James WADDING

Margaret (Davis) and James WADDEN/WADDING’s youngest son was the second James (b.22 July 1895). He was known as ‘Jim’[1]

James, a fitter, emigrated to the USA in 1914, joining his older sisters Maria and Rachel in Alleghany. James registered for WW1 as a 21 year old. We can see from his registration document that he had spent six months as a private in the Irish Volunteers although having left Ireland in 1914 he would have missed the worst of the conflicts. [2]

Documents show James was a private in the US army, inducted at Division 18 Avalon, Pa on 28th August 1918 . He was in the ‘155th Department of Brigate’ and did not serve overseas. He was honourably discharged on 5th December 1918.

James filed his Declaration of Intention in 1918 and from that we see he was six foot tall, with light brown hair and brown eyes.

He married Bridget DUFFY (b. County Donegal) on an unknown date, likely to have been around 1923/4.

They had the following children:

James applied for a passport in 1920, citing visiting his sisters in Ireland as the reason for his application. John Cleary was the witness for James’s application [3] James arrived 25 May 1920 into Queenstown (alone) from New York and departed again on 19th August. Below, James’s passport photo.

James registered for WW2 but there is no evidence he was required to serve.

James worked in a variety of jobs related to engineering, mechanics and machinery. He and Bridget bought their own home in Stanley St, Pittsburgh and lived there for over 30 years before James’s death.

[1] Nephew’s correspondence 09/05/2020.

[2]Registration State: Pennsylvania; Registration County: Allegheny; Roll: 1852506; Draft Board: 18 Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918

[3]John Cleary was the arrival point when Maria immigrated. He was informant of James’s sister Rachel’s death and executor of her will.  John Cleary claims he has known James for nearly all his life.  John is by then a clerk for the city-county.