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].

 

Goals for April

1.  Finish my biography of my great grandfather Dennis McFadden for the final NGS-HSC assignment.      I have most of the information I need, however including only relevant information and leaving out extraneous filler is proving to be difficult.

2.  Devote sufficient time to this months ProGen assignment-A proof argument for my great grandmother Sealy (Celia) AUTREY Sample.  Unfortunately on some of the assignments I didn't spend as much time as I should have and felt that I rushed the assignment.  I still learned a lot but don't think I did as well as I could have.

3.  Continue organizing my files and notes and entering my information into the Reunion software.

4.  I'm not able to attend any of the national conferences this year so I need to look for more local events.  First I'll sign up for the Angelina College Genealogy Conference in Lufkin, Texas.

5.  Be more consistent on posting here and start citing any sources used according to Evidence Explained.

6.  Start planning for genealogy research trips.  My first one will most likely be to Robertson County, Texas to look for Sealy's mother Dianacy "Dicy" Autrey who may have lived there and operated a store with her husband John Mabe.

7.  Decide on whether to get an iPad or iPad mini.  The Reunion app would be helpful especially at conferences and short genealogy trips.

Wedding Wednesday-Dennis McFadden and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Neuland

Application and Statement for Marriage License

Dennis McFadden resident of Coal Center, Washington County Pennsylvania

Names and residence of his parents are:residents of the state of Ohio

He is twenty seven years of age

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Neuland

Names and residence of her parents are:Luis Neuland and Hanna Neuland residence Coal Center

She is twenty years of age

Sworn on 15th of February 1886

A couple of interesting things from this document. 

Most other records indicate that Dennis was about 19 years older than Lizzie.  Family stories suggests that he lied about his age in order to emigrate from Ireland, then lied again to serve in the Civil War.  He is said to have been about 13 when he signed up in Ohio and gave his age as 18.

The second is the reference to his parents being residents of the State of Ohio.  Again according to family stories, his father died in Ireland during the potato famine while Dennis was a child.  When  his mother remarried, the step father refused to support the McFadden children forcing Dennis and possibly his brother John to immigrate to the US between 1848-1850.

It seems with Dennis, the more information I find about him, the cloudier his life becomes. 

Tuesday's Tip - turn the page

This is probably fairly obvious, but it is something I do not always do, especially online. 

This is the passport application for my uncle Edward McFadden (1889-1977) from April 1919 from Ancestry.com. 

Besides the information about him:

     1. born in Coal Center, Pennsylvania, 12 March 1889

     2. lives in Pittsburgh

     3. is a salesman

     4. visiting France and Great Britain as part of the Knights of Columbus War Relief

      Work

     5. left from New York

It also has information about his father, my great grandfather Dennis McFadden (about 1847-1924).

     1. Dennis emigrated from Londonderry Ireland about 1852

     2. he has no naturalization papers but a discharge from the US Army dated 25 July  

     1865

     3. he lived uninterrupted in the US for 67 years 1852-1919

     4. he lived in Coal Center, Roscoe, Monongahela & Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and

     also the state of Ohio

I logged on to check it a few times to verify the information.  For some reason this last time, I clicked the arrow for the next page and found this: 

Not only does it have his street address, and a physical description of Edward but also a photograph of him from 1919.  I believe this is the earliest photo of him that I have, the others being from the 1930's and 1977.

Then on the next page is the physical description again, along with a letter of introduction from a representative from the Knights of Columbus.

So to sum up, don't forget to turn the page.

Ireland Reaching Out

http://www.irelandxo.com/

"The Ireland Reaching Out (Ireland XO) project is based on a simple idea; instead of waiting for people of Irish descent to trace their roots, we go the other way."

This seems like a very cool idea and I hope it catches on.

My maternal great grandfather, Dennis McFadden, was from Tullaghobely, Co. Donegal.  I haven't been able to find exactly when he came over or with which family members, but perhaps this project can help me get closer to figuring it out.

Also, it makes me want to plan my bicycling tour/genealogy trip to Ireland very soon.

Wednesday’s Child-Bertha and Ella E. McFadden

Bertha- born 1886 Apr 26 died 1886 Aug 1
Ella E.- born 1886 Apr 26 died 1886 Sep 10

Both are buried in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Coal Center, Pennsylvania.  The story I have heard is that they died from the 'sleeping sickness' which hit the community along the Monongahela River. 

These were my great grandparents (Dennis and Elizabeth Neuland McFadden's) first born.  So far, I have been unable to locate any additional information on their deaths or what the 'sleeping sickness' was.

Fearless Females: March 10: Religion

Both my grandmothers were very religious.  My grandmother on my mothers side was Catholic and the one on my fathers was Baptist.  I know they were both strong believers, but other than that I don't know much about their church related activities.

Margaret McFadden, my maternal grandmother (Ruth McFadden) had a sister who became a nun.  Among the photographs in my grandmothers collection I found this photo of Margaret, who became Sr. Donata.  After a little searching I found her name among the list of deceased sisters (http://ihmnew.marywood.edu/1.WhoWeAre/DeceasedSisters.html) of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scranton Pennsylvania. 

I believe Margaret is on the right

She died in 1953 so I never knew her and don't remember her being talked about all that much so I have no idea what her life was like or why she chose such a life.  

Here is another picture of Margaret and others in front of what looks like a church or perhaps where the sisters lived.  Aunt Margaret is in the back row on the right, looking quite a lot like my grandmother.  My next step is to contact either the organization or the diocese of Scranton to see if they have any biographical or other information on her.  I'm hoping it might shed some light on my gr grandfather Dennis McFadden.

Military Monday-Soldiers Claim Agency letter

One interesting letter found among the files my father gave me a while back is this one from the Soldiers Claim Agency.  This is a reply to my great grandfather Dennis McFadden who as far as I know is my only ancestor to fight on the union side in the Civil War. 

So far, I have not had any luck tracking down information about this agency and whether their files still exist or where they might be stored.  I would really like to have my g grandfathers original letter and any followup correspondence that may have occurred. 

I do have his record from the Civil War Pension Index but unfortunately the NARA did not have it in their files.  They did say in their response that it should be in their collection and that they would try to acquire it sometime in the future.  They referred my request to the Veterans Administration who have then forwarded it to a couple of different VA offices.  I'm still waiting to hear if they have been able to located the records. 

Letter transcription:

Dennis McFadden

Roscoe, PA

Comrade:

Your welcome letter rec’d.

Fortunately I found your discharge and enclose it to you.  Will you please acknowledge receipt.             

I am indeed glad to hear from you and shall enrol (sic) you name on our Regt. Register and will send you notice of our future meetings and shall hope to see you present.

Capt. Murphy is dead long since. Lt. Oldson was last heard from at Downs, Kansas. Lt. Dan Firestone was last heard from at Salem Columbiana Co. Ohio.

Write me when you want to know anything about 1^st Ohio Artillery. 

Had (?) you better let me get you a pension?

I can do it if anybody can.  I have been 30 years learning how (to do?) such work.

With a Comrades love

H.C. Miller