The First Mee Family Reunion was pulled off by Jennifer on July 19-22nd, 2013 in Galway. I got this info from my father but having researched things in the two counties maybe he was from Mayo or Galway???
THE FAMILY OF JAMES THOMAS MEE OF IRELAND (1833-1915)
James Thomas Mee was born in Ireland on January 15, 1833 and lived in Tipperary and Limerick Counties prior to emigrating into the United States of America (with his parents, Uncle?; names ?). He emigrated during the 1840’s Potato Famine in Ireland, at age 12 ?, just before the Civil War. He arrived in New York Harbor. He worked on the Erie Canal in upper New York State with his Uncle who had gotten the job. James Thomas Mee lived in Palmyrs, New York (Palmyra ?) where he was naturalized as a citizen in the Monroe County Court on October 26, 1860 at age twenty-seven (copy obtained).
On June 24, 1869, at the age of 36, James Thomas Mee married 22-year-old Margaret Shephard who had been born in Ireland on August 27, 1846 and who had migrated to New York City where she was employed as a maid in the R. H. Macy Household (the founder of Macy’s Department Store). During their long marriage, they raised two daughters and five sons. Of the children only the two daughters, Ann Eliza and Margaret Mee and one son, John Richard Mee, survived their early years. Two of the sons, James Thomas Mee, Jr. and Richard L. Mee, died within twelve hours of each other on March 11, 1879, as a result of a diphtheria epidemic. This happened when James was already stricken and quarantined in his room, and Richard went to take him his favorite toy top and touched his hand. The third son, George ?, also died of a childhood illness. The 1880 census lists the household composition.
James Thomas Mee died in 1915 at age 82 having lived a full life. In later years, he was often seen at their house reading the Bible on a rocking chair on the front porch.
