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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: macah on Sunday 02 October 16 17:03 BST (UK)
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Martin Kearns married Bridget McDonald in Co. Mayo 1882. Their daughter Bridget was born in 1883 and they all travelled to Boston in April 1884 on The Grecian.
The only Record I can find afterwards is a Petition for Naturalisation in Boston, Mass. for Martin dated 1888.
He has an address at 31, Reed St, Cambridge, Mass.
I would be grateful for advice on how to progress this family. I have found nothing in Births, Marriages & Deaths.
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Are you sure this is your guy? I see him on the naturalization index here - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939N-Z4QG-P6?i=2907&wc=M6Y6-K38%3A165627701%3Fcc%3D1840474&cc=1840474
Looking at the actual naturalization papers, it says he arrived at Boston on 29 Apr. 1874. I guess it's possible he returned home to marry and have a child, but typically you have to be in the US for five years before filing for naturalization. 1884-1888 wouldn't seem to fit that requirement.
Do you have parents' names for your Martin?
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I have another scanned card which reads:
Mrs. Bgt. Kearns, 23 - Bgt., 1.
Name Kearns, Martin Age 25
Arrived Port of Boston, April 9, 1884 S.S. Grecian
There are a few other bits which do not add to the sum of our knowledge.
Martin Kearns was born to Patrick Kearns & Ellen Madden in 1858.
I have accessed various websites but it takes an expert to spot the discrepancies. Thank you for that.
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If you look at the image of the 1884 passenger list, it looks like there was an Ann Kearnes, age 52, housewife and a John Kearnes, age 21, laborer with them. Their intended destination was San Francisco. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KGKT-XFS
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In view of what Shelly found re San Francisco I wonder if this could be the right family in 1910:
Bridget A Kearns 50 wid Ireland
Mary B Kearns 26 dau Ireland
Martin J Kearns 24 son b California
arrived 1884
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVL1-JG5
I think this may be right as Martin J Kearns death record says mother McDonald :
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP2Z-V3T
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Social Security Claims Index lists
Martin James Kearns b 15 Feb 1886 San Francisco
father Martin Kearns
mother Bridget Mcdonald
I can't spot them in 1900
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Possible findagrave memorial :
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=107719308
edit : I presume Kearns appears elsewhere on the headstone
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1930 census ( transcribed Morten Kearns ) for the son Martin James :
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCFR-YM7
1940
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9DM-77T
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Funeral home records show the same parents' names for Martin and said his spouse was Edith. It says he was an assistant fire chief. There appear to be pictures of him here - http://www.rootschat.com/links/01im7/
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I noticed an error in my message. The bride's surname was McDonnell NOT McDonald.
I will quote exact details as extracted from Mayo Family History centre:
Church Records: Marriage in Killasser Parish, (Swineford District), Feb. 11th, 1882; Martin Kearns (Father Patrick) & Bridget McDonnell (Father John).
This is where all the McDonnell family were Baptised.
Civil Birth Reg (Swineford District) : Bridget Kearns, DoB Jan. 4th, 1883. Parents are Martin Kearns & Bridget McDonnell.
I apologise for my inaccuracies; I have been looking at too many possible records.
Posted on behalf of Macah who had sent the message to me in error. ;)
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I guess it's possible that McDonnell/McDonald could have been used interchangeably.
In case it is the right family, it looks like the elder Bridget may have remarried. Possible 1930 census for Bridget and Mary B(ridget) - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC62-ZFM
Burial record & death index for elder Bridget - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVLP-W9VY
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKS9-4L4Q
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Thank you for your valuable assistance. I had found some of these but the McDonnell/ McDonald discrepancies made me unsure.
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Maybe there's other information that can help rule them in or out.
There is a death notice for the elder Martin, but no personal detail besides age and being a native of Ireland - http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=DAC18910410.2.91.1&srpos=79&dliv=none&e=------189-en--20--61-byDA-txt-txIN-kearns-------1
The San Francisco library will do free look-ups for obituaries - http://sfpl.org/?pg=2000049301
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I have found Thomas Kearns born Oct. 2nd, 1884 in San Francisco in the Social Security Appl. & Claims Index. Parents are Martin Kearns & Brigid A McDonnell.
As neither marriage nor birth records for California are available do you know if there are any others available.
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There are marriage records for California, but not all of them are available online.
Here are some links that may be helpful: http://www.genealogybranches.com/california.html
http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sfranvit.htm
https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/How_to_Find_California_Marriage_Records
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You have been incredibly helpful in a difficult project. My grateful thanks.