Potter: Price / S / Bristol.
Thomas and Samuel Shirley was born on Rewlatch Farm, Fawfieldhead, Buxton, Staffordshire on 25 October 1838 and 23 July 1840 respectively, sons of Samuel Shirley and Hannah Riley with older brothers William and Joseph.
From the Western Daily Press - Monday 14 April 1862 page 1: "TO GROCERS AND PROVISION DEALERS. MESSRS BARNARD, THOMAS, AND CO. have received directions to SELL by TENDER, in One Lot, the STOCK-IN-TRADE of Mr Job Curtis, Grocer and Provision Merchant, 86, Redcliff Street, in this city, amounting to £345 5s 8d, per inventory. The Stock is of the best description, consisting of the most saleable articles, recently purchased. The Fixtures may by taken at a valuation. Payment, one half Cash remainder by a joint and several Promissory Note, secured, at one month. The whole on view any day this week, and the Tenders will be opened, at the Offices the Brokers, on Monday, the 14th inst., at Twelve o'clock precisely, in the presence of those who attend, and the purchaser declared. Dated Albion Chambers, Bristol, April 7th, 1862."
From the Western Daily Press - Saturday 5 August 1865 page 1: "NOTICE is Hereby Given, that the PARTNERSHIP which has for some time past existed between us, the undersigned, THOMAS SHIRLEY and SAMUEL SHIRLEY, under the style of SHIRLEY BROTHERS, in the business of Wholesale and Retail Tea Dealers, Family Grocers, and Provision Merchants, at No. 86, Redcliff street the City and County of Bristol, was this day DISSOLVED by mutual consent and the Business will in future be carried on by the undersigned, THOMAS SHIRLEY, alone, and all Accounts due and owing by or to the said Partnership are to be Paid by or to the said THOMAS SHIRLEY. As witness our hands, this Twenty-third of May. 1865, (Signed) THOMAS SHIRLEY. SAMUEL SHIRLEY."
In 1865 Samuel Shirley was married to Rachael Lockyer, in Clifton. They had two children, Florence Emily Shirley, in 1866, and Samuel Arthur Shirley in 1868. Samuel Arthur joined his father's business when he reached the age of 21, about the year 1889, whereupon the company became Shirley & Son.
From the Western Daily Press - Tuesday 17 October 1865 page 2: "WANTED, a BOY. —Apply to Samuel Shirley, Grocer, 3 Carlton Place, Mall, Clifton." So when Samuel left the partnership with his brother he set up his own shop in Clifton.
It wasn't long before Thomas Shirley was in
financial difficulties. From the London Gazette - 25 February 1868:
"NOTICE is hereby given, that the following is a copy of an entry made in
the book kept by the Chief Registrar of the Court of Bankruptcy for the
Registration of Trust Deeds for the benefit of Creditors, Composition, and
Inspectorship Deeds executed by a Debtor, as required by the Bankruptcy
Act, 1861, secs. 187, 192, 194, 196, and 198:—
Number—29,646.
Title of Deed, whether Deed of Assignment, Composition, or
Inspectorship—Composition.
Date of Deed—19th February. 1868.
Date of execution by Debtor—19th February, 1868.
Name and description of the Debtor as in the Deed—Thomas Shirley, of No.
86, Redcliff-street, in the city of Bristol, Grocer and Provision Dealer.
The names and description of the Trustees or other parties to the Deed,
not including the Creditors—The creditors.
A short statement of the nature of the Deed—Whereby the debtor covenants
to pay his creditors a composition of ten shillings in the pound on the
amount of their respective debts, by three equal instalments, at two,
four, and six months respectively from the 7th February,1868, the payment
of such instalments to be secured by the joint and several promissory
notes of the debtor and of William Shirley, of Rewlach, Longnor, Buxton,
Derbyshire, Farmer, and Samuel Shirley, of Carlton-place, Mall, Clifton,
Bristol, Grocer, such promissory notes to be ready for delivery to the
creditors upon their making application for the same to Messieurs.William
Tricks, Son, and Wallop, of Albion-chambers, Bristol, Accountants within
fourteen days after registration of the deed and a release by the
creditors."
Thomas Shirley was a commission agent for the business for a while after his own store failed, living with his family in Bedminster, before becoming a gardener and moving to Beeston, Nottinghamshire. He died at 12 Cedar Road, Chilwell Park, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 3 October 1911.
From the London Gazette - 16 August
1895: "NOTICE is hereby given that the Partnership heretofore subsisting
between us the undersigned Samuel Shirley, Samuel Arthur Shirley and
Frederick George Knowles carrying on business as Wholesale Grocers and
Provision Merchants at No. 201 Hotwell-road in the city of Bristol under
the style or firm of Knowles and Company, has been dissolved by mutual
consent as and from the 30th day of July 1895. All debts due to and owing
by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Frederick
George Knowles who for the future will carry on the business on his own
account. — Dated the 12th day of August 1895.
SAMUEL SHIRLEY, SAMUEL ARTHUR SHIRLEY, FREDERICK GEORGE KNOWLES."
From the Bristol Times and Mirror -
Tuesday 5 March 1907 page 5: " Bristol licences, adjourned annual session
- ... FOR HENLEAZE ROAD.
Mr. B. R. Vachell (instructed by Messrs. Barry and Harris) applied on
behalf of Mr. Samuel Arthur Shirley for a grocer's licence in respect of
premises in Cavendish Road, Henleaze Road.
Mr. Wansbrough, Mr. J. C. Gilmore, Mr. G. T. Cooke, and Mr. H. Pomeroy
objected.
Mr. Vachell said the application was made in order that they might sell by
retail off the premises. Mr. S. A. Shirley was the managing director of
Messrs. Shirley and Son, Limited, who were the proprietors of several
grocers' businesses in Clifton and Bristol. They had had the place of
business in Henleaze Road somewhere about three years, and they desired to
be able to serve their customers with beer, wines, and spirits in small
quantities to be consumed off the premises. They held similar licences in
Clifton, and the application was made as a matter of simple convenience to
their customers at Henleaze, so that they might be allowed to supply them
in the same way as they did their customers in Clifton. An application was
made some three years ago at Lawford's Gate, just as the district was
coming into the city, and it was thought that it would be better left to
the city to deal with. Where there were fields a few years ago there were
now rows and rows of houses. He knew a grocer's licence was not a popular
one, but the public would not be properly served unless they had such a
licence in the district. He was told that there was not a grocer's licence
nearer than Coldharbour Road, which was something like half an hour's walk
from Messrs. Shirley's premises. There was a beerhouse in Henleaze Road
called the Eastfield Inn, and there was also a wine merchant's premises in
the same road. He, however, could not sell less than 4½ gallons, and
bottled beer was what they were mostly asked for. Nowadays they did not
get anything for nothing, and therefore he offered to deliver up two
grocers' licences, a full licence, and one for wine and spirits off the
premises.
Mr. S. A. Shirley, replying to questions by Mr. Wansbrough, said that his
father held six licences in Bristol. Three of them were in White Ladies'
Road, and it was one of those they proposed to give up. In answer to
question's by Mr .Wansbrough, the witness proceeded to explain how
customers were called on for orders, when the chairman remarked that such
a course was distinctly contrary to the provisions of the Act. If people
wanted liquor they should send their orders by post and messenger to the
place where the liquor was sold.
Mr. S. A. Shirley said that whatever was the law and was right they would
do. Mr. Vachell said that he felt sure that the Bench would he satisfied
with Mr. Shirley's assurance. After some few further questions by the
other objecting solicitorss, The Bench intimated that the licence would
not he granted."
From the Western Daily Press - Wednesday 7
April 1909 page 3: "DEATH OF MR SAMUEL SHIRLEY. We regret to announce the
death Mr Samuel Shirley, of 5, Albert Road, Clifton, which occurred during
holiday trip in the Mediterranean. Mr Shirley left Bristol about three
weeks ago one of Dr. Lunn’s excursions, and John Boyd was member of the
same party. On Saturday a telegram was received from Naples stating that
Mr Shirley had been taken seriously ill, and his son, Mr Arthur Shirley,
left home immediately in the hope of meeting him yesterday morning at
Marseilles. On arrival there, however, found that his father had died at
sea after leaving Naples. The announcement of Mr Shirley's death caused a
painful shock to the citizens, for he was well known and very highly
respected.
The deceased was the son of Mr Samuel Shirley, of Rewlach, in
Staffordshire, and was born at Rewlach in 1840. He came Bristol in 1862
and started business in Redcliff Street, removing to Clifton in 1865, and
afterwards opening branch establishments in the grocery and provision
trade in different parts of the city. Subsequently his son, Mr Arthur
Shirley, became associated with him in the business, and the title the
firm was changed to Shirley and Son, Limited. He was one of the founders
of the Bristol Grocers’ Association, of which he also held the office of
president, and was also at one time chairman of the Parliamentary
Committee of the Grocers’ Federation of Great Britain, on the General
Purposes Committee of which he also did very valuable work. Mr Shirley was
also one of the originators the Grocers’ Benevolent Association, of which
he was a past president. Mr Shirley entered the Bristol City Council as
one of the representatives of the Clifton Ward on the death of Mr Burrow
Hill, in 1897, and he rendered good service on the Health and other
committees. He was also prominently identified with the work of the
Clifton Improvement Committee. Much sympathy will be felt for the members
of the family in the sad bereavement which has befallen them."
Samuel Shirley was buried at sea five miles
south of Cape Yens, in the Mediterranean, on 6 April 1909. There was a
memorial service held for him at Christ Church, Clifton on 13 April 1909.
From the London Gazette - 18 June 1909:
"SAMUEL SHIRLEY, Deceased.
Pursuant to 22nd and 23rd Vic., cap. 35.
ALL creditors and other persons having any claims or demands against the
estate of Samuel Shirley, late of 5, Albert-road, and formerly of 16,
College-road, Clifton, Bristol, deceased, a Director of Shirley and Son,
Limited, Grocers and Provision Merchants, carrying on business in Clifton
and Redland, Bristol, and also at Weymouth, and a Partner in the firm of
Shirley and Ridge, Grocers and Provision Merchants, Bath, and also in the
firm of Shirley and Power, Grocers and Provision Merchants, Taunton, and
in the firm of Shirley and Somerville, Grocers and Provision Merchants,
Yeovil (who died on the 4th day of April, 1909, and whose will was proved
in the Bristol District Probate Registry, on the 21st May, 1909, by Samuel
Arthur Shirley, Thomas McDonald Darling and Clare Smith, all of Bristol,
the executors therein named), are hereby required to send written
particulars of their claims of demands to Messrs. Hudson, Smith and
Company, of The Exchange, Bristol, Chartered Accountants, on or before the
6th day of August, 1909, after which date the said executors will proceed
to distribute the assets of the said deceased amongst the persons entitled
thereto, having regard only to the claims and demands of which they shall
then have had notice and they will not be liable for the assets of the
said deceased, or any part thereof, so distributed, to any person or
persons of whose claims or demands they shall not then have had
notice.—Dated this 16th day of June, 1909. BARRY and HARRIS, 50,
Broad-street, Bristol, Solicitors for the said Executors."
| One Gallon Stoneware Flagon | |
| Impressed:
SHIRLEY & SON LTD / CLIFTON Potter: Price / S / Bristol. |
| Half Pint Beer Bottle |  |
| Impressed:
SHIRLEY & SON LTD / WEYMOUTH (in circle), BRISTOL
& (in centre). Potter: P & R / B. (Powell & Ricketts, Bristol) Cork closure, dark green glass, glassmaker initials in cross on base. |