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From:
Subject: Naturalizations
Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 01:53:28 EDT

Hi all, I thought this might help some folks. It is sent with permission
from another mailing list. I also realize some of you are on combinations of
these mailing list so please be patient andd just hit ~delete~ on the extras you
might get.

Is anyone interested in getting this 'help' type of thing now and then?
If so, what topics would you like?
Thanks Brenda

From the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness via Beverly

I've been following the discussion and had not planned to chime in since it
was related to PA. However, maybe I can offer a suggestion or two as I've
been
doing immigration & naturalization for while now.

First of all there are some general rules, with nothing 'status quo' ....
papers of various kinds related to immigration could be filed in 'any court
of
law.' Everything hinges on what the law was at the time of the event and the

type of courts in the state where the filing was done. So this means some
research to know what the law at the time required and what courts (various
names)
are the possibilities to find records in.

And, of course, the immigrant sometimes filed the first and did not realize
he needed to go a couple steps further. Often the immigrant got off the boat
-
let's use Galveston TX as an example - and filed his Declaration of Intent in

Galveston. He heads over to Austin Co TX where he intends to settle. He may
-
or may not - take the next step in filing his Petition for Naturalization to
become a citizen. Next would come his Oath of Allegiance (of fidelity and
abjuration), and finally his Naturalization (Citizenship papers).
Don't overlook the fact that instead of coming via ship directly to the
US, the immigrant family may have come in to a Canadian or Mexican port and
then entered overland ... meaning he may or may not have filed anything ...
or
that he filed in the first US county/state he entered.

There was time periods in between these so from arrival in Galveston and the
filing of his Declaration to five ears later in Austin County when he was
eligible to file his Petition he simply may not have known to follow through
or
let it slip from his mind to do so. And if the fellow moved around you might
just find his papers scattered from port of entry (although they often waited

until they got settled to file the Intent) to first place settled to where
they
removed to. Following the migrational pattern of the family is very
important.

'Any court of law,' by the way could mean county clerk, district court, etc.
-- and I've even found some filed with the County Commissioners Court.
There
are also other things to watch for ... when you're checking, no telling
where the clerk filed it! In INDEXES look for I - IN RE; E - EX PARTE; M -
Miscellaneous; N - NATURALIZATION; O - ORDER; P - PETITION.

Watch for the CERTIFICATE OF ARRIVAL - required of all aliens arriving after
06/29/1906 giving the date, place and manner of the aliens arrival in the
U.S.
CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY was an alternative.

CERTIFICATE OF DERIVATIVE CITIZENSHIP, after 07/01/1929 - upon application -
to any individual who was deriving citizenship from spouse of parent and who
was 21 year of age or older. --- relatively few of these.

Wives and children under 16 became citizens by virtue of the father, but
you'll find a few women (widows) who was the head of household applying.

You'll find such things as A group of PA German immigrant males over 16
signed at the courthouse in a series of bound ledgers - Certificates of
Naturalization. And I've committed the ultimate genealogical sin ... no
reference and
I've tried to backtrack for it to no avail!
Look also for RECORD OF ALIEN OWNED LANDS. 1929 Alien Registration Act ..
non-citizens owning land ... and great information! Prior to that,
Massachusetts had alien Registration 1802-1828. TEXAS is unique due to our
history, with
a variety of things to look for in the pre-statehood era (for those 'home
folks' who might be able to attend the Lufkin conference at Angelina College
in
July, one of my sessions is "Proving Ancestral Residence in the Republic of
Texas (and before)," for DRT/SRT membership as well as for those who just
want to
know).

Don't forget to seek out the various Immigrant Aid Societies formed to assist

particular ethnic groups - and newspapers, especially those printed in the
home language. If you are IRISH and do not know about the wonderful series
published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society: "The Search For
Missing Friends" Irish Immigrant Advertisements Placed in the Boston Pilot.
Eight
volumes 1831-1920. Don't be mislead by Boston newspapers of the fact that
these are 'advertisements.' I've found notices from all over - LA & TX
included.
Too lengthy to go into here (unless you want a 'review') but if you are Irish

you will find this a great source .. maybe not the exact set of papers but
clues as to when they came, where they went or were supposed to have gone,
etc.

My gosh! I've gone on and on ... a good, small book to access would be John
J. Newman's AMERICAN NATURALIZATION RECORDS 1790-1990 What They Are and How
to
Use Them (Heritage Quest).

Hope this helps some of you --- keep looking. and look everywhere

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