Trying to find immigration records for Dennis McFadden (1847-1924)

 Dennis McFadden first appeared in the US in the 1860 US census in Clinton, Vinton County, Ohio.[1] According to the census, Dennis (16) lived with his parents Edward and Alice (both 56) and his brother John (18). I don’t know if they arrived at the same time or staggered their immigration but by 1860 they were all in Ohio.

1860 US Census-Clinton, Vinton County, Ohio

  The 1900[2] and 1920[3] US census has Dennis’ year of immigrated as 1850. Both records indicate he was naturalized and the 1920 census has the date of naturalization as 1865. The 1910[4] US Census had the date as 1848 and his naturalization date as 1865.

1900 US Census-Washinton County, Pennsylvania

1920 US Census-Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

1910 US Census-Washington County, Pennsylvania

On 10 April 1919 Edward Vincent McFadden son of Dennis in his passport application stated that Dennis immigrated on or about 1852 and that he sailed from the Port of Londonderry, Ireland.[5] The passport also states that there are “no naturalization papers, but a discharge from U.S. Army dated July 25, 1865.”

1919 Passport Application-Edward Vincent McFadden

I have the service record[6] and pension applications for both Dennis[7] and John[8] but unfortunately none mention anything about their immigration or naturalization in the US. 

I checked Irish Passenger Lists, 1847-1871[9] and the Pennsylvania, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1800-1962[10] on Ancestry.com and while they have several Dennis, Edward and John McFadden’s listed I cannot tell if any are the ones I am looking for. 

I was hoping that at least one of the four names (Edward, Alice, John and Dennis) might have turned up in the immigration record. I have been focused on Philadelphia as the port of arrival since they ended up in Ohio by 1860. Emigration documentation is spotty for Ireland before 1890, I'll focus my sights on other possible ports of arrival for now.

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[1] 1860 U.S. census, Vinton County, Ohio, population schedule, Clinton Township, p. 63 (penned), dwelling 453, family 441, Dennis McFadden; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestrylibrary.com) : accessed 5 February 2013); citing National Archives Microfilm publication  M635 roll 1046.

[2] 1900 U.S. census, Washington County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 110, 42B (stamped), sheet number 7(penned), dwelling 137, family 139, David Davis; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestrylibrary.com : accessed 5 February 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 1493.

[3] 1920 U. S. census, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 624, 4A (written), dwelling 57, family 65, Dennis McFadden; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.library.com: accessed 5 February 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication T625, roll 1523.

[4] 1910 U.S. census, Washington County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 0228, 17A (written), dwelling 151, family 167, Dennis McFadden: digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestrylibrary.com : accessed 5 February 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication T624, roll 1427.

[5] Edward Vincent McFadden, 10 April 1919; Passport Application; National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 759; Volume #: Roll 0759 - Certificates: 78250-78499, 29 Apr 1919-30 Apr 1919.

[6] Compiled service record, Dennis McFadden, Pvt., Co. E, Ohio First Heavy Artillery; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the adjutant General’s Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[7] Dennis C. McFadden (Pvt., Co. E, 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery., Civil War) pension no. X.C. 956,627, certificate no. 1095,474; service of Dennis McFadden; Case Files of Pension Applications…, 1905-1949; Civil War Pension Files; Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[8] Compiled service record, John McFadden, Pvt., Co. K, 36th Reg, Ohio 2; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the adjutant General’s Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[9] Brian Mitchell, Irish Passenger Lists, 1847-1871 : Lists of Passengers Sailing from Londonderry to America on Ships of the J. & J. Cooke Line and the McCorkell Line (Baltimore: Genealogical Publication Company, 1988).

[10] Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1800-1962 [database on-line].