January 18, 2008

I did some research on the Shays of Potter County and compared them with one branch that went out to Ohio. I cannot find where James Shay fits in since he was born in Ohio around 1836 but if he does fit then Jane Shay would have had second & third cousins in Potter County in the 1880's. That's a little bit of a stretch and that's only if James fits in as a grandson of a Lewis Shay from New York. Lewis
Shay made it out to Ohio where his descendants settled and Lewis' brother Richard Shay and his descendants settled in Potter County.

This can be frustrating to hit road blocks...I am considering that Jane Shay might have had another connection or reason to arrive in Sweden Township, PA between 1880-1885 that's not related to the Shay family. Her oldest sister was listed in the 1870 census as deaf and dumb. Her middle sister Nancy might have married and came to PA and that's how Jane made it out there. Also she could have had aunts, uncles, cousins or grandparents that settled in Potter County and she came to join them. Since we have no information on the parents or siblings of James Shay or Margaret Mayberry anything is possible.

The older generations might have more knowledge than us. Your Uncle Bobby is a grandson of William Heath & Jane Shay so he might know more stories/connections of these people. I look forward to his thoughts on some of this.