MICHAEL SHIRLEY IS MY FIFTH GREAT GRANDFATHER -- R. A. PARKER

Johann Michael Shelley/Shirley - born: December 18, 1732 - died: July 23, 1784 near Fort Boonesborough, son of Charles "Carl" and Anna Esther Shelly/Shirley. None of the known records refers to Michael as Johann except his birth certificate.

He was a bonded surveyor 1761-1769 in Augusta County, Virginia. Michael enlisted December 1, 1777 in Captain Bentley's Company, 3rd Virginia Regiment, commanded by Col. John Neville, formally known at times as Captain Reuben Briscoe's Company and Charles West's Company and commanded by Col. Heath during the Revolutionary War. Michael's pay vouches shows that he spent the winter at Valley Forge and the following spring he had pneumonia. His name appears on the company rolls until November 1779.

Michael married Katherine "Katie" Franz/Frantz. Katie lived in what is now Washington D. C. with an Aunt and Uncle. Her mother died shortly after they came to America. Her father returned to Europe with the two younger children to place them with relatives to be cared for and educated. He left Katie with her mother's brother and wife until he could return to America, The ship was never heard from again and is susposed to have been lost at sea.

While at Washington (D. C.), Michael, as a young soldier, was passing in the line of march, saw Katie and later fell in love with her. Their wedding was opposed, as young Shirley was a "mere solider". They lived in Washington and then moved to Pennsylvania. Later they moved to Fort Boonesborough and tax records reveals that Michael brought land that was patent by Daniel Boone.

Version #1 ---Michael Shirley was shot by Indians at Station Camp, Kentucky. The Indians shot him, breaking both of his legs, and he fell from his horse behind a log. The Indians thinking him dead, left him and capture his horse. He crawled to a tree and from there he dragged himself back and forth to a stream of water. On a vine he cut with a pen knife how he was killed and marked each day he lived and on the sixth day, he said he felt death and as to whether he died that day or lived longer is not known. The family buried him where he was found and his buried place was marked by a stone with M. S. curved on it and the same was cut on the bark of the tree by which he was buried.

Version #2 --- Michael and his family were inside of the fort with all the other settlers of the area because of an forewarned Indian attack. After the Indiana broke off the attack, Michael and several other of the men left the fort to pursue them. Michael became seperated from the main body of whites and was discovered by the Indians. They shot him, leaving him for dead. Michael had been accompanied by his dog. On the fourth day following the attack the dog returned to the fort and lured some of the men to follow him, leading them to where Michael lay, dead. He had curved his initials M.S. in a tree under which he lay. He was buried at the foot of the tree, not far from the river bank. Information provided from Mary (Shirley) Dailey, granddaughter of Michael Shirley in 1841.

Michael Shirley enters 700 acres of land on part of a treasury Warrent No. 7422, Begining at a black walnut tree with his initials M. S. at the mouth of a creek reunning into the Kentucky River about three miles below Miller's Bottom, to run up the creek and down the Kentucky River for Quantity. Enetered January 7, 1783.

Children of Michael and Katie: Mary - Katie - Lizzie - George - Susan - Nancy - Charles - Sallie.

Located in front of the rebuilt Fort Boonesborough, Fort Boonesborough Historical State Park, Madison County, Kentucky is a monument that has the names of early pioneers having a connection to the original fort. Michael, his wife Katie and their son Charles names are inscribed on this monument.