[1] The family inclined to Roman Catholicism and one of his sisters, Elizabeth Shirley, became a nun,[2] but generally they maintained sufficient conformity to avoid the penalties for recusancy.
Inheriting the estate as a minor, George's wardship was granted by the queen to the courtier Mary Cheke,[3] who sold it on to Sir John Throckmorton.
[5] In 1584 he was questioned concerning his links to Sir John's son Francis in relation to the Throckmorton Plot.
[4] with whom he had 5 children, including his heir Henry and the Catholic antiquary Sir Thomas Shirley.
[12] On his death he owned property in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire, and an income from which he was able to draw several legacies of £2000 each.