I have a Thomas Ireland born 1853 who is on the 1861 1871 and 1881 census

1881
Benjamin Ireland abt 1816 Stroud, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean
Hannah Ireland abt 1822 King Stanley, Gloucestershire, England Wife West Dean
Joseph Ireland abt 1852 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean
Thomas Ireland abt 1854 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean

In Feb 1887 his mother makes a will, and he is mentioned as being in America and he doesn't appear in the 1891 census onwards

I've looked into finding a record of him arriving in America but havent been able to find a Thomas to match my dates...

can anyone help with suggestions?

This entry from Castle Garden web site http://castlegarden.org/
may be of help:

Thomas Ireland
Occupation Laborer
Age 28
Sex M
Literacy U
Arrived 10 Apr 1882
Origin England
Port Liverpool
Last Residence
Destination United States
Plan Unknown
Ship Germanic
Passage Unknown

Best wishes
Mike

Thank you for that...hopefully thats my man,

I dont suppose you know anyway they canbe tracked once they are in the US

I can only suggest Census Returns but others on the Message Board may be able to offer assistance.

Best wishes
Mike

He doesn't "leap " out of the Census returns , other possibilities - he died, or he travelled onward from the States....