Michael Shea

Michael Shea, my great great grandfather, according to an interview published in the Indianapolis News for Saturday, April 16, 1898, was born "near Caherciveen" on 26 September 1781. According to his obituary, which appeared in several newspapers, he was born on St. Michael's Day, 1781. According to the History of the Catholic Church in Indiana, in an article about his son Thomas Shea, Michael was born about 6 miles from the birthplace of Daniel O'Connell (Carhan) with whom Michael became acquainted. Micheal was a blacksmith. According to accounts published in the U.S. he travelled around Ireland for several years before settling down. He married in his 50's  Johanna Tehan with whom he had sons Thomas and James (both became blacksmiths) and daughters Mary (married to a Tehan) and Julia (married to Cornelius O'Grady.) All of Michael's children emigrated to the U.S., settling in Ohio  and Indianapolis where Michael ended up as well after his wife Johanna died in about 1854. Michael had two sisters, Stacy Shea, born about 1795 and Hanora Shea, born about 1800, both of whom emigrated to Ohio. Michael's daughters joined their aunts in Ohio.

In an article in The Indianapolis News for Friday, 30 October 1896, entitlled "A voter 115 years old" Michael claims to have in his possession an authenticated copy of the register of his birth" that shows he was born September 29, 1781 "just 6 miles from the place where Daniel O'Connell was born.,,," In the article Michael is reported to have told the reporter that "my father lived to be a 104 years old and my great grandfather was 114 years old when he died." 

According to a recent communication Griffiths' Valuations places a Michael Shea in the Townland of Breahig, Loughcurrane, Dromod Parish from "at least the early 1830s - 1850s." In connection with Michael's listing there is a reference to "a Smith and his forge." (Michael was a blacksmith.) The Griffiths timing appears consistent with what is known about Michael: He married at 54 which would put him at Breahig in 1835, the year of the birth of his first child, Thomas Shea (born "near Waterville" per the History of the Catholic Church in Indiana (1899.) Michael married a Tehan (Teahan) of which there were several in Breahig.