JanW.
05-29-2008, 11:16 AM
Naturalization Records -
If your ancestor applied for citizenship or became a citizen of the United States, there are many things that you may be able to learn from the paperwork required by the government.
When your ancestor entered the United States, they were classed as aliens. Aliens were allowed to remain in the country as long as they registered annually with the government.
If they were to choose to become an American Citizen, there were 3 steps to make that happen. The documents that were required during these steps are known in the world of genealogy as naturalization records.
You should be aware that prior to the Revolutionary War (pre 1790) that Citizenship was not such an issue, as most immigrants were British and America was a British Colony. Any records pertaining to these early immigrants becoming citizens were handled by the colonies and are
pretty rare. After the Revolution, naturalization was regulated by the federal government. They established the 3 step process which is still used today.
The First Step:
Declaration of Intention aka first papers
After an anlien had been in the country for at least 2 years, they could declare their intention to become a citizen. This was done by a male ancestor, as women and minor children wer granted a citizenship automatically when the husband/father was naturalized.
Before 1906, this declaration could be filed in any local, county, state or federal court.
The first papers were required to contain an oath declaring the intent to become a United States Citizen; a pledge to support the U.s. Constitution; a statement renouncing any foreign allegiance or hereditary titles that may have been given in the homeland; the applicant's name and date of application. First papers also included information such as present address, age, birth date, place of birth and the port of entry into the United States.
(After 1906, additional information required would include: occupation, color, weight, height, hair and eye color, and any distintive marks. Also required wer date and place of birth, place of departure for the United States, vessel name, date of arrival in the U.S. and last foreign residence. At an even later date, information was required about applicants spouse and children.
The Second Step:
An alien was required to live in the U.S. for a specified period of time, usually three years from the declaration of intention. After the Basic Naturalization Act of 1906, this period could not exceed 7 years.
The Third Step:
After satisfying the first two steps, an alien cout then petition the court for his citizenship. This petition was known as the second papers. (To confuse genealogist further, this petition did not have to be filed in the same court as the first papers!)
Contents of the second papers varied depending on where this petition was filed and the year it was filed. Generally they contained the applicant's name, an oath of allegiance and two affidavits from witnesses stating that they had been a resident for the required time.
After 1906 and the standardization of the form it would also contain the date of petition, names of the witnesses, birth date and age of applicant, port of entry and the date of filing first papers. Additional information could also include information on a spouse and/or the applicants children.
If all of the applicant's paper work was in order, he was awarded the third paper, a Naturalization Certificate. This legal proof of citizenship was often your ancestors most prized possession. (My great-grandfather's was framed and among his possessions in a steamer trunk.)
With the 1906 standardization the certificate became a two part form that was numbered. One copy was given to the citizen and the second was retained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Because your ancestor could file his papers in any court, they are often difficult to locate. This is especially true when our ancestors moved around and the papers were filed in different locations. With the wealth of information that is contained on the documents, they are well worth looking for. The Federal Census records contain helpful information to narrow your search, at least for determining the time frame.
**Compiled using information form NARA and Family History Made Easy - Step by Step.
If your ancestor applied for citizenship or became a citizen of the United States, there are many things that you may be able to learn from the paperwork required by the government.
When your ancestor entered the United States, they were classed as aliens. Aliens were allowed to remain in the country as long as they registered annually with the government.
If they were to choose to become an American Citizen, there were 3 steps to make that happen. The documents that were required during these steps are known in the world of genealogy as naturalization records.
You should be aware that prior to the Revolutionary War (pre 1790) that Citizenship was not such an issue, as most immigrants were British and America was a British Colony. Any records pertaining to these early immigrants becoming citizens were handled by the colonies and are
pretty rare. After the Revolution, naturalization was regulated by the federal government. They established the 3 step process which is still used today.
The First Step:
Declaration of Intention aka first papers
After an anlien had been in the country for at least 2 years, they could declare their intention to become a citizen. This was done by a male ancestor, as women and minor children wer granted a citizenship automatically when the husband/father was naturalized.
Before 1906, this declaration could be filed in any local, county, state or federal court.
The first papers were required to contain an oath declaring the intent to become a United States Citizen; a pledge to support the U.s. Constitution; a statement renouncing any foreign allegiance or hereditary titles that may have been given in the homeland; the applicant's name and date of application. First papers also included information such as present address, age, birth date, place of birth and the port of entry into the United States.
(After 1906, additional information required would include: occupation, color, weight, height, hair and eye color, and any distintive marks. Also required wer date and place of birth, place of departure for the United States, vessel name, date of arrival in the U.S. and last foreign residence. At an even later date, information was required about applicants spouse and children.
The Second Step:
An alien was required to live in the U.S. for a specified period of time, usually three years from the declaration of intention. After the Basic Naturalization Act of 1906, this period could not exceed 7 years.
The Third Step:
After satisfying the first two steps, an alien cout then petition the court for his citizenship. This petition was known as the second papers. (To confuse genealogist further, this petition did not have to be filed in the same court as the first papers!)
Contents of the second papers varied depending on where this petition was filed and the year it was filed. Generally they contained the applicant's name, an oath of allegiance and two affidavits from witnesses stating that they had been a resident for the required time.
After 1906 and the standardization of the form it would also contain the date of petition, names of the witnesses, birth date and age of applicant, port of entry and the date of filing first papers. Additional information could also include information on a spouse and/or the applicants children.
If all of the applicant's paper work was in order, he was awarded the third paper, a Naturalization Certificate. This legal proof of citizenship was often your ancestors most prized possession. (My great-grandfather's was framed and among his possessions in a steamer trunk.)
With the 1906 standardization the certificate became a two part form that was numbered. One copy was given to the citizen and the second was retained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Because your ancestor could file his papers in any court, they are often difficult to locate. This is especially true when our ancestors moved around and the papers were filed in different locations. With the wealth of information that is contained on the documents, they are well worth looking for. The Federal Census records contain helpful information to narrow your search, at least for determining the time frame.
**Compiled using information form NARA and Family History Made Easy - Step by Step.