Ulysses Hayes Shipley often told the story of two travelers whose car was stuck in a muddy detour from the main road in Carroll County and his coming to their rescue with his team of sturdy horses. The strangers were delighted to share his hospitality at the noonday dinner prepared by his amiable spouse Bertha, and in the course of conversation discovered they were distant cousins. He could hardly wait to tell his neighbors Robert H.H. Shipley and Larkin Amos Shipley, whose love of family lore matched his, and thus was born the idea of calling together those of Shipley ancestry from Baltimore City and the nearby counties.
Ulysses Hayes Shipley
Bertha Shipley
Robert H.H. Shipley
Larkin Amos Shipley,
Sunday October 4, 1925 was set as the date, and the location chosen was Bethesda Methodist Church, near Gist, where generations of Shipleys and related families had been members since its founding in 1810. The purpose of the first meeting was to promote acquaintance among those of Shipley ancestry and to compare family records
Heavy rain curtailed attendance to about 125 people. The meeting began with a devotional service followed by lunch, talks about family origins, and a musical program with a twenty-voice choir led and accompanied by Mrs. Ulysses Shipley at the organ. Despite the weather, everything was so enjoyable and informative that it was decided to have yearly gatherings.
Bethesda Methodist Church
Objectives were outlined, "Excelsior" was adopted as a motto, green and gold were chosen as colors, and the four-leaf clover was chosen the official flower. (This was later changed to the marigold.) Shipleys outnumbered others in attendance, but related families included Barnes, Bennett, Conaway, Creswell, Davis, Dorsey, Dudderer, Easton, Farver, Flater, Fleming, Gallion, Gorrell, Haines, Myerly, Niner, Parrish, Pool, Shreve, Thompson, Warehime, and Zepp.
Reunions were held annually with attendance ranging from fewer than fifty to nearly a thousand, and while all found it enjoyable to share lunch and swap stories and information, it soon became evident that broader objectives to stimulate and foster the perpetuation of the family heritage and to inspire the interest and participation of younger members needed to be addressed.
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Our 3rd Annual Reunion (1927), held at Braddock Heights, Maryland
As interest in family grew, research was undertaken in the field of genealogy and many historical records, and family legends came to light. Land grants, census reports, church and cemetery records, wills, marriage licenses, Bible records, birth certificates, death and social security records have all been utilized, but many early records were destroyed by church or court house fires, or were never kept. In order to preserve a record of the descendants of Adam Shipley, a committee was appointed in 1937 to research material and publish the results. A Research Committee was established, and after much work, the book was published in 1938. Subsequent editions were published in 1968, 2002, and 2010. An substantial update is currently in progress, and the first volume was published in June, 2026.
Programs over the years have varied from picnics, luncheons, dinners, a wine and cheese party, boat rides around the Baltimore harbor, visits to historical sites, celebrations at the placing of historical markers, recognition of individuals, memorial services. Tercentennial celebrations, and celebrations of other momentous occasions. No matter what the cause, the friendliness, goodwill, courtesy, and delight with being among relatives and kindred spirits has always prevailed, and this spirit of peace and goodwill has been noted and extolled by numerous speakers.
Efforts to achieve our goals have continued over a span of nearly a century. Dedication to tasks and diligence in research have accomplished much, but the enjoyment of association with relatives at the many and diversified gatherings has been the most obvious and outstanding achievement.
Future updates- Add paragraph and photo of centennial. Add photo of minutes and transcription. Add photos of books, also add 300th and 350th celebrations, add a about NL started 1961 etc