard Fernwold ; Cecely, married to John Leedes ; Alice, married to Thomas Chandler, of Lyndfield. John ; Edward ; and
  • William Shirly, of Wiston, son and heir, who died May 29th, 1551 ; leaving by Mary, daughter of Thomas Isley, Esq. of Sundridge, Kent, Anthony Shirley, a younger son, of Preston, in Sussex ; whose great grandson, Sir Anthony, was created a Baronet, 1665 (and left a granddaughter, Anne, married to Robert Western, of London, merchant), and
  • Sir Thomas Shirley, of Wiston, son and heir, Treasurer for the Wars in the Low Countries, from which he was removed 1597. (See Birch's Elizabeth, I. 455, and Sydney Papers, II.28, 31, 33.) By Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Kempe, he left issue several daughters, and three sons ;
    • 1. Sir Thomas.
    • 2. Sir Anthony, born 1563 ; a great traveller, died in Spain about 1636. See Fuller's Worthies, Sussex, 107. Hakluyt, Purchas, &c.
    • 3. Sir Robert, equally famous with his brother. See a whole-length print of him in Harding's Cabinet, &c. &c. He married Teresia, a relation of the great Sophy.
  • Sir Thomas married Frances, sister of Sir Thomas Vavasor, Knt. and left issue
  • Sir Thomas Shirley, M. D. who suffered much for his loyalty, and had the estate at Wiston torn from him by Sir John Fagg, Bart. See Topogr, IV. 335, 336.
  • .... etc.
• https://archive.org/stream/peerageofengland04colluoft#page/95/mode/1up
• It also appears by his will, that he had five brothers; and that he was possessed of the manors of Staunton-Harold, Rakedale, and Willowes, Burton, Long-Whatton, Ratclyff, Dunton, Esterleyke, Sutton-Bonyngton, and Newton-Regis ; he bequeaths all his household furniture, plate, &c. to his wife and his son Francis, to be divided equally between them; and ordains executors, his cousin, Sir Richard Sackvil (to whom he bequeaths a cross of gold, hanging at his chain) : his brother, Robert Hasylryg (husband to Elizabeth, his sister) ; Sir James Smith, his priest ; and Thomas Herbert.
• He married four wives,(s) but had no issue by his first and third; and by his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter and coheir to Thomas Walsh, of Wanlip, in Leicestershire, had only a daughter, Anne, heir to her mother, married to Sir Thomas Pultney, of Misterton, in com. Leic. Knt. ancestor to the late Earl of Bath. By his last wife, Jane, daughter to Sir Robert Sheffield, Knt. ancestor to the late Duke of Buckingham, he had Francis, his son and heir, before mentioned.
• Which FRANCIS was (t)Sheriff of the counties of Warwick and Leicester, in 4 Philip and Mary; and having lived(u) to an advanced age, famous for his charity and hospitality, died on July 27th, 1571 , and was buried in the church of Breedon on the Hill, in Leicestershire, where a monument was erected to the memory of him, and Dorothy his wife, who survived him but a short time; as appears by her last will and testament,(x) bearing date August 9th, 1571, and the probate thereof May 16th following. She was daughter of Sir John Gifford, of Chillington, in Staffordshire, Knt. and married to her first husband, John Congreve, Esq; but had issue by the said Francis Shirley, three sons ; John Shirley, Esq. hereafter mentioned; Edward, who died young; and Ralph : also three daughters ; Cassandra, married to Walter Powtrell, of West-Hallum, in com. Derb. Esq. ; Elizabeth, to Thomas Cotton, of Conington, in Huntingdonshire, Esq. father by her to the famous Sir Robert Cotton, Knt. and Bart, the great collector of the records now reposited in the British Museum; and Anne, to John Brook, of Madeley, in Shropshire, esq.
• JOHN Shirley, eldest son and heir apparent, died A. D. 1570, in
  • (s) His second wife was Anne, daughter of Sir Henry Vernon, of Haddon, whom he married 1496 ; and his third, Anne, daughter of Thomas Warner, Esq.
  • (t) Fuller's Worthies. (u) Ex inscript. tumul.
  • (x) Ex Regist. Daper. qu. 16. Collect, T. Meller, Gent.

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• Stemmata Shirleiana
• http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924029787250#page/n51/mode/2up
• . . "Of Sir Thomas Shirley I find nothing memorable but his death, which happened before the 36th of Edward III. and that by Isabel, his wife, he had issue Hugh."* This Isabel was the daughter of Ralph Basset of Drayton, and sister, and at length heiress, of Ralph the last Baron. She afterwards married John de Wodhull, son of John de Wodhull, knt. Baron of Wodhull, by whom she had two daughters. She remarried Sir Gerard III. de Braybroke, knt. . . . .
• http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924029787250#page/n52/mode/1up
• The circumstance of Sir Hugh Shirley, only son of Sir Thomas, not being mentioned in the Inquistitions taken on the death of the last Ralph Lord Basset has appeared to some genealogist to cast a doubt on the legitimacy of Isabel Basset, Sir Hugh's mother.* The lands, however, referred to in the Inquisitions were, as Dugdale observes, otherwise settled by an old entail, Sir Hugh merely succeeding to the property whereof his uncle was seised in fee. See the curious socuments in the Appendix, which appear to set this matter at res.T (App. LXXXIII. LXXXIV.)
  • * For the legitimacy of Isabel Basset, see Collectanea Topog. and Genealog. vol. vii. pp. 256, 392. See also Nicolas's Synopsis of the Peerage, vol. i. p. 43, and Beltz's Memorials of the Order of the Garter, p. 162 note.
  • T See also Sir Egerton Brydges' edition of Collins's Peerage, article, "Earl Ferrers," where Isabel Basset's legitimacy is ably vindicated.
• http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924029787250#page/n59/mode/1up
• Sir Hugh Shirley had with Beatrix Braose his wife the manors of Wistneston or Wiston, Ashurst, Chiltington, Sloghton, Hion, and Iringtham in sussex, and Wedonhill, in the parish of Amersham, in Buckinghamshire.
• He had issue, besides Ralph, his son and heir, Elizabeth, his eldest daughter, Joan, married to Robert Newmarch, and Isabella, who wedded Sir John Cockayne of Ashbourne, in Derbyshire, knt. . . . The youngest daughter of Sir Hugh Shirley was Nicholaia, who, with Elizabeth, died unmarried.
• http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924029787250#page/n63/mode/1up
• Ralph, son and heir of Sir Hugh Shirley, was in his thirteenth year when he lost his father at the battle of Shrewsbury (July 22, 1403), having been born on St. George's day (April 23) 1392. (App. LXXXV.) . . .
• http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924029787250#page/n66/mode/1up
• This Lady Joan, Sir Ralph's first wife, was the only daughter and heir, by Margaret, daughter of William Mering, of Thomas Basset, of Brailesford, . . . Sir Ralph Shirley had issue, by Joan his first wife, a son, named after, and who succeeded, his father; and a daughter Beatrix, who married John Brome, of Baddesley Clinton . . . .
• http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924029787250#page/n68/mode/1up
• Sir Ralph Shirley married secondly Alice, who according to Dugdale and the Harleian MSS. was the daughter of Sir John Cockayne, of Ashbourne, knt. . . . .
• The Lady Alice outlived her husband many years, and died on the Wednesday after Whitsunday 1466, in the sixth year of Edward VI.
• http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924029787250#page/n69/mode/1up
• . . . . , on the 2nd day of April, in the year of our Lord 1423, he treated of a marriage betwixt him and the excellent and virguous gentlewoman, Margaret Staunton, sister and sole heir of Thomas Staunton, esq. for the accomplishing of which marriage, finding themselves both to be joined within the fourth degree of consanguinity, they presented a petition to Pope Martin V. . . . .
• By Margaret Staunton Ralph Shirley had issue one only son, christened John.
• http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924029787250#page/n72/mode/1up
• His second wife was Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir John Blount, and sister of Walter, Lord Montjoy; by her he had issue one son, Ralph Shirley, who was the founder of that branch of the family long seated at Wiston in Sussex, and five daughters; to Elizabeth, the eldest of whom, Walter . . . .
• Ralph Shirley, the elder, married, thirdly, Lucy, daughter of Sir John Asheton, of Asheton-under-Lyne, co. Lancaster, Knight of the Bath, and widow, first, of Sir Richard Bryon of Colwich, co. Notts, knt. and Lord of Clayton, co. Lanc.; and, secondly, of Sir Bertram Entwissell, of Entwissell, . . . . .
• Ralph Shirley died on St. Stephen's day (Dec. 26) 1466 (6 Edw. IV.), seised of the manors of Shirley, Hone, Hope, and Brailesford, co. Derby; Nether eatendon, with its . . . .
• http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924029787250#page/n74/mode/1up
• By Elianor, the daughter of Sir Hugh Willoughby of Middleton, in the county of Warwick, knt. to whom he appears to have been married in the 35th of Henry VI. 1456-7, John Shirley had issue, besides Ralph his eldest son and heir, seven sons and five daughters; their names were, Thomas, Robert, Hugh, Nicholas, Richard, Baldwin, and Henry; Alice, Margaret, Jane, Elianor, and Anne.
• John Shirley dying on the 18th May, 1486, (1 Hen. VII.) . . .

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• A gentry community: Leicestershire in the fifteenth century, c.1422- c.1485 By Eric Acheson
• http://books.google.com/books?id=0HhSjk4yZ6YC&pg=PA248&lpg=PA248&dq...
• Pg. 161
• To prevent his estate from being divided between the descendants of his grandfather's sisters, namely, Thomas, lord Stafford, and Alice Chaworth, Ralph Basset devised all his lands on his nephew, Hugh Shirley, son of Basset's uterine, or possibly illegitimate, sister, Isabel, with remainder to William Stafford, younger brother of Thomas. As Hugh Shirley had no rights by inheritance to the property and as William Stafford's claim was secondary to that of his elder brother, it is clear that lord Basset's device was intended to preserve the estate intact. . . . . The integrity of the Walsh family caput at Wanlif was similarly preserved, in its case by agreement between the husbands of the coheirs. Ralph Shirley III, husband of Elizabeth Walsh, received Wanlip, while William Llittleton, husband of Elizabeth's sister, Ellen, was compensated by grants of other lands of equal value. . . . .
• Pg. 248
• When Hugh Shirley died in 1403 his estate included manors in Warwickshire, Suffolk, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire (Stemmata Shirleiana, p. 37). Under the terms of the will of Hugh's maternal uncle, the third and last Ralph, lord Basset of Drayton, Hugh was to receive the basset inheritance provided he assumed the name and arms of Basset (Stemmata Shirleiana, pp. 34, 376). As this bequest was made at the expense of lord Basset's true heirs, Thomas earl of Stafford and Alice Chaworth, Hugh and his son, Sir Ralph I, did not have immediate and peaceful seisin of the property in question (G.E.C., II, pp. 3-4, n.f.). On 8 August 1424, however, Basset's last surviving feoffee, John Brown, released to Sir Ralph I numerous manors including the manors of Ragdale, Dunton Basset, Willow and Radcliff-on-Wreake in Leicestershire (C.A.D., v, A11388). Sir Ralph must have had de facto tenure of these manors before 1424 for he was appointed to Leicestershire's bench of JPs between 1514 and 1422, and . . . . Nevertheless, Sir Ralph Shirley expanded the estate he inherited by a judicious marriage to Joan, daughter and heir of Thomas Bassett, thereby adding the manor of Brailsford to the family holdings in Derbyshire (Dugdale, I, p. 622). Joan Bassett was dead before 1419, by which date Sir Ralph had taken Alice Cockayne as his second wife (H.M.C. Rut., IV, p. 52). Alice died in 1466 (E149/219/9). The removal of the family's caput to Leicestershire was achieved through the marriage in 1423 of Sir Ralph's son and heir, Ralph II, to Margaret, daughter of John, and sister and heir of Thomas Staunton of Staunton Harold (L.R.O. 26D53/254: E149/127/12). At the time of their marriage, Ralph II was about fifteen years old while his wife was barely eighteen years. Margaret bore a son, John, who was born before 1426 but she must have died soon after this date. Ralph II's second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Blount, was dead by 1457, but she had borne him five daughters and a son (L.R.O. 72'30/1/37; L.R.O. 26D53/192-3; Village Notes, IV, pp. 296-7). By 1458, Ralph II was married for the third time, to Lucy Ashton, widow of Sir Bertram Entwistle (L.R.O. 26D53/195; Stemmata Shirleiana, p. 49). Ralph Shirley II was an esquire of the chamber during the 1440s (E101/409/9, fos. 36v-7; E101/409/11, fo. 39; E101/409/16, fo. 35), but his career seems to have been otherwise undistinguished. He died in 1466, a few months after the death of his step-mother, Alice Cockayne (C140/19/18 MS 3). He was succeeded by his son John who, of all the fifteenth-century Shirleys, managed to made do with only one wife. John had married Eleanor Willoughby of Nottinghamshire by 1456 and she presented him with a large family of twelve children (L.R.O. 26D53/1947; Stemmata Shirleina, p. 51). In his will, dated 26 March 1485, he made provision for eleven of these children (L.R.O. 26D53/1947). John's son and heir, Ralph III, had already married around 1474, when he was about fourteen years old, to Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Thomas Walsh (q.v.) (L.R.O. 26D53/543). Their only child, a daughter Anne, married Sir Thomas Pulteney (q.v.) (L.R.O. 5D53/86, fo. 1). In 1496 Ralph, III married Anne Vernon of Derbyshire but by 1507 he had a third wife, Anne Warner (L.R.O. 26D53/2552; Stemmata Shirleiana, p.39). By his fourth and final wife, Joan Sheffield, Ralph III eventually sired a son, Francis (Dugdale, II, p. 622). Ralph III died in 1513 (L.R.O. 26D53/1948). The Shirley family was undoubtedly one of Leicestershire's most wealthy knightly families. Nevertheless, after the death of Sir Ralph I in or aroung 1443, no member of the family assumed the dignity of knighthood, preferring instead to accept distraint for failing to do so (Stemmata Shirleiana, p. 43; E159/234). In 1436, Sir Ralph had been assessed in Derbyshire on an income of L100 per year but his mother, Beatrice, wife of Hugh had an income of L92 while another Ralph Shirley probably Sir Ralph's son, was assessed n L40 (E179/240/266). Beatrice lived until 1440 while Ralph II's step-mother almost outlived him (C139/101/65 MS 2; E149/219/9). 'John Shirley had a step-mother and a large family to provide for, too. Shirley resources, therefore, were thinly spread during the fifteenth century. In the 1470's, both John and Ralph III were members of lord Hastings' retinue (Durnham, 'Lord Hastings' indentured retainers 1461-1483', pp. 119, 120), but during the period considered for office bearing, neither man performed administrative service in the county'. Ralph III did, however, become sheriff of Leicestershire in 1493 (Lists and Indexes, IX, p. 146). There was, nevertheless, a family tradition of activity on behalf ot the duchy of Lancaster. Hugh Shirley had been constable of Castle Donington from 1400 and master-forester at Duffield in 1402 (Somerville, I, pp. 573, 556); Sir Ralph I was appointed master-forester in the honor of Leicester for life in 1414 (Somerville, I, p. 568); Ralph III was master-forester at Duffield in 1493, steward and then constable at Melbourne, steward of Appletree hundred and steward of Castle Donington (Somerville, I, pp. 557, 558, 559, 573).

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