I believe you are incorrect about the two year residential requirement. Otherwise, one would not find Declaration of Intent at the port of entry. A minimum of 5 years for naturalization is correct. All else, I find to be correct as well. I have found some documents revealing a lot and others almost useless as far as genealogy is concerned. Dee ---------- > From: Linda C. Ruscitto <ruscitto@buffnet.net> > To: dmd <dmd@access-one.com>; NJESSEX-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: Naturalizations > Date: Tuesday, December 22, 1998 8:24 PM > > Hi Dee and "list", > > You are almost correct about naturalizations. > In general.... naturalization took a minimum of 5 years. First, the alien > had to reside in the US for 2 years before filing a "declaration of intent" > (first papers). Second, after an additional 3 years, he/she could "petition > for naturalization." These are usually the only two records to be found, as > the actual certificate of naturalization was given to the alien. > > An alien could be naturalized in ANY court (state or federal) - and was > usually performed in the one most convenient to where the alien resided. > Prior to 1922, wives and children were automatically naturalized with > their husband/father. (their names did NOT have to be listed on any > document. In fact, prior to 1906, they were rarely included in the > declarations or petitions.) > > Unfortunately, most naturalizations prior to 1906, contain very little > information. In most cases they merely state the name of the "government" > that the alien renounces allegiance to. Some will give the date of arrival > and port, and a few will give a date of birth (or age). I have seen a few > naturalization papers from the mid-west (ca. 1880's) that gave a complete > physical description of the alien, but these are not common. > > For more complete information visit the National Archives website at > <http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/natural.html> > > hope this helps, > Linda > E Amherst, NY > > > At 08:07 AM 12/22/98 -0600, dmd wrote: > >A Declaration of Intent to become a citizen was usually filed with the > >court in the city where the person entered the United States. They > >declaring their intention to become a citizen. They had to remain for a > >total of five years before they could file naturalization papers. Sometimes > >a long way from where they entered the U.S. Occassionally, you will find > >both sets of papers in the court a long way from a port. In that event, I > >think the person went directly (perhaps within a group or to family) to > >their intended destination. > >In the case of one of my family members, the father is the one that filed > >the Declaration of Intent and when it was time for citizenship, he filed > >naturalization papers which included the entire family. Both sets of papers > >were in the Kansas courts. > >These were and I believe, are federal laws that continue to be adhered to. > >If you find only the naturalization papers, then the search needs to be > >centered toward various ports of entry of where you believe your family > >previously lived. > >Sometimes these papers, between them, provide information to all your > >questions. Sometimes not. > >Hope this helps you and others in your search. > >Dee Doyle