I too have ancestors who came over in the 1850s and started out as Richard Welch and his most common dob was Aug 1837 and arrived in 1853. >From where or when and on what vessel I have no idea. He ended uperving in the 1st Deleware Infantry and married Mary Bridget Fitzgerald of County Wexford and is fist found in the 1870 census of Troy, NY. He was the son of John and Mary Burke Walsh. In the 1900 census of Troy he suddenly is Richard Walsh. We believe we have found his siblings from a probate petition in Albany County NY as being Bridget Reynolds, Sarah Kenary(Canary in census records), William and James. But is the best I have done so far. Rich Shea