Born: 1837. Baptised on 23 July.
Place of Birth: Smethwick which at the time of his birth was in Staffordshire.
Died:
Parents: Robert and Mary Shirley, nee Hawkes.
Marriages: Catherine Willis in 1857, in the Registration District of West Bromwhich.
Children: Ann c1859, Albert c1862, Fred c1870, Henry c1872, Mikenda Elizabeth c1879, Arthur c1880 and Sidney c1882.
Occupation: Metal Polisher.
Notes: Joseph and Catherine lived in Smethwick for most of their married life. In the 1901 Census they were living at 45 Watt, Handsworth. Living with them was son Henry, his wife Hannah, nee Foster and their children Archer aged 4, Lavinia aged 3 and Frank aged 1. Also living there was grandson Albert Murphy aged 18. In the 1881 Census, Joseph's son Albert, was working in Kingswinford as a pork butchers assistant with his cousin Alfred Shirley, son of Joseph's brother William (they are shown as being born in Handsworth, then part of Staffordshire).
Joseph's parents were married at St Phillips, Birmingham on 20th February 1827.