FINDING NATURALIZATION RECORDS Many researchers wear themselves out trying to find naturalization records from the 1700s. However, they need to remember that there were no naturalization records before 1776, because Americans were considered English citizens since America was the property of the English Crown. There were, however, thousands of immigrants from other countries who were not subjects to the English Crown. In 1740, the British Parliament enacted laws that allowed the colonies to naturalize aliens who had lived in the colonies for at least seven years. Immigrants from England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland were not considered aliens. On June 6, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a law that granted the right of naturalization. Records of these early naturalizations are kept in the county courthouses in the Clerk of the Court's office. --by Diana J. Muir ---------------------------------------------- Born and raised in Iowa, Diana Muir began studying genealogy at the age of 18 and has subsequently taught genealogy and conducted research for 30 years. Specializing in the Midwestern United States, she has also done extensive research in Southern and Eastern States, as well as England and Ireland. Diana operates an online K-12 and post-secondary school on the Internet, Porta School, Inc., and maintains her own Web page--Mother Hubbard's Cupboard--at http://www.rootsweb.com/~genclass/ which offers eight online genealogy courses.