There were and are many SHIRLEY families living in Hampshire and there origins fall broadly into three groups. The first group of families have been living in Hampshire from long before Parish Records were started with the earliest mention I have found being in the 13th century. The second group of families have come mainly from Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire and they settled mainly in villages across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The third group came from other parts of England, most probably to take up work in the Southampton/Portsea areas in the late 1700's and early 1800's. For many Shirley family researchers, including myself, who have connections to the Hampshire Shirley's, the biggest problem has been and still is, trying to identify where our respective families originated from as most records that still exist are quiet on this question. It is also of interest that descendants of most of these families can now be found worldwide.

1) The earliest mention of a Shirley family can be found in the New Forest documents - 29May1256, Roger de SCHYRL is recorded in connection with court proceedings and Alice de SCHIRLIE a resident of the Village of Avene is recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327/8

2) The SHIRLEY presence in Ringwood started with Thomas SHEARLY (his own spelling), with his marriage to Charity FALKNER in 1769 and four children were baptised to them there. There eldest son, Thomas only had one child, a son, baptised at Ringwood in 1806. It is not known who he married or what became of him or whether there are any more children. This son, also a "Thomas" married twice, first in 1828 and again in 1833. From the second marriage to Harriet there were 2 children, By 1841 these two children, Thomas & Amelia were in the Ringwood Workhouse. There is no further mention (so far) of this Thomas, but Amelia went on to marry John JENKINS in 1856 and descendants of this family can now be found in Australia. The second son William turns up in Horsington, Somerset with his marriage there in 1799. Descendants of William can still be found in Somerset as well as in New Zealand where two of his son's emigrated to.
The name was spelt SHEARLY, then SHERLEY, before settling down to SHARLEY or SHIRLEY.

3) Henry SHARLEY was born at Sopley (parents unknown), he settled in Ringwood and married Charlotte Hutchins in 1803. They had seven children that I know of., some of whom settled in Dorset.

Please Note - This is on going research and other families will be added as and when I can. The above information is the result of research to date and as more information comes to hand could be changed or updated. If you can add or clarify any information on any Shirley family in Hampshire or would like some help, please do contact me and I will help as much as I can.

Date Place child's name, father's name, mother's name Notes
21Mar1581 East Meon Thomas son of Thomas SHERLEY  
25Aug1700 Sherfield Upon Loddon Alice dau of Peter and Anne SHERLEY  
09Sep1722 St Thomas, Portsmouth Elizabeth dau of David and Elizabeth SHERLY  
24Mar1724 St Thomas, Portsmouth Edward son of David and Elizabeth SHERLEY  
26Mar1727 St Thomas, Portsmouth John son of David and Elizabeth SHERLY  
13Feb1732 St Thomas, Portsmouth David son of David and Elizabeth SHERLY  
09Dec1733 Holy Trinity, Gosport Richard son of Edward and Mary SHIRLEY  
22Feb1740 Mottisfont Sarah dau of William SHURLEY  
11Dec1743 Mottisfont Stephen son of William SHURLEY  
22Jan1747 Mottisfont James son of Thomas SHURLEY  
13Nov1757 St Thomas, Portsmouth Susanna Booth dau of David and Mary SHIRLEY  
24Dec1758 St Thomas, Portsmouth Elizabeth dau of David and Mary Ransom SHIRLEY  
03Apr1761 St Thomas, Portsmouth Susanna Booth dau of David and Mary SHIRLEY  
11Jun1764 Mottisfont Sarah dau of William and Sarah SHIRLEY  
21Oct1766 Mottisfont John son of William and Sarah SHIRLEY  
28Aug1768 St Marys, Portsea Heneritta dau of David SHIRLEY  
02Oct1768 Mottisfont Amy dau of William and Sarah SHIRLEY  
02Sep1770 St Marys, Portsea Sarah dau of David SHERLEY  
26Sep1770 Ringwood Thomas son of Thomas and Charity SHERLEY  
01Oct1771 Mottisfont Silena dau of William and Sarah SHIRLEY  
11Mar1772 Ringwood William son of Thomas and Charity SHERLEY marries and lives out his life in Horsington, Somerset
18Apr1773 St Marys, Portsea Mary dau of David SHERLEY  
19Dec1773 Mottisfont Rachael dau of William and Sarah SHIRLEY  
24Aug1774 Ringwood Sarah dau of Thomas and Charity SHERLEY married Edward COX
24Aug1774 Ringwood Mary dau of Thomas and Charity SHERLEY  
06Aug1775 Mottisfont Rachel dau of William and Sarah SHIRLEY  
14Dec1777 Mottisfont Stephen son of William and Sarah SHIRLEY  
14Aug1782 Holy Trinity, Gosport John son of Thomas and Katherine SHERLY  
01Jan1786 Mottisfont John son of Moses and Mary SHIRLEY  
07Apr1790 St Thomas, Portsmouth Mary dau of John and Jane SHIRLEY  
26May1793 Romsey Mary dau of Moses and Mary SHIRLEY  
28Mar1794 Alverstoke Mary dau of Moses and Mary SHIRLEY  
23Feb1795 Alverstoke Leuhannah dau of Moses and Mary SHIRLEY  
29Jul1796 Shorwell, Isle of Wight. Jane dau of John and Jane SHIRLEY  
26Dec1796 St Thomas, Portsmouth Elizabeth dau of John and Jane SHIRLEY  
28Mar1797 Alverstoke Mary dau of Moses and Mary SHERLEY  
25Aug1799 St Thomas, Portsmouth Jane dau of John and Jane SHIRLEY  
05Sep1801 Alverstoke Ann dau of Moses and Mary SHIRLEY  
18Jul1802 St Thomas, Portsmouth Sophia dau of William and Mary SHIRLEY  
14Apr1803 St Maurice, Winchester John son of John SHIRLEY  
20Apr1803 Mottisfont Elizabeth dau of Stephen and Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
01May1803 Ringwood Ann dau of Henry and Charlotte SHARLEY  
30Oct1803 St Maurice, Winchester John son of John and Jane SHIRLEY  
20Feb1805 St Thomas, Portsmouth Eliza dau of William and Mary SHIRLEY  
05May1805 Shorwell, Isle of Wight. Mary dau of John and Jane SHIRLEY  
19Dec1806 Ringwood Thomas son of Thomas SHERLEY mothers name unknown, possibly married twice
26Feb1807 Holy Trinity, Gosport William Stephen son of William and Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
25Apr1808 Alverstoke Elizabeth. dau of James and Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
19Jun1808 Mottisfont Mary Ann dau of Stephen and Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
01Jan1809 St Thomas, Portsmouth Obedience dau of William and Mary SHIRLEY  
05Feb1809 St Marys, Portsea John Moore son of Henry and Mary SHIRLEY  
02Apr1809 Holy Trinity, Gosport Mary Ann Stevens dau of William and Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
10May1809 Alverstoke Moses son of John and Priscilla SHIRLEY  
22Apr1810 Ringwood William son of Henry and Charlotte SHARLEY  
23Apr1810 Alverstoke James son of James and Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
27Sep1810 Alverstoke John son of John and Priscilla SHIRLEY  
Aug1812 Alverstoke George son of James and Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
Nov1812 Alverstoke William son of John and Priscilla SHIRLEY  
20Dec1812 St Marys, Portsea Mary dau of Henry and Mary SHURLEY  
21Mar1813 Ringwood John son of Henry and Charlotte SHARLEY  
15Nov1813 Alverstoke William son of George and Sarah SHIRLEY  
22Feb1815 Alverstoke Thomas son of John and Priscilla SHIRLEY  
17Nov1815 Alverstoke Mary dau of James and Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
11Feb1816 Alverstoke George son of George and Sarah SHIRLEY  
28Jul1816 Ringwood Elizabeth dau of Henry and Charlotte SHARLEY  
06Jul1817 Alverstoke Ann dau of John and Priscila SHIRLEY  
28Jun1818 Alverstoke Joseph son of James and Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
12Jul1818 Alverstoke Ann dau of George and Sarah SHIRLEY  
09May1819 Ringwood Mary dau of Henry and Charlotte SHARLEY  
30Jan1820 Alverstoke Jane dau of John and Priscilla SHERLEY  
14Jan1821 Alverstoke Ann dau of James and Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
18Jul1821 St Marys, Portsea Lewanna dau of George and Sarah SHIRLEY  
28Apr1822 Ringwood Henry son of Henry and Charlotte SHARLEY  
03Nov1822 Alverstoke Suanna dau of John and Priscilla SHIRLEY  
04May1823 East Wellow Sarah Kinves dau of James and Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
10Apr1825 Alverstoke Mary Ann dau of John and Priscilla SHIRLEY  
15Nov1826 Ringwood Sarah dau of Henry and Charlotte SHARLEY  
05Aug1827 Alverstoke George son of John and Priscilla SHIRLEY  
26Aug1827 St John, Portsea William Edward son of George and Sarah SHIRLEY  
11May1828 Ringwood Stephen son of Thomas and Martha SHORLY  
10Aug1828 Alverstoke Henry son of James and Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
11Apr1829 St John, Portsea William Henry son of Thomas William and Harriet Ann SHIRLEY  
11Oct1829 Alverstoke Caroline Martha dau of John and Priscilla SHIRLEY  
12Mar1830 Millbrook Emma Maria dau of William and Sarah SHIRLEY  
17Apr1831 St John, Portsea Sarah Elizabeth dau of George and Sarah SHIRLEY  
22May1831 Alverstoke Eliza dau of James and Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
10Aug1832 Shorwell, I.O.W. Moses son of James & Sarah SHIRLEY  
27Aug1833 St John, Portsea Emma Charlotte Frances dau of George and Sarah SHIRLEY  
01Jan1834 Ringwood Amelia dau of Thomas and Harriet SHERLEY  
10Apr1834 Romsey Robert son of James and Elizabeth SHIRLY  
08Oct1834 Ringwood Charlotte dau of John and Ann SHORLEY  
08Feb1835 Shorwell, I.OW Anna dau of James and Sarah SHIRLEY  
03Feb1836 Ringwood Thomas son of Thomas and Harriet SHERLEY  
16Feb1837 Gosport (Wesleyan) John son of John and Ann SHIRLEY  
26Nov1837 Shorwell, I.O.W. William son of James & Sarah SHIRLEY  
03Jun1838 Alverstoke Mary Ann dau of John and Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
21Nov1838 Ringwood Levi son of Harriet SHERLEY  
27Oct1839 Alverstoke Elizabeth dau of John and Jane SHIRLEY  
03May1840 Alverstoke George Thomas son of John and Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
13Feb1842 Shorwell, I.O.W. Benjamin son of James & Sarah SHIRLEY  
12Mar1843 Alverstoke Priscilla Jane dau of John and Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
22Feb1844 Shorwell, I.O.W. Jacob son of James & Sarah SHIRLEY  
14Sep1845 Alverstoke Louisa Caroline dau of John and Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
01Nov1846 Alverstoke Eliza Ann dau of Thomas and Eliza SHIRLEY  
24Jan1850 Alverstoke William John son of John and Anna SHIRLEY  
05Aug1855 St Marys, Portsea Ellen dau of William and Eliza SHIRLEY  
05Aug1855 St Marys, Portsea Ann dau of William and Eliza SHIRLEY  
27May1860 St Thomas, Portsmouth John James son of John and Eleanor SHIRLEY  
11Jan1863 Shorwell, Isle of Wight. Emily dau of William and Fanny SHIRLEY  
23Dec1866 Shalfleet, Isle of Wight William son of Moses and Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
20Oct1867 St Marys, Portsea William John son of John William and Harriet Maria SHIRLEY  
17May1868 St Marys, Portsea Benjamin Stephen son of Benjamin and Mary SHIRLEY  
17Aug1868 Alverstoke John Henry James son of James Henry and Eliza Ann SHIRLEY  
10Dec1868 St Marys, Portsea Alice dau of Louisa SHIRLEY  
07Mar1869 Shalfleet, Isle of Wight George son of Moses and Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
31Jul1870 St Marys, Portsea Alice Maud Mary dau of Benjamin and Mary SHIRLEY  
19Feb1871 St Thomas, Portsmouth Elizabeth Maud Hannah dau of Thomas and Emily SHIRLEY  
26Mar1871 St Thomas, Bedhampton Joseph son of William and Eliza SHIRLEY  
23Apr1871 Alverstoke George Henry son of James Henry and Eliza Ann SHIRLEY  
30Jun1872 Shalfleet, Isle of Wight Edward son of Moses and Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
15Dec1872 St Marys, Portsea Harry Owen Meredith dau of Benjamin and Mary SHIRLEY  
05Feb1874 Alverstoke Caroline Louisa dau of John and Louisa SHIRLEY  
05Feb1874 Alverstoke John son of John and Louisa SHIRLEY  
10May1874 Havant Mary Augusta dau of William and Eliza SHIRLEY  
21Jun1878 Sandown, Isle of Wight Lucy dau of John Walter and Mary SHIRLEY  
24Oct1879 Sandown, Isle of Wight Henry James dau of John Walter and Mary SHIRLEY  
05Jun1883 Newport, Wesleyan, IOW Rosa Ellen dau of Ben and Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
07Oct1884 Newport, Wesleyan, IOW Annie Jane dau of Ben and Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
18Nov1887 Moordown Annie dau of George and Fanny SHIRLEY  
06Nov1892 Apse Heath, Isle of Wight Florence Annie dau of Frank and Mary Ann SHIRLEY born 13May1892

Date
Place Groom Bride  
19Oct1574 Eling Edmond SCHERLY Bridget SHERMAN  
16Oct1586 Chalton John FRITH Rose SHERLEYE  
29Jun1591 Newport, Isle of Wight William FUCKETT Agnes SHARLE  
05Feb1665/6 Bentley Anthony CHIGGELL Alice SHERLEY  
28Oct1668? Sherfield-Upon-Loddon [______] MAYNARD Rose SHERLY  
01Mar1684 Alverstoke Thomas HOLTON Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
03Mar1694 Quarley Edward FOSSAT Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
25Feb1695 Eling Charles SMITH Phillipe SHIRLEY  
29Jan1696 Holy Trinity, Gosport Peter SNOOK Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
29Jul1717 St Thomas, Portsmouth Edward BINSTED Anne SHERLEY  
19Jan1718/9 St Thomas, Portsmouth David SHERLEY Elizabeth CASFERD  
21Feb1729 Rowner Edward SHIRLY Mary GIRRARD  
17Jun1732 Andover William SHERLY Eleanor Bedford  
30Nov1741 St Marys, Portsea Robert STRAHON Elizabeth SHERLEY  
15Nov1756 St Thomas, Portsmouth David SHIRLEY Mary RANSOM (bride's surname DRUITT???)
1763 Mottisfont William SHIRLEY Sarah SPRAGG No day or month entered
20Apr1766 Kingsworthy Benjamin HOBS Rachel SHIRLY  
13Aug1768 Easton Elizabeth, SHIRLEY James PENFOIL  
14 Nov1769 Ringwood Thomas, SHEARLY Charity FALKNER  
25Jun1770 Alverstoke William WALKER Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
30Oct1780 Mottisfont John ELCOCK Kaziah SHIRLEY  
08Nov1780 Mottisfont Moses SHIRLEY Mary MEARSH  
28Oct1785 St Peter, Cheesehill, Winchester John SHIRLEY Mary BIRD  
08Nov1786 Newport, Isle of Wight Robert POPLE Hannah SHIRLY  
25Feb1794 Mottisfont William GRANT Rachel SHIRLEY  
20Apr1794 Mottisfont William STANBROOKE Sarah SHIRLEY  
23Sep1794 St Maurice, Winchester Daniel SMART Ann SHIRLEY  
16Mar1795 St Swithun, Winchester William SHIRLEY Elizabeth PERKINS  
09Nov1795 Mottisfont James JUDD Amy SHIRLEY  
06Apr1796 Newport, Isle of Wight John SHIRLEY Jane DOWNES  
17Oct1802 Ringwood Edward COX Sarah SHERLEY  
23Jan1803 Ringwood Henry SHARLEY Charlotte HUTCHINS  
10Feb1805 St Marys, Portsea Samuel THORPE Sarah SHURLEY  
05Jul1805 Alverstoke William SHIRLEY Mary Ann TUTTON  
27Jul1807 Alverstoke James SHIRLEY Elizabeth HENVES  
29Jun1808 Alverstoke John SHIRLEY Priscilla TRAPREL  
07Sep1809 St Marys, Portsea George MALLORS Ann SHIRLEY  
11Dec1810 Ringwood Thomas WEBB Mary SHARLEY  
18Aug1811 Odiham William GRIGG Sarah SHURLY  
25Oct1812 Alverstoke George SHIRLEY Sarah CARTER  
07Jun1814 St Marys, Portsea John Tobias MALLORS Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
02Jun1816 St Marys, Portsea William ALDERSLADE Mary SHERLEY  
29Dec1822 Ringwood George BRENT Ann SHARLY  
05Nov1826 St Marys, Portsea Moses SHIRLEY Mary Ann BRADLEY  
22Jan1828 Ringwood Thomas SHORLY Martha COMPTON  
06Mar1828 St Marys, Portsea Thomas William SHIRLEY Harriet Ann Ayling HAWKINS  
16Jul1828 St Thomas, Portsmouth William Henry TEIDEMAN Mary SHIRLEY  
21Jul1829 Alverstoke Robert BARBER Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
09Jan1830 Bramshott George ALBREY Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
15Apr1830 Mottisfont Mary Ann SHIRLEY James DELACOURT  
21Jan1833 Ringwood Thomas SHERLEY Harriet STREET  
11Dec1833 Ringwood John SHORLEY Ann COMBS  
01Jan1837 Alverstoke John SHIRLEY Mary Ann LANE  
30Nov1837 Ringwood Thomas BALLARD Elizabeth SHORLEY  
17Apr1838 Alverstoke John HICKMAN Mary SHIRLEY  
09Oct1842 St Marys, Portsea Henry Thomas WARNER Ann SHIRLEY  
06May1843 Cheriton John SHIRLEY Caroline BACHELOR  
02Jul1843 Landport Charles SHIRLEY Eliza POWELL  
21Oct1843 Alverstoke James EDWARDS Ann SHIRLEY  
21Nov1843 Burley Charles VATCHER Mary SHORLEY  
05Feb1844 St Marys, Portsea Thomas JAMES Jane SHIRLEY  
02Jun1845 Alverstoke Thomas SHIRLEY Eliza RAWLINGS  
24May1847 St Marys, Portsea Richard SINGLETON Mary Ann SHIRLEY  
08Jan1848 St Marys, Portsea George Henry POLING Jane Reeves SHIRLEY  
19Jan1848 Alverstoke William CRAVEN Louisa SHIRLEY  
12Aug1850 Holy Trinity, Gosport George SHIRLEY Kezia BROAD  
25Aug1850 Shorwell, I.O.W. James SHIRLEY Fanny ATKINS Grooms father - James
25May1851 Alverstoke Samuel James HEWETT Caroline Martha SHIRLEY  
22Sep1851 St Marys, Portsea William Kaiger SHIRLEY Eliza PICKENELL  
11May1856 St Marys, Portsea John JENKINS Amelia SHEARLEY dau. of Thomas & Harriet
23May1857   William SHIRLEY Fanny WHITE Grooms father - James
28Jun1858 St Marys, Portsea William John PETTIT Mary SHIRLEY  
08Aug1858 Northwood, I.O.W. Moses SHIRLEY Mary Ann BRADING  
31Oct1861 Alverstoke John Henry WRIGHT Jane Eliza SHIRLEY  
11Mar1865 St Marys, Portsea James CAMPBELL Sarah Elizabeth SHIRLEY  
27Mar1865 Alverstoke Thomas SHIRLEY Mary Ann PAGE  
08Aug1867 Alverstoke James Henry SHIRLEY Eliza Ann RANDALL  
28Jun1873 Holdenhurst John HAMBLEN Mary SHIRLEY Brides father - John
05Aug1874 St Marys, Portsea Oliver SHIRLEY Mary Ann LAWS  
16Oct1879 Northwood, I.O.W. George LOWE Elizabeth SHIRLEY Brides father - James
28Oct1882 Northwood, I.O.W. Benjamin SHIRLEY Mary Anne FLUX Grooms father - James
28Sep1885 Yarmouth, Isle of Wight Frederick John SHIRLEY Mary Ellen COLLINS  
09Oct1899 Northwood, I.O.W. Harry Allan REEVES Ann SHIRLEY Brides father - James

Date Place Name Age  
25Jun1732 St Thomas, Portsmouth John son of David and Elizabeth SHERLY 5yrs  
13Mar1740 Winton Betty SHIRLEY    
08Feb1758 St Thomas, Portsmouth Susanna Booth dau of David and Mary SHIRLEY 2mths  
19Apr1804 St Thomas, Portsmouth Sophia dau of William and Mary SHIRLEY 1yr10mths  
15May1809 St Thomas, Portsmouth Obedience dau of William and Mary SHIRLEY 4mths  
18Apr1819 Ringwood Ann SHARLY 40yrs  
19Oct1821 Alverstoke Susanna dau of George SHIRLEY 13wks  
13Aug1828 Ringwood Martha SHORLEY 18yrs    
13Aug1828 Ringwood Stephen SHORLEY 4mths  
13Jul1836 Crow, Ringwood Thomas SHORLEY 29yrs  



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