Patrick Shea/Shay (1820-)

Immigrant Code: 1

Patrick SHAY (SHEA) was born in Ireland about 1820. He married Ellen (or Eleanor) and had the following (known) children). Family tradition says Ellen's maiden name was DRISCOLL but no proof has been found so far.

• Jeremiah Michael SHAY (1857-1937)
• Mary SHAY (1860-)
• Patrick SHAY (1864-)
• Catharine SHAY (1865-)
• Ellen SHAY (1867-)

The family moved to Veteran, Chemung County, New York in the early 1870s. Patrick died sometime between 1880 and 1900.

Connecting Father & Son

April 13, 2008

The connection between Jeremiah Shay and Patrick Shay was made through several pieces of information coming together, including:

1. Family tradition said Jerry's parents were Patrick Shea and Eleanor Driscoll. Family tradition said nothing about them immigrating to the US; in fact, family stories implied they remained in Ireland.
2. Jeremiah's 1914 journal entry on Friday, May 29 that he, wife Jane, and their daughter Elizabeth went to Horseheads, Chemung County, New York to attend the burial of John McNiff. Since there were very few personal entries in the journal this entry seemed to be important.
3. A 1969 newspaper clipping about a nun's retirement from Notre Dame in Elmira mentioned she was the daughter or "Mr. and Mrs. John McNiff" plus a note from my Aunt Betty Daly that the nun was Jerry Shay's niece, Helen McNiff.
4. 1910 census for Horseheads found the John McNiff family - with Helen - and several other children (mostly teenagers). John's mother-in-law Elenor Shay (age 88) lived with them.
5. 1900 census for Horseheads found the John McNiff family - and mother-in-law (Ellay).
6. Jerry Shay and his new wife Jane had previously been found in the 1880 Pine Valley, Veteran, Chemung County, New York; digging around the town (Veteran), Patrick & Ellen Shay, Mary and several other children.