MISSING NATURALIZATION FOR IMMIGRANT INTO EARLY 1800's PENNSYLVANIA ? QUESTIONS FROM READERS of ANCESTRY WORSHIP - GENEALOGY

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:

https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/phmc/pa-state-archives/research-online/research-guides/naturalization-and-immigration.html

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(opens in a new tab) (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(opens in a new tab) (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

C 2024 Ancestry Worship - Genealogy BlogSpot

STEAMSHIP MANIFESTS and CITIZENSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES #2

The original ELLIS ISLAND searchable database now uses slidey bars that I find annoying. These are especially difficult to use on cell phones and by some seniors and others who have arthritis or shaking in their hands or are otherwise unable to easily achieve exactitude using them. I like to input a range of dates and other information by typing.

You don't have to use it. The National Archives New York branch also has passenger records and detailed information for New York Harbor.

See PASSENGER ARRIVAL LISTS. U.S. Customs Service was the agency.

Do you need to search through many lists of names at all?

Most immigrants were aware of the rules for obtaining American Citizenship, also called Naturalization. They knew they would be making a Declaration of Intent, which we call First Papers. After about two years of working and being on good behavior, they could continue the process, making an application. About seven years living in the country was the fastest process for citizenship on average. Of course there were a number of reasons why it could take longer ranging from their own uncertainty about staying and making that Declaration of Intent to historical events like World War I and changes in government rules. Certain ethnic groups were considered suspicious and their process was stalled out during that war. Another consideration was the cost. If you were scraping by poor, you might not have the filing fee. That said, the typical Industrial Revolution immigrant didn't face complications that would require hiring a lawyer. So, your good behavior and ability to support yourself was proof you qualified to be a welcomed new citizens and swear your allegiance to The United States of America.

Then at some point quotas based on country/ethnicity were determined which slowed immigration down considerably. This was tied in with the understanding that America had enough workers in factories and manufacturing.

The amount of information to be found on a citizenship application varies from State to State and when the application was filed. Generally in 1906 forms required more information and there was less regional difference. Pennsylvania, for instance, has space on their form to list the names of wife and children who would all become citizens at the same time. Other places seem to have been much less formal. A man walked into a court house and raised his hand to swear he was giving up, say, the King, accompanied by a friend from work who was already a citizen to witness and walked out. A clerk wrote his name and address in a book. It's brief. That was that.

All this is said because if you already have the citizenship papers, the applicant may have listed the date of arrival and the name of the ship. You can go right to that information on the passenger lists and may be rewarded with some interesting details. 

Be aware that a function of Ellis was also to keep records so if an immigrant lost their information, they could ask for a certificate. I personally haven't seen any certificates but I have seen notes on manifests indicating someone looked at them and found a person's name to provide that information for their citizenship.

Therefore, there can be a relationship between the date of entry into the U.S. and moving forwards in time and finding citizenship papers as well.

C 2021

This post is part of a series of posts focused on Ellis Island, New York Harbor, and Industrial Age immigrants.

ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP FOR AMERICANS OF ITALIAN ANCESTRY / DUAL CITIZENSHIP #4 UNITED STATES DOCUMENTS

You may know, because you already have some documents, where the ancestor you wish to claim as qualifying you for Italian citizenship was born.  However, sometimes family stories or genealogy quests are confused by not reading the fine print, so to speak.

For instance, a ship record may ask where the person was LAST LIVING or WHERE THEY LEFT, which could be a seaport.  That does not mean that they were BORN at this same location.  Some immigrants got to the seaport and lived and worked there a while to earn their tickets for the ship.  And as many Italian men were seasonal workers in America before deciding to remain and claim citizenship, you  might find the same person going back and forth and information differing from one ship record to the next. Of course these records can be valuable.  They may be consistent.  One might mention a large city.  Another a village near that large city.  So get your maps out and look.

There may be a mention of relatives such as a cousin on the ship or a wife left behind.

Once the decision was made to become a citizen, a DECLARATION OF INTENT will have been filed.  For naturalization, to become an American, the clock starts ticking with these "first papers."

Perhaps  you have their NATURALIZATION / American Citizenship papers which give more details.  With the realization that these are official and governmental papers, immigrants are more likely to record accurately where they were born.  The naturalization papers might say that they renounce Austria - which could mean they were born in what is now Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, or Italy. But they should still give the name of a village, town, or city.

Do some research on that region.  What is it's history?  When did it become part of Italy?  Were there any changes in borders and when?  At the time that your qualifying ancestor was born, was that place Italy?

Even if it was not, you may still qualify for Italian Citizenship.  You'll just have to keep doing your research. 

C 2020 Ancestry Worship - Genealogy BlogSpot

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As a side, years ago while doing some Italian genealogy for a client, I came across an odd situation.  Knowing that Italian men sometimes came and went as seasonal workers in the United States, I felt pretty sure that the ancestor had come over three times before settling in Brooklyn.  The man, with same name, first and last, the same height, left the same town, left the same port, on the same ship line.  On trip one and two, about a year apart, I felt sure this was the same man.  On trip three, another year later, it seemed to be the same man but for one detail.  This man was noted to have a massive scar on his forehead.  The client said there was no way that man was from their family.  But before it was all over, they admitted their family had been in organized crime in Italy and in America. 

ARE YOU SPINNING YOUR WHEELS LOOKING FOR NATURALIZATION PAPERS THAT DON'T EXIST?

If you've been spinning your wheels looking for naturalization papers for an ancestor who came before 1906 I may be able to help you. 

Here is the NARA LINK TO EXPLAIN IT http://www.archives.gov/research/naturalization/naturalization.html 


HERE IS THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT NATURALIZATION THAT MAY HELP YOU EITHER STOP YOUR SEARCH or LOOK IN FEDERAL or CIRCUIT COURT PAPERS!

EXCERPT:

Exceptions to the General Rule (*of having to live in the U.S. for two years, make a Declaration of Intent, then live for another 5 years proving yourself worthy and begin the process!)


Having stated this "two-step, 5-year" general rule, it is necessary to note several exceptions.
The first major exception was that "derivative" citizenship was granted to wives and minor children of naturalized men. From 1790 to 1922, wives of naturalized men automatically became citizens. This also meant that an alien woman who married a U.S. citizen automatically became a citizen. (Conversely, an American woman who married an alien lost her U.S. citizenship, even if she never left the United States.) From 1790 to 1940, children under the age of 21 automatically became naturalized citizens upon the naturalization of their father. Unfortunately, however, names and biographical information about wives and children are rarely included in declarations or petitions filed before September 1906. ...

(*So look at those birth dates everyone!)

The second major exception to the general rule was that, from 1824 to 1906, minor aliens who had lived in the United States 5 years before their 23rd birthday could file both their declarations and petitions at the same time. ...  (*that means they could arrive at the age of 18 or less and just do it!)
 
The third major exception to the general rule was the special consideration given to veterans. An 1862 law allowed honorably discharged Army veterans of any war to petition for naturalization--without previously having filed a declaration of intent--after only 1 year of residence in the United States. An 1894 law extended the same no-previous-declaration privilege to honorably discharged 5-year veterans of the Navy or Marine Corps. Over 192,000 aliens were naturalized between May 9, 1918, and June 30, 1919, under an act of May 9, 1918, that allowed aliens serving in the U.S. armed forces during "the present war" to file a petition for naturalization without making a declaration of intent or proving 5 years' residence. Laws enacted in 1919, 1926, 1940, and 1952 continued various preferential treatment provisions for veterans.

* my notes and THANKS TO BETTY at NARA New York City

NATURALIZATION RECORDS SNAGFOOS!

Wouldn't it be nice if your immigrant ancestor came to America, got off a boat, went to the place they knew they could live and find work, and then stayed there - at least long enough to be naturalized as a citizen?

I know from experience that this is not to be counted on. In fact, you may be shocked at how many years it took for your ancestors to go ahead and become an American.

If you have no idea when they became naturalized... look at CENSUS evidence first. What? Every ten years a different year for NA (Naturalization) is written down? How could that be?

Common enough!

If the information you gleen from census is consistant, then it is probably correct and the YEAR of Naturalization is yours for the simple research. If however, it is not consistant, what could be the problem?

OK... sometimes ancestors were just as suspicious of census takers as some immigrants are NOW! ...and they lied. Sometimes they confused the filing of DECLARATION OF INTENT papers, with actually going through with Citizenship, and sometimes they were naturalized with a parent or husband... This was true almost all the time unless the WOMAN WAS WIDOWED before her husband could do it for himself, her, and the children. Women got the vote and THEN began to apply for themselves as a matter of course.

More often than not, recent immigrants - searching for good employment - simply did NOT STAY PUT in one place upon immigration. What this means is that they declared in one town and then went through the rest of the process elsewhere.

These are just some of the many possibilities.

Christine