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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Topic started by: puggypugs on Friday 12 May 06 16:59 BST (UK)
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Hi
Looking for information on my Shea decendants-
Cornelius born abt 1867 Whitechapel. Moved to Canada about 1885. Died 1938.
1st wife Annie ? b. 1869 London. died 1898
children - Nelson b. 1890
Garnet b. 1896 died 1956.
Garnet received an MBE. Nelson had 2 sons - Omar Cornelius and Cecil (both killed in 2nd war - Cecil was in Canadian light infantry and reached Lieutenant).
2nd wife Julia Dempsey b.1878 Ireland
children - George Cornelius b.1901
Norah Marion 1903
They lived Kingston Ont.
Would be grateful for any info.
regards
Pugs
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Hi Pugs,
Here's a birth registration for:
Garnet Shea
Date of Birth: May 30, 1896
Father: Cornelius Shea
Mother: Annie Thomas
Rank or Profession of Father: Workman
Informant: Annie Shea, housekeeper, Kingston
Karen
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Nelson Thomas
Born: February 16, 1890
Kingston, Ontario
Father: Cornelius Shea
Mother: Annie Thomas
Occupation at time of birth: Groom
Address at time of birth: Bagot Street, Kingston
It is a delayed registration signed by the father, Cornelius in 1925.
Also on this registration is the marriage information of Cornelius & Annie
Place of parents marriage: Toronto, Ontario
Date: September, 1888
Karen
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Hi Pugs,
How lucky - you seem to know so much about them already! I see Karen is already hard at work as usual. ;D.
Garnet Shea served in WWI - you can find him in this database
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/020106_e.html
There is much more to the file than the two pages that are scanned and on-line. When you find his entry there is a link that says "how to order copies" - they are well-worth ordering, the cost is fairly reasonable.
Since Omar and Cecil were both killed in WWII their records are also public access (provided they were both in Cdn Forces). You can order copies of those as well. You need to send a signed letter to Archives with their names, ID numbers, and any other identifying details. Full instructions here: http://www.collectionscanada.ca/genealogy/022-909.007-e.html
Have you found them in the Canadian census yet? The 1901 and 1991 are both online at http://automatedgenealogy.com . The transcription of the 1901 is complete, but volunteers are still working on the 1911, so if you don't find them right away keep checking back.
Hope that helps!
MJP
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Marriage
Cornelius Andrew Shea
Julia Dempsey
Date: August 16, 1899
Kingston, Ontario
Registration No. 006240
Microfilm #98
Karen
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Here's a birth/death registration for:
Baby girl Shea
Born: August 22, 1900
Father: Cornelius Shea
Mother: Julia Dempsey
She was a stillborn baby. The address listed is RMC (Royal Military College) Cottage, Pittsburgh. Informant is Cornelius Shea. Frontenac County.
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Hi pugs,
The address of the Royal Military College is interesting (the family was also there at the time of Garnet's enlisting in the war). The "Pittsburgh" part of the address refers to Pittsburgh Township, Frontenac County. Nowadays the RMC would be considered to be in Kingston (which is also in Frontenac County). Here is the website of the RMC:
http://www.rmc.ca/home_e.html
Maybe one of the census records will reveal that Cornelius worked for the College? I dont know if they would have any records, but it might be an avenue worth checking.
MJP
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Found him in the 1911 census. He is living at RMC, he lists his year of immigration as 1886 from England as well Julia lists her year of immigration as 1886 from Ireland. Garnet, George and Marion are living with them.
Cornelius, 44 years old - servant
Julia, 36 years old
Did you have the 1911 info?
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Hi Martha,
I couldn't find him through his proper name, so did a search of RMC and found him in the 1911. You are right, that's were he is living and working.
Karen
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Death Registration for:
Nelson Thomas Shea
Date of Death: August 24, 1930
Place of Birth: Kingston, Ontario
Occupation of deceased: Labratory Assistant, RMC
Father: Cornelius Shea, born London, England
Mother: Annie Thomas, born London, England
Informant: Mrs. Rita (?) Shea, 263(?) Queen St., wife
Karen
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Fabulous work, as usual Karen! You're a star. 8)
Can't wait for pugs to come back!
Cool that both Cornelius and son Nelson worked at RMC.
Martha
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Yes, the family seems to have long roots in RMC.
When I saw the name Cornelius Shea, I was quite surprised he was from England, as that sounds so Irish.
Pugs, did your Shea's start in Ireland?
Karen
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http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem
Cecil and Omar are listed on this site.
Nelson's wife's name was Leita Gertrude.
Karen
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Hi Pugs,
There seems to be other "Shea's" in Kingston, could they be relations as well?
Karen
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Hi Martha and Karen,
WOW! This is fantastic. You've found out so much I dont know what to say! You now know as much as we do about our Canadian cousins.
I have a Canadian cousin who found out the census details but we didnt know Annies maiden name. RMC info is interesting. He became a lab. assistant. I shall look at that website. Thankyou.
Garnet became a Captain- his title was Capt. Shea M.B.E. S.B. St. J. He was in the Royal Army Medical Corps (hence RMC I suppose). He was in the field ambulance division (medic stretcher bearer). He was in both wars. We think the S.J. is a St. John of Jerusalem tied in with St. Johns AMbulance. Dont know about the MBE yet - my cousin is looking into this, but any suggestions would be gratefully received. He lost both his sons in the 2nd war - Lieut. Cecil Nelson P.P.C.L.I (Princess Patricia Light Infantry) was killed in action, W.O. 11 Omar Cornelius Shea QMS. RCAMC (??) lost at sea. There is a stone erected by their mother in their honour.
Thankyou for the birth registrations. Atlast we have Annies name, and a marriage. (I am speechless). And they had a baby girl still born. So sad.
Cornelius, the father, had a brother Dennis who stayed in Britian. I know a little bit about him through my cousin , who left Britain in 1955. There was a feud between the brothers and Dennis told the family nothing about Cornelius. We dont know if we have any family from Cornelius in Canada now, but hope to find them if there is.
As far as we know Cornelius went to Canada alone but this could be wrong, it is possible we had family over there or went with him - we dont even know if Dennis and Cornelius had siblings. We've only just found out their fathers name was Daniel from Dennis marriage cert. , but no more info.
I am so grateful to you Karen and Martha. Thank you so much.
best regards
Angela (pugs)
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Hi Angela,
Your welcome!
Not sure what all the initials stand for, but I do know one :)
RCAMC = Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (my gr-grandfather was in it in WWI).
There is a rootschatter who is in the Canadian Army who probably would be able to tell you what all the letters stand for, I know he helped me out a great deal with mine ;D
Karen
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Hi Karen
Thanks for that. Will have a good read off all this info and then post the details. Its a great pic of your gr grandfather by the way.
best regards
Angela
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Hi Angela,
Glad we could help! I hope you find your living relatives, if there are any around...
Martha
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Angela,
Karen ask if I can help with all the abv.
Sorry for taking so long, I haven't been on site in over a month.
MBE
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are
* Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE)
* Knight or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE)
* Commander (CBE)
* Officer (OBE)
* Member (MBE)
Only the two highest ranks entail admission into knighthood.
S.B.St.J
Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
The Order is divided into the following Classes:
* Grade I - Bailiffs or Dames Grand Cross (G.C.St.J)
* Grade II - Knights or Dames of Justice or Grace (K.St.J or D.St.J)
* Grade III - (a) Chaplains (Ch.St.J) and (b) Commanders (Brothers or Sisters) (C.St.J)
* Grade IV - Officers (Brothers or Sisters) (O.St.J)
* Grade V - Serving Brothers or Serving Sisters (S.B.St.J) or (S.S.St.J)
* Grade VI - Esquires (Esq.St.J)
QMS
Quarter Master Stores.
He would have been in charge of medical supplies at the time.
WO11
Warrant Officer second class (see old picture)
Today, it is the Queens Crown and it's just Warrant Officer. (see new picture)
The rank is third from the top in the non commissioned ranks, just above Sergeant.
Hope this helps.
Glenn Baird
Warrant Officer
Ops WO
Construction Engineering
8 Wing CFB Trenton
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Thanks Glenn, that's great!
Karen
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Hi Glenn,
Thank you so much. The gaps are filling in slowly. And Bagdes too. Brilliant. Very grateful for your hard work. I was interested to see Omar in medical stores - my Canada Sheas are all medicine orientated. My British/Irish Sheas would have been proud.
best regards
Angela
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Angela
Here is the MBE and the S.B.St.J
Glenn
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Hi Glenn,
Thanks for the pics. I love the the S.B. St.J medal. We are only just finding out about our Canadian Sheas and this all helps to 'flesh them out'.
Thanks so much.
best regards
Angela
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Angela,
There are currantly 20 Shea's listed in the Kingston phonebook.
That could be another route.
Someone may have Garnets medals.
The MBE was created in 1918 so he would have been one of the first Canadians to recieve it.
If I come across anything I'll let you know.
Glenn
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Hi Glenn,
Thanks very much. We hope to find our relatives out there eventually if there are any. Both Garnets sons tragically died in the war. We do know Garnet had a brother Nelson who died 1930 and a step brother and sister from his fathers first marriage (know nothing about them). I have a cousin in Canada (who initially told me about the Sheas) but my cousin has not been able as yet to find a way of finding any relatives, as we have so little information about the families.
Thanks again for your help.
best regards
Angela