Person:Elizabeth Shanley (1)

The 1880 census shows Elizabeth Shanley (roll 1087, ed 18, page 23, line 35) living with James (33) and Annie (29) Ring for whom she worked as a servant. They lived at 32 Market Street in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. She was 16 at the time and is listed as born in England, while her parents were born in Ireland. According to Sue Beyers Block and her mother, Rita Beyers, Elizabeth's mother, Catherine, was visiting England while she was pregnant and there she gave birth to Elizabeth. However, Elizabeth disliked the English so much that she always claimed to be born in Ireland. In later censuses Elizabeth is shown as born in Ireland.

The 1900 census lists Elizabeth Brown (roll 1354, ed 7, sheet 1, line 73) as living in a rented house at 12 West Erie Street in Allegheny City (now the Northside of Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania. She lived with her husband, Alexander, and three children, Jessie (17), Edwin (12), and Veronica (6). She is listed as having had three children, all surviving at the time of the census. The census data appears to be incorrect on this point. Her grand-daughter, Betty Smith, claims there were two other children who died very young, one of whom she remembered as Raymond. The other appears to be Walter, according to World Family Tree #2065. Both children died within one week of each other in 1891.

According to the 1900 census, she was born in Ireland in 1866 and emigrated to the United States in 1868. This means that she must have come with her parents or other relatives. The census states that she had been married to Alexander for 18 years by 1900, which means she must was 15 or 16 when they got married and gave birth to Jesse at age 16. She was able to read and write. Also living at her family's home was Ada B. Gastor, born in 1871 and employed as a dry goods clerk. Ada is listed as a "lodger" in the census.

World Family Tree #2065 shows Elizabeth Shanley as born in England on March 25, 1865. The same information source states that she and Alexander were married at St. Peter's in Pittsburgh on September 27, 1884. This conflicts with census data which states that the couple were married for 18 years in 1900. It also means that Jessie was born out of wedlock. Perhaps this is why Jessie was raised by her aunt, Sabina Shanley. According to Sue Beyers Block and her mother, Rita Beyers, Elizabeth and her husband Alexander did not get along. Alexander lived with his daughter Jessie and her husband, John Murray. This is not found in the census records, however.

In 1912 Elizabeth was living at 612 Sherman Avenue according to the death certificate of her sister, Sabina Shanley. Elizabeth was the informant of Sabina's death.

Elizabeth died of bronchial pneumonia and acute bronchitis on December 9, 1939 at the age of 74. She lived on Duncan Avenue.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 The National Archives of the UK. United Kingdom Census
   1861, Escombe, Durham, England, p41.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Death Certificate for Elizabeth Shanley Brown. (Name: file no. 104843;).
3. ↑ United States Census
   Pennsylvania, 1900, roll 1354, ed 7, sheet 1, line 73.
4. ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Death Certificate for Sabina Shanley. (Name: file no. 32750;).

   Mrs Elizabeth Brown, informant