Q : I'm from early pioneers into Pennsylvania and I can't find a naturalization for my ancestor. What am I doing wrong?
Walter
A: If you found the head of household on a census and/or know the location, such as the county or city, do historical research to learn what the custom was at the time and place for naturalizations. Did your ancestor have to wait a while to declare, simply go into a local courthouse or other location and swear, what were the changes that occurred as the colony became a state?
Here is the link to THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE ARCHIVES:
Key Points Excerpted : Lists dating before the Revolution do not cover British subjects since their status remained unchanged by their removal from one part of the King's dominion to another.
In addition, naturalization records of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1794-1868 (Record Group-33) are available for the Eastern District (Philadelphia), Southern District (Chambersburg), and Western District (Pittsburgh). The records cover the period 1794-1868 and usually contain only the following information: person's name, country of former allegiance, date of petition, and affidavit of acquaintance. An index of the records of the Eastern District in Philadelphia covering the years 1794-1868 has been published in Philadelphia Naturalization Records: An Index to Records of Aliens' Declarations of Intention and/or Oaths of Allegiance, 1789-1880, in the United States Circuit Court, United States District Court, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Quarter Sessions Court, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia (Detroit, MI: Gale Research Company, 1982).
The Archives maintains naturalization lists of the Supreme Court and Courts of Nisi Prius (Record Group-21) for the years 1740-1773. These lists consist of names of those people who swore an oath of allegiance to the British Sovereign. Arranged chronologically, these lists were published in Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Volume 2 and have been reprinted as Persons Naturalized in the Province of Pennsylvania, 1740-1773 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1967), with an index.
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Be aware that the far Western portion of present day Pennsylvania, south of the Monongahela River near Pittsburgh remained Virginia for some time. In which case you'll seek your records in Virginia.
This site will help with that exploration: VIRGINIA PLACES : BORDER OF PA AND VIRGINIA
An exciting site with plenty of colorful maps and the story of establishing the borders, different from the original William Penn land grant.
Christine
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