William A. Shea (mayor)

Shea held various offices in Peabody, including overseer of the poor, sewer commissioner, and selectman.^[1] In 1915, he was the Republican nominee for the Massachusetts House of Representatives seat in the 11th Essex district. He lost to Democrat Michael J. Sherry by 32 votes.^[5] In 1916, Shea was elected to Peabody's first city council and was chosen to serve as the body's first president.^[1] In 1920, Shea was elected mayor of Peabody by 872 votes.^[6] In 1922 he was reelected over Rev. Robert A. Bakeman by 126 votes.^[7]

In 1903, Shea's sister, Mary J. O'Shea, went missing and was presumed dead until she reappeared in 1924. While the reason for her disappearance was not given, it was known that she had married a businessman from the Midwestern United States and had settled with him in Los Angeles in the years since she had left Salem.^[8]

Shea married Alice Crouse, a concert singer from Salem. They had two children.^[1] Alice Crouse Shea predeceased her husband and he married an employee of his tobacco store.^[9]

Shea died on July 16, 1929, at the age of 52. He was survived by his second wife, Bridget, and his two children, William G. Shea and Alice Shea Barrett, from his first marriage.^[10] Shea left his entire estate to his wife and his two children contested his will on the grounds of undue influence and mental incapacity. On January 8, 1931, Judge Alden P. White sustained Shea's will.^[9]