Clifford, This topic came up recently on the Allegheny Co. PA list - this is what I posted in answer to someone else's question. Hope this helps!: It is my understanding that young immigrant men were able to file for > naturalization if they were in the US when they were 18 years or > younger, upon turning 21, with five years of residency. Women and > children automatically received naturalization upon the husband or > father's naturalization. Therefore, a child at the age of say, 6 would have received naturalization at the time his father did. > > As for women's citizenship regulations - there was an act in 1855 > which allowed alien women to be eligible/acquire citizenhip by > marrying a US citizen, or upon the naturalization of her alien born > husband. > > Thus, in the case of Johanna, since she was 19 when she arrived, she > was probably missed the mark on being considered a "child" and falling > under her father's naturalization - she probably received naturalization through whomever she married - whether they were a natural born citizen or an immigrant who received his own naturalization. > > See this site for reference: > > > http://www.sdhistory.org/arc/naturalizationarchives/naturalization_records.h tm > > -A > P.S. > > No one needed citizenship papers or any other papers to travel to and > to enter the country (the US) - in fact, immigrants were not allowed > to obtain citizenship until they had fulfilled a 5 year residency > requirement - and after that, they had to file the petition of intent > first - and then wait I > believe 3 years (but I am not certain of this) before becoming > naturalized. > > Actually, now that I think about it - perhaps they were able to file > the petition of intent immediately but then had to wait out the 5 year > residency requirement before becoming naturalized. > > But the bottom line is that no naturalization papers or other papers > aside from their tickets were needed to travel or to enter the country > - > > Most, if not all immigrants (because I am not sure if an immigrant > sailing directly to Philadelphia stopped and did this first) would > have passed through Castle Gardens in NY first - and gone through an > examination and processing department - > > Your John most certainly would have done this if he stayed in NY for a > bit. > > This is a brief account, according to The New York Times Marine > Intelligence Column published December 23, 1866 of what he would have > gone through > there: > > "Each emigrant, man, woman and child, passes up in rotation to the > Bureau, and gives to the registrar his or her name and destination, as > a check upon the return of the Captain of the vessel, who gives the > name, place of birth, > age and occupation. One of the leading officers connected with the Bureau > of > Information then mounts a rostrum, and addressing the assembled emigrants, > tells them that such as are not otherwise provided for, or prepared to pay > for their accommodation, can find shelter under the roof of that building; > that advice and information of the best and most reliable kind can be had > relative to tickets for railway and steamer to take them East, West, North > or South; as to the best means of obtaining employment, for which a > register > is kept in the Intelligence Department of the Institution; also as to the > best and most expeditious routes to take, with facilities for > corresponding > with friends, and of changing money at the Bureau of Exchange. The > Intelligence Department is largely resorted to by emigrants, inasmuch as > there they can obtain information as to probable situations without fee, > for > which outside they are asked $2 by the employment agents. A careful > supervision is exercised by the office as to the suitability and > respectability of the parties on both sides. All this is well and wisely > done for the protection of the emigrant, who would otherwise, if let to > himself, become the prey of sharpers, boarding-house "runners", > "scalpers", > leafers, et id genus omne. Such as are ill or invalid are at once sent to > the State Hospital, where they receive the best of medical treatment and > general attention. A tolerable estimate may be formed of the work and > labor > devolving on the establishment, when it is remembered that during the past > month of November, 17,280 emigrants had arrived at Castle Garden, or a > grand > total of 219,830 to that date since the beginning of the year, while > according to the latest return made up to Thursday last, the total number > of > arrivals from January to Dec. 5, had reached the enormous number of > 222,494, > being an increase of 26,142 over the corresponding period of the preceding > year--all permeating and passing through the great artery of life and > labor > at Castle Garden. The advantages conferred by the regulations of the > institution are developed every day in the shield of protection that, by > means of its advice, information and police, it confers on the > unsuspecting > emigrant and on the unprotected female, the friendless, the orphan and the > widow." > > More information can be found at: > > http://members.tripod.com/~L_Alfano/immig.htm > > -A > -----Original Message----- From: irl-kerry-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:irl-kerry-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Clifford Smith Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 5:22 PM To: Ireland Clare; IRL-ANTRIM-L@rootsweb. Com; IRL-KERRY Subject: [IRL-KERRY] Naturalization Records Fellow Listers I am trying to learn what and when Naturalization or Loyalty records were required. I have records of my immigrant grandparents from 1700s to late 1890s. Prior to Ellis Island how where minors handled? But what about those who were underage at entry into US and not with parents? Did they have to have a sponsor - of age - here sign for them? Or, did they (the Minors) sign something for themselves? Did they pay something? For citizenship? Were they just admitted - period. When they became of age did they then have to do some form of registration? Prior to Ellis Island were the immigration requirements different by port and state? As near as I can determine I have several relatives who came to this country as minors unescorted -especially from Ireland. Can someone steer me in the right direction. Much love Clifford Smith Researching Akey, Conway, Hastings, Clymer, McCallister, Mann, Schmidt. >From wild and wonderful AND COLORFUL WEST VIRGINIA. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-KERRY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Kerry folk, I currently have, borrowed from my library, a copy of "American Clipper Ships 1833-1858 Volume 2". In it I found some interesting information on the ship that my Kerry family probably sailed on. I need to return the book soon but for now if anyone would like me to look up a ship I'd be happy to do so. Please remember that these are American ships only and, since I only have volume 2, can only look up ships whose name begins with M or further on in the alphabet. Let me know if this is of use. --Patrick p.s. My recent to trip to Ireland was moderately successful on the genealogy front and I'll be posting transcripts of the information I've gathered soon in case it is of interest. _________________________________________________________________ Help yourself to FREE treats served up daily at the Messenger Café. Stop by today. http://www.cafemessenger.com/info/info_sweetstuff2.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_OctWLtagline