Wherever his birthplace was, one thing is certain concerning him, he hated England and all things English. Little is known concerning his life in Pelham previous to the Revolution except what is traditionary. After the battle of Lexington he was among the first to join a company of minute men. He was promoted for bravery at the battle of Bunker Hill, and shared in the campaign resulting in Burgoyne’s surrender. Nothing shows more clearly the loyal spirit of Daniel Shea than his conduct during the Revolution. He took a deep interest in a cause which involved the dearest interests of his country. Shea returned to Pelham at the close of the war, and in 1781 was chosen by the town as a member of the Committee of Safety. He was prominent in other town offices up to the time of the insurrection, and was a respected citizen. The insurrection is a matter of history and need not be dwelt on here. Out of the one hundred and fifty men who were captured, fourteen were tried and sentenced to death, but were afterwards pardoned. After remaining in hiding for some time, Shea was pardoned. Having received his pardon, he went to New York state, where all trace of him is lost. That Pelham was a distinctively Irish settlement is clearly shown on the occasion of the settling of the first pastor, Rev. Robert Abercrombie, a Scotchman. Rev. Mr. Abercrombie was educated at Edinburgh University and came to this country in 1740 as a licensed preacher. He came to Pelham in 1742. There arose a division at once in the church. One of the reasons for the division was the fact of his being a Scotchman and of his demanding rigid adherence to the doctrines and requirements of the Church of Scotland. The majority of the members of the Presbyterian church of Pelham wanted an Irish Presbyterian clergyman. After a great deal of controversy Mr. Abercrombie was settled as a pastor. He was unfortunate in having a strong element of opposition to contend against from his first connection with the people of Pelham, as shown by the strong protest against his settlement. After preaching a few years he was compelled to resign his pastorate. While the Irish Presbyterians predominated, there were some who were members of the Church of England and some Roman Catholics. A spirit of harmony always existed in this community. The people were peaceable, respecting the rights of others and demanding the same respect in return. These early settlers brought with them many of the customs and traditions of the Emerald Isle, and until after the Revolution they spoke with a rich Irish brogue. In 1765 many of the settlers, who had become dissatisfied with the soil and other existing conditions, moved westward, and joining a colony of settlers from Ballibay, Ireland, helped to found the town of Salem, N. Y. Among the descendants of the early settlers who became noted were: Ira P. Rankin, collector of the port of San Francisco, appointed by President Lincoln.