I share a DNA match with Timothy David O’Shea, residing in New York as of 2023.  Timothy traces his ancestry to Owen O’Shea from Kanturk.  While I initially assumed Owen to be our common great-great-grandfather, there are lingering uncertainties and unanswered questions in this assumption, including the fact the name “Owen” does not appear to have been given to any of his descendants.

James’s death record puts his birth year as 1801.

I am assuming the following is James (born 1801) due to lack of alternatives.

1849 in the Valuation Records – the House Books for Kilmacanerla North we find James O’Shea and Timothy O’Shea.  So we can see that both James and Timothy had their own houses.

In 1852, according to Griffith’s Valuations, James and Timothy were tenants on 107 acres in Kilmacanerla, leased from Wm. H. Franks.  This parcel included two instances of “house, out offices, and land.”  Notably,

• James sublet a house and small garden to Edmond Kerr, as well as
• a house to Patrick Conway.  Concurrently,
• Timothy sublet a house to a John Shea on the same property. (Griffith Valuation Map) and the Valuation Book listing

Children of James O’Shea and Margaret Connors

I have not found any birth or baptismal certificates for any of the following:.

• 1835 Patrick O’Shea was born in March 1835.  He married Mary Hannan.   Patrick’s mother’s name on Patrick’s death certificate: CATHERINE LYONS.  Since the certificate is a copy filled out by hand and not a true copy of the original and in the face of the other evidence I have, I am assuming this Catherine Lyons is a mistake.
• 1836 James Jnr O’Shea was born in 1836. – my great grandfather.  My question here is…his marriage cert says he is a cooper from Ballingarry…how from farming family to cooper trade?  Also why his address Ballingarry not Kilmacanerla?
• 1838 Ellen O’Shea was born.  She married William Power.
  
• 1841 – Catherine was born. 1841.   Never married and died aged 33 in March of 1874.

The years of the Great Famine in Ireland were 1845 – 1852

1862 Aug 16 before Justices Lloyd, Wilkinson, Collins and Conyers, For the treasury of Ballingarry Loan Fund .v. John O’Shea Kilmacanerla, Pat O’Shea Granagh (which Pat O’Shea is this?) and Edward Flaherty Doolas, for amount of £1.5.0 loan note dated 31 March 1862.  Order granted for amount + two shillings costs

1864 May 14 Patrick O’Shea, Kilmacanerla, son of James O’Shea (farmer)  married Mary Hannan of Gortfadda.

1872 In a lease dated 15th Feb 1872 the lands at Kilmacanearla were leased to Patrick and James O’Shea (which James?) for a period of 32 years from 1871.

1873 Feb 11  On February 11, 1873, an auction notice in a book on Ballingarry revealed the sale of the lands of Kilmacanerla North, held in fee.  “The lands of Kilmacanerla North.  Held in fee.  “Held in fee” definition: “Lands held ‘in fee’ were freehold tenures, derived from a grant from the Crown”.   In the matter of the estate of Denham William Jephson Norreys and Thomas John Franks, Trustees.  For sale under the Trusts of Will of William Hume Franks, deceased, owners, and petitioners.”  What this means is that the auction of the lands of Kilmacanerla North was carried out as a component of the management of the estates belonging to Denham William Jephson Norreys and Thomas John Franks, who were acting as trustees.  The auction followed the guidelines and instructions outlined in the will of William Hume Franks.  Essentially, it suggests that the sale was conducted in accordance with the legal and testamentary arrangements set forth by William Hume Franks, and the trustees were overseeing the process as per those instructions.  Five individuals were listed with their respective acreages and amounts, signifying their interest in the lands:

• Patrick Cagney (81.00.27),
• Thomas Ahern (88.00.01),
• Thomas Connor (27.01.01),
• Daniel Byrne (71.01.14), and
• Patrick and James O’Shea (108.00.35).  The lease for Patrick and James O’Shea had been agreed upon for a duration of 32 years starting from September 29, 1871.

1874 November 23: James O’Shea, senior, of Kilmacanerla, passed away at home at the age of 73.  

The cause of his death, as indicated on the certificate, was “debility for 6 months, without medical attention.”  The phrase “debility for 6 months, without medical attention” on James O’Shea’s death certificate indicates that he experienced a period of declining physical strength or general weakness lasting for six months.  Importantly, during this time, he did not receive medical care or attention from a healthcare professional.  The term “debility” generally refers to a state of being weak or lacking in strength, and in this context, it suggests a prolonged period of declining health leading up to his death.  The registration of his death was undertaken by his son, Patrick. 

His personal estate was recorded as being valued at “under £100,” which was bequeathed to his widow, Margaret. In today’s money (2024), that amount would translate to roughly £14,000 in purchasing power. However, the exact value isn’t clear. In truth, it’s quite likely they had very little, and the phrase “valued at under £100” may well have been a polite, bureaucratic way of saying, “not worth detailing.”

Ballyvologue:

• 1850 – Widow Mary Mahony held tenure on the property in Ballyvologue that was to become the home of Mary O’Shea/Martin Chawke.
• I am assuming, in the absence of any documentation, that when her grandfather James in Kilmacanerla, died in 1874, his widow Margaret moved to the plot of land in Ballyvologue – with her granddaughter Mary…?  Question remains as to who else might have moved with them…and did Widow Mary O’Mahony die and the tenure get passed to the O’Shea’s?
• I would like to know when did James and Margaret Meehan (assumed parents of Mary) move to Granagh…and if they were in Bruree – where?

1874 March 18: Catherine O’Shea died in Kilmacanerla.  Death notified by Wm Power (married to Ellen O’Shea, my great grandfather’s sister)

In 1880 Patrick O’Shea and his neighbours joined the Great Land Demonstration:

1880 Irish Examiner 1841-current, Wednesday, November 03, 1880; Section: Front page, Page: 1

GREAT LAND DEMONSTRATION

IN BALLINGARRY.

REQUISITION TO THE REV. T R. SHANAHAN, P.P

Ballingarry. 24th October, 1880.

REVEREND SIR-We, the undersigned Tenant Farmers of the united Parishes of Ballingarry and Granagh—your Parishioners— beg you will call and preside at a Public National Land League Meeting, in Ballingarry, on an early future day, and we will feel grateful. We are, Venerated Father, Your Devoted Children.

BALLINGARRY

James Lenihan, William O’Conncll, Maurice Regan, Thomas Bourke, Michael Quaid, _James Howard, Thomas O’Connell, Thomas Kilbridge, Edmond Hartnett, Michael O’Connell, Jeremiah Deneen, John Butler, Patrick Maher, Patrick Cullone .John Supple, Daniel O’Connell, Edmond O’Brien, William Massey, Daniel Tearney.

BALLINAHA.

John Bennett, John Kennedy, Daniel Cagney_, William O’Brien,’ Thomas O’Brien, Daniel O’Brien, Michael Cagney, Cornelius Cregan, John Carey, Thomas Mulqueen, John Cagney.

BARRYROE Timothy Hartnett, jun., John Keating, Patrick Sillivan, Patrick Keating.

CAHERENNESSY

Thomas Purcell, Thomas Morrissy, Daniel Bowen, Timothy Hartnett sen., John McCann, Michael Keane, Michael O’Brien.

CLONREGAN Jobn O’Keeffe, Thomas Reidy, John Kelly, Michael Curtin.

THE DOWNES John Casey, John Hannon, Charles O’Connor, Daniel Hourigan, Patrick Cronin.

GURTEEN. Patrick Bourke, Patrick O’Gridy.

LISAMOTA.

Thomas Kelly, Patrick Kelly, John Hogan, William Cronin, John Cahill, Richard Micks, William Shine.

WOODSTOCK. Michael O’Qrady.

BALLYGRENNAN. George Fitzgibbon, John Mullane.

KILMACOW.

Michael Lillis, Timothy Bennett, John Kilbridge, James Kett, John Ruddle, Thos. Hickey, Michael Scanlan.

BALLYEALAN.

Cornelius Casey, John Reidy, senr., John Nunan, Patrick Nunan, Michael Nunan, John Reidy, jun., John Taylor, Mark Lynch, Patrick Regan.

BALLINOE. John Reidy, Robert Barry, John Cullinane, Jeremiah Mahony.

DERRYCLOUGH

John Kennedy, Thomas O’Donnell, Edmond Burns, Michael Fitzgibbon, Anthony Madigan, Michael Murphy, Thomas Donoghue, sen. ; Thomas Donoghue, junr.; Michael Ahcrn, Wm. Sheehy, William Hanly, Michael Carroll, Henry Preston, Robert Morrison.

GLENWILLIAM. James Doody, Michaal Cronin, John O’Connor, Wm. O’Callaghan.

KILMIHILL
.John Clifford, Edmond Nunan, Edmond Harrold, John Dunworth, Michael Duuworth, Daniel Donoghue, Thomas O’Keeffe, Andrew Casey, Pat O’Brien, Pat Casey

LISAVARA. John Kelly, Maurice Wyn.

BALLVKEVIN. James Ervin, Charles M’Carthy, Patrick Mangan, Michael Croke.

GRANAGH John Lyons, John Lyons, jun.

COOLRUSS. Michael Burns, Pat Ryan, Edmond Nunau, Thomas Burns, Cornelius O’Brien, John Hartignn, Michael Murphy, Wm. Carroll, Denis O’Donnoll, William O’Donnell, James Lynch, Thomas O’Brien, William Mahony_John O’Brien, James Bourke, William Maher, William Cuthbort.

DOORLUSS. Thomas Morrissy, James Morrissy, James Morrissy, jun.; John M’Mahon.

KILMACNIERLA.

Patrick Cagney, Thomas Ahcrn, Patt J. O’Shea, Daniel Burns, Thomas Riordan, Thomas Connovs.

KILMORE.

Thomas O’Grady, James Nunan, Michael C. Holahan, Joseph Uolahan, Cornelius O’Grady.

LISKENNETT. Patrick Barry, John Hartigan, Thomas Broderick

BALLINLEENA.

Patrick Hedderman, Win. Hartnett, Thomas O’Callaghan, Patrick Sheehy, Timothy Nunan, David Walsh, Wm. McNamara.

KILATAL

Stephen Kelly, Michael Neligan, Edmond Holohan, David Dore, James Dore, Maurice Biggane, John Munckton, James Hogan, John Quiun.

BALLYVOLOGUE. Daniel Sheahan, Robert O’Brien.

GRAIGACURRA John Walsh, George Barry, Patt McInerney, Daniel Bennett.

KILMACOW. John Bourke, Patt M’Mahon, Wm. Barry.

LISDUANE. John Fitzgerald, Thomas Ahem, Michael Lee, Denis Riordan, Michael O’Brien.

LISDUFF. John O’Dee, James Storin, John Hickey, Wm. Foley, David Hickey.

BALLYGUILE. James Nunan, jun.: James Casey, John Curtin, James Nunan, sen.

THE COMMONS.

Patrick White, John Tracey, Michael Reidy, Cornelius Curtin, Daniel O’Brien, John Bridgman, Daniel Burns, John Casey, Edmond Hanly.

GRAIGBEG. Patt Cullinane, John Dargan.

1887 The family appear to have been evicted from the farm at Kilmacanerla, Co. Limerick in Feb 1887 http://www.dippam.ac.uk/eppi/documents/21310/page/596005

1901 tithe record there were no O’Sheas in Kilmacanerla Nth.  Col McAdams was to pay the tithes.

1906, June 15:  a question was asked in the British House of Commons seeking re-instatement of the O’Shea family to the farm in Kilmacanerla from which they had been evicted in 1889 (1887 or 1889?).  Petitioner Patrick O’Shea.