Julia Greenan
In 1872 a marriage was recorded at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral in Buffalo for Julia Greenan and John Shields. Julia Greenan’s name surprised us as it was totally unexpected, and it was uncovered while searching for other Greenans in Buffalo, New York. You might recall “Irish” John Smith visited his cousin, Thomas Greenan, in Buffalo after his trip to Ireland and Scotland. It’s always fun finding new family lines.
From Thomas’s death record we discover his parents’ names - Edward Greenan and Bridget Smith. Imagine our surprise when we saw Julia’s parents listed on her wedding record.
"New York Marriages, 1686-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F63M-CSF : accessed 5 January 2016), Joannem Shields and Juliam Greenan, 14 Nov 1872; citing reference 2:1V2L0TN; FHL microfilm 928,693.
Name: Joannem Shields
Spouse's Name: Juliam Greenan
Event Date: 14 Nov 1872
Event Place: Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Buffalo, Erie, New York
Father's Name: Joannis Shields
Mother's Name: Catherinae Mcgahey
Spouse's Father's Name: Edwardi Greenan
Spouse's Mother's Name: Brigittae Smith
Julia’s line was unknown, and did not appear in the Greenan Family Chart maintained by our cousin, Joseph Napier. Because the name ‘Julia’ repeats itself in later Greenan generations, we are not shocked to discover she was Edward and Bridget’s child.
Julia Greenan Shields Death
Julia and her family moved to Providence, Rhode Island, after her wedding. We verified this from a Rhode Island death certificate that shows her parents’ names - Edward and Bridget Greenan.
"Rhode Island Deaths and Burials, 1802-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8V9-F68 : accessed 5 January 2016), Julia Shields, 19 Oct 1919; citing Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, reference p 10; FHL microfilm 2,024,078.
Name: Julia Shields
Death date: 19 Oct 1919
Death place: Providence, Providence, Rhode Island
Birth Date: 1850
Marital Status: Married
Spouse’s name: John Shields
Father’s name: Edward Greenan
Mother’s name: Bridget …
According to one census record, Julia immigrated to America circa 1870. The closest match we could find was an 1868 ship's manifest record for the Helvetia which shows two passengers traveling to New York City - Julia Green (age 17) and James Green (age 18). This is only one possibility.
The following revised chart includes Julia’s name and shows how she connects to “Irish” John Smith’s family.
Shields Family Through the Years
John Shields worked as a laborer in Buffalo before moving his family to Providence, Rhode Island in 1878. Many Providence residents worked in various railroad companies.
Buffalo City Directory, Buffalo, New York, 1875
Buffalo City Directory, Buffalo, New York, 1878
There were many Shields living in Buffalo during the Eighteen Seventies. Perhaps one or more of these people were related to Julia’s husband, John. In 1878 two ‘John Shields’ could be found listed in the Providence City Directory. The resident at 21 Bernon was also known as John W. Shields, a carpenter, and he was a Civil War veteran. The other John Shields living at 48 Plain Street was probably Julia’s husband.
Providence Rhode Island Directory; Providence, Rhode Island, 1878, page 296
Eighteen Eighties Census Records
We could not find an exact 1880 US Census for the John Shields family of Providence; however, we think the census below records this family. Even though the surname is spelled ‘Schens’ in this census, it does correctly show the name of the family members living in 1880 Providence. The ‘Schens’ family included five boarders. After John Shields died, Julia maintained a boarding house so this record might be a match.
1880 US Census; Providence, Rhode Island, Ward 06
1885 Rhode Island Census; Providence, Rhode Island; Ward 05
Julia Sheilds, Age 34, Born Ireland
John Sheilds, Age 35, Born Ireland
Edward Sheilds, Age 12, Born New York
James Sheilds, Age 6 months, Born Providence
Mary C. Sheilds, Age 8, Born Providence
Julia Sheilds, Age 3, Born Providence
In 1885 John Shields worked as a Porter, possibly working for one of the local railroads. John and Julia had seven children, unfortunately most did not live beyond early adulthood. More about that later. Their known children were Edward Francis, James, John, Mary Catherine, Julia Philomena, Josephine, and Peter Francis. The family patriarch, John Shields, we believe died circa 1889 to 1894.
1889 City Directory
1890 US Census records do not exist; however, we can look at the 1889 Providence directory to see where Julia and her family lived.
1900 US Census
In this census Julia says she immigrated to America in 1875 and had been in the United States of America for 25 years. Since she married John Shields in 1872, Julia most likely immigrated at an earlier time. According to this census Julia bore 7 children of whom 4 still survive. The three children shown in this census were all born in Rhode Island (Mary C., Julia, and Josephine.) . Her son, Edward Francis Shields, married a year earlier and no longer lived in Julia’s household.
1905 Rhode Island Census
Julia Greenan Shields’ record appears below.
From this 1905 Census we find Julia Greenan Shields’ birth date - May 12, 1855. Various public records showed her birth year spanning from 1850 to 1855. Interesting that so many Irish did not know their actual age. In this census Julia said she had 7 children of whom only 3 survived. Julia’s daughter, Julia Philomena, died a year earlier. That left Edward, Mary and Josephine as her sole surviving children. This census also says she was Roman Catholic.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Providence, Vol. 15, Pt. 2, 1915, page 902 
1910 US Census
Julia Shields lived at 70 Elm Street in Providence from 1905 forward. In 1904 they lived at 163 Lockwood St. in Providence, and in 1896 they lived at 86 Plain Street.
Julia’s daughters worked as stone setters for a jewelry company. Providence had a section of town where jewelry manufacturers such as Gorham, Speidel among others were headquartered.
1915 Rhode Island Census
Julia Shields only had one daughter, Josephine, still living at home in 1915. Julia died in 1919 before the next census was taken.
Shields Family Deaths
Medicine and Science were not as developed in the latter 19th century as they are now. Today we rarely see certain diseases which plagued society in the Eighteen Hundreds. When was the last time you heard about scarlet fever or cholera running rampant through our modern towns and cities? Husband, John Shields, died relatively young during the Eighteen Nineties, but cause of death is unknown. Most of Julia and John’s children either died in childhood or early adulthood. Why the high death rate? We only have one child’s death certificate, but it might hold an important clue. Edward Francis Shields died at City Hospital in Providence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis or Consumption as it was called would decimate families. Tuberculosis was quite common in the 19th century. It was estimated that 25% of Europe’s population was infected with TB during this period; however, deaths could be attributed to other causes.
In the 19th century it was quite common to see other relatives in our family tree come down with TB after one of their siblings became infected. Before the Industrial Revolution, folklore often associated TB or Consumption with vampires. The reason for this was quite simple. Whenever one member of the family died from this disease, other infected members would lose their health slowly. Superstitious people believed this was caused by the first person who died draining the life of other family members.
The Rhode Island Medical Journal of 1921 showed tuberculosis was much higher in that state than the national average. In 1920 there were 6600 active cases of TB with 2300 plus cases in the Providence metro area alone. This medical group noted there were plenty of unused bed spaces at various sanitariums located throughout the state, but for some reason they was underused. The medical doctors could not explain this under usage as the state had set these facilities up for the ill.
From Edward’s death certificate we discovered he lived at 148 Clifford Street in Providence, and he was buried at St. Francis Cemetery in Pawtucket (Section 26, Lot 361). Incidentally, this lot was owned by Julia Shields. These are the death records we have found so far for John and Julia’s children:
Rhode Island Death Records:
Mary Catherine McGovern; died Feb 20, 1920; in Providence R.I.; parents were John Shields and Julia Greenan; spouse: Edward F. McGovern
Peter Francis Shields; born September 1, 1880; died October 2, 1881 in Providence R.I.; parents were John Shields and Julia Greenan
James Shields; born 1885; died March 22, 1896 in Providence, R.I.; parents were John Shields and Julia Greenan
Julia Philomena Shields; born 1884; died August 31, 1904, in Providence R.I.; parents were John Shields and Julia Greenan
Edward Francis Shields; birth 1875; died November 29, 1910; spouse Mary Shields; parents were John Shields and Julia Greenan.
All of Julia’s children, including her husband, are buried in the same plot at St. Francis’ Cemetery in Providence.
Julia’s Descendants
Edward Francis Shields married Mary J. Murray on November 30, 1899, and they had two children - James and Alice. Edward Shields’ children died of old age - James J. Died in 1970 and Alice died in 1998. Son, James J. Shields, is buried in Highland Cemetery outside Providence.
Julia’s daughter, Josephine Shields, married Leo B. Mackey. Josephine died on October 15, 1971. She and her husband Leo are buried in St. Francis Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island, and both are buried in the same plot owned by her mother, Julia Shields. It does not appear Leo and Josephine had any children, but this may change as more information becomes available.