Shirland

Shirland
circa 1658

Garnett Family
Thomas Stuart and Emma Baber Garnett made their home at Shirland. After the deaths of Mrs. Garnett's husband and father, the former a casualty of the Civil War, the latter due to illness, she moved back to her childhood home of Spy Hill.

Patent
Henry Roach, a mariner from Bristol, England patented 850 acres September 13, 1654; 1,700 acres October 10, 1658, then added 850 acres. This land was known as "Shirland." Henry made his will April 16, 1677, proved March 24, 1678.

Shirland, a 1700 acre tract was patented October 13, 1658 by Henry Roach.

On the spelling of the name Sherling; one reference in the 1600s that is a Roger Sherling who was listed in the estate records of a Jane Paine as a debtor in 1675 in St. Mary's County, Maryland.

Other references spell the name Sherland. A William Sherland was transported to Maryland in 1653; a William Sherland who was transported to Accawmack County Virginia in 1653; a John Sherland who was transported to Lancaster County, Virginia in 1668; Captain Walter Sherland who purchased land in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia in 1661 and reported to be dead in 1675; a James Sharland who was a witness in Old Rappahanock County, Virginia in 1661.

It is noted that all of the above named Sherland's appear around the Chesapeake Bay area during this time period. Also the place name Shirland in Westmoreland County, Virginia appears in the 1600s.

Leads to the Sherland name can be found in the 1749 Halifax County, North Carolina deed record where William Shirling's name is spelled Shirling when he purchases land, and then in 1753 when he signs his name William Sherland on the deed when he sell this same land.