In a message dated 5/14/03 12:34:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time, eldon.fisher@verizon.net writes: > Did age make a difference in immigrating to the US in the 1885 time frame. > Was there an advantage to being younger? In my grandfathers naturalization > papers it states that he was then "a minor under the age of eighteen > years." I don't think his age as given is correct. Absolutely! I found exactly the same during that time period. To me it means: If they were under 18yo they DID NOT need to apply for the preliminary application "Intent to become a citizen" and then wait another [either 2 or 5 years] to apply for citizenship. Adjusting their immigration age to 'under 18' at immigration allowed them to apply for citizenship w/o filing the 'Intent' and waiting. Tho my own Grandfather was 19yo on the ship arrival records....he deducted two years off his age by falsifying is immigration date that would make him 17yo at immigration. His brother [my Granduncle] did exactly the same a few years earlier. I'm certain that they were under the patronage of a very savvy and political 'senior' who arranged to 'sponsor' these fledgeling, new Americans. Most immigrants today are equally grateful to come to America the Beautiful. Janice GrandDaughter of a GalwayMan

Thanks to all who answered my query. I suspected that there was a reason for the discrepancy. With the women it would be understandable to shave off a few years. Marianne ----- Original Message ----- From: Zippity111@aol.com To: eldon.fisher@verizon.net ; BOSTON-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2003 2:51 PM Subject: Re: [BOSTON] immigration age question In a message dated 5/14/03 12:34:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time, eldon.fisher@verizon.net writes: Did age make a difference in immigrating to the US in the 1885 time frame. Was there an advantage to being younger? In my grandfathers naturalization papers it states that he was then "a minor under the age of eighteen years." I don't think his age as given is correct. Absolutely! I found exactly the same during that time period. To me it means: If they were under 18yo they DID NOT need to apply for the preliminary application "Intent to become a citizen" and then wait another [either 2 or 5 years] to apply for citizenship. Adjusting their immigration age to 'under 18' at immigration allowed them to apply for citizenship w/o filing the 'Intent' and waiting. Tho my own Grandfather was 19yo on the ship arrival records....he deducted two years off his age by falsifying is immigration date that would make him 17yo at immigration. His brother [my Granduncle] did exactly the same a few years earlier. I'm certain that they were under the patronage of a very savvy and political 'senior' who arranged to 'sponsor' these fledgeling, new Americans. Most immigrants today are equally grateful to come to America the Beautiful. Janice GrandDaughter of a GalwayMan