Ireland Research Trip - Day 3

We began the day by visiting the National Archives of Ireland. We met with an archivist who explained the types of resources they have and showed several examples of the types of records they have. We then went downstairs to look at and search the various finding aids.

Unfortunately my ancestors left Ireland as far as I can determine in the late 1840s to early 1850s. Records were not kept until just after that period beginning in the late 1850s and on.

While I did not find my ancestors I did find many McFadden's, Collum's and Ferry's in County Donegal in and around Falcarragh. I have begun mapping them out to research them and hopefully determine if any of them are cousins.

After that some of us went to the General Register Office (Oifig An Ard-Chláraitheora) which is the central civil repository for birth, stillbirth, death, marriage, civil partnership and adoption records in Ireland. I didn't need anything from there but did search the indexes for the above names.

While I didn't find anything very helpful for me, I did get some general information and now know where to go when and if I find something.

After this, I walked around Dublin some more. Since I hadn't quite adjusted to the time change yet, I returned to the hotel, ordered dinner and a Guinness or two, then began organizing my notes and doing some online searching while things were still fresh in my mind.

Mystery Monday - Mrs. McFadden

The 1918 diary of my great grandmother Elizabeth Neuland McFadden (1866-1949) is unusual because she was not a very consistent writer. It contains entries between 1918 to 1940. Also, at some point my grandmother Ruth McFadden Webb (1905-1984) made some entries in the diary as well.

 The diary includes many names, some I know and a lot I don't. I have tried to figure out who they are but many are still a mystery.

In the back of the diary in grandmother Ruth's handwriting are a few names with addresses. One is for Mrs. McFadden.

Mrs. McFadden 2354 Graham Terrace, Cleveland

 During the time they had this diary, they lived in the Pittsburgh, PA area and later on in Baltimore, MD. I haven't determined which Cleveland Mrs. McFadden lived in. It could have been Ohio or Pennsylvania, or another one. I have not found any listings for a Graham Terrace in any of the possible areas she may have lived. Also, I do not know when this entry was added. Again it could have been anytime between 1918-1940 so Mrs. McFadden could have lived almost anywhere or had been in Cleveland the whole time.

An entry for 23 August 1926:

Mrs. McFadden and I went to town. We went to Kaufman's and

goods for Ruth a dress, got matierial for Dan a Ribbi (?). These
went to Davis then got lunch then went to Grand (?) at Curley's so
it was late when we got home.

An entry for 27 June 1931:

Started for Pittsburg 20 minutes to 1. Got to Wilkensburg in 7 hrs. Went
to Curleys. Dan and Father Nevin and Mrs. McFadden and Al and
Catherine, Ed and a few others were there. Mrs. Curley Made everybody eat.

 An entry for June 30 and July 1, 1931:

Went to Annie's and also to Minnie's in evening.
The young met at Annie's to see Dan. As he was
leaving on Wed. We went several places as Dan
had a few calls to make. July 1st  Mrs. McFadden,
Mrs Hazel and I went to Monongahela. Joe took us up.
Went to see Mrs. Drinkwater. Went to see Bessi Adams
then went to see Valkers.

 

The other mentions of Mrs. McFadden are in a similar vein. None shed any light on who she is and how she might be related to Elizabeth and Ruth.

Because Elizabeth addresses her more formally, I assume Mrs. McFadden is an older woman. However, as far as I know the older McFadden women in the family had died before 1918. The only daughter who never married and became a nun was Margaret (Sister Donata) McFadden (1894-1953) and she was always referenced as Margaret in the diary.

She could be an unrelated friend or neighbor, but so far I have not found anything that will lead me to one  answer or another.

Death of Had (?)

A mini-mystery for today. Just who in the heck was Had?

Reading through my great grandmothers diary, Elizabeth Neuland McFadden (1866-1949) I came across this passage for Sunday 23 and Monday 24 of  February 1930.

As of April 21, 1930 according to the 1930 US census[1] Elizabeth was living in Baltimore, Maryland. Ruth was also listed as residing in the house.

This is my 64th birthday. Dan came in and just when we were eating dinner, Ruth called up and said Had had died at 4:20. Sheehans and Rodgers were here. They took Dan home. The funeral was the next day.

Had was buried today.

Ruth (McFadden Webb) 1905-1985 was my grandmother and Dan (Rev. Daniel O.C. McFadden S.J.) my granduncle.

I have been puzzling over just who this "Had" might have been. Comparing the writing it doesn't look like it could actually be Tad, Chad, Hal or any other similar name. I also have not located any known family, friends or acquaintances at the time who had the initials H.A.D. Unfortunately no one is still living as far as I know who might have been able to answer this question.

I did run a search on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org for a Had who died in 1930 in the Baltimore area. So far nothing promising has been located.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 1930 U.S. census, Baltimore County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, p. 175B (stamped), dwelling 375, family 386, Elizabeth McFadden; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestrylibrary.com) : accessed 5 February 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication T626 roll 845.

Mystery Photograph

My Aunt recently gave me some more family photos and here is another one that goes into the unknown pile.  On the back "Dennis" is written. The only Dennis I am aware of is Dennis McFadden (1847-1924). Based on the clothing I guess this was taken sometime during the 1920's. By that time Dennis was an old man grey hair and a mustache.  I've compared photographs of the older Dennis with his wife Elizabeth Neuland (1866-1949), and they do not seem to be the same people.

Sports Saturday: ready for some baseball

Found this picture in my grandmother Webb's box of memories.   I have no idea who this kid is or where the picture was taken.  I found it in with several of my grandmother's family pictures, but it could easily have been a member or neighbor of my grandfather's as well.  I'm guessing it was taken sometime in the 19 teens.