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John and Anna Sheehan - records?

Please see attached screenshot of Census Records

Hello all! I have successfully traced my lineage back to Ireland.

I have tracked my great great grandparents back to Ireland but I dont know where to look from here.

They are:

John Sheehan, born May 1843

He married Anna Sheehan born 1848

They moved to the United States in 1866.

I have seen on the US Census listing that he never became a citizen of the United States.

One of their (7) children was James Sheehan, born March 1888 in the United States. His father was still Irish at that time, though the lived in the United State. Does that mean James may have also been automatically an Irish citizen?

it shows James Sheehan's father, John Sheehan (born Ireland) died in the United States in an accident on 23 January 1893 - still pretty young.

I believe he died an Irish citizen.

My father is still alive and well and since we know we are able to connect back to his great grandparents (John and Anna Sheehan) being born in Ireland, we are going to see if he can apply for his Irish duel citizenship, so that he can pass it to me and so on.

I have been to Ireland and I love it. I also have a dear friend who is a famous actress who lives in Ireland - we met in California before she was famous (Jenny Dixon) and I would truly love to have Ireland as a second home.

I believe all i need to apply on behalf of my father is the birth certificates or some proof of his parents being born in Ireland. Can someone point me to where I maybe able to find that?

THANK YOU!

CassSmartyPants

13 replies

Some answers to your questions can be found here: https://www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/citizenship/

Becoming an American citizen does not strip one of their Irish citizenship, nor does it prevent their children/grandchildren from being Irish citizens.

I hope this is helpful.

glanvil3@aol.com

Cass:

You have attached a 1900 census record for the John Sheehan family but you then mention that John Sheehan died in 1893 in an accident.

Ireland was part of Great Britain up until 1921. I don't know the rules of British citizenship at that time for a child born in the USA.

I'm not an official source but I don't think your father can apply for Irish citizenship through the Foreign Born registry process. https://www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/

I searched on the subscription site Roots Ireland and did not find a marriage record for a John Sheehan to an Anna Sheehan. From the 1900 census record it appears that Anna came to the USA two years after John. Possibly they came separately because of money or possibly they married in the USA.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi thanks of the help!

Roger- you made an excellent point! I have only one record of death in 1898 but that is one of the only things i can not verify is actually him.

However, the census of 1900 is very clear...I am wondering if maybe he had died and his wife listed the whole family anyway? Otherwise I'm not sure!

What i did find in the meanwhile is that it seems she was Anne not Anna and I found (attached) their marriage information - they were indeed married in Limerick.

Also, I have found out her maiden name was GODFREY.

So I'm just now wondering what else I can find on her. If she had not naturalized, maybe there is a chance she registered the foreign births with Ireland via? I dont know if she could or would have bothered...but if she didn't give it up and then had her sons all in USA...I'm clinging to hope!!

CassSmartyPants

Cass:

Civil registration of Roman Catholic marriages in Ireland started in 1864. John indicated that he came to America in 1866. I searched all John Sheehan marriages from 1864-1866 and did not see a marriage to an Anna Sheehan. Most of the marriages reviewed were in Co. Cork so likely that is where John came from.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

so i'm thinking john probably remembered wrong? or whomever gave that information because their marriage certificate clearly says they are married Limerick, 1869.

Census says line says she was here 2 years longer than him....maybe they met here and got married back in Ireland?? Crossing oceans was a big deal back then - not sure they would have but who knows? I am trying to learn the story - whatever it is, I would love to know.

CassSmartyPants

Roger! Wow! Thank you!

I am wondering if maybe the 1900 census was told to someone by maybe their kids or maybe if the dad had died and she was still Irish only - maybe they lied on the form?

I can't believe they would be crossing the Atlantic very often during that time.

Their 5th son, James Sheehan, is the grandfather of my father, David Grill.

I would love to find some information to confirm where james was born.

CassSmartyPants

updating on census I do NOT seen Henry listed. I see a Maggie same year, 1871. I'm so confused. Meanwhile everything else lines up - seems like its them.

But Henry - first I'm hearing of. I wonder if he died? Or was a twin?

CassSmartyPants

Castlemore Roscommon - thank you!

how can i see any of the other children besides Henry? I have tried searching and I'm not finding them

Children Names I have:

Mollie - born 1871

Patrick - born 1876

John - born 1878

Katie - born 1881

Anna - born 1886

James - born 1888

Maggie - born 1889

CassSmartyPants

I believe this may be your John. Found on newspapers.com; I'm sorry I misplaced the name of the newspaper.

glanvil3@aol.com

Cass:

Patricia solved the issue of the year of death for John Sheehan.

I don't know if marriage records for the City of St. Louis are online for 1869-1871 but I would look on Ancestry or familysearch.org for a marriage record.

Regarding the birth record for Henry Sheehan in Limerick city, I sent that record to show that the 1869 marriage record was for a different couple. Henry's siblings were Patrick 1870 Michael 1874 Margaret 1877 Sarah 1879 another Patrick 1882 (first Patrick died?) William 1887 There could be others. These records are on the free site irishgenealogy.ie but they are to find. I found the records using a subscription site-- Roots Ireland.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Cass,

Even if your father is able to prove his Irish citizenship via his parents OR grandparents, it cannot be "passed down" to you....it ends with him. If your parents or grandparents were born in Ireland, you can apply, but it doesn't extend further back than that.

Regards,

Carolyn

This is so helpful

Thank you all!

Anna and John - 1869 - now it makes sense. So many of the names are the same name.

I came up with Anna and John via Ancestry - they definitely have some records mixed up.

I'll go back with this article - I think that will help a lot!

Also, I'd love to learn more about John and Anna in their youth.

Like - anything would be awesome as my next trip to Ireland

Any idea if i can find baptism or birth or any other records? Were there any records of people leaving on ships?

I'd like to explore areas they were in. Luckily a friend of mine's family is from Limerick (still there) so I will have a great tour guide!

CassSmartyPants

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