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Archiver > PALACKAW > 2003-08 > 1061251624


From: "Richard M. Reese" <>
Subject: Re: [PA-LAC] Naturalization Papers
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 20:09:06 -0400
References: <001801c3652a$38f136f0$3630c318@ecsehw7aoy6vrj> <002801c36598$257eb0c0$3200000a@alltel.net>


Researcher's Guide to Lackawanna County [draft]:

Although many genealogists consider their ancestor's citizenship papers
as their most important find, there is often considerable disappointment
expressed over their lack of content. In fact, Naturalization papers differ
greatly in content depending upon the issuing source of the document and the
era in which the application was made.

First, the naturalization process itself was a two-step process. After
residing in this country for a minimum period of one year, a Declaration of
Intent was filed; then after another waiting period (it varied, but was
usually 3 or 5 years), the Petition for Citizenship was made. These
documents could be filed with ANY govermental authority which makes the
search more difficult, and adds to the wide variation in content. The
requirement of residency was sometimes loosly interpreted to mean the
juristiction of the United States; but normally referred to the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. The result is that you can find a Declaration made in one
county, and the Petition in another. The only requirements were the waiting
period, and a witness who knew the applicant for the entire period of
residency. Sometimes you will find the witness, or sponsor, to be mine
managers who hired the immigrant from abroad, and paid their passage to
America.

For those who came into what is now Lackawanna county, there are several
possiblilies to consider when searching. The lowest level at which a
declaration or petition could be filed was with a Magistrate, Alderman, or
Justice of the Peace. Sadly, if this was done, it is not likely that such
records were retained as I have not come across any in my research work.

The second level was a Mayor's Court of a city or borough. From 1851 -
1876, the borough of Carbondale, in then Luzerne County, was quite active in
issuing naturalizations, as was the Mayor's Court in the City of Scranton.
However, Scranton's records have not been preserved, other than those
declations which appear along with the petitions filed at the county level.
Similar courts may have existed in Pittston and Wilkes-Barre, but no
evidence exists (so far) to verify that theory.

The county was perhaps the largest issuer of naturatization papers doing
so in both the Court of Quarter Sessions, and the Court of Common Pleas.
Both Lackawanna (after 1878) and it's predecessor, Luzerne County, kept
adequate (but not detailed) documentation in this regard.
Luzerne's records for surnames A-C however were thrown away after the 1972
Agnes flood. When properly filled out these declaration dockets contain
the name of the petitioner, the country of birth, their birth date, the date
and port of arrival. Many other counties only required name and age, and
the country from which the petitioner had previously lived. In addition as
noted previously, the petition required the name and signature of a witness,
or sponsor, who knew the applicant for the entire duration of his residency.
Index volumes exist for these records, Luzerne's are in books at their
courthouse, and on microfilm at the PA State Archive and LDS.
The highest level at which a petition could be filed was the US District
(Federal) court system. This is more likely to have occurred after 1906
when immigration began to be restricted, although county court records
continue through the 1950's. After about 1904, the amount of information
contained in a petition, especially those filed in the Federal courts,
expands considerably.

Three variations in the naturalization process should be noted. It is
possible for citizenship to be granted on the same day as the declaration of
intent was filed. This was authorized by the US Congress for those who
served in the Civil War. Second, if a declaration was misplaced, the
petition for citizenship will be more lengthy and contain much more than the
usual information. Lastly, since the natualization of an adult male also
entitled his wife and minor children to citizenship; many applications may
be marked as "arrived under 18". This is a good indication that the father
either didn't come to the US, or died before filling his petition.

All of these Lackawanna documents which I noted above as being preserved
are on microfilm and available at the Lackawanna County Courthouse, the PA
State Archive, and in the local genealogical society who has a computerized
index of names. However, the index films are available on microfilm,
although associating them with the right films can be tricky as the titles
don't always align.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Janet Taylor" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, August 18, 2003 10:51 AM
Subject: Re: [PA-LAC] Naturalization Papers


> I have exactly the same question!
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Edmalia" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2003 9:44 PM
> Subject: [PA-LAC] Naturalization Papers
>
>
> > I have found my Grandfathers naturalization certificate and as I
> understand he had to make out a detailed application before his
> naturaliztion could be processed. Can someone out there tell me what
> information is on this application and where are they stored? He lived
most
> of his life in the Scranton area and the Certificate was issued to him in
> Scranton.
> > I have been having trouble finding the name of his father and where he
was
> born and I am hoping that this information might be on this application.
> >
> >
> > ==== PALACKAW Mailing List ====
> > Visit the Lackawanna County, PA Archives
> http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/lackawp.html
> > To unsubscribe:
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> >
>
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