That is a lot of information. The Shay bible was destroyed? I wonder what happened to it. That probably had a lot of info on the parents and siblings of James & Margaret...that is unfortunate. I am not sure if questions about Rebecca's first marriage were brought up at the time of James' death. James wouldn't of had his parents or siblings around at that time in 1869 to contest her inheritance rights as his widow and his children were too young to know anything.I wonder how well she got on with her step-daughters. Rebecca didn't have any children until she married her 4th husband. Rebecca knew enough info to know that Jane R. married a Heath. Rebecca outlived all three of her step-daughters. Nancy died in 1944.
Was Rebecca a 1st cousin of Joseph Brown? That might explain why they married so young...probably arranged by the family. This woman seems to be pretty fascinating in 1800's standards. Married 4 times, with at least 1 divorce and possible bigamy under her belt. Also married to both a Union soldier and a Confederate soldier. She then ran her own business with the hotel later in life.
I have an idea of when James & Margaret must have married. Mary Shay was born in Nov 1861. James is still living with David & Sarah in the July 1860 census records. He purchased land in Scott County, MO in Feb 1861. I speculate that shortly after July 1860, James made his way south to the Ohio River and followed it down to where it ran into the Mississippi. This is the general vicinity of where McCracken Co, Ballard Co., & Scott Co. meet. He then meet Margaret Mayberry who was 16 at the time. Since she is not listed with Elizabeth Mayberry in the 1860 census, she was probably living with relatives in the area. I think they probably married around Feb 1861 when he bought the land in Scott Co, MO. He probably bought the land as a wedding present or with the idea that he would soon start a family. Nine months after he purchased the land, Mary was born.
I wonder if I was to send for William Heath's pension records if they would give me as much detail. I still do not have any death details for Jane Shay. Perhaps I might get the info I want from it. I know William made his brother Frank the beneficiary. He must have done that after Jane's death. Its great to see the puzzle start to get filled in.
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I took a little time and read through some of the documents:
Rebecca Peal was born 9/20/1851 in Blandville, KY (?)
She married Joseph Brown in 1865 and he supposedly died in 1866 as a result of an accident on a raft in the Mississippi - he was rafting logs down and fell off - statement in one affidavit indicated that "he did not die by fair means"
Supposedly Ezkiel Ashley was Brown's uncle (wasn't he living with Mary Withrow?? -- Rebecca Jane Peal's mother)
Sshe married James Shay in Mayfield, KY in 7/30/1868 -- in Graves County -- Why did they marry in KY and not in MO --
Shay died 4/21/1869
One statement on rejection....death of first husband not shown .. evidence he was alive long after soldier's death.....
According to affidavits - no death certificates for Mary and James - not recorded at time and no marriage certificate for marriage - destroyed by fire. No baptismal records for children. Listed in Mary Withrow's bible because Shay bible destroyed..
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Question I posed to my daughter - if Jane Peal was not legally married to James Shay - could she have legally inherited James land and other assets?
The lady was persistent -- I can't imagine what else could be in the file.
Looking briefly today to try and locate the death certificate for the Delpha Brown - daughter of Wm and Sarah Mayberry - I located a marriage license for a Joseph R. Brown and a Lucy Raspberry in Scott County.
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I haven't found any real documentation indicating that Joseph was seen alive after the marriage - so I wonder how they could state that he was alive well after Shay's death.
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Questions and more questions.
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