Author Topic: Researching John Shay born Mayo ca 1830 emigrated to Chicago, Illinois  (Read 1499 times)

Offline OShay

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Researching John Shay born Mayo ca 1830 emigrated to Chicago, Illinois
« on: Wednesday 25 November 15 17:44 GMT (UK) »
Researching the family of John Shay (ca1830-1905) and Bridget O'Day (1838-1910). Both were born in Ireland but immigrated to Chicago Illinois  prior to their marriage at "old" St. Patrick's Church in 1855. John supposedly came from Mayo around 1852.
All members of the family lived in the Chicago "west side" until the third generation.  Their children were:
Michael (1856-1887) Chicago fireman, married Margaret Dinnen, children Della,Maurice
Dennis (1858-1910) married Mary Shannesy, children
Mary (1861-1903) married W.Welbasky
Bridget (1862-1891) married John Malone, son Thomas
John (1864-1899) Chicago fireman, US Navy died in Sacramento CA
Patrick (1867-1894)
Cornelius(1869-1924) Chicago fireman, married Agnes Grant, children Maurice,Vincent, Francis Grant, Kenneth, Robert
Nora (hannah)(1871-1906) married John Caulfield
Margaret (1873-1891)
William (1876-1896)

DNA autosomal testing indicates they are related to the Conway, Kane/Cain, and Dwyer families of County Mayo.

DNA Y Chromosome testing indicates the O'Shea left Kerry (Kenmare area) between 1750 and 1800.


Offline hallmark

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Re: Researching John Shay born Mayo ca 1830 emigrated to Chicago, Illinois
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 25 November 15 17:54 GMT (UK) »
RC registers are online... just a matter of looking through the Parishes for the years you need.

http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/1063  and the surrounding Parishes in Mayo. A bit of work.....
Give a man a record and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to research, and you feed him for a lifetime.

Offline Owenwee

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Re: Researching John Shay born Mayo ca 1830 emigrated to Chicago, Illinois
« Reply #2 on: Friday 27 November 15 22:00 GMT (UK) »
 Records for John Shay  name more likely to be Shea or O'Shea

Searched All Ireland Records 1830 plus 5 years, there are 197 Births.

None in Co Mayo.
58 Co Cork
41 Co Kilkenny
28 Co Limerick
25 Co Waterford
14 Co Tipperary
 Rest other Counties.

Did you get the death cert of John or Obituary sometimes have names of Parents or Counties In Ireland.


Offline OShay

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Re: Researching John Shay born Mayo ca 1830 emigrated to Chicago, Illinois
« Reply #3 on: Friday 27 November 15 22:23 GMT (UK) »
Thanks for your interest.  The date of birth could be before 1830.  I have two 1835 dates and two 1830 dates for the US census, an 1837 date which is certainly wrong on the death cert and even a
1820 date on a lawsuit filed by my great-grandmother to get a US Navy pension in 1901.

Obviously there are few Shea's in Mayo even today so I am working on the DNA approach.
I hope to narrow down and the parish and perhaps find something in the raw parish registers.
Most of the 19th Irish priests were not taught penmanship by the same good sisters that taught
in my Chicago school.

There is only one Shea in the tithe, five in Griffiths but quite a few in the 1901 census.
I should repeat that the autosomal DNA test does link me with other Mayo families and the Y-CHR test places an O'Shea common ancestor in Kerry around 1750.

I have also kept watch on the "DEESE Genes" blog that has extensive but not complete Mayo Church records.


Offline Owenwee

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Re: Researching John Shay born Mayo ca 1830 emigrated to Chicago, Illinois
« Reply #4 on: Friday 27 November 15 22:38 GMT (UK) »
Griffiths Val of Ballintober Co Mayo

John and Luke  Shea in  Townland Killavally

Martin ,Patrick,Peter O'Dea  same place

Conway name also in Parish


Sorry cannot be more help