KATHERINE (FRANZ) SHIRLEY IS MY 5TH GREAT GRANDMOTHER -- R. A. PARKEF

Her birth name appears to have been Katherine Franz; she was the daughter of Johann Michael Franz/Frantz and Justina (LNU).

Katie was apparently orphaned and left with no siblings. Family lore indicates her mother died shortly after they arrived in America. Her father then returned to Europe with two younger children to place them with relatives to be raised and educated. He left Katie in the care of her mother's brother and wife until he could return to America, The ship disappeared and was presumably lost at sea.

Katie continued living with her maternal uncle and aunt in Georgetown, Maryland. Lore again tells that she was watching soldiers marching in review and was enamored by a young soldier named Johann "Michael" Shirley. Although her guardians supposedly opposed her romance with a common soldier, they were married about 1760. After his discharge, Michael resumed work as a bonded surveyor, and moved the entire family to Fort Boonesborough, in the western wilderness of Kentucky County.

The fort was located in Kentucky County, the western frontier of the Virginia Colony (Virginia became a United State in 1788; Kentucky was admitted to the Union in 1792). The remains of the settlement are today located within Madison County, KY.

By 1777 he had enlisted again, this time as a soldier in the revolutionary cause. and remained in the military until November, 1779.

Michael's work as a surveyor perhaps aided him in acquiring large sums of property in the Kentucky wilderness. He was on a surveying trip when he was shot by Indians at Station Camp, Kentucky. He suffered two broken legs and lasted at least six days before dying near Station Camp Creek.

There is a monument displaying names of early pioneers having a connection to the original Fort Boonesborough; the names of Michael, his wife Katie and their son Charles are inscribed on this memorial. It is located in front of the now-rebuilt fortification at Fort Boonesborough Historical State Park, in Madison County, Kentucky. Because her burial site is not yet proven, this location is being used until location of remains can be verified.

Michael and Katie had at least eight children: Mary, Katie, Lizzie, George, Susan, Nancy, Charles and Sallie.

Above information adapted from the Shirley Family Association website, and "The Kentucky Genealogist", 1959-1963, by Martha Porter Miller)
∼Catherine [middle name?] "Katie/Caty" Shirley formerly Franz
Born about 1750 [uncertain] [place of birth?]
Daughter of [father?] and [mother?]
[brothers or sisters?]
Wife of Michael Shirley — married [marriage date?] [marriage location?]
Descendants descendants
Mother of Mary Ann (Shirley) McGuire, Katherine (Shirley) Bullock, Elizabeth (Shirley) McGuire, Susannah (Shirley) Proctor, Sarah (Shirley) Phelps, Charles Shirley, Nancy (Shirley) Travis and George Shirley [add child]
Died about 1808 [uncertain] in Madison County, Kentuckymap
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Franz-44 created 13 Oct 2011 | Last modified 10 Feb 2018 | Last tracked change: 10 Feb 2018
11:44: You edited the Biography for Catherine (Franz) Shirley.
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Contents
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1 Biography
2 Sources
3 Silver Pitcher
4 Kentucky Tax Lists
5 Will
6 References

Biography

Catherine was born about 1780. She came to American 1760-1764.[1] Catherine Franz married Michael Shirley. She passed away about 1808, Madison county, Kentucky.
Sources

↑ EMIGRANTS FROM BISCHWEILER ZAEILBRUECKEN, by Schell, page: 38.

Silver Pitcher: 1896 --- "This was told to me, Katherine Phelps Caperion, by Mrs. Nancy Phelps Green, of Richmond, Kentucky in 1896. Nancy and her sister, Miss Kitty Phelps, then more than eighty years of age, were daughters of Phillip Phelps. Mrs. Green had a small silver pitcher of exquisite workmanship, a wedding present to her grandmother, Katharine, wife of Michael Shirley, and valued the beautiful pitcher, which she brought with her to Fort Boonesboro". ----- REGISTER OF THE KENTUCKY STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY VOL. 23, PAGES: 156-157. Catherine Shurley's Will -- January 23, 1825 - Will Book D, page: 169

In the name of good, Amen. I, Catherine, Shurley, of the County of Madison and State of Kentucky, being well advance in age but in sound mind and memory and knowing the uncertainty of life do made and constitute this my last will and testament, revoking all other wills theretofore made.

First, it is my will and desire that at my death, my body be decently buried and any expenses thereof be paid by my executor hereafter named.

Item: I will and bequeath unto my granddaughter, Cynthia Philps, my saddle and bridle and twenty-five dollars to be her and her heirs and assigns foreever.

Item: I give and bequeath to my granddaughter, Nancy Philps, one feather bed and two pillows and one equal half of any bed furniture and twenty-five in cash to her and her heirs and assigns forever.

Item: I will and bequeath unto my granddaughter, Catherine Philps, one feather bed and the other half of my bed furniture and twenty-five dollars to her and her heirs and assigns forever. Also my will and desire that my said daughter Catherine at my decease have my family Bibles to be hers forever. I will and bequeath unto my daughter, Sarah Philps, my negro woman, Sophia, to be a servant to wait on her during life but she is not to dispose of her, thank is be by Him for her own benefit during her natural life bur she make such disposal of my said negro, Sophia, and her increase, should there be any, by selling them to whoever she may chose. which devisor shall be good and valid at my daughter's death.

Item: Also I further will and bequeath unto my said daughter, Sarah Philps, my bureau and all the rest of my household furniture that may be at my death to her and her heirs forever.

Item: It is my further will and desire that after my debts, if any should be due, together with my burial expenses be paid, all the balance of my estate shall be equally divided and between my three children: George Shurley, Nancy Travis and Sarah Philps, after first allowing my executors hereafter named so much thereof as may be agreeable compensation for the trouble they may beset, constitute and appoint James Anderson and Allen Anderson my executors of this, m y last will and testament and seal this 23rd day of January 1825. ----- Witness: Thomas (his X mark) Tisdad - Set (his X mark) Christy and James Anderson --- Signed: Catherine (her X mark) Shurley.

Madison County: I, David Irvin, clerk of the court for the county aforesaid do fully certify that at a county court held for Madison county on Monday, the 1st of May 1826. this instrument of writing was produced in said court and proven to be the last will and testament of Catherine Shurley, deceased, by the oaths of Thomas Tisdad and James Anderson, both subscribing witnesses thereto and the same has been duly recorded in my office. --- David Irvine, clerk.

MADISON COUNTY, KENTUCKY COUNTY RECORDS, Madison County, Kentucky, Will Book: D, page: 169