Born 24 December 1824 according to US records, Michael was baptized in Windgap Catholic parish church, Kilkenny, on 9 January 1825, son of Patrick Shortal and Anastatia Purcel of Dunnamaggan West townland, Dunnamaggan parish. In the mid-1840s he emigrated to Nova Scotia, and worked his way across the US border through Maine, settling in Salem, Massachusetts by 1847. Michael had three younger siblings: James, Mary, and William, who lived to adulthood. All emigrated to the US and settled in and around Salem. Michael married Margaret Olden in 1850; they had three daughters who lived to adulthood: Mame, Lizzie, and Mag. After Margaret's death, Michael remarried to Julia O'Callaghan Pendergrast, a widow with a daughter, Margaret, who had been born in Ireland. Two of their children, Joseph Patrick and Catherine, lived to adulthood.
Michael served in the US Civil War in Company I of the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, which fought in battles around Washington, DC, and received the Silver Star for his service. Because of his skill in handling horses, which he had learned in Ireland, he was an aide to the officers of the company.
Michael established himself in Salem as a shoemaker, and founded M. Shortell and Son with his son Joseph; the original factory at 10 Dodge Street, Salem, was destroyed in the Great Salem Fire in 1915, but the company continued under Joseph and his sons James H., Albert V., and Francis R. Shortell until 1942.
Michael died on 14 January 1898.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 28th Dec 1824 | VIEW SOURCE |
| Date of Death | 14th Jan 1898 | VIEW SOURCE |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | Patrick Shortal | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Anastatia Purcel | |
| Townland born | Dunammaggan West was the townland where the family lived, but Michael was baptized in Windgap parish, home of his mother, Anatatia Purcell's family. Likely Anastatia went home for the birth of her first child as was a common custom. | |
