John L. B. Shirley (1840 - 1905)

Born Nov 1840 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States

Husband of Mary J. (Henry) Shirley — married 3 Sep 1868 in Pennsylvania, United States

Died 28 Apr 1905 at age 64 in West Chester, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States

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John Shirley is a part of US Black heritage.

Biography

John L. B. Shirley was born in November^[1] about 1840^[1][2]-1841^[3][4] in Lancaster County^[5], Pennsylvania^[3][4][1]. He was the child^[3][4][1] of Matilda J. Beck and Charles Shirley, and the husband and widower^[1] of Mary J. Henry. He served with the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the US Civil War.

He stood about 5 feet and 7 inches (1.7m) tall with a light complexion, brown eyes, and black hair when he enlisted in 1863.^[5]

By 1900, he was blind.^[1]

Education

In 1850 and 1860, John was attending school, probably in or near Chester County, Pennsylvania.^[3][4]

Occupations

• 1860^[4], 1863^[2]: Farmer

Residences

• 1900: 121 Matlack Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania (widowed) with his widowed mother and brother Hiram^[1]
• 1880: South Adams Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania with his wife Mary
• 1863: West Chester (military enlistment)^[2]
• 1860: Pocopson Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania (post office: Parkersville) with his parents and siblings^[4]
• 1850: Salisbury, Pennsylvania with his parents and siblings^[3]

Military Service

Private John Shirley served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 4 Jan 1864
Mustered out: 20 Aug 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 54th Massachusetts Infantry

During the Civil War, he served as a Private in Company B of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the second^[6] regiment in the United States made up entirely of enlisted men of color. He was about 23 years old, married and working as a farmer when he enlisted on 9 March 1863 from West Chester, Pennsylvania. Mustered out 20 August 1865 with his regiment.^[2]

Special Orders

See also Images.

Special Order No. 146: Special Duty, Quartermasters Department

Hd Qrs N D Dept South

AA Genl's Office

Charleston SC

June 29 /65

Special Orders No 146

Par II. The following named enlisted men of the 54th Mass Vols are hereby detailed for special duty in the Quartermasters Dept and will report at once to Lieut Hagens AAQM for duty Viz:

John Shirley Co "B"

Jerry Willis Co "B"

George Jay Co "B"

Charles Preston Co "B"

Clayton Johnson Co "B"

By Command of

Bvt Maj Genl John P. Hatch

Sgd E Harris Jewett

1st Lt 55th Mass Vols

DAA Gen'l

Race

• 1900^[1]: Black
• 1850^[3], 1860^[4]: Mulatto

Death

He passed away in 1905 and is buried at the Chestnut Grove Cemetery in West Chester, Pennsylvania.^[7]

Projects

• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} 1900 federal census
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Emilio, McKay Roster p. 348
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} 1850 federal census
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6} 1860 federal census
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Regimental descriptive roll
6. ↑ and the first with federal recognition; the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry regiment was against the wishes of the Secretary of War and filled only six companies, but did see action a full year before the 54th
7. ↑ Find a Grave memorial

• 1850 United States Federal Census The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Salisbury, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Roll: 789; Page: 43a
• 1860 United States Federal Census Year: 1860; Census Place: Pocopson, Chester, Pennsylvania; Roll: M653_1092; Page: 745; Family History Library Film: 805092 (as John L. Sherley)
• 1870 United States Federal Census Year: 1870; Census Place: West Chester, Chester, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1325; Page: 191B; Family History Library Film: 552824
• 1880 United States Federal Census Year: 1880; Census Place: West Chester, Chester, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1113; Page: 110D; Enumeration District: 042
• 1900 United States Federal Census Year: 1900; Census Place: West Chester, Chester, Pennsylvania; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0121
• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Book Co., 1891 (1st ed.) and 1894 (2nd ed.)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #30468357
• Fold3.com. "Records of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored), 1863-1865." National Archives Catalog #577134. "Regimental and Company Books of Civil War Volunteer Union Organizations, compiled 1861 - 1865." Free Access Civil War Records 1-15 April 2018.
• Whitehead, William (publisher.) Directory of the borough of Chester, for the years 1859-60,: containing a concise history of the borough. West Chester: E. F. James, 1859