Sullivan-Shea

Ellen Sullivan and Thomas Shea

            The story is told that the family members were sent for one by one to come to America, following Timothy Shea, the oldest son of Thomas Shea and Ellen Sullivan. There is a detailed account of Timothy and his family in The Little Log Church in Derrynane. 

            The Shea family originated in County Cork, Ireland.  When some of the children were born and baptised, the family residence was given as Carragraigue, Dromtarriff.  Ellen appears in the Griffith’s Valuation for the same townland about 1854. In the same spot there is also a Dan Shea.  Ellen has 4 acres, House and Land and Dan has 2 acres.  The Shea families do not appear in this townland in the Tithes records (about 1826).

Since Ellen appears in the Griffith’s, it is a good guess that Thomas died before the valuation.         

            The children of Ellen Sullivan and Thomas Shea are Timothy, John, Mary Ellen, Johanna, Thomas, Denis and Jeremiah.

            Timothy arrived first.   He and much of the family lived in Easton, Washington County, New York before moving to Minnesota.  He was in Minnesota by 1857 when the territorial census was taken.

           Eventually, all the family settled in or near Le Sueur County. 

            Timothy (1827-1918) married Mary Hessian (1828-1906).  Their children were:  Mary Ellen, Thomas, Matthew, Catherine, John H., Johanna and Elizabeth.

            John T. Shea (1829-1904) married Hannah Donovan.  John made a visit to Ireland when Jeremiah lived there and was a witness to his will.  John and Hannah’s children were: Thomas 1861-1903, Daniel 1863-1954, Ellen 1865-1948 and a baby girl.

            My ancestor, Mary Ellen Shea, married Moses Murphy.  Their children were: John and Thomas died without marrying.  Mary Ellen married Cornelius Kilduff.   Elizabeth married Joseph Greene.  Catherine married John Joseph Cullen.  Bridget married Daniel Hickey.  Agnes married James O’Neill.  Cecelia wed Thomas Weldon.  My ancestor Hannah married Patrick T. Burns.

            Johanna Shea married Michael Kehoe in 1861 in New York according to her obituary.  Eventually they settled in Sharon Township, Le Sueur County.  Their children were:  Mary, Thomas, Lawrence, John, Timothy, Ellen and Michael.

            Thomas Shea 1835-1865 has a tragic story.  He married Margaret Kehoe in 1862 in Cambridge, NY.  By 1864, he was living in Le Sueur County and was drafted into the Union army to serve in the Civil War.  He was charged with desertion and died in a military prison in Alexandria, Virginia.  He left a widow and a small child, Ellen 1863-1883.  His wife later married Murty Danaher.

            Denis Shea (1837-1912) married Bridget Luddy.  He lived in Nicolett County “just across the river” from Le Sueur City.  His children were:  Thomas F., William H., Mary E., Johanna, Denis, Bridget Agnes, Ann, Gertrude and Josephine.

            Jeremiah Shea was married twice.  His first wife was Mary Murphy, daughter of Patrick.  She died in 1885.  Their children were:  Thomas, Patrick T., Mary, John D., Christopher, Jeremiah (Mi), Maurice (Teddy), Ellen and Joseph. His second wife was Bridget Dunn.  Their children were Ann, James and Timothy.  Timothy was born in Ireland about 1898.  Jeremiah had moved his family to Ireland in 1894.  He appears in the 1901 census in Ireland living in Gooldshill, Mallow.  He returned to Le Sueur County and died there.

    Shea Family Group        Shea Album

O'Connell    Doherty    Hetherston    Burns    Murphy    Sheehan-Whalen   Hogan    Galvin