Welcome to the Shirley Family Genealogy Site
Last Updated: April 2026
Welcome
This website began with a simple idea—to focus on a single parish. Over time, it has developed into a much larger project containing thousands of transcribed records.
The site is now organised around three main regions: the sixteen parishes in southeast Somerset, the Blackmore Vale area of Dorset, and the Meneage district of Cornwall.
Additional involvement in Somerset research projects and the Online Parish Clerk (OPC) initiative in Cornwall has resulted in further record sections, including dedicated OPC pages for Gwinear and Mawgan in Meneage.
Pages are also hosted for the Somerset Record Society and Somerset & Dorset Notes and Queries, both of which are volunteer-led organisations supported through membership contributions.
Much of the material here has been contributed by independent researchers who have freely shared their transcriptions to support wider historical research.
Contributions relating to Somerset, Dorset, or Cornwall are always welcome.
Thank you for visiting. Please return regularly, as updates are added frequently. The “What’s New” section highlights changes and additions.
Useful Genealogy Resources
The following websites are recommended for genealogy research and may be especially helpful for those starting out or exploring free resources online.
FamilyTrees Online – A collection of free genealogy resources gathered into one platform, providing a useful starting point for family history research.
The Parish Chest – A large genealogy marketplace where societies and specialist providers offer research tools, publications, and services.