Into Africa

The following story tells how Ross' Great Grandfather, George Bubb (shown at left), departed England at the age of 21 as a colonist in South Africa. It begins a history that took Ross' family roots from England to South Africa. For an appriciation of the distances involved, see http://www.mapsofworld.com/south-africa/southafrica-location-map.html.html

The picture of the first Dutch settlers landing in South Africa was taken from the following website: http://www.south-africa-tours-and-travel.com/1820-british-settlers.html

Understanding where the Shirley Family came from is important to knowing who we are. The following is taken from, "The Story of the 1820 Settlers," written by Thomas Pringle, South Africa's first poet and setler of 1820. "History states, originally South Africa's was a slave economy, not unlike America's pre-Cival War society. The masters in South Africa were the Dutch peasants or Boers, who first came to the Cape of Good Hpe as colonists in 1652, sponsored by the East India Company. The Boers believed they had a sacred duty to cultivate and subdue what they regarded as a new promised land. They enslaved the natives, whom they called Hottentots, or Bushmen. The whites began referring to themselves as Afrikaners. Over a period of years a mixture of the two races grew into significant numbers, they were labeled coloreds.

War in Europe brought a series of changes in the colony's ownership. The British took possession in 1795. The Netherlands regained possession in 1802, but lost control to Britain in 1806. Later, the British government awarded its citizens 5,000 land grants in Cape Colony. As prime minister of South Africa's Cape Colony, Cecil John Rhodes believed Britain should rule all of Africa.

In 1820, Great Britain, in the period of stress succeeding to the Napolenic Wars, sent a great number of immigrants to South Africa. There were eighteen parties sent by ship from different ports such as Portsmouth, Liverpool, and Bristol. These were followed by four Irish parties and one Scotch party. Altogehter these ships brought to South Africa one thousand seventy nine men, six hundred and thirty two women, and one thousand and sixty four chldren as immigrants."

Of the ships that left Great Britain, we are most interested in the Weymouth (shown here at left) which carried the Gurney party of 24 from Deal Kent, England, because (our) future great grandfather, George Bubb, age 21, was on that ship. Altogether there were ten different parties that left Portsmouth on Weymouth. The average time taken by each ship for the whole journey from Great Britain was about four months, the usual period in those days for each voyage.

For a more lengthy read on the history of South Africa, go to http://www.genealogyworld.net/settlers/tessa.htm

Early Life & Background

Ross Shirley, shown here surrounded by his sisters (clockwise from left, Lavina Grace, also known as Bonnie, Sarah, Myrtle Esther, and Jennette) was born on June 25, 1912. His father was James Frederick Shirley (July 13, 1873-July 24, 1924) and Sarah Frances Virgin (22 July, 1876-15 December, 1968). He was born in Salem, Idaho, which was part of Fremont County in 1912. He was the eighth child of eleven children, all of whom lived to maturity. Older siblings were Frederick Amos, Myrtle Esther, Leo George, Leslie Francis, Eva Sarah, Alice Jennette, Lavina Grace (Bonnie), Rodney James, Hazel Mae and Ada Mary. All were born in Salem except the oldest, Fred, who was born in Fish Haven, in Bear Lake. Salem became part of Madison County by the time Rodney, Hazel and Ada were born.

His father, James Frederick Shirley, (shown left ) was the son of William Henry Shirley and Esther Maria Bubb, who immigrated to the Bear Lake area after joining the Church of Jesus Christ in Cape Province, South Africa. Ross' grandfather was the first of the Shirley's to be baptized, which took place on April 23, 1855. His wife, Esther Maria Bubb, was baptized two days later.

Ross' father, James, was the sixth of seven children, three of whom survived to maturity (the first, third, fifth and seventh children all died before reaching their second year). He was baptized a member of the church on August 21, 1881. The family moved to Salem, near the Rexburg, Idaho area, sometime before Myrtle, their second child, was born in 1899. Ross' father was a good musician and played the pump organ as well as the bass horn. There was no money for music lessons, so he had to learn as best he could. His musical ability seems to have been passed on through the family.

Ross' mother Sarah Frances Virgin (shown left) was the oldest daughter of Amos Moses Virgin and Sarah Frances Merkley. Her grandparents had been persecuted to the point that George Thompston Virgin, (Ross' Great Grandfather) was killed in a train accident. Ross' grandfather, Amos Moses Virgin, walked most of the way across the plains as a young child. The family located in the Bear Lake area. Ross' parents were married in the Logan temple on October 21, 1896. Sarah loved to read, though she had very little formal education. She had a great love for learning. When Ross was twelve years old, his father died from appendicitis. Ross became the designated "cow milker," and they had many cows. Sarah worked hard to keep food on the table, taking work in Sugar City at the seed store, sorting and packaging seeds, which took a toll on her eyesight. Aunt Bonnie told me that she remembered hearing her moter cry in the night after Frederick passed away. She said she did not realize until later the lonliness that comes from such a loss.