by Staff Writer
One of the nation’s oldest and most active genealogical family organizations, The Shipleys of Maryland, will mark a major milestone this month — celebrating 100 years of preserving family legacy, honoring community ties, and documenting centuries of Maryland history.
“This milestone is more than a family reunion,” said Dr. Thom Shipley, current president of the organization and a lifelong researcher of the family’s lineage. “It is a tribute to the enduring spirit of Maryland’s early settlers and the communities that continue to thrive because of them.”
Founded in 1925, The Shipleys of Maryland traces its roots back to Adam Shipley, a 19-year-old orphan who arrived in Maryland from England as an indentured servant in 1668. After earning his freedom, Shipley petitioned Lord Charles Calvert in 1678 for 50 acres of land owed to him for “service to the province.” Over the next decade, he acquired nearly 1,000 acres and established a thriving lineage in what are now Anne Arundel and Howard counties. He and his wife, Lois, had six children.
The Centennial Celebration will take place on October 26, 2025, beginning at 10:30 am at Bethesda United Methodist Church in Sykesville — the same location where the family’s first organized meeting was held in 1925. Church historian Frances Ellswick will lead a presentation honoring generations of Shipleys connected to the church, including over 75 ancestors buried in the church cemetery. The program will also spotlight other nearby Shipley burial grounds and historic sites.
The celebration continues at 1:00 pm with a luncheon and reunion gathering at Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster. Dr. Thom Shipley will deliver remarks, drawing on his deep research, including visits to Adam Shipley’s birthplace in Kirkby Fleetham, England.
Other contributors to the celebration include first vice president Connie Sparrow, third vice president Paul Shipley, corresponding secretary Joyce Herbert, and genealogy book chairman Norm Lilley.
Since its founding, The Shipleys of Maryland has grown far beyond its reunion roots. The organization has published a multi-volume genealogy documenting over 77,000 descendants of Adam Shipley, provided college scholarships, and led cemetery restoration projects across the region.
One of the organization’s founding moments came in the early 20th century, when Ulysses Shipley used a team of horses to help two stranded motorists out of Carroll County mud. Over a shared lunch, they discovered they were distant cousins — and the idea for a formal family organization was born. To register for the event or find more information, visit shipleysofmaryland.org. For media inquiries, interviews, or partnership opportunities, contact Dr. Thom Shipley at thomshipley@hotmail.com.
