Jones to Howells to Shanley - and Wales to Olyphant via Nanticoke

The Shanley family uncovered a written family history about the HOWELLS and SHANLEY family. While it isn't dated or signed, it was written by Mary WALBUSH nee SHANLEY (who appears on page 2) and was likely written in the late 1970s. Excitingly, it mentions the Welsh heritage of the family back into the 1850s - which I haven't previously been able to find, given the lack of birth/marriage/death registrations before around 1905 in Olyphant/Lackawanna/Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania.

The letter is likely highly reliable, and possibly includes information extracted from a family bible given the birth/marriage/death dates cited.


Transcript:

Page 1

Evan R Jones of North Wales and Jane Thomas of Llandillo, South Wales were united in marriage June 17th 1858. Jane Thomas was a sister to the Thomas Bro of the firm T Thomas and Sons, Tanners, Bootmakers and Woolstaplers of Llandillo and Carmarthen, S. Wales.

The first child to bless this union was a daughter, Sara Jane. She was born in Mountainash, Glamorganshire, S. Wales, May 6, 1859.

In 1861 they came to America at the beginning of the Civil War. Jane was less than 2 years old when they arrived in America. She married very young to David Howells.

They had 2 children, girls, and at the birth of the 3rd child both mother and child passed away. The girls names were Olwen and Maggie Jane.

Page 2

1. Olwen Howells married Ceradoc Rees, they lived in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania.

    Children
Jane - married Arthur Harris - 1 child - Rees Harris
Ceradoc - single, died at age early 20s 
Ann - single
Ralph - single - Professor at Bucknell U.
Willard - died when a young child

2. Maggie Jane married Frank Shanley and they lived in Olyphant Pennsylvania. 

    Children
Nellie - single, born May 26 1896 died Mar 18 1967
Elizabeth - single, B Nov 20 1899
William - died in infancy
Francis - married Gertrude Kelly He was born Feb 10 1902, died Jan 2 1954
Margaret - single
Joseph (there were two Josephs) - died in infancy
Joseph - single - Born Oct 30 1907 Died Sep 4 1976
Mary - married George Walbush - Born July 22 1910
Olwen - married Edward Hayes - Born Oct 15 1912
Catherine - married Francis Brennan - B Nov 28 1916 D Jun 7 1952
Ann - stillborn

Page 3

1. Francis Shanley and Gertrude Kelly
    Children
Jean Marie - marred Frank Van Nort
Ann - single
Frank - married Jane Weller
Margaret Mary - married Pete Boretsky
William - married Jacqueline Mackell
Joseph - married Paula Baumgartner
James - married Diane Grabin

2. Olwen Shanley - Edward Hayes
    1 child Mary Hayes married James Harbottle

3. Catherine Shanley - Francis Brennan
    1 child - James Brennan married Mildred Naglak

Take it from here



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