This introduction and recognition was omitted from the Nerney & O’Shea ancestors history
So far I have published a family tree and issued it to Nana’s heirs in 1992.1 have updated and will lend copies to any who will want to Xerox it and return it back. Contact me! About 2 years ago I digitalized Nerney documents, deeds. Photos. letters and 1940’s film, plus Jimmy Nerney’s camcorder tapes (1980’s) INTRO A 2 PART dvd disc that 8 of you helped me to partly finance. If you want a free copy, ask me or one of your cousins. Will I complete my trilogy by publishing all I know about the ancestral history of JAMES C NERNEY and MARGARET H 0’ SHEA, I don’t know. I need to do for my STACK kin what I have done for my mom’s parents
But in the ensuing months I will recap the research highlights of both of our g’parents lineage. Also let me acknowledge the contributions of MIKE NERNEY & PAUL ROGERS Whether it was the use of the internet, letters to governmental agencies, searching directories, etc ... .their efforts have vastly increased our family history. So the recap is a shared venture, words and errors are mine. Contact me about mistakes, omissions or new info.
Done Dec. 2009 but for some mistake was not included on my 1 postings and neither was NANA’S Maternal side, Part I
MARGERET HELENA O’SHEA’s Maternal Side, PART 1
Ann Spratt marries Philip Sherlock about 1 857.The guess is in Penn. because Lucy is born there (June14 1859 says family bible).
Aug.11 1860 US Census states that Ann(25) &Phillip(27) are Irish born and Lucy(l) born in Penn. Philip has a farm at Manchester, Wayne Co., Penn
Dec.3, 1862, Mary Alice Sherlock (Nana’s mom) is born.
History of The Spratt’s and Sherlock’s
The 1850 US Census shows no Sherlock’s in Penn., but some in nearby New York. Ship immigration records on July14, 1850 show the ‘Jacob A Westervelt’ arriving in NYC from Liverpool,IJK carrying a Phillip Sherlock (25) and 3 sisters, ages 23-24. It is highly likely that this is our Phillip!
Spratts have been here prior to the 1 census of 1790, but we do not find them in NE Penn until 1820/30’s close to Wayne Co. In the 1840’s 3 fanning couples from Ireland are working the land in Manchester, Penn they have kids born in Penn, but no one named Ann. Then the ship”Perserverance’ arrives in NYC with Mrs. Spratt(45),Michael(l6),Miss Spratt(19) and a Miss Spratt(I6) TillS JIBES WITH WHAT Nana told me about her great g’mother,Mary Alice Stapleton Spratt having 2 girls close in age and this lady came to the USA and died in or near NJ /NY. Also having a Michael in the group adds weight to the thinking that this our family Also the ship leaves from Dublin, Ire. and that is where Nana said was the town from which the Spratts came
Early 1860’s Ann has a Lizzie (Nana said)
Then disaster strikes the Nation-April 1861 the Civil War starts and immediately Michael
Spratt enlists in the 6th Reg’t,Penn. Reserve Infantry(35th Volunteers), joining 10 other
Spratts from Penn.
Second disaster is personal Under 2 mo’s pregnant Ann learns her spouse ,Phillip, has
drowned while going from Equinunk, PA to Lordville,NY, while crossing the Delaware
R..On Dec.3, 1862, her 3 child is born-Mary Alice Sherlock

Here is most of Fred and Mary's family this past Christmas.

Happy Birthday Nana

I think of her every year on this day...and many other days as well. She gave me so much. My character, faith, optimism, love of people. I am fortunate that Uncle Frank reminds me of her wisdom and humor. I am grateful to God for being her granddaughter, and for my heritage, legacy, family. May the Lord bless each of you.

Margaret Helena Nerney (cont.) Her Maternal side

Mike Spratt served 3 years in the 6th Reg’t, Penn. Reserve Infantry[35th Volunteers] from May 1861 to May 1864. He was wounded in the leg and shoulder, but survived and gets married to Cecilia - ? shortly afterwards. The 1870 Census in Wayne, Co, in Penn. shows he is a farmer with a wife and 3 kids. By 1890 Cecilia is listed as a widow in the Census. Michael seems to have died about 1887-89, leaving behind at least 9 children, one of whom is Louella and we have a photo of her.

Ann Spratt Sherlock’s story from 1862 birth of Nana’s grandmother, Mary Alice, till 1900 is not perfectly clear. What is obvious is that she could not keep her 3 kids with her. Though there is an 1870 Census of New York’s Cayuga Co. showing an Ann Sherlock with a Mary Alice but as part of a household with an older male and 1 month old baby – a coincidence or 2 separate families? Yet Nana had told me specifically that Ann had married a Fottrell, a widower, who was also a brother-in-law of Ann. They had at least one child. Nana called her” Aunt Maggie and Maggie married a David J Walsh” and just the other day I have found a record of the event. On 25 November 1896 in Manhattan, NYC, New York a Marguerite Fattrell married David J Walsh and her parents names are Ann and Matthew Fattrell.After a 20 year search I finally had found the missing couple, yet they don’t exist in any of the censuses from1870 to 1900. But the newlyweds would reside in Weehawken, Hudson Co. New Jersey and their census records from 1900 through 1930 can be found.

But only 1 event has surfaced in Ann and Matthew’s life. No records have been found in Penn., New Jersey or New York. When did they marry? Where did they live? How many offspring and when did they die{ Nana thought New Jersey}? What happened to Lucy and John T? The only evidence I have is the Mary Alice’s wedding certificate of her marriage to Richard O’Shea in 1884. The two signed witnesses to the event are her older siblings, Lucy Sherlock and John T. Sherlock. Otherwise from 1860 to 1900 they are lost. yet, suddenly Lucy appears in the next four federal censuses as a spinster living with David and Maggie (her half sister) Walsh. Nana’s maternal side definitely involved four families – Sherlock, Spratt, Fottrell and Walsh. This interweaving is noticed in the 1930 New Jersey census where 2 widowed sisters share an apartment; Olive Spratt and Mary Fottrell, living in the same city as the Walshes.

Conclusion: We think of and have heard about the lonely life of Margaret Helena O’Shea playing the piano, sequestered in the flat by Richard. But this does not mean social inactivity. She had a job downtown at “The Women’s Home Companion” She lived close to aunts and uncles in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania the latter had to be a vacation spot with lots of cousins in a farming region. After she got married at age 20 these same relatives became a part of her new life, helping to raise her growing family as her health during the mid 1910’s became a major issue Her relatives took turns taking care of her 6 kids. Her 7th pregnancy brought matters to a head. James had to resign his lieutenancy in the NY Police Force, sell the home and make a new life in California. Knowing Nana and her letter writing ability you would expect letters galore going back and forth to hear eastern family. In 1939 she was given a train trip to New York to visit some of her kin and to reminisce. One or two of them returned the favor and maybe some of us cousins have met them at the Ben Lomond Ranch. Madge Heinzmann (Walsh) ,who was Nana’s flower girl, and Aunt Margaret from Penn.were visitors. While company was nice, the second half of her life,as we know, she had more than enough to do with her husband and 12 kids On that would be added soon over 30 grand children By the time she died[1989] great g’ kids were crawling about .WHAT A GREAT LIFE1 WHAT A GREAT PERSON1 WE WERE BLESSED TO BE A PART OF HER AND RECEIVE HER LOVE1

Nana's Paternal side -THE O'SHEAS

About 1821 in Ireland were born Patrick O'Shea and Catherine Healy They married circa 1850 and had 13 kids.Don't know where they married but it seems the births were in London,Eng. The first in 1852and the second, Richard Joseph, was born on Dec. 2,1853at St. Clements Danes in London. Interestingly this was 4 years earlier than Nana and her mother were told by Ricchard. Patrick was a tailor by trade and many of the kids did the same.Patrick lived till1903[82?] and Catherine till 1905[84], many of the kids died young , T.B. seems to have run in the family.




Oct. 7,1874 Richard marries Susannah Eliz. Bennett in London their only boy , Richard,Jr., dies at an early age[Nana said there were 3 kids] Soon the pair emigrate to USA, leaving parents& sibs behind They arrive on the SS CANADA Nov. 1880, Susan dies soon after. Why??



April 20, 1884 Richard marries Mary Alice Sherlock[21] at St. Michael's, 383 9th Ave.,NYC. The witnesses are her brother John T & sister Lucy Sherlock.Nana describes her mom as5'7" auburn hair and blue eyes with an easy going personality



Jan. 31,1885 Margeret Helena O'Shea is born NYC She is named after Richard's grandmother and his older sis The baby will hear many names during her life-Helen, Nellie ,Mom &Nana. A baby brother is born in 1899,William,dies in days.



For the O'Shea life had to be hard Being a tailor was almost a seasonal job Allie had started at 9 sewing buttonholes and now worked as a seamstress to help out After graduation Helen was an office clerk atWomen's Home Companion The family lived in rental apts. in NYC during this time,but 1900 US Census finds them living in N.Adams, Mass with Richard finding tailor work during a slow period -summertime



Aug 15 ,1905Margaret Helena[20] marries James Clare Nerney[31]They had met a year ago at a church dance . Richard was against the union as he wanted Helen to work and help support his

family Nana said he was a demanding person,hard on his family SO HE DID NOT ATTEND THE WEDDING!



Aug 9 1908 Richard dies of "general paralysis, exhaustion" in Manhattan State Hosp.and was buried at Calvary Cemet.,Queens Boro,NYC He had soften enough to see his 2 young g'kids- Helen and baby Jim

Barbara Suzanne Nerney 1959-2009

It has been a sad season since losing Suzanne this past August. She died quite suddenly. My sister Mary and I went to Florida where she lived, to be with her husband and two children. The disease of addiction / alcoholism is a killer, make no mistake. I would rather keep the rest of the details private. Suzanne's life was meaningful; we have so many good memories. She will live inside of me and our other sisters, as well as her children. We had a memorial service for her this past Sunday am in Trinidad on the coast. (5hrs north of Santa Rosa) So can we post pictures on this blog? I am new at this. I send my love to all of you. I wish more of my cousins were involved in this family blog. Laura

Seeing Frank Nerney

Subject: Papasita, himself, Francois Nerney

Good day, to you and yours,

We are doing well for a couple of graduates from South City High. Lynnette is soon to make the eggs, and bacon, and of course, potatoes, and we will eat like the famished hordes that we are.

Yesterday I called up dad, I call on most weekends, and he further expounded upon his possible anemia. What happened is that the blood test that he had taken was going to take two to three weeks, and one of the things they were going to be checking out is if he had anemia. The results came back and no, he has no anemia. (I was under the impression that they thought he had anemia, and there was further testing to do-not the case).

All is well in his neck of the woods, and I checked further regarding something he told me in the passed few years. He has had his name in the queue for a retirement community home. He heard that the date for him to make that change is drawing closer. Two people that were friends of his, and had already lived there have been called to their great reward. It's an interesting development that as someone dies your home gets closer to a reality. He likes the landlady where he is now very much, and the living accommodations, but he does want this further flexibility.

Mr. Nerney advised that his other son, the one in Colorado, the one with the degrees, and the fine attitude, and the plaudits from his fellow man, is having him stay at his house from 8/5 thru 8/19. It was further stated that one of Steve's sons is also flying in from Ohio on the day that dad arrives.

Papa is looking forward to music, visiting time, eating time, and the hikes that they go on. I applaud the Colorado branch of the family for there usual hospitality, and wish all of you well.

I will also send email that I will request Francis H., himself, to answer about the goings on. Otherwise I will have to call him upon his return, and that would actually cost me money (something I try to avoid).

To all, have fun with family, and friends, and still seek for justice in this world; it is an empty search, but I need company.

Love and hugs, and ttfn,
Larry