From: Dee Sardoch
Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2001 13:49:49 -0800
Subject: GOLDRUSH MOST WANTED - SHIRLEY/SIMMONS
John Y. SHIRLEY is one of my gr-grandmother's brothers. He was born in Crawford
CO., MO in 1843 and came to CA with the family in 1852. I have found records of
the family living and working in and around Jamestown, Tuolumne Co from about
1855 - 1859, when the father, Thomas Jefferson (aka: T.J.) SHIRLEY was killed by
an unknown assailant. I have John listed with the remaining family in the 1860
census in San Joaquin Co, but cannot find him after that.
Thomas E. SHIRLEY is another of my gr-grandmother's brothers. Thomas was born in
Crawford Co., MO in 1845. He and the family came to CA in 1852and settled in
Tuolumne Co. They stayed there until 1859 when the father, T.J., was killed.
Most of the family, including Thomas, then moved to San Joaquin Co., where they
are listed in the 1860 census. Thomas was listed in the 1870 census in Langworth,
Stanislaus Co. (which I believe is between Oakdale and Riverbank) and was a
witness to my gr-grandmother's marriage in Stockton in 1872. Have found no trace
of him after that.
Robert SIMMONS was the brother of my gr-gr-grandmother, Mary SIMMONS SHIRLEY. He
is listed in the 1852 CA census in San Joaquin Co, then moved to Tuolumne Co. I
believe he spent a great deal of his life in Tuolumne Co. He married Margaret
COYLE there in 1869. They had 3 children that I'm aware of: Robert, Margaret and
Elizabeth. He also helped raise Margaret's children from her previous marriage:
M.A., Walter, Thomas and Catherine (Kitty) COYLE. Robert SIMMONS is said to have
been born in VA, but in the 1852 CA census, he gives his last place of residence
as KY. I'm looking for any information on Robert and this SIMMONS family.
Charles C. SHIRLEY was the nephew of my gr-gr-grandfather, T.J. SHIRLEY. T.J.
and Mary SHIRLEY helped raise their nieces and nephews, the children of Jacob
SHIRLEY, while living in MO and after they came to CA in 1852. Charles is listed
in the San Joaquin Co census in 1860. He seems to have moved to Jamestown,
Tuolumne Co. as there is a very interesting story in the Sonora newspaper in
1865, where it describes him being shot, though not fatally, after an argument
between his brother-in-law, H.W. WILLIAMS and the man owning the next claim,
there on Whisky Hill. This story is also told in the book, "The Saga of Old
Tuolumne." I have not had success yet in determining what happened to him after
this incident.
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