Biography of Robert Shirley 4th Baronet 1629-1656

Before 9th September 1623 [his father] Henry Shirley 2nd Baronet (age 35) and [his mother] Dorothy Devereux Lady Shirley (age 23) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and [his grandmother] Frances Walsingham Countess Essex (age 56). They were fourth cousin once removed.

In 1629 Robert Shirley 4th Baronet was born to [his father] Henry Shirley 2nd Baronet (age 41) and [his mother] Dorothy Devereux Lady Shirley (age 29) at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire.

On 8th February 1633 [his father] Henry Shirley 2nd Baronet (age 45) died. His son [his brother] Charles (age 9) succeeded posthumously 3rd Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.

On 30th March 1636 [his mother] Dorothy Devereux Lady Shirley (age 36) died.

On 7th June 1646 [his brother] Charles Shirley 3rd Baronet (age 22) died. His brother Robert (age 17) succeeded 4th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.

Before 23rd January 1647 Robert Shirley 4th Baronet (age 18) and Catherine Okeover Lady Shirley were married. She by marriage Lady Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.

On 23rd January 1647 [his son] Seymour Shirley 5th Baronet was born to Robert Shirley 4th Baronet (age 18) and [his wife] Catherine Okeover Lady Shirley. He married 29th January 1666 his sixth cousin Diana Bruce, daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury and Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury, and had issue.

On 20th October 1650 [his son] Robert Shirley 1st Earl Ferrers was born to Robert Shirley 4th Baronet (age 21) and [his wife] Catherine Okeover Lady Shirley. He married (1) 28th December 1671 Elizabeth Washington Baroness Ferrers Chartley and had issue (2) August 1699 Selina Finch Countess Ferrers and had issue.

Between 1653 and 1655 the Holy Trinity Church Staunton Harold, Leicestershire [Map] was commissioned by Robert Shirley 4th Baronet (age 24). The inscription above the West Door reads "In the year 1653 when all things Sacred were throughout ye nation, Either demolisht or profaned, Sir Robert Shirley, Baronet, Founded this church; Whose singular praise it is, to have done the best things in ye worst times, and hoped them in the most callamitous. The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance."

On 5th June 1654 [his daughter] Dorothy Shirley was born to Robert Shirley 4th Baronet (age 25) and [his wife] Catherine Okeover Lady Shirley at Brackley, Northamptonshire [Map]. She married after 1675 her sixth cousin George Vernon and had issue.

On 6th November 1656 Robert Shirley 4th Baronet (age 27) died from poisoning, probably, in the Tower of London [Map]. His son Seymour (age 9) succeeded 5th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.

Stemmata Shirleiana. Sir Robert Shirley's (age 27) early death, which took place in the Tower of London, on the 6th of November, 1656, "not without suspicion of poison," is involved in some obscurity, he was then for the seventh time undergoing imprisonment for the sake of his religion and loyalty, and his death has been consequently, but it appears without sufficient proof, ascribed to poison.

On 18th October 1672 [his former wife] Catherine Okeover Lady Shirley died.

Stemmata Shirleiana. His [Robert Shirley 4th Baronet] body was brought into Leicestershire, and having previously laid in state some days in the ancient Priory church of Bredon [Map], deposited there on the 22d of December, and finally in 1661 removed to the vault beneath the chancel of the church of Staunton Harold. At his funeral, we are told, a sermon was preached front Luke, VII verse 5: "He loved our country, and hath built us a synagogue." On the north side of the chapel of Staunton Harold is à very handsome mural monument, with this inscription:

Here nearby lies Robert Shirley, Baronet, son of Henry and grandson of George. He married Katherine, daughter of Humphrey Okeover of Okeover in the county of Stafford, Esquire, by whom he had sons Seymour, Sewall (who died in the cradle), and Robert, and daughters Katherine and Dorothea. For his steadfast loyalty to the King he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. He died in the year 1656, in the … year of his age.

Hic juxta situs est Robertus Shirley, Baronettus, Henrici F. Georaii N. uxorem duxit Katharinam, filiam Humphridi Okeover de Okeover in Agro Staff. Armigeri, ex quâ filios suscepit Seymovrem, Sewalvm in cunis Defunctum, ac Robertym, filias Katharinam, et Dorotheam. Ob Summam erga Regem Fidelitatem in Arce Londiniensi incarceratus, obit MDCLVI. A^o Aitatis....

Note 1. Inscription on Robert Earl Ferrers' monument at Eatington, and Dr. Thomas's ed, of Dugdale's Warwickshire, under Eatington.