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Searching for Shea's

KerryCastleisland (Kerry)

Hello Castleisland!

My great great grandmother's maiden name as listed on her death certificate was Mary Shay. Her parents were listed as John Shay and Ellen. Her birth was given as 26 March 1844 in Ireland. A later US Census lists her arrival in the US as 1848. There was a Mary Shay who was christened in Castleisland December 13, 1846 to John Shay and Ellen Hill. I believe this may be the same Mary Shay, but I would like to know if the christening records have her birth date.

There is also a Mary Shay listed as a passenger on the ship "Hope" sailing from Liverpool to Boston in 1848. She is recorded as being four years old, which would correspond to her recorded birth year. She was not, however, travelling with either a John or Ellen Shay. Could John and Ellen have died in the potato famine? Did Mary travel with another Shay relative? Are there records in Castleisland which might shed light on this?

Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I had a chance to briefly visit Castleisland two years ago, but did not have time to do any research.

Thanks

Brian Cook

Plattsburgh, NY, USA

brianc1047

1 reply

Hello Brian, I have been asked to look over unanswered queries and you are up there in the medal postions so I hope you have already found the birth as I do not think I have, baptisms were usually very soon after birth, a few days at most, fear of Limbo in times of high child mortality. No Limbo anymore of course.

I found a number of Mary Shea or O'Shea in the year mentioned on Roots Ireland but not the one you mention and I have had a look at the online RC register of baptisms for Castleisland and cannot see it but as it is a tricky read I could well be wrong, here is the link and search by event, year and date, the years mentioned are recorded. https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0661 ;

There are 8 Mary Shea baptised with father John and mother Ellen around the country, going via Liverpool from Kerry appears a bit long from Kerry but maybe suitalble for sailings etc but Limerick and Cork would be more obvious and even smaller ports.

If you want details of the other 8 Mary's let me know or repost your query. Also there are civil records from 1864 here but more importantly the church records for Kerry are on too, however searching years 1842 to 1846 brought back over 900 records for Mary Shea etc but this includes mothers name etc so less actual Mary Shea's, also only Kerry and two other counties under church, sign in and location Kerry and it is all free. https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/

Good Luck

Pat

newohalloran.p…IrelandXO Volunteer

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