A descendent of this line, Mary (Shannon) Flood provided many of the records of John's descendents, and, except where otherwise noted, her records are the source of this information about John's descendents. She was able to learn the names of John and Bridget from the Ennistymon parish baptism records.
Mary Flood's earlier attempts to learn the parents of her immigrant great-grandfather Michael (son of this John) led her to believe that Michael's parents were named Patrick and Margaret Shannon. This was because the Co. Clare records show a Pat and Margt Shannon having a son Michael born 10 March 1835. Apparently the same Pat and Margt. have a son James born 29 Aug 1823, and a Pat and Peggy Fitzpatrick Shannon have another son Michael born 22 Sep 1834. (Margaret and Peggy can't be the same person because the births are too close together.) Michael's birthdate or age weren't well known to Mary Flood and his age varied in different sources and this Michael was approximately the right age. However, after finding children of John Shannon and Bridget Friel in the Co. Clare records with a Michael born 1830, Margaret in 1828, John in 1835 and another John in 1843, we have decided that John and Bridget of the parents of this line. The birth date of the son John in 1843 matches up particularly well with the known birthdate of Michael's known brother John who also came to Chicago and that is probably the main reason to believe John and Bridget are the parents of this line.
