Katie,
I would love to swap information on the Perkins Shay Family with you. I have been trying to track them from MI. George W. is my direct line but I have been trying to find the rest of his siblings. Based on what you wrote, if Mary Shay Gilbert is his widow (or former wife), then is she also his second wife? What happened to Jane N. Freeman? Death or divorce?

You are right about Stephen - I have been searching to find him and have had no luck since the 1840 Census in Michigan. Do you know if he had children? I have been trying to search thru the census records for 1850 and 1860 to see if I can find him. He does not show when I search for him but I only recently found Amos in Minnesota & that was thru one of his descendants and a very careful search of the census in 1860.

Do you have much information on the other brothers? I have quite a bit on George, Perkins Jr., and, now, on Amos. Also have information on their sister Emily. I am fairly certain they also had two more sisters - Sally and ???. I also have more on Perkins Sr. in New York.
I would like to know more about the family and what happened to Sarah Shay after Perkins died in 1834.

You mention circumstantial evidence that suggests that Stephen G. Shay is your gr-gr-gr grandfather. Would you share with me what that is??

Sandi Langan
Battle Creek, MI

I just found this information in the genealogy center in Ottawa, IL:
American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) Daniel McCain Birth Date: 1800 Birthplace: Michigan, Illinois Volume: 113 Page Number: 63 Reference: Hist. Of LaSalle Co., Il., a sketch if the pioneer settler of each town to 1840. By Elmer Baldwin. Chicago, 1877. (552p.):443 (Need to get a copy of this page)
pg 443: Daniel McCain, from Michigan, married Sarah Shay; died 1840; the widow married William Perygo; after his death she went to Michigan. Stephen Shay (brother?) died in Michigan

Sarah Shay would easily be called Sally in those years. My husband is a descendant of Sarah A. Shay who married Daniel McCain Sr. 10 Apr 1836 in Branch Co., MI, Daniel died 16 Mar 1843 in La Salle Co., IL; Sarah then married William Perygo (Perrigo) on 27 Feb 1844 in LaSalle Co., IL. William Perrigo died ca 1849 in Eagle Twp., LaSalle, IL; Her third marriage was to Chester Bates on 2 Jan 1853 Batavia, Branch, MI. We are trying to track her siblings and her offspring and have some results if anyone wants to contact us at ardis@mei.net