January 27, 2008 - Update

I haven't heard anything from my Uncle Bobby via email. I'm going to jot him a note as well as sending a short note to Aunt Edie, Georgie and Margaret. Aunt Edie has also done extensive family research but mostly on the Seely/Brown sides.

I've been reviewing the records on Ancestry.com as well as reviewing records thru the Missouri Secretary of State website.

I also found reference to Rebecca Jane Peal's gravesite. It appears that she went by Jane Peal and lived until 1947.

The 1870 census lists Rebecca as living with her mother Mary and a William Ashley - as you indicated in your email, Mary (9), Nancy (7) and Rebecca/Jane (3) are listed as well. There is a designation that Mary was "deaf & dumb."

The 1880 census lists Rebecca with a Stephen Peal along with Mary her mother, Nancy, Rebecca and a young baby named Mary. Mary Shay is no longer listed. Stephen Peal was from North Carolina and may have fought for the South.

There's a 1900 census showing an RJ Peal born about 1852 KY with a Jas S Peal 18 her son born 1881, and a niece Jennie Kinkle and a bay Kinkle.

There's a 1930 census with a listing of a Jane Peal born 1853 in Kentucky - she is 78and lived in Blodgett, Scott, Missouri. I'm sure this is the same Rebecca Jane Withrow/Shay/Peal. I've attached a transcript I found on the Blodgett Cemetery. Also, I noted that the Baptist Church in Blodgett may have some cemetery records;.

There's a 1900 census showing a "Marry Shay" on the Cherokee Nation Indian Territory.

The 1900 census shows Kate Heath with William, George, William, James and Kate (6).

The 1920 census shows Ira Seeley, Kate and William (4) and my dad Lyndon (1).

The 1930 census shows Ira and Kate and family living in Campbell.

I agree with you that there must be some type of connection with the Shays in Swede, Potter County. I've traced the entire family back to NJ - I'm assuming that it isn't an offspring of Richard Shay and Elizabeth Roberts but may have been a sibling of Richard (parents Peter Shay and Catherine Bunn) who may have "gone west." There's a Timothy Shay born in Sussex NJ who had a son David Shay. David Shay had a son "Moses" born in Ohio. However, I haven't been able to link that branch of Shays with the Shays in Potter County.

I did come across a "Cora Bell Mabrey" on the Missouri State records. We have always heard that the Indian connection was a "may bell" or something similar.

I've decided to send emails to a couple of Ancestry members with the family trees for the Shays in Potter County as well as one for the "Jane Shay" in Missouri.

I'm also trying to trace Nancy Shay as well as Mary Shay - I think our best bet may be with the relatives for Jane Peal.

I've also attached a death certificate for a James J Shay who died in St. Louis, Missouri - it indicates that his father was born in Albany, NY. There may be some connection with this James Shay and ours...a stretch I know.