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Archiver > TheShipsList > 1998-04 > 0891533392


From: GFSSusanne <>
Subject: Re: [TSL] How to start
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 11:09:52 EST


Several things you can look for........

If your ancestor became naturalized, these documents many times would have the
date, port, and ship of arrival.

There are THREE documents to obtain for Naturalization.
(1) Declaration of Intent filed first and called First Papers. Here
renouncement to a foreign government and intent to become a United States
citizen were pledged. This was usually two years before application to become
a citizen was done. Even if the alien
never became a citizen, the Intent Papers should be on file.
(2) Petition for Naturalization was the second step filed with the court.
The alien would have to had met residency requirements of five years in the
United States, one year in the state, and declared intention to become
citizens.
(3) Final Papers or Certificate granting citizenship.
Be sure to get all three. The first two contain the most information, such
as, full name, date of birth, place of origin, date of arrival, ship arrived
on, who their sponsor was, where they were living at the time of petition.

To write for citizenship/naturalization papers, from September 26, 1906:
Immigration & Naturalization Service
FOIA/PA Officer, Chester Arthur Building
425 I Street N.W.,
ULLICO Building
2nd Floor
Washington D.C. 20536
Phone:202-514-3278 Fax: 202-514-3902
Ask for Form G-639 or in a letter "RE: Freedom of Information Act", give Name,
Date of birth, and place of birth, date of Naturalization if you know it.
Note that the Naturalization Act of June 29, 1906 required issuance of a
"Certificate of Arrival" for aliens filing a Declaration of Intention. Be
sure to request this document...it will give you the name, date, and port of
arrival.

For citizenship documents before September 26, 1906 you should write to the
INS Regional Archives, if done in a federal court; OR write to the state
court, OR county clerk's office.

The federal census can also help you with year of arrival, especially the 1900
and 1920.

The 1900 Federal Census was done on 1 June. It provides the names of each
person in the household & their relationship, race, sex, month & year of
birth, age at last birthday, marital status, years married, number of children
born & living, if foreign born, place of birth of each person and parents,
year of immigration & number of years in US, citizenship status, occupation,
read/write, language, home rented/owned, address, home/farm. It is soundexed.
Has some Indian records at the end. 1900 & 1920 are the best census records
to use to start your research.

1920 Census taken in January. Available for every State and territory. Usually
it's the best starting point for your research. It is Soundexed. (if you
don't understand the Soundex, just ask and I will explain it) The census
contains...Name of each person, relationship to head of family, home
owned/rented/mortgaged, name of street, house number, sex, race, age at last
birthday, single/married/widowed/divorced, year of immigration to US,
naturalized or alien, year of naturalization, attended school, able to
read/write, place of birth, mother tongue, father/mother's place of birth,
speak English, profession, working.

You can find Census records at all LDS FHC libraries, (call 800-346-6044 for a
location) or at a large state library that mantains census records...some
smaller local libraries have census records also, just call your library.

To Write for Passenger Arrival Document>>>
General Reference Branch
National Archives and Records Admin.
7th and Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20408
Form 81 - for Ship Passenger Arrival Records
Cost $10.00
or go to your local LDS FHC library and look up the document on microfilm for
about $3.25 a film.
You must know the arrival date, port, and ship though

Many arrival ports have an index you can search for your surname....example

Passenger Arrival Indexes for arrivals to New York City are available on
microfilm in the LDS FHC library for the following years....
Index 1820-1846 is Alphabetical on National Archives microfiche #M261 for 103
rolls of film.
Microfilms for the Passenger Lists 1820-1897 on NA#M237
Index June 16, 1897-June 30, 1902 is Alphabetical on National Archives
microfiche #T519 for 115 rolls of film.
Microfilms for the Passenger Lists 1897-1924 on NA#T715-3515
Index-Soundex for July 1, 1902 - December 31, 1943 on N/A microfiche T621 for
755 rolls of film.
Microfilms for the Passenger Lists 1924-1932 on NA#T715: 3517-5118
Index Soundex for 1944-1948 on N/A M1417 for 94 rolls of film.
Microfilms for the Passenger Lists 1932-1957 on NA#T715 5219-8892
As you can see, there is no index for the years 1847-1896.

Detroit Passenger Arrivals; the following years are on microfilm..1906-1954*,
1946-1957 Indexes for *years.

Boston Passenger Arrivals; the following years are on microfilm..1820-1891*,
1899-1940*, 1891-1943* Indexes for *years.
Irish & Liverpool Arrivals see web site
http://members.tripod.com/~rosters/index.html

Hope this helped a bit,
GFSSusanne in Florida

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