In response to your direction, I have the honor to inform you that an investigation was made of the right of Patrick O’Donnell to claim citizenship in the United States, the result of which I have the honor to communicate to you herewith.
The statements made on behalf of O’Donnell’s right to claim American citizenship are conflicting. It is asserted that he is a citizen, first, by the naturalization of his father, Michael, while he, the son, Patrick, was yet a minor; second, by reason of service in the army of the United States during the late civil war, and third, by naturalization as one who resided in the United States for the three years next prior to his coming of age, and continuously thereafter up to the time of his making application for citizenship.
The claim to citizenship through his father’s act rests upon his own statements. No proof of the fact is found or furnished, and it is not confirmed by other members of the family that the father ever was naturalized.
Had he been, Patrick O’Donnell need not have applied for naturalization. As to the second point, O’Donnell himself says that an injury to his arm prevented his enlistment in the army, but that he was employed as a teamster in 1864 with the United States Government supply train in Colorado.
It has not neon sought necessary to verify this statement, for if true the fact would not give him the right to naturalization as one in the army, and, moreover, the certificate not granted on the ground of his having been a soldier.
In support of the third allegation, he pro- duces a certificate of his naturalization on Nov. 6, 1876, by the Probate Court of Lawrence County, Ohio. This certificate was issued in conformity with section 2,167 of the Revised Statutes, which provides that ‘any alien being under the age of 21 years, who has resided in the United States three years next preceding his arriving at that age, and who had continued to reside therein to the time he may make application to be admitted a citizen thereof,’ may be admitted on making the prescribed declaration at that time instead of two years before naturalization.
[this is a large article and not all was typed, if researching this person, see the source below for additional genealogy such as birthdate, dates as a passenger, etc.-mjm]
SOURCE: The New York Times 1883-12-25: Vol 33 Issue 10079
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