February 27, 2008 - SHAY FAMILY

I found a John Shay with a son named James after 1900 in the census Ballard/McCracken area but they do not seem to be from the same family and the ages do not match up.

I am now more convinced that our James Shay is from Crawford County. Below is a link to a website I found http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/cloud/1903/shayjw.shtml

The second paragraph is the most interesting referring to John Shay..."Mr. Shay is a native of Crawford county, Ohio, born in 1846. His father was Daniel Shay, a native of Virginia, and when a young man came to Ohio and gained a livelihood by farming. The Shays, as the name implies, are of Irish origin. His mother was Sarah Warden. Her people were from Virginia. Mr. Shay is one of eight children, six boys and two girls. He and a sister, Isabelle Bishop, of Jefferson county, Nebraska, are the only surviving members. Mr. Shay served about four months near the close of the war. His four brothers were in the army. William was killed at Franklin, Tennessee. The other three died from one to five years later from diseases contracted during the service."

Our ancestor James Shay was in the army and died within 5 years after the war. Below is a list of the family. If this is where our James Shay comes from then that would mean that Jane Rebecca's Shay grandparents and the majority of her aunts and uncles were dead before she was 4 years old. Jane probably never would have known any Shay relatives. Benjamin Shay was the only surviving family member to stay in Crawford Co., Ohio. He was dead before 1900.

David Shay (b. abt. 1812 in OH? or VA? / d. 12/17/1865)
Sarah Warden (b. abt. 1809 in OH? or VA? / d. Bef 1870)

Benjamin Shay (b. abt. 1833 Crawford Co., Ohio / d. bet. 1870-1900)
Isabella Shay (b. abt. 1836 Crawford Co., Ohio / d. aft. 1900 in NE)
James Shay (b. abt. 1838 Crawford Co., Ohio / d. bef. 1870)
Mary Shay (b. abt. 1840 Crawford Co., Ohio / d. 9/1/1865)
Shay, David J. (b. abt. 1842 Crawford Co., Ohio / d. 6/5/1867)
Shay, William. (b. abt. 1844 Crawford Co., Ohio / d. Bet. 1861-1865)
John Shay -- (b. 1846 Crawford Co., Ohio / d. Aft 1900 in KS)
Shay, Stephen (b. abt. 1848 Crawford Co., Ohio / d. Bef 1870)

Let me know what you think. I am trying to track down a will for David Shay circa 1865. It would list surviving children and may give clues to James Shay.

Thats all for now.



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I was just about to send you an email too. So, it does seem like this may be our "James Shay."

I've been reviewing the Census records for Scott County line by line - interesting enough Rebecca Withrow and her family are listed in the 1860 census. Rebecca is 9 years old. There's another family just above the Withrow family -- Edward Ashley - I believe it was an Ashley that Rebecca Withrow was living with in 1870. In the 1880Scott Census records there is a Davis/Margaret Warden - the state listings are not very clear - but interesting enough there are several "Wardens" listed in various counties in MO during this time and from Ohio. Since our James Shay is a branch of the Warden family - there could be some connection. I've come across several Mayberrys in the 1850-1880 census records. Also, in the 1880 census there is a Franklin Withrow with a wife named Mary b 1861 - this could be our Mary Shay.... If I remember correctly, in the Blodgett Cemetery records there is a Mary Withrow with the 1861 birth year. I'll get out my records and review them.

So, I truly think we are on our way.

There was also some documentation on logging in MO -- many of the Seeley men were loggers. My grandfather (Kate's husband) had a logging business and would go up in the "woods" and cut timber all winter long. I took care of my Uncle Ted for a year or so (Ted was Ira's brother) - and he told endless stories of the logging years -- how teams of loggers would go from camp to camp. So this may be the connection between PA and MO. I know that Kate would go to the logging camps and cook.

Interesting enough I came across some Brewers - my grandfather's first wife was a Julia Brewer and I had never been able to find that name in all the records in PA. I also came across a name Beeman which may be one of the names listed on the Oriel Seeley photo.

Did you notice the handwriting on the picture of Oriel Seeley - it listed several names - one being Heath. I never knew that Oriel was married to a Heath - do you recall ever hearing this? Perhaps, my Aunt had this wrong?

I see myself staying up late tonight and reading up on this new info.

Thanks again for this new info