MAY 20, 2008 - JAMES M SHAY

I have found a James Shay who was born in New York with a 1835 birthyear. He is the only one with a birthplace in New York with the same name and age. He is listed in the 1850 census with his parents, then he is nowhere to be found after 1850. I believe there is a possibility he might be our ancestor. I have no evidence of him living in Pennsylvania or Ohio though. Not sure if our ancestor actually lived in New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio or if the family was confused by where he lived and worked. I have made a list of every document we have that lists various places of birth of James Shay.

1860 Census - James M. Shay's birthplace listed as New York
1870 Census - Father's birthplace of Mary, Nancy & Jane Shay is Ohio
1880 Census - Father's birthplace of Nancy & Jane Shay is Ohio
1910 Census - Father's birthplace of Nancy Shay Owens is New York
1920 Census - Father's birthplace of Nancy Shay Owens is New York
1930 Census - Father's birthplace of Nancy Shay Owens is New York
Pension Record - William Carpenter states James was from Pennsylvania

I believe New York is the most likely place of birth because James or Margaret would have provided that info to the census taker in the 1860 census.

Rebecca or her mother would have provided Ohio as a place of birth of James in the 1870 & 1880 census. I believe that shortly before James came to Missouri, he may have lived in Ohio for awhile for work and traveled down the Ohio River. Rebecca or Mary Withrow might have been confused about the place of birth.

Also William Carpenter was recalling that James was from Pennsylvania but he was recalling that info in 1895, more than 35 years after he would have heard it. I believe that William might have gotten confused about Pennsylvania because James Shay had two surviving daughters who relocated to Pennsylvania. Also perhaps James lived & worked in Pennsylvania for a little bit also and that is what William remembered. James could have left home in New York around 1853 or 1854 and then spent the next 4 to 5 years traveling and working through Pennsylvania & Ohio before settling in Missouri.

The 1850 census has a James Shay as the son of Hiram & Sarah Shay age 15 living in Newburgh, Orange Co., New York. This might be where our link comes in.

I am hoping to get the 1944 obituary for Nancy Shay Owens. I want to track down descendants of hers. There could be a good chance that she still has descendants living in Potter County today. George Heath & Kate Seeley would have had 1st cousins that were Owens living in Potter County in the late 1800's/early 1900's, so we would only be 3rd or 4th cousins to Nancy's descendants. Perhaps they might have more info/pictures. Nancy was James' oldest surviving child who was the first to marry and have children. She also outlived Jane Shay Heath by nearly 50 years. I wonder if Georgie might remember if Bill or anyone mentioned Owens that were cousins.